Mary Celeste

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Work beganm this morning.     Decided on it as a bit of a rest from the more complicated steamship POLITICIAN.   It is being built to the same scale as POLITICIAN – 32’=1″.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well Bob, you won’t have to worry about modelling the crew members then!

 

I think we will all look forward to your method of tackling a sailing ship subject.

 

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ho HO. not a ship to worry about the other bobs thread….include crew or not!!

 

 No arguments, sorry, agree to disagree, about action men or anything.  How about some ghostly fog effect????

 

Ashley

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The model will show the ship as in normal times under full sail, but I seldom bother with putting crews aboard them.        The finest miniaturist in this field, (in my opinion) Donald McNarry,  never puts crews on his simply because he doesn’t want to.    I followed his lead over 40 years ago.     I did notice during my many years at sea that when ships went past, even quite close, I was seldom aware of seeing anyone aboard them!    Ships are big, people are small!       Yachties are especially keen on saying they were nearly ploughed under by ships with no-one on the bridge, but the truth of the matter is that it is difficult to actually see anyone aboard ships at sea!

 

Anyway, during first day, the basic hull is almost complete.      Found a piece of scored decking left over from POLITICIAN for maindeck.    Have also veneered and assembled the quadrant beading for the display case.      Sailing ships are dead easy compared with steamers, but few people will agree with me.     MARY CELESTE – only two decks, poop being raised 2 feet above maindeck.    Only two masts, virtually no rails.   Boats stowed upside down.   Minimal deck fittings and very small, only a few feet longer than a standard railway carriage (UK).

 

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Colin

 

You should be on the stage…….

 

 

I heard the wind whistle as that one blew over peoples heads.

 

 

Paul

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now assembled the display case, complete with 18mm quadrant moulding round the base.   The inner base with its bevelled wood edging has also been made and the removeable tray for the sea fitted inside it.   The bare hull can be seen in the sea tray.   It looks rather short and fat, but that is only because I made it deeper to facilitate handling during construction.   Most of it will be under the sea when it is complete.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

All I have done today is fit and shape the sea.    As you can see, I gave it plenty of sea room.    I often feel that a lot of ship model builders tend to  “jam” their models into cases with bowsprit/jibboom almost touching one end and stern almost touching the other end!     On one occasion, I saw one with the top of the glass case resting on the mainmast  truck   When I asked why, the answer was “to give it a bit of support!”    

 

I always feel they look better when given “space,” but , of course, it is up to the individual as to how to display their model.

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Bob

 

Interesting new model!…………………..What year was the Mary Celeste mystery?……..I did read somewhere that the mystery was explained and a piano salesman was mentioned….or have I been dreaming again?

 

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

It took place in 1872.   When the ship was found, she was not in perfect condition as modern publicity often states.    Sails were blown out, the spanker gaff was hanging down because the peak halliards had gone and one of the hatch covers  was missing.     Probably just one of many such mysteries of the sea that will never be solved,     A famous author latched onto the incident and it became blown up to massive proportions.     I have no particular views on it – just another mystery of the sea.    

They did have a piano aboard, but so did lots of ships!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The hull has now been planked and painted and most of the deck fittings are in position.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Looking nice Bob…………..Do you use any optical gear when working on these little models?

 

I`m surprised you found the drawings of the full sized ship in the first place?

 

What material do you make the sails, please?

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Written specification details from the original builders of the ship appear in “The Great MARY CELESTE” Hoax, by Laurence J. Keating, published 1929.    These include hatch and deckhouse dimesions, boat positions, poop and forecastle length and height etc etc, description of deck details and a simple plan (hopelessly drawn!).    Further details and plans may be found in “The Secret of the MARY CELESTE by Gershom Bradford, published 1966.      Second hand copies of these books can usually be found on http://www.bookfinder.com

The sails will simply be white airmail paper on which I have printed the seams using the computer

 

The only optical gear I use for building the models are normal reading glasses.    Nothing on the model is all that small.   To read a book successfully, it is necessary to see full stops and commas and they are a lot smaller than the smallest fittings on MARY CELESTE!     I don’t really consider this to be any great shakes, it is just something I can build quickly whilst contemplating what to do next.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Not done much worth looking at today.   I veneered the display case, but it still looks pretty rough because the protective backing is still on both sides of the acrylic and the woodwork has not been varnished yet.

 

On going back to the model, I found that I had run out of steering wheels.   So I set to and etched 18 more from 2 ‘thou brass shim.   Enlarged, they look a bit uneven, but as you can see, they are very small and will look OK when painted.    Enough to make 18 sailing ships or 9 steamers.    Takes ages to make wheels, have to set up brass shim, then waiting for the slow etching process – glad it is done.

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Bob

 

How about a really dramatic rough sea for this one?

 

….and as a passing thought………..a few people in the water!!!!…………………….only joking really

 

 But a few pin heads wouldn`t be noticed as you said…….. and  would make a very interesting feature?

