Syren Ship Model Company News, Updates and Info.....(part 2)

[Jack12477]

Congratulations Chuck, I have a grand-daughter's wedding coming up in October.  

[Chuck]

Coming soon MAYBE???  I was looking for a nautical puzzle that was interesting and colorful and there just isnt much out there.  Soooo....

 

500 piece and 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles of ship models/Ships like this.  They are very fanciful and all in this style.  Very whimsical Dali-esque indeed.  Since they are somewhat expensive to produce I figured I would gauge how much interest is out there.

 

The second image is actually my Winnie model but as you guessed it made into a fantasy image...very puzzle like as you would want and expect.  I have this image on order for myself but thought maybe to produce others if you guys are puzzlers.

 

[Desertanimal]

Very interesting. What kind of wood, overall size? 
Chris

[Chuck]

They would be regular jigsaw puzzles and not wood...and 30" x 20" if 1000 pieces.

 

Chuck

[CiscoH]

How do you Chuck, of all people, have time to build puzzles?

 

and I like the second image the best 

Edited September 12 by CiscoH

[hamilton]

Cool idea - as an occasional puzzler (1 at Christmas, completed furiously; 2 in the summer, nibbled away at in my leisure) I've noticed that there are a diminishing number of good subjects and manufacturers seem mostly to be going for either branded images (disney, star wars, etc.) or really crazy-making and repetitive ones (near identical red and white striped candies in a bowl, or a bunch of watches in a pile, etc.). There is the Ravensburger 9000-piece Battle of Algiers (which I hope to get as a retirement gift - though my pension statement tells me that I won't really be able to afford to retire until my mid-70s), but right now that is not a realistic possibility, attractive as it is.

 

I usually try to find historical images, cityscapes or landscapes - but these are increasingly not on offer by the main manufacturers, and I just can't bring myself to do a puzzle featuring kittens playing with yarn or an assortment of Disney princesses (no judgement against those who go for that sort of thing).  These images immediately attract the eye and are actually interesting subjects even for people who aren't into ship modelling. 

hamilton

 

[GGibson]

I would seriously consider one for my wife.  She enjoys puzzles, even has one of those large felt boards so she can easily move a "puzzle-in-progress" from the kitchen table when not working on it.  If I am working on a ship, why can't she build one, too?!? 🤷‍♂️🤣

[Beckmann]

Hi Chuck,

I would take one. Great idea!

Matthias

[KennyH78]

 Chuck, I would also be interested in a puzzle of Winnie. 

[hollowneck]

7 hours ago, Beckmann said:

Hi Chuck,

I would take one. Great idea!

Matthias

Me too. I suggest a triptych (series of 3). $30-40 range would work. Place a subtle, small brand for Syren in one corner.

[Erik A]

Im a puzzler and have over 100 puzzles. mostly scenery, art masters and sea subject such as the bombardment of Algiers which i have as a 3000 piece and a 9000 piece. I tend to do nothing less than 1000 piece and i have several 5k, 6k, 8k, 9k and a 24k and 42k puzzles.

@ Hamilton. there is a 3000 piece available here for $20. but they dont know if its complete. 

 

Edited September 15 by Erik A

[Azzoun]

20 minutes ago, Erik A said:

Im a puzzler and have over 100 puzzles. mostly scenery, art masters and sea subject such as the bombardment of Algiers which i have as a 3000 piece and a 9000 piece. I tend to do nothing less than 1000 piece and i have several 5k, 6k, 8k, 9k and a 24k and 42k puzzles.

@ Hamilton. there is a 3000 piece available here for $20. but they dont know if its complete. 

 

Oh Eric.. you mean this puzzle of the Bombardment of Algiers... here it is completed and mounted  9,000 pieces 

 

Edited September 15 by Azzoun

[Azzoun]

Chuck,  I'd do one of those!

[Erik A]

21 minutes ago, Azzoun said:

Oh Eric.. you mean this puzzle of the Bombardment of Algiers... here it is completed and mounted  9,000 pieces 

 

Very Nice. thats what i am going to do with mine as well once i get around to doing it.

[Chuck]

Well so much for that idea.   I have bought custom puzzles in the past.  In fact I just ordered two for myself.  But the prices are insane for 1000 piece puzzles of good quality.  I think this is a dead idea....Oh well I tried.  They want anywhere from $35 to $45 for each puzzle.  Those that are reasonable have a 250 puzzle minimum for each design.  So much for that idea...I should have checked first.  

