Project inspired by the ARC Gloria — looking for a mentor

Hello everyone
My name is Gentil, I'm from Colombia, and although I'm a hobbyist without much experience, I recently started exploring naval design as a hobby. I'm using tools like DelftShip, Shapr3D, and sometimes Fusion 360, with the hope of understanding how ships are structured and how to shape them properly.

As my first project, I decided to create a scaled-down conceptual version inspired by Colombia's ARC Gloria training ship. I know it's a big challenge for a beginner, but I do it with great passion and a desire to learn.

Here I share one of my first renders of the model

My goal is to improve the design with the help of more experienced people, and if possible, bring it to reality by building a scale model, testing different materials (wood, resin, fiberglass, or 3D printing), and even adding a basic functional propulsion system to do so.

I'm looking for mentorship, technical feedback, or support to learn how to do so.

Hull structure and realistic proportions.

Techniques for building scale models.

Propulsion systems.

Stability and balance simulation.

I would greatly appreciate any guidance, suggestions, or even collaboration from those who would like to join me in this process.
Thank you for welcoming those of us who are just starting out and dream of making our naval projects a reality.

 

Are you building with wood? For the fittings and accessories, there are companies that make them to scale. If your plan is to buy hardware, instead of making every hinge and railing stanchion by hand, check what scales are available and make the hull/deck/etc. to the same scale.

 

The design of the Gloria is based on the Gorch Fock class, and fortunately this class is very well documented. Plans, diagrams, books, kit models and building descriptions are relatively easy to find in many languages.
My advice is to join a model building forum and read some books about this hobby. For the project you will need to make some decisions about what is important to you in a model. You can't get complete scale accuracy and functionality simply because some things don't scale well.
I'll try to give some very basic answers to your questions:
For a floating and functional hull there are several common options: strip planking (balsa, foam) on frames covered with fiberglass, monocoque fiberglass hull from a mold, 3D printing in some type of plastic. This gives you a hollow hull where you can install a propulsion system in the shape of on or two screws with electric motors, batteries and remote control equipment. This is then covered with a deck, and superstructure, buildt mostly in the same way as the hull. The rig is it's own decision because something that's actually functional to propel the model can't be buildt like the original. You would have to use rotating masts with fixed yards and reduced decorative rigging if you wanted to actually steer with the sails.

 

That's a coincidence, the S/V GLORIA was just here in Vancouver BC Canada.
They had an open house for the public.

What scale replica were you considering?

 

And she is now in San Diego. I hope that her crew stay safe and are not picked up by ICE when they are on shore leave.
@Gentil there are lots of nice photos on her Marinetraffic page which might be useful reference for your model building project.
Ship GLORIA (Sailing Vessel) Registered in Colombia - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 8642555, MMSI 730153580, Call sign 5KMT https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:6535652/mmsi:730153580/imo:8642555/vessel:GLORIA

 

I agree with Rumars that a forum dedicated to model building would be a good source of advice and encouragement.These might be good starting point:Model Boat Mayhem - Index https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php
Model Ship World™ https://modelshipworld.com/

 

Dear Gonzo, greetings from Colombia.

I sincerely appreciate your comment and interest in my work. The project is currently in the modeling phase, with the goal of constructing the hull in fiberglass. Regarding the rigging, the intention is to develop it using 3D printing to ensure precision and reduce weight.
As for the fittings, I would like to know of companies or suppliers that specialize in manufacturing these nautical components.
Thank you in advance for your guidance and valuable input. Kind regards

 

Dear Rumores, I hope this message finds you well.

I sincerely thank you for your comment and the detailed information you shared.
Indeed, the Gloria's design is based on the Gorch Fock class, and as you correctly mentioned, the existing documentation on this class is quite extensive and useful for developing the model.
I greatly appreciate your recommendations regarding the hull type, materials, and functional considerations at scale. I am taking note of your suggestions, especially those concerning fiberglass construction and 3D printing, as well as reducing the aircraft's size to achieve a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
Thank you again for your guidance and the time you dedicated to responding. Your contributions are invaluable to the project's progress.

Best regards from Colombia.

 

How interesting! I'm glad to hear the Gloria was in Vancouver; it must have been an amazing experience to see it up close. It's a magnificent training ship, and every visit leaves its mark on the ports it calls at.

As for the replica, I'm considering a 1:100 scale, building the hull in fiberglass and the rigging using 3D printing, to achieve a good balance between detail and structural strength.
My goal is for the model to be static, but with a high level of accuracy in its lines and rigging, drawing inspiration from the plans of the Gorch Fock class and photographic references of the Gloria itself.

Thanks for your message, and how wonderful to hear you saw it in person!

 

Dear Bajansailor, thank you so much for sharing the MarineTraffic link and information.

Your comment brought back wonderful memories, as I had the honor of serving as a crew member on the training ship Gloria for over 26 years in the Colombian Navy. It was an unforgettable period that allowed me to sail around the world and experience the true essence of life at sea.

Those experiences are precisely what inspire me now to build a replica of the Gloria, this time with greater technical precision. I initially built it by hand in wood, and now I want to combine fiberglass and 3D printing to achieve a model more faithful to the ship's original lines.

The Gloria has always represented the spirit, discipline, and passion of the Colombian sailor—an inspiration that lives on in every project like this one.

Best regards from Colombia,
Gentil.

 

Thank you so much, Wet Feet, for the information and recommendations.
I've already completed the registration process on Model Ship World™; however, I haven't been able to complete registration on modelboatmayhem.co.uk at the moment. Even so, all the opinions and guidance I received on this forum have been invaluable in moving forward with this project.

It's worth mentioning that I'm undertaking this design exercise not only to build the Gloria model, but also as a way to delve deeper into the visualization and planning of a maritime and river vessel construction project.

I believe that my country, Colombia, has enormous potential in this field: we have two oceans—the Pacific and the Caribbean—in addition to a vast "river sea," which makes Colombia a true nautical wonderland.

Best regards,
Gentil.