Jim Goodwin

Excellent work! Fantastic detail. Enjoyed seeing your progress.

The earliest tugboat was built in Scotland around 1802 and used for river traffic. They advanced since that time. During conflict periods, such as the Civil War of 1861-65, many tugs were armed with a bow & stern gun. Often many small schooners were converted to a tug. The design we associate with a tugboat, typified by Tugboat Annie film, has been around since the 1840's.

What bottle will this piece go in to ?

An interesting note about the sunken Alabama...it is a shared historic site, and Perrier bottles and golf balls have been found on her deck

A note about historic flags: the Alabama when launched carried the 1st National Confederate flag (Stars & Bars ). Not many folks can identify this flag I have observed. Later the 'Bama carried the 2nd National & Naval Jack which has the noted Battle Banner. I only make Confederate vessels upon request now and do not display them at art shows I attend. Given the association and controversy of the Battle Banner with current groups presently, it is the modeler's choice on what flag the vessel should bear. What one person finds offensive, another may find historically accurate. Certainly modelers striving for historical accuracy these days have a delima in view of our evolving culture. Still, the Alabama has a neat design and is a challenging build for a bottle. Cheers, Jim

A note about historic flags: the Alabama when launched carried the 1st National Confederate flag (Stars & Bars ). Not many folks can identify this flag I have observed. Later the 'Bama carried the 2nd National & Naval Jack which has the noted Battle Banner. I only make Confederate vessels upon request now and do not display them at art shows I attend. Given the association and controversy of the Battle Banner with current groups presently, it is the modeler's choice on what flag the vessel should bear. What one person finds offensive, another may find historically accurate. Certainly modelers striving for historical accuracy these days have a delima in view of our evolving culture. Still, the Alabama has a neat design and is a challenging build for a bottle. Cheers, Jim

Have made this vessel numerous times...and one for a descendant of Capt. Semmes. Looking forward to seeing your log on her.

A champion build in a small bottle ! Very inspiring. Both versions( w/ star background and ship alone) are marvelous.

A hopefully helpful suggestion: try a mortise and tenon joint on the nacell struts. That may help control the strut angle.

Jeff, Yes, staying in NC, bUT can see SC from the new place...moving only 18 miles from the present house. Yet a move is a move, and we have been downsizing.

Great start! Looking forward to your building log and going into a small bottle. Have been wanting to build the Trek Enterprise myself, but cannot find a bottle able to hold Capt. Kirk's ego. Folding the saucer is the way to go . Have a diorama in mind of having the history of the Enterprise from schooner, brig, aircraft carrier to space crafts. Since my shop is boxed up for an upcoming homestead move, that project and others, are on hold. Fair Winds, Jim

Like Alan, most of the plans I use come from books. I typically photocopy them to the scale I want to build. Howard Chapelle books are good and can be found on ebay and often used book stores. Cheers Jim

Daniel is correct that it is tough to sell model ships these days. One problem is the size for many home owners. Smaller is better. Museums are often interested, yet most do not have the finances to pay one for actual time & expenses. Have recently sold some to museums and was glad to do so since they will be viewed by the public. Donating pieces for museum fundraisers is good for the museums and gets one exposure... though with tax deductions of created art, one can only take off the materials (a different rant altogether ). We make models for personal challenges and enjoyment. Having an actual sale of our work is a bonus.

A museum in Hartford, CT contacted me about doing a sib demonstration. Since I am in the Carolinas, it is not feasible. So I am sending an inquiry to any bottle shipwrights in the New England area to see if there would be interested in doing a demonstration. Though the museum's budget is limited, they do have funds for local travel and demonstration fee. Time/date for the demo is fexible. If you are interested, please personal message me and I will forward your contact info to the museum's coordinator.

It is an informative video...provided you can get past the dumb jokes & bad puns. Have attached the link to that show below. Do not think that it is shared on this forum. https://video.unctv.org/video/woodwrights-shop-ship-bottle/