Midwest Products “Success Series”

Chesapeake Bay Flattie Ship Model Kit

A great place to start ship model building hobby

Follow along as we build the plank-on-bulkhead kit

Because of their shallow draft, flat-bottomed work boats called “flatties,” were popular around the turn of the century along the Chesapeake Bay from Virginia to North Carolina.

The simple lines of these boats that made them ideal for locals to build from locally-available lumber also make this an ideal ship model kit or a person with no prior wood ship model building experience. The kit comes with die-cut and pre-cut parts, as well as fittings, rigging line, sail material, and a well-done set of instructions and building plans. While solid-hull ship model kits are generally considered easier than plank-on-bulkhead kits, the flat sides and square corners of this kit make planking a breeze, and simpler than the sanding and shaping required for most wood solid hull kits. Follow along as we post updates to our Chesapeake Bay Flattie Ship Model Kit Building Project

While Midwest Products has discontinued its model kits, these kits are often available at a fair price on eBay and Amazon. Model Ship Kit manufacturer Corel also has a nice model of a Flattie and other similar small watercraft that can often be picked up inexpensively on eBay and Amazon.

Books Available From The Model Shipwright