ikkypaul

Jim Lad - thank you - upwards of 1500 hours spent to date. You're right - a big job.

Welcome Richard - enjoy the journey - patience is one of the skills you'll need - but its all worth it. Go well.

mathewp - Thank you for responding - the ship does not have a name - but I can say that it is a good practical representation of a late 19th Century square rigger - my main reference book is Harold A Underhill's "Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier" first published 1946, and comparing rigging details - as far as I could in the 'bird's nest' I inherited - Julius (who was actually my uncle) was very accurate in details. Seems to me that even as a very small boy he was completely taken up with sailing ships. Indeed at age 14 he went off to sea and served in several square riggers.

Dan, I am quite thrilled that you have retrieved this material - thank you for doing that and for your patience with me. Now I can progress the log. Something I have discovered is that I should not have inserted more than 6 pictures in a posting. Thanks again. Paul

I am having trouble setting a build log title for my restoration of a sailing model of a 3 masted full rigged ship that is capable of actually sailing. As there doesn't seem to be a category for restorations of models, could the title simply be "Model Sailing Ship Restoration" ? I sent what I thought was a suitable first instalment for my build log but have had no response from Model Ship World to date. The photos sent however do appear simpy as attachments with no reference to the "parent document". I'd be so grateful for you assistance. Kind regards, Paul

At long last - having been much diverted over the past 6 months, I will attempt to write a coherent story of this project. In introducing myself I outlined the history of this model which you can read in my earlier postings. Briefly, the model was built by my Uncle Jules (Julius, born 14 Feb 1888) just before 1900, he is photographed with it sailing past him in 1899,so I know it does sail! It has no name. At age 14 Jules went off to sea for six or seven years, serving in several square riggers including the large "Down Easter" Edward Sewall. A few surviving letters home showed that it was at times a very tough life. Among his relics is his sailmaker's palm, and sketch books with some stunningly beautiful miniature drawings of a variety of sailing ships, plus his army issue copper pannikin (bowl) and mug from his first World War service. Sadly he died in Cologne Germany (occupational force) of the influenza epidemic. So this project is my memorial for Jules. My Dad inherited the model in the 1940s and it lived in its cradle on the wall of my parents bedroom until 1968 it was passed on to me. Having had a very quiet life the model was in a pretty sad state. The fore and mizzen masts were infested with woodworm as were several other masts and yards including the jibboom. There were no sails, these having presumably fallen apart over the years, butut the rigging was still recognisable. I was intrigued to discover that the ship had been altered after the sailing photos - in place of a large cargo hatch there is now a smaller hatch, and a deckhouse has been added. You can still see the outline of the big hatch in the decking. The hull is made from a solid piece of timber (lumber) On taking possession I began the restoration by cleaning out the accumulated dust of 60 years or so and fitting new mast sections, and jibboom, plus renewing bulwarks. Then did nothing from 1969 to 2010, except to get a glass case made for it. So for this posting I close now with a few photos of as it was. The fresh paint indicates where timbers have been replaced.