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Restoration of 80 Plus year Old "Sailors Model"


Thistle17

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I have been asked to restore a family's model of a fishing schooner modeled after a Maine vessel of the turn of the 20th century. I am told it was built by the builder of the original vessel. It has suffered the ravages of time and neglect. I need some recommendation of what to do with the sails. They were extremely well done perhaps the most notable execution of all elements. They do suffer from significant yellowing and environmental grime. They seem to be made of a very fine weave fabric and show no sign of rot. Can't tell if they are linen or a very fine weave cotton.

 

Joe 

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There was a time when sails were made using a drafting medium that was a very fine cloth.  The "starch" binder was extracted.  I have never encountered this material.  It could be this.

If you consult a museum conservator, a save way to clean may be suggested.  It sounds like it the material is hardy.  I am imagining that repeated rinsing repeatedly with distilled water would remove water soluble concretions.  The likely contributor to the yellowing is the condensed volatile products of tobacco combustion.  This is really nasty stuff to remove.

 

When done, it needs its own case.

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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I drew maps with pen and ink for a utility company in the mid-1980's.  The medium you refer to was starched linen.  The starch would take ink and with care, the ink could be erased.  With a linen substrate, the maps  could be folded many times and left folded without the danger of separating along the folds.  After so many revisions an old map had to be copied on to new material.  Some of the copied maps were 3X4 feet in dimension.   I would bring them to my Mom.  She had a dress-making/tailoring business at home.  She would wash the starch out and use the fine linen for making baby clothes. 

 

If you can find a source of old maps, ones without historical significance, you will have all the fine linen you will need.

 

 

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