 

Anyway, if folks are still interested they can contact me and I will email them the larger hi res image and you are welcome to order one on your own.  I use Shutterfly or Ravensburger for my one-off puzzles.  Sorry folks...everything is just so expensive these days.

 

What a shame...I thought this could be a fun side project to offer folks.  But at these prices, after shipping I would need to charge at least $55 to $60 per puzzle which is insane.

 

Chuck

[uss frolick]

Back in the 1970s, my father received a free, gift puzzle in the mail. The subject was a winter picture of his own Tunbridge, Vermont farm, with a note that said your property is beautiful, and so here is your free copy of our latest Whitman Puzzle! He didn't mind, but nobody ever asked permission. Someone just stopped their car and snapped a photo, and voila, fame! Here's a copy on eBay:

 

EDIT: It sold. Hopefully one of y'all bought it ...

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236270262081?_skw=tunbridge+vermont+puzzle&itmmeta=01K56ZAP5ZQ4M0P46TK1N44KE0&hash=item3702ce1741%3Ag%3ATvUAAOSwdnZoUY8o&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dglLuI%2F3p256r4hnFa962vnH3XhW4t3wiFyqscblYMzHLLQA%2FxKr2vx1U0kU8isKTxa%2BK%2BIhzhzLqT8WAEWYNtVDgTCecwVzStSch2bUuYGzsYdnFIqCH7AGf7XUDvIsHxjVwDfhcIGnp9QrMfReH1qrGaA9sAuc%2Bp1IWYJ3Rv9HDiwB42dj%2BVGbDWulSybuD7BS9PFQetjfzxA2--0xkuoy37eVu9DfetfjtGYm9a2gbTYvmzP9Ay7%2F%2BUMYPacdFZ2Eyme%2FEG6cFAoEn8%2FCeSLEoXlkSddniU%2FOkOe2sb0A%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMkuOq36lm&LH_ItemCondition=3000

 

Edited September 15 by uss frolick

[Chuck]

Just a heads up guys...

 

I sold my last two rope walks today...at least for what I hope will be a short temporary hiccup.  My supplier in Europe for the hubs, bearings and gears is temporarily halting shipments to the USA because of the T-Tariffs.

 

I really dont want to spend the time to source new products in the USA and do a redesign just yet.  This version works so well.  I am hoping this situation will resolve itself in the short term and not be a 3 year halt on ropewalk availability.  But who knows.   If it seems like it is going to be a while, I will reconsider sourcing the items in the USA and doing a redesign.  But unless someone magically started making this stuff in the USA over the last few months, its probably not gonna happen.   

 

My guess is that even if shipments resume soon, the price will be dramatically higher for these parts.  Along with the Alaskan yellow cedar from Canada, these tariffs are making it hard to keep prices at Syren from increasing.  But I promise I will try to keep prices the same for as long as I can...if I can even get the stuff that is.  

 

[KennyH78]

Sure am glad that I was able to get one of your rope walks earlier this month. I will be putting it to use soon along with your serving machine. 
 

It sucks that your supplier had to halt shipments to the USA. Hopefully, these things will work themselves out soon, but I doubt it. 

[Chuck]

Its workshop weekend at Syren Ship Model Company!!! So not much inventory being made but it will be fun.  A dozen fellas over at the shop for a little model fun.  If this interests anyone else close by, let me know and I can schedule more!!!  Its cheap...free except for a small fee to cover breakfast and lunch.  I am always opening up the shop for folks and thought I would ask for anyone close by.

 

 

Todays workshop (completed and it was fun) ....Intensive Rope making...soup to nuts.  5 hours give or take with a break for lunch

- Selecting material (natural or synthetic)  Not all cotton is the same...different results for different types of poly thread.  Some poly looks too plastic and shiny and slippery.  Mara vs E-threads.  Silk and linen too!!!  25 minutes

- Selecting the right color...so important. 15 minutes

- Basic rope making demo on Syren ropewalk.  3 strand, 4 strand, left and right hand twist.  1 hour

- group rope making...get on the factory floor and make your own.  2 hour

- How to make your own recipes so you have all the sizes you need for your models....lets make 5 five sizes (.008, .012, .018, .025 and .030 rope)  

- Using smaller size thread multiple strands vs large thread and less strands to make the same size rope (uh what?)...one just looks better.  30 minutes

- Making small ropes vs large ropes and cables

- Rope fuzz...yikes...how to get rid of it...NO BEESWAX PLEASE.  25 minutes

- Working with your ropes after you make a bunch...gluing, serving/seizing, How to get it to hang naturally and shop storage....NO wrapping around those small cards please!!! 1 hour

 

Tomorrows workshop...

