Willie L Bennett by Richard Bradfield - Model Shipways - 1/32 Scale - first build - Skipjack

[tarbrush]

Really really great work Richard.  I love all the detail you have done!  very impressive!

[Richard Bradfield]

Tim, Bob and Popeye,

Thanks for looking in and for the good words.  I haven't worked on the boat for about a week as I've helping my son refinish some furniture.  That project took a couple of days but turned out great.  My last post was about installing the dredge rollers and although they turned out great I had a problem with the blackened finish.  When I first blackened the parts and installed them the blackening looked great, a nice flat even finish but in about two days they turned rusty with splotches of black.  Looked kinda good actually, like they were really weathered but not in keeping with the rest of the boat.  I had to hand paint them after they were installed but they look good, so I'm happy.  I also have a tale of two sails to tell.  I made a previous post about my first try at sail making which I was quite proud of. Since then I decided to use the tan colored cloth so I remade the sails. The basic sails turned out good, nice seams, and hems. The next step was to put the bolt rope on.  I didn't think I could sew them on so I used glue.  On the jib sail I used ca glue to attach the bolt rope. It worked but stained the sail cloth and made the sail very stiff.  On the main sail I used elmers white glue to attach the bolt rope. That worked well and the sail was less stiff.

 

 

I then proceeded to put eyelets in the jib and this is what happened. The ca made the sail very brittle so I won't be doing that again. 

 

 

So back to the beginning. Since I have to remake the jib sail, I decided I will sew the bolt rope on and I also decided to take the time to install eyelets, and thimbles at all the sail lacing points.  That means I will have to remake the main sail as well, as the elmers glue made the bolt rope to hard to pass a needle through. That will be a VERY time consuming job but I think it will be very realistic and add a lot to the model.  The eyelets I am using are 1/16 dia. x 3/32 shank .  I tested whether I could do this well and these pics show the result.  The stitching on the piece of bolt rope will be much better than shown as this was just a test to see how difficult it would be.  

 

 

To maintain my sanity, I think the best plan is to work on these sails a bit at a time while also working on other aspects of the boat. 

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

 

 

 

 

[Richard Bradfield]

John (tarbrush), 

 

Thanks for the kudos. I appreciate it! 

[captainbob]

Thanks for sharing your learning curve on the sails.  It's good to know.  Your last try is looking very good.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

When I'm done sewing sails,  I like to paint them with a diluted white glue.   it helps to keep fraying from occurring.  I felt that's would happen if CA was used....so I've never used it.   the idea of the eyelets looks great.........something I never thought of.   you have a tool to install them,  I take it.  looks very nice!     I have different thickness needles......thinner needles work better.  the other day,  the admiral was looking for one.........I just laughed.

[Timothy Wood]

Sweet, nice work on the sails!

 

Tim

[SkerryAmp]

Wow! Sails look fantastic.

 

One of the two things I am very intimidated by at the moment,  the sails and the metal work.   You did great on both!! Kudos sir, kudos!!

 

-Adam

[gerty]

 Wow - Terrific job Rich !  

[wfrezel]

Richard,

 

I am also working on the Willie Bennett and like the way you made your sails. Where did you obtain the eyelets and what type of tool did you use to install them?

 

Bill

[andyp22]

Wow, this looks amazing!

 

Andrew

[alde]

Richard, Your workmanship and attention to detail is amazing. Thanks for the great build log.

 

Al

Edited January 17, 2014 by alde

[radrick21]

Richard, what a work of art.  Amazing.  I'm awaiting my Willie to arrive from SHipways.  I'll be referring to your log!

[Mac B]

Thanks for sharing this build. I have the kit on the way and this info is a treasure. Being from Md the old skipjacks are pieces of history

[russ]

Sewing the bolt rope on is a good call. I have made more than a few sails and it just looks better.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Nice work Richard. This really looks like a fun build....very nice clean detail.

[Old Coastie]

I had this kit 98% completed...... and then the refrigerator ice maker water line broke, water leaked thru a heat vent duct and drenched the boat and the box it was in.   I worked on this kit off and on for 15 years, and now I just have a box of misc parts.  I'm hoping to pick up a partially done kit on eBay and finish what I started in the '90s.........🙂