Editing Ship model (section)

=== Plastic ===
In the decades since World War Two [[injection molding|injection-molded]] [[polystyrene]] plastic model ships have become increasingly popular. Consisting of preformed plastic parts which can be bonded together with plastic cement, these models are much simpler to construct than the more labor-intensive traditional wooden models. The inexpensive plastic kits were initially targeted to the postwar generation<ref>{{cite web| title=Toy Model Kits| publisher=Advarneg Incorporated| year=2007| url=http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Toy-Model-Kit.html| access-date=2007-12-05}}</ref> who could glue them together and produce passable replicas in a single afternoon.  Plastic models are available in both full hull and waterline versions for a wide variety of vessels.

A more recent addition has been a variety of kits in cold cure resin marketed by various small companies as part of a [[cottage industry]].  These often cover more obscure subjects than mainstream manufacturers.<ref name="Ashey">{{cite book| title=Basics of Ship Modeling: The Illustrated Guide| first=Mike| last=Ashey| year=2000| publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Company| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ffCoUTsj4YC&q=The+Basics+of+Ship+Modeling| isbn=0-89024-372-7}}</ref>

Scales vary as well, with many kits from the early days being "box scale"; that is, scaled to fit into a uniform sized box designed to fit conveniently on hobby shop shelves.  Scales have since become more standardized to enable modelers to construct consistent scale collections, but there are still many to choose from.  In Europe 1/400 scale remains popular, while in the United States and Japan the most popular scales are [[1:700 scale|1/700]] (making a World War Two aircraft carrier about a foot long) and [[1:350 scale|1/350]] (twice as long as [[1:700 scale|1/700]]).  Nevertheless, mainstream plastic kit manufacturers continue to produce kits as small as 1/1200 and as large as 1/72, with a few even larger.

The early plastic model kit producers such as [[Airfix]], [[Revell]], [[Frog (models)|Frog]] and [[Pyro Plastics Corp.|Pyro]] have since been joined by [[Imai Models|Imai]], [[Tamiya Corporation|Tamiya]], [[Hasegawa Corporation|Hasegawa]], Skywave/Pit-Road, [[Trumpeter (company)|Trumpeter]], [[Dragon Models Limited]] and many others in producing a wide array of model subjects.  The plastic model kit market has shifted over the years to a focus on adult hobbyists willing to pay for more elaborate, higher quality kits.

Another recent development has been the advent of aftermarket parts to enhance the basic kits.  Decals, specialized paints and turned metal replacement gun barrels are available to make plastic models more accurate.  The introduction of flat [[Photoetching|photoetched]] metal sets, usually stainless steel or brass, also provide much more realistic lifelines, cranes, and other details than are possible with the injection molded plastic kits.<ref name="Ashey" />  These photoetch sets have transformed the hobby, enabling the finescale modeler to reproduce very delicate details with much less effort.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Yamato.jpg|Details of 1/700 scale model of the [[Japanese battleship Yamato]], which is heavily detailed with aftermarket photo-etch detailing parts.
File:1.700 Waterline Zuikaku.jpg|A [[Tamiya Corporation|Tamiya]] 1/700 scale assembled model of Japanese Aircraft-Carrier [[Zuikaku]] completed with aftermarket [[Photoetching|photoetch]] accessories.
File:1.700 scale IJN Hiryu Battle of Midway.jpg|A converted 1/700 scale model of [[Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū]] based on the photo of her before sinking during the [[Battle of Midway]].
File:Massachusetts model.JPG|1/720 scale plastic model of the {{USS|Massachusetts|BB-59}}.
File:Minekaze model OOTB.JPG|An assembled [[1:700 scale]] Skywave/Pit-Road Japanese destroyer is about the size of a pencil.
File:Minekaze by Tim Reynaga.JPG|[[1:700 scale]] plastic model completed with [[Photoetching|photoetch]] brass rails and other refinements.
</gallery>