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Can she be saved?


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After rummaging about in the attic for my paints, glue etc I  came across this poor girl whom I thought had been consigned to the bin years ago.

My question is can she be saved and given a makeover.? Any suggestions and tips would be greatly appreciated. 

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Current builds;

 Henry Ramey Upcher 1:25

Providence whaleboat- 1:25     HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 

Completed:

HM Cutter Sherbourne- 1:64- finished    Triton cross section scratch- 1:60 - finished 

Non ship:  SBD-3 Dauntless 1:48 Hasegawa -FINISHED

 

 

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If it's plastic, I'd toss it...

     Current:         Emma C. Berry Lobster Smack-Model Shipways-1:32-1866

        Back on the shelf:    USS Essex- MS- "Old Yellow Box" Solid Hull  Wall Hanger (Half Hull)                                                                                                                                                                                              

   Completed:    18th Century Armed Longboat-MS 1/24

                          USN Picket Boat-MS 1864 1/24                                  

                          US Brig Syren by Sea Hoss- Model Shipways-1803

                          18th Century Carronade/Ship Section

                          Mayflower-Pilgrims Pride by Sea Hoss-Model Shipways-1620

                          18th Century Long Boat by Sea Hoss-Model Shipways

                          USS Constitution by Sea Hoss-Revel-Plastic

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I agree, the real question is how badly you want to restore it.  

 

I’d start by pulling off the broken parts and doing a good solid damage assessment on what your base looks like.  Then I would assemble my materials and plans to begin replacing the damaged parts.

Building: 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans)

1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)

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Also remember, if the hull is okay, masting and rigging aren’t bad to replace.  

 

It’s time consuming, but isn’t everything with this hobby?

 

If you decide to restore the model, be patient, take your time and enjoy the process.  Use it as a learning tool.

Building: 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans)

1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)

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She’s fine. Nothing looks as broken as a broken ship model, this may not be as bad as it looks. Try to save the shrouds if you can, otherwise I’d throw away all the rigging and sytematicaly re-rig her. If you can get her down to just the masts and the shrouds the rest is child’s play.

  

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 Niagara USS Constitution 

 

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The nice thing about a plastic kit is you can take it right into the shower with you and wash away every bit of dust, something you can’t do with wood. But I’d discard the plastic spars after using them as patterns to make wooden replacements.

  

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 Niagara USS Constitution 

 

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Gidday Edward.

Firstly I would remove the jumble of broken masts, spars etc.

You may be pleasantly surprised if the hull is O.K.

If she is plastic I would also replace what I could with timber.

I stress this is the way I would go and others may advise a different path.

Wishing you all the best ,

Mark.

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Good suggestions, all!  Would also be a great start for an 'after the battle' diorama - just a little tweaking here and there, put some crew to work cutting away spars/rigging, maybe add a few holes in the hull - one man's trash is another man's treasure.........in any case please keep us in the loop!  Steve M

Edited by coxswain
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Thanks for all suggestions, I will have a think and will probably have a go at something over the winter months.

Current builds;

 Henry Ramey Upcher 1:25

Providence whaleboat- 1:25     HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 

Completed:

HM Cutter Sherbourne- 1:64- finished    Triton cross section scratch- 1:60 - finished 

Non ship:  SBD-3 Dauntless 1:48 Hasegawa -FINISHED

 

 

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Placing a British ship to scale next to her would make a pretty realistic sea battle scene as the French vessel is shot to heck. The trick is finding a somewhat damaged British ship. 

Current Builds: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver 

                             Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee

                             Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia

 

Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

Good advice from all above! Whether you have the plans may be a determining factor. Whether you're interested in restoring her is a question you'll have to answer yourself.

 

I'll add another option, perhaps with tongue in cheek, but your dilemma brought to mind a solution from my childhood regarding the disposition of unwanted models...

 

1.   Get a bunch of friends together with a case of beer or a couple of bottles of the hard stuff.

2.   Get a digital video camera and tripod (a cell phone would do) and set them up on the shore of a suitable pond. at dusk

3.   Fill her with zip-loc bags full of diesel fuel and firecrackers (or cherry bombs, if those are still obtainable!) with the fuses tied together.

4.   Start the video camera, light the fuse, and push her out onto the pond.

5.   Enjoy!

6.   Post the video on MSW!

 

Remember, it's not real fun unless your mother tells you it might put your eye out. :D

 

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1 hour ago, Bob Cleek said:

Good advice from all above! Whether you have the plans may be a determining factor. Whether you're interested in restoring her is a question you'll have to answer yourself.

