Ship in a case

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Just before Christmas I was asked about model boats and whether I'd be interested in a discovered boat found in an attic. I always say yes, so was a little surprised to be given an old type small brown leather case, somewhat battered, but labelled 'model boat' fragile.

Opening revealed this

a somewhat damaged three masted ship. With some care I took the vessel out for an examination. Bowsprit was broke, two spars missing, but later found in the case, and no rudder. She's a little beauty and I shall endeavour to clean her up and try and fix what's broke etc.  She very much reminds me of Bob Wilson's miniatures, though this is about double his usual size.

When complete she'll be some 13 inches long. Now to try and identify her as there's no name or information at all about her.

Construction is a carved balsa hull with paper and other fragile materials above deck. Masts and spars are wood and all the rigging is cotton thread.

I'll post her restoration here as and when I get started.. Oh, the case is probable worth something too, I'll clean it up. I remember as a kid way back when this size was used for weekends away.

Aye, Kim

Edited By Kimosubby Shipyards on 18/01/2015 12:52:29

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Mystery model boat wrapped in tissue paper in a old leather case.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Kim

It looks like a clipper possibly the Maitland.

Paul

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Thanks Paul, that could be right. There's not much I can find about her yet, a couple of images, one is a painting head on with full sails.

I'll just have to take care cleaning her topsides, not much room in amongst all that rigging and I really don't want to take it all off unless as a last resort.

At least I can make a suitable rudder for her.

Aye, Kim

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hard to say what it is at the moment. Not the Maitland, because she had seven yards on each mast and was extremely lofty with moonsails over skysails on all three masts. Not Thermopylae either.

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Certainly looks like a tea clipper but there were dozens!

The fact that it has a balsa hull suggests that it was made post war and unless the builder had some sort of family connection with the ship it is probably from plans published in a magazine, book or from one of the plans ranges although it doesn't appear in my David Macgregor list and the Underhill plans are twice the size or more: **LINK**

Colin

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Thank you Bob and you too Colin.

I think she must be based on a clipper so will keep her in general to how she appears now.

I'll follow Bob's lead, and when completed put her into a nice display case for protection.

Aye, Kim

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Kim

Bob must be the leading expert on rigged ships so now that he is on the case I'm sure that you will soon know what the ship is called.

Paul

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