Steel barquentine 1892 25’=1″

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have been building the Mary Isabel for weeks now, but have only managed to put in a total of about 20 hours so far. The hull is almost ready to rig. Just needs davits, compass and a few rope coils. The display case is complete.I just don't have the enthusiasm that I once did.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I know the feeling, Bob

Any interest in building The Cutty Sark?……They should sell really well?

Make one and see how it goes?

A great idea…….Inspired?…..Yep!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Not the slightest interest in Cutty Sark, I am afraid. No historical value at all, because everything that ever happened to it has been written and rewritten so often that there is nothing new. Good enough looking ship, but models rarely bring very good prices because anyone wanting one has thousands to choose from.

I prefer the obscure and semi-obscure (but I am in a minority) It is not a matter of problems selling them, quite the reverse. Because I appear to be the only modeller on the internet that builds miniature merchant ships, I never get any peace. I stopped taking private commissions years ago. Then I started getting "If you ever think of building……, I will buy it!" That was really a private commission by another name. This is often followed by "I will pay up front before you even start the model!" That is worse than ever, the thought of getting, and probably spending, the money before the model is complete, then handing it over for what eventually feels like nothing!

At the moment, I am getting requests for "first refusals" on this one, but they usually "melt away" when they are complete, and someone else gets them, so I just say it is a matter of waiting until they are complete, and then "first come, first served!"

It is not a matter of selling them to raise money. Ideally, I just want to build models of my own choice and in my own time for my own pleasure. I sell them mainly to stop the house getting full! This one in the 266th that I have done since late 1992, when I started counting!

Collectors love them, and it is the constant pressure to produce them that has made me loose interest to a great extent. It would not be so bad if other modelmakers built similar types, thus taking the pressure off me – but generally, they (merchant ships pre-1965) are very unpopular amongst model makers.

Shouldn't take long to complete the Mary Isabel as the hardest part (the hull) is now complete. Masting and rigging is quick and easy, especially for a barquentine with only one square-rigged mast.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

OK, Bob…..I fully understand…….I already knew, anyway!

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob I suppose it is logical that today's model makers prefer ships contemporary with their generation just as you prefer ships contemporary with yours. It's an ageist thing!

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Colin,

That is probably true of Model Boats forum where a lot of the models are R/C, and of more up-to-date types, but it certainly isn't where static models are concerned. The static model forums such as http://www.modelshipworld.com are about 99% (and all the rest) are rooted in the Napoleonic warship era and not even as up-to-date as double topsails. Powered ships are hardly ever undertaken, although the odd one does surface from time to time! I actually have had my own section in **LINK** for many moons, but it has been a total failure with participation at a very low level, where again, Napoleonic warships reign supreme and no one has had anything to add for months now.

Bob

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Hi Bob

Hey this is a hobby, your hobby! Don't let other people's expectations rob you of the pleasure. I say build what you want , how and when you are in the mood for it. It is all about your pleasure. Sure we get a lot of pleasure seeing what you do too. If some one wants to buy the model and you want to sell it, fine, as long as it was a model you enjoyed building!

All the best

Amy jane

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Amy Jane,

Not so simple as that. I like putting them on my website showing the building progress from lump of wood to completed model and most site visitors are happy with that, and don't say anything until the models are complete. But there is a continual trickle of people wanting private commissions, or first refusal on what I am working on at the time, and that makes it feel like a commitment, even if it is not! Also a continual trickle of "suggestions" as to what I should build. How about this – I was once asked if I had plans for a certain ship. I said "yes, would you like a copy (free of charge). " "No, they replied, could you build it?" I replied that I didn't take private commissions. "I don't want to buy it!" they replied, "I just want to see you build it!"

Bob

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Fair enough. Mayhaps time for a new direction?

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have been building ships for so long, it would be hard to stop now! I suppose I should just stop giving excuses and reasons, trying to explain to people. I should just say I don't take private commissions and leave it at that!

I would really like to take up R/C, but no suitable water near where we are. Amazing that a place like Preston has no R/C pond, considering how popular the hobby seems to be!