 

I'll add another option, perhaps with tongue in cheek, but your dilemma brought to mind a solution from my childhood regarding the disposition of unwanted models...

 

1.   Get a bunch of friends together with a case of beer or a couple of bottles of the hard stuff.

2.   Get a digital video camera and tripod (a cell phone would do) and set them up on the shore of a suitable pond. at dusk

3.   Fill her with zip-loc bags full of diesel fuel and firecrackers (or cherry bombs, if those are still obtainable!) with the fuses tied together.

4.   Start the video camera, light the fuse, and push her out onto the pond.

5.   Enjoy!

6.   Post the video on MSW!

 

Remember, it's not real fun unless your mother tells you it might put your eye out. :D

 

I'd be careful with that one.  I've heard of people getting into some minor trouble for "polluting".  But, most of us have probably done it.  Even floated some and shot at them with a BB gun.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Good point.  :P:P

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Javelin

The style you show appears to be a plank on bulk head version of models commonly known as Admiralty or Navy Board Style.  These were plank on frame, albeit, not normally showing actual framing practice such as in the example of a contemporary Navy Board model from the National Maritime Museum (Royal Museums Greenwich)  below.    Allan

d4067_1.jpg

PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series.   Click on http://trafalgar.tv   There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time.  THANK YOU

 

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  • 3 months later...

Late to the party but I'd save it. I specialize in buying up lost model ships at garage sales etc that are partial builds and/or missing parts kits. I tear them down, strip paint and rebuild them. It's really a lot of fun and a nice challenge for the evening. I just finished two, Stag Hound and USCG Eagle.. both were garage sale finds and had been partial builds then left for years. Both turned out really well. I had to buy partial kits and make some parts but in the end, I was pretty happy with them. The nice thing is the partial kit in a beat up box or zip lock is cheap.. compared a sealed "collectors" kit
 

 

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  • 3 years later...

 

 

I’m new to ship modeling, but I do like collecting and restoring “basket case” stuff. I guess that’s why I’m a preservationist as a day job... in any case I’d try and cut the rigging free and see what repair the masts might need, and what shape the hull is in (looks ok but maybe in need of a repaint. Then the next step is up to you, I suppose, depending on what kind of model you want in the end.

 

It might be interesting to try and model her as a ship in ordinary: you could have fairly bare masts and build a superstructure over the deck. The faded paint might even be appropriate if she’s a captured French ship that’s been sitting around in some English port for a while. And it’d be a unique subject!

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Edited by PlasticShipwright21
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This is bringing back my teenage years,  I remember a Revel Cutty Sark - whose rigging defeated me - zero outside references then.  I think a plastic Constitution and a Corsair II (?).

The memory that sticks is that at most any scale, plastic is a really poor material to use for the spars (masts and yards).   Even if it is a plastic kit, for the masting and rigging, it is time to go scratch with wood and scale appropriate cordage.

NRG member 50 years

 

Current:  

NMS

HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  - POF timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  - POF timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  - POF timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - POF framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

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  • 1 month later...

It appears as though she had a rather unfortunate encounter with the Royal Navy and came off second best.  Masts and rudder shot away, and all...  She hasn't struck yet, so bring alongside and standby the boarding party...!  Take her a prize.  Tow her to port and make repairs.  She'll fetch a pretty penny for the King.

Cut away all the rigging and start over.  The masts and spars appear repairable.  By the looks of it the masts are broken off at or near deck-level.  Rather than try to pull them out from the hull try to repair them by inserting telescoping plastic tube inside the original mast to make a reinforced splice.  It looks like many of the gun port lids are missing.  Something like those shouldn't be too hard to scratch-build from plastic card.

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  • 3 months later...

Restoring a model although perceived as being a bit daunting can actually be quite a bit of fun and rescue a model that would otherwise get binned.

Yes it will take time, but that is not what this is all about. It is more about the challenge of making a silk purse from a sow's ear.

And do you know what? As it's an old model, what have you got to lose by trying apart from some of your time?

In fact by doing a restoration, it will make you think in a different way to building a straight kit and the great bonus is by doing, the skills you will get to learn by having a go.

Once you get going problems will seem to sort themselves out along the way with a bit of lateral thinking. and what better way to learn about fully replacing masts and yards and  rigging a ship model?

Good luck with your endeavours as I reckon you will get a very nice model out of this with a bit of application.

Looks like Heller's Superbe and is an attractive looking ship well worth restoring.

 

Mike Sweeney appears to like restorations judging by his garage sale acquisitions.

Edited by NoelSmith
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