Leaderboard

Funnel goes in and then the main mast. Decided to leave off 'Daisy' and the cow shed as I thought the deck could look a bit too cluttered.( It's possible that I can add them later if I want to.) Main mast in place with no problems and then set in the foremast. The bowsprit gave me a few problems as the glue didn't set on the first attempt because the mounting hole inside is made up of a plastic and wood wafer construction, so in the end I used an epoxy glue to fix it firmly. Finally completed GB after several months work but unfortunately I didn't notice that the top flying jig rigging had tan

All the hull parts fitted through the bottle neck relativity easily but I had tremendous trouble to lift the front end of the starboard top piece over the front lug to secure it (Second photo). It actually took me about an hour before it snuggly slipped in place (Third photo).Luckily I had already designed these pieces to fit together without being glued otherwise it would of been a disaster had they had glue on them. As you can probably see some of the fragile photo etched railings received some damage in my struggles but they are pretty easy to repair. I then put in the engine room and then

I have long had a fascination for the US Lexington 1776. It is the subject of Charles G. Davis' book "The Built Up Ship Model" that I've had for forty years now. I never imagined that I would ever be able to have the skills let alone find the materials to be able to build a from scratch plank-on-frame ship model. However, after I got the book I used the ship diagram in the book to build a nice from scratch, to scale SIB of the US Lexington 1776. I built it for a gift upon request for a ship-in-a-bottle and after I gave it away I never saw it again. I always thought it was my best made model an

Once I put the idea in my head to make a cased model, I couldn't stop. I used the kit provided putty for a sea. I found that I could make it more pliable by heating it up a bit so I put it in a saucer surrounded by a bath of hot water. It smoothed-out nicely along the glass bottom of the case and I managed not to break the thin glass bottom while pressing it in. I then used the white putty to make the sea foam and once I placed the ship in I fashioned the foam wake. The kit had some small dolphin figures included and a little lighthouse that looks a bit out of scale. The larg

I finished adding the sails. The model wouldn't look like much without them. The sails were cut out of a pre-printed sheet of glossy coated paper. I can't say that they look very authentic or attractive. I have to admit that this model is not my favorite thing. I hardly think that the ship model rates being put inside such a nice bottle and I'm still battling the thought of abandoning the model for a scratch build of something else to put in the bottle. But then again I already pasted the ship name plate to the bottle stand - but I could cover that. The yards are hard to straighten and I

Finally finished rigging the model. I added the Martindale rigging that wasn't called for in the instructions but that is about the extent of my imbellishments. The rigging instructions involve a convoluted process of tying down one side of the yard while slipping the rigging on the other side with stop blocks applied to the control line on that side made of blobs of glue. So there was a lot of glue set up time involved. I don't have the yards as even as I'd like but they look better on the model than they do in the photo. I'll have to do some adjusting after the model is set in the bottle any

For some idiotic reasons after I had glued the main sail, it went into an inverted curve (looking like the wind was blowing from the front)The solution;I scrapped off the sail and re glued it the other way round so it now has a nice curve without even me trying anything high tech to get it looking like that!Constructed the lifeboats and all six are fixed (three each side)to a thin plastic strip which will then have to be fixed to the side of the hull of GB when she is inside the bottle.Made the 'red duster' flag from an old hankerchief of which I have inserted and glued very thin wire inside o

Update on my little Bluenose project, and a request for advice. After the fiasco with the carving knife, I splashed out and got a nicer pin vise and set of micro drill bits. I'm really glad I did! They are making all the difference. After making the masts, spars, and so on by sanding down bamboo skewers in a hand drill, I added the bowsprit by drilling a hole directly into the bow and sticking it in. Here are all the bamboo bits on top of the diagram. At this point, it looked good to go! Then I painted everything. I didn't go and buy fancy model paints but used some

She's Launched!!!! It's been a while since I've been here, but slowly bits have come together. There is a photo of the ship, rigged, (almost), sitting on the table, one of my launching tool,(launch ramp??),which is modelled after the Amarti tool I used for Hannah, and one of her in the bottle, with the air pump going to get rid of any fumes from the glue. I have the mast handling tool sorted out, it seems to work on the dummy runs, and a few suitable Swann Morton blades in the post, due very soon, which clip onto an extended handle. Now I just have to rig her! Cheers

Nice start Will! I encourage you to watch Episode #1, Season 26 of the Woodwrights Shop- Ship in a bottle. (Youtube) Lots of tips from the guest on that episode! He demonstrates hauling in the main sail for a schooner/ sloop. As for sail glue: I use “puzzle glue”. It’s used to glue a puzzle together to frame it and hang it on a wall (I reckon some people do that). I get it at the craft store. If a mistake is made, hot water on a cotton swab, back and forth on the line, removes the glue. Cheers! Best regards, Jeff

Flipper 650DC made for a client.

