Zooker

I've done some reading and was lucky enough to get a copy of the original plans for this model; I hope to soon attempt small steps in restoring it to at least a more presentable condition.  What I need to do is find a way to reproduce  the short railing on the stern.

I live in rural Wisconsin and the clubs tend to be several hours away.

I've been doing a lot of reading given that I am by no means an experienced modeler.  I need to make some templates for the Sea Witch (Since my last posting, I was fortunate enough to get the original plans for this model.  (Marine Model Kit #1079)  So...how do I create templates for the bow sprit cap, dolphin striker, horns, as well as the transom rail, etc?  Thank you. 

Bill:

Sorry I missed this post about a template for this railing.  I'd love to have it.  Thank you.

Here you go.  These OK?

Well, I got lucky recently when another modeler visited this site and saw my interest in obtaining the blueprints for this particular Sea Witch model.  He had just completed building his after umpteen years of having the kit.  It's the Marine Model #1079 that was first drawn in 1937.  He had no more use for the blueprints so he gave them to me!  Now my question is:  Where do I start?  I'd say 90 percent of the rigging is still in place; the problem is that parts of the masts and spars have come unglued so it's just a matter of putting them back together.  The bow sprit is in pretty bad shape;  the top mast stay is missing and I'd like to know how one would go about reproducing it.  I can send photos of the bow sprit if folks here think it would be helpful.  Again, let me emphasize that I've never built a ship model of this complexity.  I just want to get as close as I can to restoring what my uncle did with so much devotion in 1956.  Thank you.

It's been a while since I posted this item, and I've done very little except for cleaning up this model where possible because I was hoping to learn which company made this kit in order to find the original blueprints that would help me (a total novice) to attempt restoration.  Well, a couple weeks ago someone on the West Coast (who is not a member) decided to browse this site and saw the photos of my uncle's model.  He emailed me directly and said it looked very similar to the model he just completed and sent photos of his.   Close, I thought, but not quite that of my uncle's.  He admitted not following the drawings to the letter, adding that I could have his blueprints; they arrived yesterday.  They were from the Marine Model Co. in N.Y and were drawn in 1937 and revised in 1958;  my uncle completed his in 1956.  What I noticed on the drawings was that the brow sprit comprised two pieces of wood, as is the case with mine.  The other fellow's has only the longer piece, and the colors he used do not match those on my uncle's.  I felt sure that these drawings were of little use to me, but then I came across a small set of instructions among the blueprints and discovered that the paint colors on my model match exactly those used my uncle.  Voila!  My search has ended, thanks to somebody who just decided to "drop in" for a visit to this site.  My wife said it best:  There are a lot of nice people in this world!

Well, I think I'd need more than a few lemon slices.   The solution for me, however, is to just spit into a small plastic cup and keep dipping the swabs into it.  But you guys are right:  It works! 

There are some areas on the deck that are pretty cruddy due to years of gathering dust.  I have Q-tips on long sticks like those used in medicine and I'm wondering what -if anything - I should use to dampen them that would aid in the cleaning?  Water?  Alcohol?  Thanks.

Is anyone familiar with this book?  Also, are there special tools for rigging?  Thanks!

Chris:

Please do and thanks!

Zooker

OK, so how do I start a build log and move all this stuff that has been written thus far?

Also, Jim Lad earlier recommended that I get a copy of Harold Underhill's "Masting and Rigging: The Clipper Ship And Ocean Carrier"  This would cover the  rigging of the actual ship and not a model, correct?

Louie:

Are you suggesting that it might be best to remove all the rigging and then start from scratch after all else is repaired/replaced?

The railing is wood.

Bill:

Appreciate your input here, but I don't think this is the correct model.   My uncle completed this in 1956.  It is approx. 21" H but only 30" in length.   I'll try contacting the seller of this kit.  

Thanks, Louie.  One of the things that worries me is how I'm going to replace the rail that runs the width of the stern.  How do you duplicate such a small piece?

Well, DeGlue is for water-based adhesive, but it appears that the glue my uncle used was an epoxy.  As I mentioned earlier, the glue is solid white and rock hard.

Chuck:

Thanks for this; I have some of this alcohol.  BTW, any thoughts on what kind of glue modelers were using in the 1950s?  Were they primarily water-based?

Anybody use this stuff?

You guys ever hear of this stuff?

Kurt: 

The BSI glue sounds like what I'm looking for, but I don't think I need a gap filler if I'm only reattaching mast tops and spars, right?  Hopefully I can remove the old adhesive using the method(s) described by others in earlier posts.

BTW:  We lived in Lombard for 26 years prior to moving to Wisconsin.  Nice town!

For most of the repairs, I need the strongest possible bond because of the stress on them.  Basic wood glue will suffice for the other misc. items.  Thanks for your input.  I can never get enough info for this first-time project for me.

I need something strong and quick-drying because I'm repairing mast tops and spars that hold rigging.

Is there a favorite brand among you folks who use this type of adhesive?  I see that Gorilla Glue has a syringe product, but this is far more than I would require for my restoration project.

Roger:

Thanks for this info.  I'm new to this whole thing, so I don't know what a "PM" is.  Anyway, the main mast is about 21.5" tall and the overall hull length is slightly more than 30" (I can't get an exact measurement because the bow sprite is broken off (but still repairable.)  The brass plate identifying this model, BTW, includes this:  "Canton Clipper Ship."

Zooker

P.S.  I have no illusions about a perfect restoration on this, e.g., the entire railing is gone from the back of the stern.  My goal is to at least restore the masts, spars and rigging so it will look respectable.  My uncle would be so PO'd if he could see what has happened to this model!