Bob

[PaintpotpeteParticipant @paintpotpete]

Hi Bob, I know exactly how you feel about commissions as for many years I've earned my living as a marine painter (oils) and I stopped taking commissions years ago, when you take one they then start making so many demands on you that they kill all creativity within you. Anyway enough of that, I need your help. As you are aware, I'm building the 'Glenmoor' my problem is contact adhesive, I'm using Bostik all purpose, but it is very stringy and when gluing tiny parts it seems to prefer sticking to the tweezers sooner than the model, in 2010 you mentioned in a thread about Gorilla superglue, did you find this the best or have you found something even better, I hope you can help in this direction, look forward to hearing from you, Peter (paintpotpete)

A note to Colin, sorry I bothered you, I was looking on my ipad and mistook l for an i, obviously I can now post replies, Peter

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Peter,

Yes, you have hit the nail on the head about commissions!

Contact adhesive.

I prefer contact adhesive for rigging, but as you say, most of them are too stringy. For years, I used Thixofix, but they suddenly "improved" the formula and it became stringy. Then I went onto Bondloc from Maplin Electronics, but they discontinued it. Eventually, I discovered Edwards Contact Adhesive, ref Number F-20381 It is cheaper than other types, and quite runny, not stringy at all! I found it on Amazon by searching for the reference number F-20381. I still use Gorilla superglue and find it very good, but always use Edwards for the rigging nowadays.

Bob

[PaintpotpeteParticipant @paintpotpete]

Hi Bob, many thanks, I,ll start looking for F20381 on Amazon, Peter

Edited By Paintpotpete on 03/02/2015 20:47:17

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The main and mizzen masts are now complete, and also the standing rigging on all three masts. At the moment, it is looking a bit unbalanced. The next task is to fit the four jibs to the bowsprit, and finally, the five square sails on the foremast.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Another fine build, Bob!

Every item is so precise!

The ropes and sails are a sheer delight

What are the little triangular sails called and were they effective?

A nice assortment of sails…….I wonder how they decided on the final sail layout?

Lovely model……Is the grey hull the final colour?

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks Bob,

The triangular sails are called staysails when they are between the masts. They could minimize rolling and also helped to balance the whole rig. You very rarely see photographs of sailing ships without some of them set. Similar sails on the bowsprit are called jibs. Yes, the final colour is grey, which I find a bit drab, much preferring black or green hulls in sailing ships, or the once popular painted port colour scheme that was very smart.

There were all sorts of rigs, depending on the trade. Mary Isabel was built on the Firth of Forth, but sailed all the way to Australia, where she was registered in Sydney.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Bob

I suppose the stay sails would act similar to bilge keels?

Did this type of ship get blown over?

Can you imagine sailing all the way to Australia in those far off days and all the paperwork that had to be sorted out, before the ship was even built?

Did they have Telegraph Cables at the time?

How did the ship finish up?…..Wrecked somewhere, no doubt?

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Why would it be blown over Bob? If pressed to that extent the sails would blow out or the spars would break before the ship capsized.

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Sometimes they were overwhelmed, but as Colin says, sails tended to blow out before that happened. But if they got hit by a sudden squall, the order would be given to "cast off halliards." When they were cast off, the gaffs on the big fore-and-aft sails would come down at a run. The upper topsail, t'gallant and royal were all hoisting yards, so casting off their halliards would make those three yards come down very quickly, although the sails would probably flog themselves to pieces.

Anyway, the Mary Isabel disappeared in 1911, and it was generally assumed that she capsized for whatever reason. Couldn't sink very easily on that voyage as they had a full cargo of sawn timber. Not a very large crew either: Captain, chief mate, 2nd mate and steward, plus 4 crew and 2 boys. The ship was only 140 feet long and 28 feet wide.

I feel sure they had a telegraph cable in 1892, but there would not be much paperwork, and she may even have gone out in ballast.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Finished at last – gasp gasp

Bob

 

Edited By Bob Wilson on 11/02/2015 15:24:54

[PaintpotpeteParticipant @paintpotpete]

Hi Bob, another jewel, I'm in awe. May I pick your brain again whilst I'm on, you know I'm building the 'Glenmoor' in full hull version, you say use masking tape to simulate plating, which I have done, but how do you fair in the masking tape at bows, I've sanded sprayed and sanded, but can still see rough ends under paint, is it just a matter keep sanding, Peter

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Peter,

I don't fair it in, I just end the plating slightly short of the bow. When it has been painted, you can't tell. With miniatures, they usually look quite rough during the build, but after they are complete, they are generally viewed as a whole and small things do not attract attention. You can see that with the Mary Isabel. After it was in the sea and case, it looked a lot better than during construction.

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Very nice model as usual Bob, have you got your mojo back now?

Colin

[PaintpotpeteParticipant @paintpotpete]

Phew, that's a relief, will post completed miniature, peter

[Author]

Posts