I'm having a hard time reconciling putting this plastic model into such a nice glass bottle. I have another ship plan that needs this size of a bottle and I would like to re-purpose it for that application - it's hard to find such size bottles. Also I could improve the rigging on this model if I don't have to fold it. So I found this nice 5"x7" case that I had laying about and gave it a coat of cherry satin. The case was made as a top loading case and has a thin veneer bottom. I found a graphic of the Cutty Sark at sea and printed it on a 5X7 page and inserted it into the bot

Completed all deck furnishings (the small skylights took ages)and moved forward to the masts and rigging. I am going to rig her with half sails up but no top sails as per the drawing at the begining of this build. As you may of noticed I made a new engine room skylight and cut out the space in the hull so that you should be able to get a glimpse of the engine room machinery through the skylight.Shrouds and ratlines I make on my little jig which are bonded with super glue and white wood glue to simulate the block and tackle.

I'm not sure if this would help you Will;these illustrations are from 'Sailing in Glass' byJOOP VAN SCHOUTEN and explains where not to glue the sails until the masts are pulled upright and fixed inside the bottle.Pretty much the same applies to your main sail,only glue one end of the sail to the gaff;you can then glue the other end of the sail later on, inside the bottle; perhaps using a piece of wire, with a dab of glue on the end of it. I usually use ordainary white wood glue to fix the sails.

This was really helpful! Thank you! I wonder how I'd missed the idea of detaching the mainsail. I'm wondering how to keep it securely attached after cutting the lines once it's in place inside the bottle. Looks like I'll be making a new set of masts and spurs, but no matter. This is my first attempt so there are bound to be times where I have to start things over. I'll look into puzzle glue too!

Very Cool!

Thanks JesseLee and all you others for your helpful comments. I like to experiment and not just blindly follow formulas which one can do once one understands why the formulas became formulas. And when my experiments go awry (often) they are just lessons in what not to do again!

Really helpful, Onni! So gluing to gaff only is another option. I'll have a think about which suits me better. I plan to get that book, too!!

Looks like those masts are good. Just gotta drill the holes. as for the pull lines, a touch of glue on the mast and then cut the line with hand made cutting tool with (razor). A skewer stick with broken razor glued on tip works for some. We all make our own tools. I use a very fine fly fishing leader tippet line (7x 2.7 lbs) I can barely see it. I can leave it in and pull it out through a bowsprit hole with the other lines and snip it there. Or, cut and glue at the mast, depending on the look. Cheers! Jeff

Excellent! Cheers, Mick

Thank you very much.

Thanks Dan. Tax is a pain, especially as governments just seem to squander it. Along with all Brits, I hate Her Majesty's Customs and Revenue, also known as HM's Thieving Bandits, or a word like that. UK personal tax allowance did not get raised this year, so the tax man basically relieved me of most of the rise in my pension. Can't even say 'At least Dick Turpin (an infamous highway man) had the decency to wear a mask' because we're all wearing them now. Stay safe Alan

Glad you found the sloop useful. Great work so far. It doesn't even have masts and sails yet and I look at it and think yup, thats the Bluenose. You got the lines perfect.

Time for some bling.I actually hate that word but it's probably a good description for all the golden stuff that adorns GB. The trailboards illustrate the artisans work on the ship but is very difficult to reproduce on such a small scale. I cut shards of plastic and then painted them gold to try to imitate the scroll work. The Lion and Unicorn support the royal shield under the bowsprit;they didn't work so well for me as I coudn't detach them from the grease proof paper without cutting them out with scissors.Fashioned a couple of catsheads,they will be fixed later. The stern is made out of thr

Back onto it. Started cutting and installing porthole windows Midships. Special tool made to cut and install accordingly! 4 done far left, just a push in press fit no glue.

Added the fake gunports which I think make the hull more attractive. Next the funnel gets more work and the bridge/viewing platform is added. Doesn't look that much but it amounts to several hours work. Just hope it all goes as planned as this is one of my builds that is a build log under construction;most of my other build logs were already completed before I posted them so I am a little bit nervous about the end result of GB. A long way to go before completion though....

Hi All. Things are happening, progress is being made. The masts are sitting where they live, just have to now start attaching the sheets etc to the sails, and arrange them so that they can run out of the neck and stay untangled! Also photos of the quarter deck with the ships wheel, which I've made 5 or 6 of, and a hatch, one of the main deck with cannons all loaded, the ships boat actually lives between the cannons, and a shot of the anchors, which also took more than one attempt to make! So there is more to be done, just have to figure out how! Cheers, Mick