 

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hello Bob,

As you will have seen, the sea has already been formed.    The model is to show the ship in normal times under full sail.   To show her as abandoned, I would have to have blown out sails, spanker gaff hanging down, missing hatch cover etc and it would make it look a bit too bedraggled.   

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I didn’t do anything on the model over the week-end, but started again today.   The hull is almost finished now.   Just awaiting rope coils.    Next job is making the masts and starting the rigging, but if it is a nice day tomorrow, I will take advantage of it and assemble the carrying case in the morning, moving onto the model in the afternoon.

Viewing figures are now trailing off and I guess this one is just a bit “too small” to register much interest, despite the fact that it is the same scale as the steamer POLITICIAN!   

Bob

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Bob

 

Why not show Mary Celeste in company with Politician?……………Just to see the effect?

 

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Viewing figures are now trailing off
 

Maybe it’s a real scale model Bob – they’ve all disappeared!

 

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

 

Re: Viewing figures

 

Don’t forget that we are in summer holiday time and so the figures will drop off.

Would you rather have lots of “viewers” or a smaller number of people who really appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of your work.

 

I think that whatever the subject you will always have a confirmed following of skilled model builders who watch in stunned silence at your ability to work at such a small scale.

 

Paul

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks for replies.   I will certainly show it alongside POLITICIAN when sails are all set.   It will make an interesting comparison.

 

Lack of interest  –   When North West Model Shipwrights stage their exhibitions from time to time, I have noticed that 8 out of 10 visitors will just pass by the miniatures with maybe only a half second glance accompained by a blank look!     

 

I do write regularly for Model Shipwright  (every edition since 2004), but they approached me in the first place.   I have long since given up on all the others, or they have given up on me!    One editor (Not Model Boats) told me quite bluntly that their readers were rather “blinkered,” in their interests!

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Paul,

 

Our last entries crossed, I think were were typing them at the same time!     I probably get as much satisfaction from high viewing figures as a few comments.       But there is really no need to be stunned by it all.     Years agao, I only built large models at 8’=1″   I made the change to 32’=1″ suddenly after reading SHIPBUILDING IN MINIATURE by Donald McNarry.      I immediately found it easier and less time-consuming than big ones as well as being far more convenient.      It did take a few years to improve on them, but I was very happy with my initial efforts at miniatures.     I have lost count of the times I have heard people say, “I could never do anything like that!” or something along those lines.   When I first saw the McNarry models, my thoughts were ” How marvelous, I have no idea how he does it, but I am going to find out and follow in his footsteps!”    I wrote to him and he told me about his book.    I obtained a copy and never looked back.     None of it has been difficult, but it has been interesting and I find the fine work seems to keep my eyesight in good order, despite now being 65. 

 

Bob

[Barry FooteParticipant @barryfoote68385]

Bob,

I totally agree with you about giving them room in the case, but that is a lot easier at that mini scale, not so easy when the model is over a yard long!!!

A beautiful job by the way. I would love to learn your skills and have a go at building in that size.

Barry 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Barry,

With large models, the physical size is a problem, but I was really referring to smaller diorama-type models.    On extreme cases, even with miniatures, I have seen models put in the case diagonally with the bow in one corner and the stern in the other corner and to me the looks awful.     With a very large model of a ship with a full hull, it doesn’t really matter with the case ends being relatively close to the model.     But for ones in a sea, it lookes really odd if there is only half an inchor of sea at each end. 

 

I have found photograph of the last large model I built before going miniature and the first miniature I ever built.    They are both the same vessel, full-rigged ship BAY OF BENGAL.      later, I will scan them and post the pictures as they make an interesting comparison.    The pictures are dated on the back 1970!

 

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Posted by Barry Foote on 23/06/2009 08:42:55:

Bob,

I totally agree with you about giving them room in the case, but that is a lot easier at that mini scale, not so easy when the model is over a yard long!!!

A beautiful job by the way. I would love to learn your skills and have a go at building in that size.

Barry 

 

Barry, buy a copy of Bob’s CD based book which clearly explains his techniques and is a mine of information on how to build at this scale. It also includes example plans. As he says, it’s actually got a lot going for it as it doesn’t require extensive space or workshop facilities, the finished model doesn’t give storage or display problems and it allows you to tackle subjects you would never even consider at larger scales.

 

It’s certainly true that the two mainstream magazines will not give much, if any space to miniatures. Over the last 20 years or so the balance of interest in model boating has shifted firmly towards kits and ready to run models. This is where the bulk of the readership now is and the magazines as commercial entities have to reflect that. I was talking to Paul Freshney about this a little while back and his view was that while he admires miniatures he would only be able to justify running maybe one or two articles a year at most about them. Model Shipwright of course has a very different market, albeit now a niche one, so we should be grateful for small mercies.

 

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 23/06/2009 09:34:17

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