Possible new technique for making sails.

[rckdr]

While daydreaming some time ago I thought of a possible technique for making sails.  One of the most archival fibers around is linen, but it is difficult to find linen cloth in a fine tight weave.  A company called Light Impressions makes an acid free finely woven linen tape with a water soluble adhesive backing.  The link is:  http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/acid-free-linen-tape-white-1-x-20yds/archival-adhesive-tapes/ .

 

I think it might be possible to cut the tape into strips to match the panels on the real sail and then glue the panels together by the edges using the adhesive backing.  The panels could then be stitched together and the bolt ropes and other details added.  Finally the sail would be soaked in water to remove the adhesive backing, the panels now being held together by the stitching.

 

I am not planning on building any models with sails in the near future but perhaps someone who is could try this technique and let all of us know if it works.

[rckdr]

For some reason the link did not print fully but go to lightimpressionsdirect.com and search for "linen tape"

[mtaylor]

Try this:  http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/acid-free-linen-tape-white-1-x-20yds/archival-adhesive-tapes/

 

Full URL's never show fully on the page unless you hover over it with your mouse.  The full URL usually shows at the bottom of your browser.

 

You're link didn't work because of additional characters at the end.. probably  space and period. 

[wefalck]

Not sure, why everyone wants stitched sails. The stitching and the thread used are grossly out of scale unless you work in say 1:24 or bigger.

 

However, glueing the panels together is an option. Not sure the glue on the tape would be strong enough for the narrow seams in the sails. It is meant for full-surface re-enforcement in picture-mounting and book-binding.

Edited April 30, 2015 by wefalck

[Guest Tim I.]

I checked out the link. It sounds like a neat idea for making sails. Ironically, the store not too far away from where I live. I will check them out! 

 

Thank you!

 

- Tim

[druxey]

With due respect to the model sailmakers out there: any stitching at scales under about 1:6 looks way over-size, as Wefalck has said.

[Jack12477]

As a photographer I have dealt with Light Impressions many times; their products are excellent and their service is also.

[rckdr]

My main thought was that this is a finely woven linen cloth. It will take some ingenuity to figure out how to turn it into sails.

[Bob Cleek]

Double ditto!  If you must, a very fine and light pencil line is a better representation in scales smaller than what permits actual stitching.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Bob Cleek

[wefalck]

Actually, as the sail would be put together from its panels etc. you don't need any pencil lines and the likes. The seams would show up as on the prototype by the shadow of the edge of the panel or doubling.

[dafi]

It is right, the stiches on the seams themselves usually are not visible, due to the almost same color as the cloth. What one sees is the different transparency because of the doubling of the material in these area.

 

Looking forward for the reports on this material !

 

Cheers, Daniel

Edited May 3, 2015 by dafi

[Tadeusz43]

Hi,

For models in 1: 100 scale I use sails made by thermo transfer.
 I print a sails pattern on thermal transfer paper and iron on the fabric.

The edges are folded and glued fabric glue also the leech ropes are glued with sails with glue.

 

Tadeusz

[Mirabell61]

good idea Tadeusz,

 

its the same technique as printing flags....,

Thanks for sharing

 

Nils

[druxey]

There is a new technique for making sails described in the revised TFFM, Volume IV. (The relevant information is also available as a separate booklet form SeaWatch Books.) The results can be seen on the 'workshops' page of Admiralty Models. You can see for yourself how this looks.

[paul ron]

If we can find out who makes the tape?... Maybe its possable to get the material in sheets without glue.

 

Also, gluing strips will make your sails stiff n awkward when setup.

 

Besides archival photo tape glue wont last long before it lets go, i use this tape to hinge mount my photos. I have to retape them every few years.

[rckdr]

My original idea was to stitch the seams after gluing and then soak in water to remove the glue completely. The glue is only temporary. Also, I don't think Admiralty Models uses linen in their technique. I believe that linen is the most archival fiber available to us including synthetics.

Edited May 6, 2015 by rckdr