Jump to content
MSW Spring Donation Drive

Jaxboat

NRG Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    327

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Jaxboat

  1. Jaxboat
    Grandtline.com?
  2. Jaxboat
    I love the Brit term "Bog-Standard". I worked for an American Chemical Company with a Newcastle UK plant. This phrase cropped up frequently from the locals. Once the Yanks all found out the meaning of the phrase, it became a favorite part of our lexicon. You haven't fully experienced life until you hear a University of Alabama engineering grad say "bog standard" (Roll Tide!). I wholeheartedly subscribe to your use of resin castings versus metal. They are better than any metal ones I have seen in almost every way. "Watton Victory Model frenzy" continues to build!! Best Jaxboat
  3. Jaxboat
    Hi Chris, Congrats on the weight loss. I went through a similar transformation 2 years ago mostly through daily walking but also changing my diet. I lost 40 lb. (not sure how many "stone" that is ). The trick now is to make daily exercise an "unconscious" activity that you just do without even thinking about it. Best Jaxboat My English Greyhound , "MS Abigail Grey" sends her regards to her wiener friends
  4. Jaxboat
    All I can say is Wow! Need to get working on my home addition to house Victory! I read where you are losing weight. If you are walking and working out I think you will find your mind also sharpens up and you jsut feel much more energy and creativity. Best Jaxboat P.S., Hope the Wiener dogs are doing well. Are they training with you, too?
  5. Jaxboat
    Or maybe Amati told him: "loose lips sink (planned wooden model)ships!" Jaxboat
  6. Jaxboat
    Red Ochre refers to a pigment used in paint. Basically it is iron that is oxidized. In this case, red is rust. If you reduce the amount of oxygen when burning in the presence of iron you can also produce various shades of brown, tan and even black. Red ochre is some what subdued compared to organic reds but it is authentic for ship use. The pigment would be dispersed in some kind of vehicle (not sure what it would be in 17th and 18th century). There were organic red pigments available but they were expensive and not very UV stable Jaxboat
  7. Jaxboat
    The red came from Red lead pigment. Until recently Lead was replaced by organo tin compounds. Anti-fouling paints now make use of organic compounds which are more biodegradable after leaching (mechanism for fouling control for all). The Italian Navy did use a green anti-fouling paint but I do not know the Chemistry. Jaxboat
  8. Jaxboat
    Cellulose nitrate is known as "nitro cellulose" in English. It was the first synthetic paint vehicle. Model T Fords were all painted with Nitro Cellulose lacquers. It also had a long run in furniture finishing. In the skilled hands of SE High Point NC US furniture experts, it could be used in many, many coats to give a beautiful warm finish. It has virtually disappeared from that application because of air pollution issues from the solvent. It is also related to gun cotton. Nitro cellulose is not UV stable and readily degrades in sunlight
  9. Jaxboat
    All good ideas. I would start with a medium paint brush and very carefully remove any surface dust I could. The saliva idea is worthwhile. New moms have been using saliva as a primary cleaning agent for their progeny for millennia! . I would also try a dilute solution of Isopropanol. You can buy it at any pharmacy. I would experiment at a discrete can be seen spot on the hull. IPA can affect acrylics but I suspect this model was not painted with acrylics. A weak solution of IPA can remove greasy sol including nicotine. Good luck with he project. It looks like a beautiful model. Jaxboat
  10. Jaxboat
    Fascinating! And the amazing thing is there was no "research" as such. Everything was learned through the accumulation of experience over the generations. Best Jaxboat
  11. Jaxboat
    Druxey< Interesting factoid about how decks were installed. Any reason planks were trenield and decks spiked? Best Jaxboat
  12. Jaxboat
    Some of you have been subjected to my frequent harping that ship modelers refer to "acrylics" as if it was an all inclusive term, So I found the perfect example today to show it isn't. Many of us use floor polish polymers to provide a removable coating or smooth coating for placing decals. The solution is fairly clear because the acrylic polymers employed are actually water soluble under basic (high pH) conditions because they are low molecular weight and have hydroxyl and acid functional acrylic monomers in them which promote water solubility. Once upon a time, these type of floor polishes also contained a soluble zinc salt which would complex with the functional groups as the polish dried and provide a more durable finish that could only be stripped off using a very basic ammonia solution to resolublize the Zn. The EPA put a stop to that when they realized how much soluble (toxic) Zn was being discharged into rivers and streams. I am only making the point that acrylics vary widely in composition and molecular weight which give them very differing capabilities. It is a very versatile chemistry.
  13. Jaxboat
    You are correct, Druxey. The energy imparted by the brushing or spraying breaks the temporary hydrogen bonds that form when no energy is being applied. When the energy is no longer being applied the hydrogen bonds reform and give a higher apparent viscosity Best Jaxboat
  14. Jaxboat
    Everyone is waiting for he Amati. Nothing from Chris Watton on it for some time. One big question is will you have a space to display it when finished or will you have to build an addition to your house! I believe Chris also designed the Caldercraft Victory so he would end up with the two best models, Jaxboat
  15. Jaxboat
    Great job! A little late but there is a book about enhancing the Lady Nelson. Can't remember the exact title but you can google on Amazon. You are doing such a good job that I don't know if it would be helpful but I thought I would mention it. Jaxboat
  16. Jaxboat
    All good observations here. I would add that I often come upon bits and scraps from my home life that result in a lightbulb revelation that they would be good for some arcane operation that I am performing on my model du jour. It drives the admiral crazy but she allows for my eccentricities. I think it is part of the fun of the hobby. I also follow the creed of Tom and Ray from the Tappet brothers on NPR which is never pass an opportunity that justifies acquiring a new tool. Jaxboat
  17. Jaxboat
    First add in quite a while more pics to come. Deck hatches and base for ship stove, Challenging but great fun
  18. Jaxboat
