Endicott Pond Boat by Josh44 - Ship in Bottle

[josh44]

The family and I had the opportunity to stay in a beautiful Cape Cod rental this summer.  We'd been to the cape many times, but this time was the best.  The condo was decorated with wonderful Cape decor. Apart from the tide clock, my favorite was a pond boat mounted way up on the wall, just below a clerestory window.  In my mind this boat was the  embodiment of our stay there; the perfect totem!  On the first night, I knew that i would eventually make a SIB for this one.  You can imagine my happy surprise when this suggestion was met with great enthusiam from the entire family!

 

In my ongoing - and futile-  quest for perfect SIB execution, i was particularly drawn to this project:  A simple sloop with two shrouds, crisp colors, and a few accents on the deck.  The key to this one was not to be in a complicated construction , but rather in a careful and faithful build to best pay tribute to this inspiring image.

 

Spoiler alert: i came close!

 

I started with a hull blank - i didnt try and make the saggital cuts.

The wood i have are some nice scraps form the lumber yard, but I'l have to pay attention and  get some finer-grained wood for the future. I spent a lot of time working on those graceful curves and bends.  Lots of time with the mini belt sander, dremel, and hand sanding of course.   

This is as good as it was going to get.  

I played around with stains, but this wood was not fine enough, and i needed some really glossy.   Ultimately I chose a Testors oil based enamel.  

 

 

Yeah, not sure why i started with the classic 'two post on a base' concept. But i did, and even drilled two terrible holes in the keel of the boat.  Later i came to my senses and made a mini cradle. 

 

The mast is a 3/64" brass rod.

A cord end at the base of the mast will serve as part of the folding mechanism for the launch. 

 

Keeping it austere.

 

Next: trying to bring it home!

[josh44]

 I was still trying to figure out which hinge to use, and after a few tries I went with a very simple design: a cord end at the bottom of the mast to form the hing hollow, and small brass wire bent to 90' - basically no leafs on either side, just the pin up, over, and through.

 

Then i scrapped the idea of the two-posted pedastal that i favor for some other SIBs, and decided to make a tiny model of the cradle which holds the actual pond boat.This little cradle would prove to vex me later.

 

Brass rods for the mast and spar. The gaff mainsail is sitting up rather ok!

The mainsail sets up ok, as well.

 

I attached the shrouds onto thin, etched brass stencils, and then plastic welded that to the deck with bondic -  Perfect for this.

 

 

 The cradle was deceptively obliging at this point.

 

I used a 1 pint vintage whiskey bottle, as is my preference.  The inside of the bottle    - on its side-  was a bit wonky and uneven, so i mixed & poured small layer of liquid silicone to form a  new base surface, smooth and clear.  (forgot to take pics).

 

Shes folding down pretty easily

Ha!! In retrospect i see how the hinge pin was at a lousy angle, probably off by 30' !!

 

On initial attempts, i was unable to get the collasped ship into the bottle; the hinged mast stood up too high  when flattened.   So i figured  to take the mast off the hinge pin, and insert it all in unattached. 

 

 

         "Get in!  Get in, Laddie!!"

 

Next: Cleaning up all the mess!

[josh44]

Part 3 of 3:

 She settled in rather well. Until I pulled too hard on the 

Running rigging I attached to the bowsprit. So now,

 

  there's this. And this. 

Which I Eventually fixed with more CA and Bondic.

 

But because the mast sat on the bent rod at a 30 degree anle to port, so did all the rigging. Although the ship herself rested kind of funny in the cradle - maybe only a few degrees to starboard.  But in the end the sails were a bit askance to the deck, and the deck had a more prominent top view than the proper side view.

 

Therefore I had to build a stand which corected for all this, and let the enitre bottle tilt back about 35 degrees.

 A recliner for my lazy ship in the bottle.

 

But it made the optics better!!

 

I slapped on several coats of clear acrylic varnish

 to heghten the shininess!

 

Oh yes, and in case anyone noticed, that's the boat what come off the cradle inside the bottle.

 

I used that disaster as an opportunity to grab the ship with forceps and clean up any imperfections, holes, CA bloom, and paint issues.  Then I more formly reattachd her to the cradle with CA and Bondic.

 

 

 

 The stand is sanded and finished with Honey stain.

I dont even mind that the plywood sides are showing .

 The plaque completes my job.

 

If the mainsail hadn't come out so wonkified, Id be much more pleased. But as it is I think she'll do!

 

As I type, she is in the mail (!!!) to  the owners of the condo, as a surprise gift!

 

 

 Thanks for reading!