SS POLITICIAN

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The blocks are just blobs of paint.   The rigging is fine copper wire.   My wife generally paints portrait miniatures, but it is just a hobby.

 

Unlikely that I will ever build GREAT BRITAIN, don’t find it particularly attractive.

 

Don’t know what to do next.   It will probably be something smaller and less complicated such as a sailing ship.   With last seven models still unsold, I really have to slow down for a while.    Will probably build a radio set today as a bit of a change.

 

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

A very nice job as usual Bob, it’s fascinating the way you make them come to life like that. Despite what you say, it looks pretty good in close up to me!

 

Colin

[Phil Winks 1Participant @philwinks1]

Hear Hear Colin you should take full credit for your apparent and immense skills Bob even at what appears to be more than 1.5 times enlargement in the close up and it looks good

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I will be taking this model along to the next Northwest Model Shipwrights meeting, Saturday, 4th July, 2009 at Grimnsargh, Lancashire.   Guests welcome.   For full details, please see Shows and Events section.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Update.

 

FLOP!

 

At the maritime sale of Charles Miller Ltd, held yesterday in London.   The POLITICIAN failed to sell!     This usually happens with my best models, but anything I don’t think will sell often goes for a small fortune.

 

Just thought I would let you all know!

 

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

i think every one spent up, bob, bidding on the trafalgar union jack.

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The total sales proceeds, including the flag, were £710,904 for 299 lots.    

They didn’t all spend up though, because I sold the other three OK.

 

SELANDIA                 Danish motor ship £540

SVAERDSTAD          Norwegian barque £300

Diorama                     Napoleonic prison hulk £180.

 

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I think it’s just luck of the draw who turns up and whether the subject appeals to them.

 

Turning the discussion around, I collect metal 1:1250 models but I only buy if I personally like the prototype (and it is of an acceptable standard). A superb model of a subject which doesn’t appeal to me leaves me cold. Somebody else may love it though. I know some people like collecting container ship models but each to his own.

 

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

It certainly is.     During the building and before the sale, the POLITICIAN raised a tremendous amount of interest with several people “definitely going to go for it.”       Experience tells me that when this happens, they rarely even sell and all interest evaporates on sale day! 

Look at this one.   The hull is three inches long and I built it very quickly with the intention of entering it for a “Nelson” sale in London.   When it arrived, they said it was not suitable for the sale because, although Nelson sailed in it on the Arctic voyage, it was too small and insignificant to be of interest, but they entered it in the general maritime sale.   When it came up, the buyers went frantic and it sold for £780 and that was several years ago!   

My CD disk on Miniatures Shipbuilding  (Norwegian barque SVAERDSTAD) was also rejected by a publisher, but is selling like “hot cakes,” mainly to America.     You just can’t tell what the public are going to want.

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hello Bob,

I have been looking at your SS Politician. What a fantastic model. When I was a lad I did a bit of waterline modelling mainly at 100ft to the inch or 50ft to the inch. That was many years ago and since retirement I have been doing RC controlled model boats. Seeing your model has made me want to have a another go at the miniature waterline models. I have dug out some of the old plans I had as a lad produced by a long gone company Modelcraft Ltd and am thinking of having a go at a 50ft to the inch 1938 built Glenroy of the Glen Line. The model would be about 10 inches long.

Can you please give some information on your model?  What type of paint do you use? Do you use a sanding sealer? what material do you use for the rigging? How on earth did you make those boats?

Regards

Robin Lee

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hello Robin,

The hull is carved wood.    I never use sanding sealer at all these days.    I simply paint the finished hull with watered down Evo-stik wood adhesive.   In addition to working just as well as sanding sealer, it doesn’t give off poisonous fumes!    The black hull colour is Chromacolour water-based paint.    It dries in a few minutes (I have very little patience).   The red oxide is Red Oxide aerosol primer as used in car bodywork repairs.   I get it from Halfords.    The accommodation isn’t painted at all.    It is wood, faced with white plasticard.    The funnel is brass with the black and white parts spray painted.   The orange band is stuck on.    The boats are vacuum-formed in a small home-made vacuum box and the insides were drawn quite large, scanned into the computer and shrunk down to the size required.   They were printed onto self-adhesive paper and stuck on thin plasticard, cut out and stuck inside boats.   The grablines were made in a similar manner.    The rigging is all fine copper wire – easier than cotton – no knots at all.   Just glued on!

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the information. I am sure many would be interested in the home made vacuum box. That is something I have never heard of before.

Robin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

All the details of the box and all my current techniques for building miniature sailing ships is contained in a CD e-book that I have written.   Full details in the Buy/Sell or Trade section.   It covers the 7-inch long Norwegian barque SVAERDSTAD.    This disk is very popular in the USA, but not so much here.    30,600 words, 262 illustrations.

 

SVAERDSTAD sold at a London maritme auction last week for £300.    It was the same sale that the Trafalgar flag sold for £384,000!

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 25/10/2009 14:23:20

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hi Bob

Just had another look at your SS Politician. The rigging looks very impressive and as I understand it is glued on, not tied. In one picture posted on 11th June you have a single wire going between the mast tops with another wire joined to it running up from the bridge. How on earth did you do this? It looks like they are just joined by magic – no hint glue just a butt join.

Robin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Robin,

That is the main aerial and downlead.     The downlead was tacked on with a small amount of contact adhesive to each wire.   That made the bond immediately and it was backed up by  tiny spot of superglue.    I never use knots and most of my rigging is glued on with contacty adhesive.   The only excpetion is the ratlines in sailing ships and these are soldered to the shrouds (Tinned copper wire for both shrouds & ratlines).    Paint the whole lot with black spray paint after soldering.

 

Sorry for late reply, was in London today for laser eye surgery.    Both painless and successful.     Back in action tomorrow.

Best wishes

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hi Bob, thanks for the information. May I ask what contact adhesive you use? I have tried using just super glue and it does not work. I don’t know what size wire you are using but I am using 0.1mm tinned copper wire and perhaps the contact area is too small for superglue to get a grip. I have tried human hair of a slightly smaller diameter and thus works better. Maybe hair has a rougher surface? Anyway I would prefer to use wire so will try your technique.

Good news  about your eyes Bob.

Regards

Robin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Robin,

 

I use Bondloc Contact Adhesive that is available from Maplin Electronics.   They have a shop in most cities, but are mail order as well.   There are a number of Bondloc products, so it is necessary to get Bondloc Contact Adhesive.    It is nowhere near as stringy as other types (Evostik etc).    I use 0,1mm black enamelled wire for most of the rigging.   I obtain it from The Scientific Wire Co, London   http://www.wires.co.uk    I get all my wire from them, tinned or enamelled.

 

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hi Bob,

We have a Maplin in town but I have looked on the Maplin web site and it says the Bondloc contact adhesive code N59BZ is “Web only”. By the way I want to make a case and I note you use acrylic. What do you find is the best thickness to use? I also got my wire from http://www.wires.co.uk – very good source.

Regards

Robin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Robin,

My local Maplin always stocks the Contact Adhesive, but I don’t see why your local store couldn’t get it for you if you asked!     I always use 3mm acrylic sheet.    I get it from Ebay where there is always plenty listed.

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Thanks Bob, I will do as you suggest.

Regards

Robin

 

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