    Love the discussion on paint. Grumbacher was once my customer for acrylic vehicles in the early seventies. I sold them 55 gal drums of the same acrylic vehicle as I was selling to clients making exterior house paint. One must remember that acrylic paint is not a all inclusive monolithic term like alkyd paint . "Acrylic" is a type of chemistry . In the water borne paint area a it encompasses everything from 100% emulsions (i.e. no water solubility at all) to partially solubilized vehicles. Additives also have a huge impact on rheology and flow. Frequent applications with water reduced (or alcohol reduced) solids will result in excellent flow and leveling but if you dilute too much you will have problems. I was very interested in your comments on brushes. I am well aware of Druxey's preferences. Most acrylic vehicles give non-Newtonian flow and are thixotropic. The brush not only puts paint on the surface but the act of brushing generates energy which results in improved flow. In essence the energy applied breaks down bonds temporally which results in a temporary reduction in viscosity which allows for improved flow and leveling. Not sure why a flat brush would give you differing results but it is an interesting question.
  19. Jaxboat
    Hi Pompey: Another factor in Caldercraft's decision to exit Solvent borne enamels was stricter UK rules on shipping solvent borne paint and increase consumer concerns about toxic solvent inhalation. Enamels "wet" surfaces better than acrylics allowing for better flow and leveling. Acrylics have come a long way in flow and leveling but still lag enamels and lacquers. It is much more difficult to formulate a gloss acrylic then a gloss enamel because of this wetting issue although ancillary wetting agents and resins have almost solved the problem. Color is solely the result of the pigments used in the paint. Acrylic covers a large array of chemical types let alone various additives and co-resins used. I use acrylics because of the lack of solvent exposure and ease of cleanup
  20. Jaxboat
    Reading labels and safety warnings is step one with these agents. If you are stilled concerned about the toxicity of a blackening agent (or any chemical product) ask the manufacturer for a MSDS (material safety day sheet.). Many MSDS will tell you exactly what is in the product. Even if the material is listed as proprietary, the MSDS will describe any toxicity issues and proper precautions to take. As degreed Chemist, I have a house rule that chances are that anything that will react at room temperature will react with "you".. That having been said, proper ventilation, use of protective gloves and eye protection are most likely all you need to handle these material. Jaxboat
  21. Jaxboat
    Has anyone tried the railroad rivet decals that micro mark sells? Best Jaxboat
  22. Jaxboat
    RE: craft store acrylics. Cheap, yes but for a reason. All "acrylics" are not created equal. "Acrylic" is a generic chemical term for a large class of water borne plastic paint vehicles. Adhesion to wood is a given and easy to achieve. Appearance after application and drying is another thing entirely. Quality hobby acrylics have superior flow and leveling once applied and are optimized for airbrushing and hand brushing. They also contain additives and employ finer particle grades of pigments to assist in optimizing those properties. Don't believe me? Here's a comparison test for you: brush coat a flat smooth surface (glass, Styrene sheet) using a cheap craft store acrylic and any Vallejo paint. Toughest comparison would be a gloss black. Easiest would be flat white. Now do the same with an airbrush. Go right out of the bottle with both paints. Best Jaxboat
  23. Jaxboat
    Ok Here are the most recent. I struggled with the stern because I broke the upright repeatedly. I eventually did the best I could to align things I used the windows as patterns by laminating wood onto the frames then tracing the windows onto the beefed up frames until the windows fit perfect. That's one of Chuck's little cannons. I did the quoin handle with files. The cannon kits are exquisite. I did one of the ship's boats as a break. It was quite challenging. The design is excellent. The Castings for the stern aren't two bad except for the quarter gallery drops. They are terrible. One did not even fit a laser cut piece designed for it. I look forward to starting the interior work. I highly recommend this kit especially if you get Chuck's upgrades (Marvin the Martian figurehead replacement, cannons, cannon carriage kits etc.).
  24. Jaxboat
    OK Here are some recent shots
  25. Jaxboat
    Been really bad filing progress, The hull is basically finished. I am finishing up the stern fittings then onto the Ship interior. I really struggled with the windows . I finally developed a method to install them properly. I also had problems with the drops on the quarter galleries. The drop castings are terrible and don't fit the laser cut pieces designed for them, I have genuinely enjoyed building this kit. Chucks kit is beautifully designed and the instructions are clear. Pics soon Best Jaxboat

About us

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

SSL Secured

Your security is important for us so this Website is SSL-Secured

NRG Mailing Address

Nautical Research Guild
237 South Lincoln Street
Westmont IL, 60559-1917

Model Ship World ® and the MSW logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,929,264 & No. 6,929,274, registered Dec. 20, 2022)

Helpful Links

About the NRG

If you enjoy building ship models that are historically accurate as well as beautiful, then The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is just right for you.

The Guild is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to “Advance Ship Modeling Through Research”. We provide support to our members in their efforts to raise the quality of their model ships.

The Nautical Research Guild has published our world-renowned quarterly magazine, The Nautical Research Journal, since 1955. The pages of the Journal are full of articles by accomplished ship modelers who show you how they create those exquisite details on their models, and by maritime historians who show you the correct details to build. The Journal is available in both print and digital editions. Go to the NRG web site (www.thenrg.org) to download a complimentary digital copy of the Journal. The NRG also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the Journal and the former Ships in Scale and Model Ship Builder magazines.

Our Emblem ®

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

Nautical Research Guild ® and the NRG logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,999,236 & No. 6,999,237, registered March 14, 2023)

×
×
  • Create New...