WHAT'S INVOLVED IN CHOOSING A PRACTICUM?

Time, discipline, patience
You set your own time, but a little every day is far better than a lot of time once in a while. You must ‘steel’ yourself in order to keep up the pace and overcome the monotonous phases of construction; hence, the discipline leads to perseverance. Patience means to be some-what easy with yourself and not be too critical. After-all, you are suppose to enjoy the hobby.
Proper tools and space
The practicums suggest the ‘required’ and recommended tools as well as secondary ones. Keep in mind that simply purchasing one tool after another will not guarantee that the job will get done. When you have an actual need for a tool, then that’s when you purchase the best for the money. You’ll be surprise that the list of tools is relatively small. With regards to space, you do not need to remodel your home for a fancy workstation. Since the practicums take you through the construction in phases, then a relatively small space is required. Suggested is the use of several mini-stations at various locations throughout the house.

Willingness to follow a set of instructions so that you can focus your energies

Some individuals would rather look at an illustration, such as the one on the right, than read. Since you are really learning the art of the shipwright and his method of construction, it is necessary to read with a pencil, that is, step-by-step and checking off the sections completed. Once you have completed any of the practicums, you will have learned enough to be able to work easily in the next project. Still, every subject is unique, and it is strongly recommended that you read each step. Also keep to the sequence of construction and not skip around lest you overlook an important detail. The text is written in such a way as to help focus your attention and therefore your energies.

Know your limitations and set realistic goals

You would not consider jumping right into the construction of the Fubbs unless you were willing to follow the instructions as closely as you are capable. Do not adapt or deviate less you have to compensate later on with unsatisfactory results. The methods proposed in the practicums have been ‘people-tested,’ especially with regards to beginners. If it is written, then you can do it! What helps is to choose the subject that ‘turns you on’ and which will sustain you. For now, you have a choice of three–the Confederacy (entry level), the Fubbs (advanced level), and the Warrior (intermediate and advanced level).
Modeling short-cuts vs. the method of the shipwright
While there are always two or more ways of accomplishing any task, the principle to follow, therefore, is to construct not a ship model but a real ship in miniature, and with the same techniques as would have been utilized by shipwrights. Have you ever noticed how some models will always look like models while other look like realistic, miniature ships? The test is that you never get tired looking at a realistic ship.