My Ships are around the size of 1/1172 though foreshorten so a mix of scales.
I use Balsa Wood, small bits of plastic and etch and have photo�s of various stages and My working out so you should get the jist of it.
My goal is for something that is relatively quick to do, around 10hrs or less for ex-Matelots, but has to capture the feeling and look of the Ship but most importantly have something about the individual who was on it. I am not there yet and this particular avenue of investigation actually does not work but :-
1. They are not that good just the minimum detail required to look like the Type and Ship in question.
2. I reckon they should be OK for background to 1/700 pictures I do to add extra interest.
3. Ok for a few Matelot in jokes for My own amusement.
4. The Foreshortening is due to most Ships are seen from a distance, with most intricacies lost when viewed from angles, like a 2D picture on the wall but slightly 3D.
5. Ship only right from particular viewpoint, get too close, view side-on or from behind and its wrong.
My kind of plan.