Shipbuilder

And this one will probably be my final major steamship build, the tramp steamer Baron Vernon, hull length about 13 inches, completed two days ago.

Thanks Andrew - I think this type of model shipbuilding has just about had its day - They are rather too small to be of much interest to the general public - Very rarely get more than a casual glance if I show them anywhere, but ship model collectors love them. Ships in bottles far too difficult for me though - insufficient patience! Robert

1,000 views at last, and only 7 likes - not exactly a great success in the popularity stakes! 😀

Thanks - I am not of a suitable temprement to build SIBS - Too much in the way if accuracy has got to be sacrificed to get them in the bottle. And certainly not enough is going on here to hold my attention. Also, I lack patience and like to get things done quickly.

Thanks - Nowhere near that amount of time - I have very little patience. Gorsefiield - 60 hours Melbourne Star - ? Preussen - 117 hours Primrose Hill - 66 hours Braemar Castle - 69 hours Miss Morris - 37 hours I can't find the records for Melbourne Star! Each build spread over a few weeks. Completely scratchbuilt. At the local ship model society, they hardly get a casual glance,. so I stopped taking them. Just take a photograph these days. Probably because they are not warships. Collectors cannot get enough of them, but I do not take private commissions. I just build what I feel like. I time the builds on a stopwatch, and if I stop for any reason, I stop the watch, so the times are accurate.

With ship modelling, we are not stuck in any age though. We can build whatever we want. I personally find warships rather boring, as one battle is pretty much the same as another. Merchant ships come in all shapes, colours and sizes from a few tons to more than quarter of a million tons, and life board always held variety, adventure and drama. My facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1841532386133008/members Has 4,699 members and is very active with all sorts of merchant ship models being displayed on a regular basis. I do look in in here quite often, but next to nothing seems to be happening. I know a lot of modellers find the merchant navy boring, but the group seems to be attracting enthusiasts from all over the world - All these models by myself -

Virtually nothing has been happening here for months - I guess I am just too impatient for my own good!☹️

I got a ship in a bottle from my sister-in-law for Christmas. Commercially made, and quite small. Fairly attractive, but very basic. Not something I would ever attempt myself. Too much in the way of detail and accuracy has to be sacrificed to put a ship in a bottle - hence my regular absence from this site. Even my cased miniatures rarely get a casual glance if I exhibit them anywhere these days - I guess the modern generation has moved beyond ship models (or "boats" as they seem to prefer calling them🙄 Even here, on a specialized forum, not a great deal seems to be going on. Anyway - Merry Christmas to you all!

Gorsefield - Removed for lack of interest -

.

My latest, and probably last, major build. 25 feet to 1 inch. Hull length about thirteen inches (330mm) - An enormous scale for me ----------------------------------------------------- British four-masted barque Olivebank. Work commenced 13th July, 2020 Model completed 4th July 2021 During that time, I only worked on it for 61 days. The display case took 10.7 hours to make The hull took 35.9 hours to build The rigging took 41.8 hours to complete. Total hours worked: 88.4. That was an average of 1.45 hours for every working day. I never had much patience, and I am getting slower and slower as time goes on (now aged 77). ---------------------------------------- This vessel is modelled "as built" under British ownership (Andrew Weir's Bank Line). Certainly not a clipper, but more of the "windjammer" class with a large steel hull and great carrying capacity. She eventually became famous as a prominent member of the Erikson grain fleet of Finland. Going out to Australia in ballast, and returning to Europe with grain. She was the first casualty of World War II, striking a mine in late 1939. ------------------------------------- Further models will probably be confined to small ships, but in any case, my presence on internet forums has now virtually come to an end, and I am now only active in my Facebook group "Merchant Ships in Miniature." --------------------------------------- Life at best is but an enigma, and like children pursuing a "Will O' The Wisp,"so do we all pursue the illusive beacon light of a brighter and happier to-morrow - always hoping, never attaining, though striving ever until, wearied of the vain pursuit, at last we fall by the wayside and are forgotten. Charles Clark Munn (1847 - 1917)

Approved your request a few minutes ago - welcome.

Models like the Sicily take only a few hours to buid. Ones like the one pictured take a little longer. For anyone into Facebook, I have a group: Merchant Ships in Miniature - Link https://www.facebook.com/groups/1841532386133008 Over 4,000 members, and very active, with both sail and steam, but merchant ships only - Closed group, but one can apply to join. Many techniques are supplied by members almost on a daily basis-

Hello BrewerPaul I rarerly come here these days, because I am totally lacking in patience for things like ships in bottles, but do quite a lot of miniature work. As far as I know, there are no kits for miniatures, and this is about all that you will find written on the subject. https://payhip.com/b/T98k Scroll down a bit after it opens to read the synopsis. Then, if you wish to purchase a download, a button for Paypal or cards is provided for £1.49. Here is a Utube presentation of the build. This is as simple as they get, and very few hand tools are needed, especially if you use balsa wood. https://youtu.be/j5ESlw72qHY You will find some more of my builds here on Bottled Shipbuilder. https://www.bottledshipbuilder.com/topic/444-small-topsail-schooner/ These models do not cost much to build, but they do require a bit of practice., but acceptable results are normally obtained on the first attempt as long as you can dismiss the thought "I could never do that!" There are no knots at all in the rigging, and special methods make it relatively simple. I have given up on most forums, but felt that you were quite keen to start miniatures.

PM sent - Bob