ShipbuilderMN Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Lord Ripon, steel-hulled British four-masted barque, 32 feet to 1 inch. Another unpopular subject! Bob 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselweasel Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Rob that is another beauty, all your models are superb, please carry on showing them. Regards Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 I have no idea how that could be unpopular Bob, it is simply lovely! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 I can see how these could be thought upopular, all that old fashioned pointy, flappy, ropey stuff ,so century before last , just about where I feel comfortable, so please keep putting them up Bob, I love looking at them. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 There is usually some interest if I put images on forums, but very few models of them are actually built, the cry going up "I could never do that" or "I haven't the time!" If I display them in public exhibitions (that I stopped doing years ago), they barely get a casual glance because they are so small. When I take them to the local ship model society that meets once a month, it is just the same. Maybe one or two out of about 20 members will actaully come over and look closely. On the other hand, collectors cannot get enough of them. I recently began showing building progress once again on my website, requesting that no-one tried to stake a claim to them before they were finished. Sure enough, I began getting e-mails understanding what I was saying, but expressing a desire to purchase them anyway! That sort of thing puts pressure on me, even if it is unintended. Consequently, I suspended work on my latest model several weeks ago, and will no longer be showing building progress when I resume! These models do not take all that long to build, and sailing ships are far easier than powered ships. The rigging is all fine wire, just glued on, there are no knots anywhere! Bob 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Bob another beautiful build, please keep posting them on here as they are a joy to behold. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 That is just stunning - I'm in awe if the rigging is wiring. It's beautiful. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 It is far easier to rig miniatures with wire than thread. In fact I believe all of you could do it very easily, but the sticking point is always "I could never do that" before even trying. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 I always look forward to seeing your models being displayed on the forum. It is interesting reading your post, and I am wondering whether you feel that there is an over emphasis on warship models or is it the fact that there doesn’t appear to be that much interest in scratch building? As someone who has recently returned to modelling after a long break I have been surprised to see the changes in variety and quality of kits let alone the aftermarket enhancements. In my mind there is not as much incentive to scratch build any more. That said now I am starting to get my scratch building mojo back and I am open to the challenge of building a nice sailing ship model and I know I will get plenty of inspiration from your fantastic work. Thank you Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Always a pleasure to look over your builds Bob give so much inspiration to the likes of me trying to better my skills as I go along Beefy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 3 hours ago, ShipbuilderMN said: It is far easier to rig miniatures with wire than thread. In fact I believe all of you could do it very easily, but the sticking point is always "I could never do that" before even trying. Bob Bob, I'm interested. What gauge wire do you use - How do you get it so straight and conversely how do get those gentle "sag" curves? It is sooo effective. I've been using EZ line or similar to date which as a maritime novice, has been comparatively straight forward Thanks Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 To someone like me, all warships look very similar, and all being grey doesn't help. (I know very old ones could be black, or white). Merchant ships come in all sizes from a few tons up to quarter of a million or more, and most colours you can think of. I have sailed in black ships, white, yellow, blue, green and lavender! Also loads of different types from small coastal vessels, tramps, cargo ships, cargo liners. passenger liners, cruise ships, ore carriers, bulk carriers, log carriers, tankers, etc. From my brief naval service, I found it was just a continuous round of exercises and general inconvenience with an underlying (and surpressed) fear that we were sailing into dangerous waters. I was really glad to get back to normal again. The adventures to be had in merchant ships were in many ways far greater than sea battles and exercises. And if you liked danger, there were usually a few "incidents" thrown in from time to time! Also, it was nice to have the wife along, although she didn't appreciate it when we got a battering in a force ten, and had six inches of water slopping about on the cabin deck, despite being up on the boat deck behind the bridge! So, when I talk about the sea from time to time, she knows what it was like, and knows all my seafaring friends, having sailed with them, and had the opportunity to visit the Canary islands, Ascension, St. Helena, Cape Town and Tristan da Cunha. Storm ten shown below on an 11,500 ton ship with 15,000 tons of iron ore aboard! Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Rob, I use tinned copper wire blackened with a broad-tipped fibre pen. Just stretch it slightly with two small pairs of pliers. That makes it go straight. Cut it to the required length with a scalpel. Pick up in centre with small pair of tweezers, dip each end in glue and just place it on the model. If you need a curved piece, hold it by one end and gently stroke finger and thumb down it. The greater the pressure, the greater the curve! Just try it with a bit of fuse wire if you have any ling around. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 20, 2016 Author Share Posted December 20, 2016 Rob, I have sent you a PM. Bob PS. I use between 32 and 38swg wire mainly. Also some black enamel 0.1mm coloured wire from www.wires.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Very impressive - even more so after I spotted the Parker pen. A beautiful piece of work. Regards Richard C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich2010 Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 The ship itself is one thing, but your seascapes are the most realistic I've seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 31 minutes ago, rich2010 said: The ship itself is one thing, but your seascapes are the most realistic I've seen! I'd have to agree with this Bob. This base looks so real and it really sets the model off a treat. Your model of the Lord Ripon is beautiful. I may start sounding repetitive, but this one is your best yet; until the next one that is Do you have a favourite method of producing the sea element of your bases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 The sea is just polystyrene foam shaped with a small gas torch with the air intake turned down so it is just the strength of a candle flame. That is covered with crepe paper soaked in white wood glue. My wife paints the sea using Humbrol enamel! I have committed all my methods to cyberspace. For further details, please click my website link below my signature for full details. Note. I am NOT a business, and I just did this to make my methods freely available online! Here is a FREE download: http://payhip.com/b/aFVM Showing how I built the barque East African! Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrypotter Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 20 hours ago, ShipbuilderMN said: Rob, I use tinned copper wire blackened with a broad-tipped fibre pen. Just stretch it slightly with two small pairs of pliers. That makes it go straight. Cut it to the required length with a scalpel. Pick up in centre with small pair of tweezers, dip each end in glue and just place it on the model. If you need a curved piece, hold it by one end and gently stroke finger and thumb down it. The greater the pressure, the greater the curve! Just try it with a bit of fuse wire if you have any ling around. Bob When I actually get to that stage on a project of mine I'm planning to use the winding wire from an automotive relay, it's of a very fine diameter, but is also high quality copper, so very ductile and forgiving. Plus if you crack open a relay, there's lot's of it inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecov Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 14 hours ago, spruecutter said: Very impressive - even more so after I spotted the Parker pen. A beautiful piece of work. Regards Richard C His pen isn't that small. Here is his other one the same size - Seriously, your modelling skills are amazing, Bob, especially for the scale you are working in! Great work! Dave 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 Big pen for big hands! Bob 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 and again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killingholme Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) Lovely as usual. You'll know this Bob- why were turtlebacks on the stern so popular on late C19th ships like this? Is there a basis in naval architecture or was it just a design trend? Will Edited December 26, 2016 by Killingholme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShipbuilderMN Posted December 27, 2016 Author Share Posted December 27, 2016 I feel sure that it was simply to move the rails in a couple of feet to allow the shrouds and backstays to be connected to the outside of the iron or steel hull rather that on the inside of the rails or to clumsy projecting channels on the outside of wooden ships! It was carried on in steamers for a while, but then went out of fashion. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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