 

 

Introduction to Painting miniature figures....5 hours give or take with a break for lunch

 

Get ready for painting miniatures for nautical scenes.  Lets get started!!!

 

It is important to use matte paints because a shiny finish will make any figure look like a toy.

 

Use a wet palette. This will keep the paint from drying out while you are painting. Acrylics will dry on a palette quite quickly. If you have to remix a color, it will be difficult to get it exactly right. Having it on the wet palette means you don’t have to re-create a color.

 

Acrylic paint will dry on your brush very quickly. It is important to clean your brush constantly.  When paint dries on your brush it will spread your bristles and you’ll not be able to form a point. Dried paint will also contaminate the fresh paint you are applying. When you have finished rinsing your brush in the cleaning cup dry it on your paper towel. You should not see any of the color on the towel. If you do, clean it some more.

 

Use 2 cups of water. One cup is for cleaning your brush, the other cup is for thinning the paint. If you use the same cup, the dirty water will contaminate your colors.

 

Thin your paints before using them. It should take two or three coats to completely cover the primer. This will prevent brushstrokes and buildup in nooks and crannies. 

 

At this scale, and for these purposes, our basic goal will be to have three shades on every part of the figure. There will be a basic tone, a highlight tone, and a shadow tone. The general procedure is to apply the mid tone and then the shadows, and finally some highlights. The procedure will change a little bit when we are painting flesh. When painting the hands and face, we will start with a dark tone, go over with a medium tone and pick out highlights such as the nose, ears, forehead, and fingers with the highlight tone.The highlights will appear where light is most direct on the figure and the shadows will be placed where light in general does not reach. At this scale, some exaggeration will produce a realistic effect. White and black are particularly difficult to paint. There is very little pure white and very little pure black to be found in nature. Only use pure white for the very tiniest of highlights and pure black for the very deepest shadows.

 

Do not attempt to paint eyes. Unless you are relatively close to a person, you will not see the white part of the eye. We will paint a shadow in the eye sockets, and then a lighter area in the deepest part of the socket, and then a dark dot to create the impression of an eye. This will look quite convincing.

 

The brass buttons, ribbon on the hat and hilt of the officers sword will be painted with brown, yellow, and white to create the impression of shiny metal. I will also bring some brass paint for those who don’t like that effect.

 

This is meant as a starters guide. Everyone will find their own style and procedure. First attempts do not frequently result in a satisfactory product. Fortunately, acrylic paint comes off relatively easily with paint remover, and these figures do not suffer from this procedure if it is not applied too aggressively.

(Yes, I’ve tried it.)

 

 

[palmerit]

1 hour ago, Chuck said:

Todays workshop (completed and it was fun) ....Intensive Rope making...soup to nuts.  5 hours give or take with a break for lunch

- Selecting material (natural or synthetic)  Not all cotton is the same...different results for different types of poly thread.  Some poly looks too plastic and shiny and slippery.  Mara vs E-threads.  Silk and linen too!!!  25 minutes

- Selecting the right color...so important. 15 minutes

- Basic rope making demo on Syren ropewalk.  3 strand, 4 strand, left and right hand twist.  1 hour

- group rope making...get on the factory floor and make your own.  2 hour

- How to make your own recipes so you have all the sizes you need for your models....lets make 5 five sizes (.008, .012, .018, .025 and .030 rope)  

- Using smaller size thread multiple strands vs large thread and less strands to make the same size rope (uh what?)...one just looks better.  30 minutes

- Making small ropes vs large ropes and cables

- Rope fuzz...yikes...how to get rid of it...NO BEESWAX PLEASE.  25 minutes

- Working with your ropes after you make a bunch...gluing, serving/seizing, How to get it to hang naturally and shop storage....NO wrapping around those small cards please!!! 1 hour

Boy would I love to see some YouTube videos of these someday.

If you ever take these on the road and go on tour let us all know 😉

[Freebird]

I've got to get there sometime, it'll be worth the drive!

 

Best Regards .... Rick

[Nipper]

15 hours ago, Chuck said:

Get ready for painting miniatures for nautical scenes.  Lets get started!!!

Fantastic, Chuck!  This is so helpful for those of us who like to have crew on our models.  We need something like your workshop on this side of the pond too . . .

 

Nipper