Daniel Caramagno

I've built in 1/8" scale and do not add copper nail detailing. Not only is it over scale, but there were specific nailing patterns used to mount the plates, and the patterns above would not simulate that. Common practice was best described as a lattice pattern as opposed to the rows above.
 
Just my two cents.

I recommend searching the Internet for wargaming figure tutorials. Dr. Faust is good. I paint LOTS of figures. Below 1/48 scale you can skip the eyes. However, I strongly recommend what is called the three layer painting process. For example:
 
Block paint the face a red brown or brown.
Highlight with a mix of the brown base and flesh.
Final, lesser highlight with pure flesh.
 
For the Knights, if they have black armor,
base coat black.
Highlight dark charcoal (3:1 black to white)
Final highlight is slate color ( 2:1 or 1:1 black to white mix)
 
Can do same layer process for other colors. Process adds depth and makes it pop.
 
You can also ink the figure after simple block painting to add relief. It is quicker. However it deadens the colors, particularly red and white. I would only do it if in a rush.

I've built in 1/8" scale and do not add copper nail detailing. Not only is it over scale, but there were specific nailing patterns used to mount the plates, and the patterns above would not simulate that. Common practice was best described as a lattice pattern as opposed to the rows above.
 
Just my two cents.

Preussen Clipper - Ship in Bottle - 1:857 scale
 
Background
 
For about six or seven years I have wanted to get into modelling ships in bottles. The last few years I have been tied up with miniature wargaming, editing a Naval Wargaming journal, and writing for another journal. There is a season for everything in life and the latter chapter needed to end.
 
For the last 7 months I conducted extensive research into the hobby and read quit a few books on modelling ships, reviewed a few books in my current library, and read articles on the Internet.
Books reviewed or purchased are;
Ship models in miniature – Donald McNarry How to make a clipper ship model – E.A. McCann The ship model builder assistant – Charles G. Davis The Nitrate Clippers – Basil Lubbock – courtesy of ‘Davyboy’ from MSW Ships in bottles – Guy DeMarco How to make a ship in a bottle – Clive Monk Ships in miniature (a new manual for model makers) -  Lloyd McCaffery Sailing ship rigs and rigging – Harold A. Underhill Ships-In-Bottles: A Step-By-Step Guide to a Venerable Nautical Craft Paperback  - Don Hubbard Internet Articles read are;
Preussen German 5 masted full-rigged ship 25’=1” – Robert A. Wilson The Five Masters – Nev Wade Recommended tools and equipment for scale modeling – Mike Ashey The Esmerelda build on MSW - Dave Fellingham BonHomme Richard as a ship in a light bulb model – John Fox III Heather Gabriel Rogers – Facebook Page Three masted ship in bottle – Michel Bardet Numerous other sites and activities concerning ships in bottles  
The Build
 
What I have come to realize is everyone is different when it comes to modelling ships in bottles. There are 3 basic techniques however there are different styles of building and displaying ship models in bottles. My motto for my build is; “Go big or go home.” I have always wanted to model the Preussen in a bottle and to display the vessel in a carved wooden sea with painted waves and wake. The clipper is a sailing machine and the German Preussen is no exception. She is built for speed and everything about her is designed to haul cargo. The biggest issue I debated over with her initially was how much detail was I willing to model and … at a scale of 1:857 this was going to get dicey in a big way!
 
Specifications
Seas will be carved from Douglas Fir Hull will be carved from Western Red Cedar Masts, & bow sprit from aluminum, brass and steel Yards and spars from cherry wood veneer laminated and turned All running rigging, rat lines etc. from fly tying thread Sails from expensive paper hand drawn pen and ink Bottle is to be a 1.5 Liter wine bottle for display One of the biggest errors I see, and please this is my own opinion is … some modellers “get stuck on too much detail.” At a scale of 1:857 how much detail is really necessary to get onto a model to get it believable? I looked at a lot of pictures of the Preussen on the internet whether by; B & W photos, paintings, and various models of her. It’s all about perspective and what the eye sees. The real ship has 1260 blocks and 248 rigging screws so there was no way on this earth I am going even to try to represent the aforementioned. I’ll put some detail into it where appropriate and skip the rest.
 
A bottle stand
 
I knew I needed to build myself a bottle stand so my bottle wouldn’t roll off of my work bench. I built the following stand from some left over balsa wood and made it to fit 2 common sizes of bottles for now.
 

 
Bottle in Position, note elastic band to secure it
 

 
Some wood to carve, Western Red Cedar on top, Douglas Fir flooring plank on the bottom
 

 
My home made stand to mount the hull on to work and keep all the running rigging from tangling up.
 

 
A close up
 

 
In my next post I talk about the plans, cutting the wood up and the carving details … Jeff

Can I assume copies will be at the NRG conference?

Can I assume copies will be at the NRG conference?

Can I assume copies will be at the NRG conference?