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i want to make a dark elf ship that looks like this, i want it to scale but have no idea what to use, can some one help me?

What you could do is use foam to carve out the base of the ship, and then use sheet styrene to model the rails and other details.

As for the sail? I'm beat.

Carving is a little to much for me, I was thinking of getting a ship model as a templet, but i don't know what to get maby a viking long ship?

Going by the image, a bi- or trireme model may may serve you better than a longship - the hull shape will be much closer, but you might run into scaling issues (they were much larger ships, so you'll be using a kit in a smaller scale to get the same physical dimensions). You'll have to weigh the pros and cons, yourself: A longship is about the right size, but a bi-/trireme is about the right shape. In either case, you're still looking at quite a bit of modification.

 oadie wrote:
Going by the image, a bi- or trireme model may may serve you better than a longship - the hull shape will be much closer, but you might run into scaling issues (they were much larger ships, so you'll be using a kit in a smaller scale to get the same physical dimensions). You'll have to weigh the pros and cons, yourself: A longship is about the right size, but a bi-/trireme is about the right shape. In either case, you're still looking at quite a bit of modification.

The Longship is has the depth i am looking for and the Bireme i like the back and the shape. I do want to get that triple layer in there maybe i can combine the two?

I like this...

If you let me know the rough dimensions you are after as well as some specific details which are somewhat unclear from the picture - I might be able to hammer something out for you.

How long? The length of the one in the picture is roughly 24 inches long.

How wide? The picture is roughly 3 inches wide.

Do you want the rowers to be on the deck or somewhere underneath (the oars look like they should be on the deck...but there isn't any room on the deck for rowers)?

The waterline in the picture hides most the ram - do you want that below water like the picture shows or above water for interest?

 Sean_OBrien wrote:
I like this...

If you let me know the rough dimensions you are after as well as some specific details which are somewhat unclear from the picture - I might be able to hammer something out for you.

How long? The length of the one in the picture is roughly 24 inches long.

How wide? The picture is roughly 3 inches wide.

Do you want the rowers to be on the deck or somewhere underneath (the oars look like they should be on the deck...but there isn't any room on the deck for rowers)?

The waterline in the picture hides most the ram - do you want that below water like the picture shows or above water for interest?

I was thinking 24 by 10 wide and the oars would be somewhere underneath since it's manned by slaves. I kinda liked the ram how it was in the picture, so i would want to see it. I would make a base for it that best shows off the ship.

Take a look at the attached file (just a quick mockup).

One is the 24x10 - the other is 24x4.

Going that wide looses a lot of the sleekness of the boat, and it...well, starts to look like something GW would make. Sort of "heroic".

Personally, I much prefer the skinnier looking ship myself.

Sean_OBrien wrote:Do you want the rowers to be on the deck or somewhere underneath (the oars look like they should be on the deck...but there isn't any room on the deck for rowers)?

Artistic license was taken here, I think. Comparing the cutouts on the far and near side of the gunwale to the deck, the oar ports are definitely below. The angle of the oars would only allow them to extend a fraction of an inch (at scale) inside, though, with no room for hypothetical rowers. To be plausible, you'd need to move the deck up to the pictured level of the railing or extend the hull to drop the waterline proportionately. This may also factor into your choice of model for the base, if you go the conversion route - longships had rowers on deck, while bi-/triremes had two or three (respectively) levels of rowers below. Neither will give the proper impression without modifying the sides of the hull.

GERMiside wrote:I was thinking 24 by 10 wide

10 wide? You sure? Those proportions are closer to what you'd expect from a dinghy/punt/rowboat than a sailing ship, let alone a sleek, Dark Elf-y one. You're unlikely to find stock models of the discussed types in that shape. Even "fattening up" a scratchbuilt design to give you more modeling space on deck, I definitely wouldn't take the length:width ratio to less than 3:1. I think 4:1 or 5:1 would be a better compromise, as Sean's measurements put the drawing at 8:1.

[edit:] Ninja'd... with 3D models, no less. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Sean_OBrien is approximately four times the poster that I am. Kudos!

Waiting for a couple of test cuts to finish on the plotter, so I can figure out how to make a generic template for this thing (or something comparable to this thing...).

Interestingly enough, while the numbers are more or less taken from the picture based on the bodies hanging from the "tail" - looking at historical ships that are comparable (notably the biremes, triremes and penteconters - they tend to fall near the 8:1 ratio as well.

Ultimately, I will have a paper template that can be used to create the super structure (out of paper or plastic). Specific detailing will be left off, as that would be better added using plastic shapes and other bits. Depending on my schedule, I might even be able to work up a build on it as well in the near future...pretty sure I have a stash of all the bits I think I would need to make it useful for my as well.

 Sean_OBrien wrote:
Take a look at the attached file (just a quick mockup).

One is the 24x10 - the other is 24x4.

Going that wide looses a lot of the sleekness of the boat, and it...well, starts to look like something GW would make. Sort of "heroic".

Personally, I much prefer the skinnier looking ship myself.

Looking at it the 4 or 5 in wide will work. I tried looking at a ruler. lol. Obviously it failed me.