Before the days of hundreds of 24/7 cable channel TV and movie offerings, computers, and video games, many people enjoyed a myriad of hobbies in their spare time that offered numerous benefits our more passive entertainment of today does not. Hands-on hobbies like woodworking, learning to play musical instruments for pleasure, gardening, oil and watercolor painting, quilting, and the like provide a creative outlet and fine skills for an increased sense of accomplishment. They offer relaxation and stress relief from the chaotic world in which most spend the bulk of their days.
Some are rediscovering the benefits of having an enjoyable hobby that doesn't include electronics. One such hobby is model ship building. From the beginning of sea-going vessels, the beauty and grace of ships and boats have appealed to both the pragmatic and aesthetic appreciation of human creativity, engineering, and exploration. This appreciation is embodied in small-scale models that are constructed in the same way as their full-scale ocean-bound counterparts, only in miniature.
Model boat brands such as Billing Boats offer models in an array of types from the modern to the historic, pleasure yachts to working riverboats. Some of the most popular are model sailing ships such as sleek Viking ships, Clipper Chips, Man-O-Wars, and Frigates. Perhaps historically significant ships like the USS Constellation or Darwin's HMS Beagle appeal to your fascination of maritime and cultural history.
Inexpensive kits are available from beginner level to the most advanced model ship-building skills for a hobby that anyone can enjoy. Model ship building is a pleasurable activity that can be almost meditative in quality, requiring concentrated focus on the assembly of pieces and parts that allows the outside world to be forgotten. Watching your ship take shape piece by piece until it's a completed showpiece that you can proudly display offers a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
Model ship building is a wonderful hobby to share with your children for a true family activity. Children learn how ships are built, learn about history and culture, master the skills of patience and following directions, discover the joys of creating something beautiful and amazing with their own hands, and all of this while sharing true quality, bonding time with a parent. Model ship building is a hobby that one can enjoy for a lifetime.
The only warning that should be shared about model ship building is that it is addictive in nature. Once you build that first magnificent ship that you proudly display to the “oohs” and “ahs” of its admirers, it very likely that you will never stop.