I know there's a lot of stuff online for free or a small fee...
Not really what I'm looking for. I've been eyeballing few books on Amazon about hand building ship models, and want to adapt some things for 3D, but I can't seem to thumb through the books online, or find them at a local bookstore to thumb through to see if they have what I need...

http://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Period-Models-Step-Step/dp/1557509700/sr=8-2/qid=1167958499/ref=sr_1_2/102-6648410-1576145?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/Ship-Modeling-Simplified-Techniques-Construction/dp/0071558675/sr=8-3/qid=1167958499/ref=sr_1_3/102-6648410-1576145?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/Period-Ship-Handbook-Keith-Julier/dp/1854862332/sr=8-11/qid=1167958499/ref=sr_1_11/102-6648410-1576145?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/Period-Ship-Handbook-3/dp/155750427X/sr=8-14/qid=1167958499/ref=sr_1_14/102-6648410-1576145?ie=UTF8&s=books

Does anyone here have, or has seen these books, or better yet, used those or something similar for modelling references?  (I'm open to suggestions.)

Historic Ship Models
I can recommend this book - it an encyclopedic reference book, which covers all details of all period sailing ship types of all times and all nations. This absolute must is a standard book in the ship modeling scene by a highly acknowledged author (at least in good old Europe :). Although it explains modeling, I guess it is not suited for beginners, since there are no step-by-step guides showing each phase of creation. It's more a reference on accuracy of components (appearance, size, materials etc.)

here a thought: when I am not sure about such books (especially when they cost a lot) then I go to my local bookstore and order them but for inspection, with no obligation to buy anything. Dunno if your store offers this service, but a lot do. Or you could just order them, and send the ones back you dont like back.

So far I haven't found a book that would suit 3d-modeling, because the approach and necessities are totally different.
Here is a tutorial on ship modeling (with nurbs though)
If you are just looking for ship plans - there are some awesome sites.

hope thisd helped

Oh yeah, I was eyeballing that book too.  It's the pictorial/illustration and plan reference that I'm wanting to find, little more detailed then what I can find online, and with a good dose of historical corretness.  For a lot of other things (architecture, victorian items, costumes) I tend to grab Dover publishing books. 

The bookstores here will order books for you too. I'm kind of embarrased to go to the bookstore and order 4-5 or so different books just to see what's in them :(  and maybe or maybe not buy one. I wasn't sure which one may have what I'm after. Your mention of encyclopedic reference describes pretty well what I'm interested - if the illustrations are suficiently detailed. Last two three trips to the bookstore, they didn'thave ANY ship modelling books.

One or two books I don't mind buying, I'm a bookworm of sorts as it is.  Maybe this weekend I'll have time to visit some other bookstores, or work up a nerve to order a book.

Thanks for the modelling link... I'm rather familiar with how to model a ship (my dad is a naval architect/engineer)...That is a really really good tutorial. I love to see how other people do it. Never hurts to learn a new trick :)

The ship plans site is great!!!  Thanks a bunch :)  Who knew there is a ship site I didn't know about  LOL!

If you have a Barnes and Noble go check them out........

There are some good (free) ship references of various sizes (as well as cars, human models, you name it) at The Blueprints. You can import them as a reference image into your modeler, and use them as a starting basis.

Thanks!

Here's a little compilation of the links I found... in case anyone needs them for future reference:

The Model Dockyard

Architectura Navalis Mercatoria
Sailing Warships
Danish Naval Treasures Database
Ship Model Plans Anthology
15th - 18th Century Ships
Ship Scale Modeling Info
French Naval Archeology
Netherlands Historical Shipyard

*Thread with all kinds of historical ship plan links at www.flyinglab.com :
http://www.flyinglab.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6829

http://santisima-trinidad.astillero.net/
http://www.armada15001900.net/PLANOS.htm
http://www.aranako.com/ASTILLERO.htm
http://www.pietrocristini.com/progetti%20navali.htm
http://windgammers.narod.ru/Hertegi.html
http://www.m3corp.com/a/download/plans/ships/index.htm
http://www.m3corp.com/a/download/pla...prig/index.htm
http://www.histarmar.com.ar/PlanosyPerfiles.htm
ftp://213.157.40.79/
http://shipmodeling.uw.hu/
http://www.cuadernamaestra.com/foro/viewtopic.php?t=851

oh yes, that's a nice collection - very useful !
btw. if you buy any of the books you mentioned above (or any other of that kind), please let me know your choice and what you think about that book

I found some more links, which might proof to be useful  resources:

Steelnavy (the site itself is not about period ships, but has some great links)
http://www.marylandsilver.com/

Hi Connie ...this is sort of a late post on your search on ship building references , but I came acrossed this cool little program that allows you to make boat hulls of all types. It saves in formats that most modeling programs read. here is the link below. Hope this helps ya...

www.freeships.org

I just got wind of this today... Google Patents searches the US patent database and provides access to public domain blueprints of just about everything... I'm sure there are lots of ship and boat patterns in there.