Who makes 28mm steam ships?

[Rob_bresnen]

I was thinking of getting a steam ship, paddle boat etc for my explorers to be transported in style. Who makes suitable models in 28mm scale? Which do yo guys recommend?

[Sinewgrab]

I was thinking of getting a steam ship, paddle boat etc for my explorers to be transported in style. Who makes suitable models in 28mm scale? Which do yo guys recommend?

This is not snarky, though it may seem so - have you tried making one?  Not so hard...

[RichBliss]

I also made my own.  But Sarissa has a couple of nice ones. 
https://www.sarissa-precision.com/Boats___Launches/cat1603369_2504956.aspx

[Sparrow]

Grand Manner do do some nice ones with a sort of “design your own” system. Not cheap but lovely.

[flatpack]

I have been thinking the same recently and ended up looking for the plans the Gary Chalk did in the Wargames Illistrated magazine a good few years back, but do you think I can find them ?
I can’t even find them on the web.
If anyone has a copy of his plans I would much appreciate it.

[Patrice]

Made by a friend:

[Gary Peach]

Sarissa Precision have these 2

[the fallen scholar]

Did you look at Old Glory?  http://www.oldgloryminiatures.com/categories.asp?cat=17

[tin shed gamer]

 I've a little free time in February (which my sons booked to build him a paddle or tramp steamer. For his pulp games).

So if it's of help or interest to anyone . I'll be more than happy to run a 'Tales from the Tin shed' thread/tutorial then.

I was planning on a maximum budget of 20 hours and between £3-£12 ,,depending on time I might have to buy a deck gun.Rather than make one (hence the budget being over a £1,and 20 hours)

Mark.

[john Hollyoak]

Flat pack
I will have the Gary Chalk plans. I can scan them over the holidays of you still need them.
John

[Eric the Shed]

Built my own Steam Ship

[Captain Darling]

Oh after seeing all these great scratch built examples of steam vessels how can you not be tempted to try to build one...come to think of it I’m tempted myself!

[Plynkes]

Oh after seeing all these great scratch built examples of steam vessels how can you not be tempted to try to build one...

Not tempted at all, I'm afraid. Eric the Shed's is rather nice, but it isn't exactly what most people have in mind when talking about a steamer for colonial gaming. It looks a bit too big and ocean-going to be sent on an expedition up the Congo or the Zambezi.


And while the simple home-made design is something of a classic among colonial gamers, to my eye they look a tad too blocky, toy-like and unrealistic. Sorry, not trying to belittle anyone's time and effort, but they aren't my cup of tea. I'm certainly not saying I could do better, just that I personally would rather pay money to have something nicer like those Sarissa ones posted above. I haven't seen anything on this page yet that would make me choose home-made over shop-bought.

And while it is nice that you are all posting your work here, the original poster was asking for manufacturers that make them. We are slightly in danger of that request being forgotten and this turning into a "post your steamer here" thread. We should definitely have one of those though, just maybe not in his request thread.

[Hammers]

I am not a big fan of mdf lasercuts but those Sarissa came together quite nicely.

[tin shed gamer]

The aforementioned companies are predominantly the most readily available. However the posting of examples of scratch builds.
Hits on the major points of using these types of boats on a table.
Do you build the terrain to accommodate a premade kit or hope to god you can find a kit to fit your existing terrain.

Or do you go down the route of scratch building so you get a boat that fits your terrain.
Which leads to another issue of taste and practicality .
Do you treat a boat as terrain ,or as a figure. In short your boat is an odd shaped hill.
Or a rivet counters delight.

The mdf route will always be a halfway house.It can be detailed up or left in the dollied state in comes in . Quiet frankly you can scratch build something far better in cereal packet card before the mdf one would arrive in the post.

The resin examples are often of a higher level of detail (not all of them) but they're going to make a bigger dent in your budget. Also they're a weight which is fun to move around your table
Consequently they're going to be tougher on both themselves and the table (you don't pick 28mm boats up to move them across the board, you tend to push them.)

So Rob It may help if you note if your starting from scratch or you've existing boards.
Because dimensions and budget will definitely  your choices..

Mark.