Sources for wood blocks?

[wmherbert]

Model shipways has apparently discontinued selling their "beautiful blocks" line of wooden blocks which I've been using and enjoying. Any other sources of a little nicer wooden block?

Thanks

Bill

[druxey]

Syren Ship Model Company immediately springs to mind.  https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/

[Keith Black]

 Bill, their website indicates they have blocks in stock. 

 

https://modelexpo-online.com/blocks

[Gregory]

2 hours ago, wmherbert said:

"beautiful blocks"

Syren is at the top of my list, but Crafty Sailor has blocks that look a lot like the ones at Model Expo.

[allanyed]

Bill

You do not mention what ship and era.  Do you need internally stropped or externally stropped? There are more options with externally stropped but in either case if you really want beautiful blocks, get them from Syren.  They make other after market blocks look totally  amateurish not to mention unrealistic which they are.

Allan

Edited June 12, 2023 by allanyed

[allanyed]

Bill

Did you read the new post from Syren re: blocks that was posted by Chuck Passaro the other day?  https://modelshipworld.com/topic/33948-syren-ship-model-company-news-updates-and-infopart-2/page/4/#comments  post number 95 on page 4.  Look at those blocks and compare to those that you have from MS.  Night and day if a realistic looking block is important to you.  

Allan 

[wmherbert]

Thanks all. Model expo apparently no longer sells their nicer blocks. Craft sailor blocks do look a lot like them 

As far as internal or external stopping. I've been building late 1800's fishing schooners. Not sure what is appropriate.  

Just saw posts about chuck's block. I think I'll wait for them if it's not going to be too long. I like to support his company. Seems like a nice guy

[Roger Pellett]

Internally stropped blocks became common in the late 1800’s.  Chuck used to sell kits for these.

 

Roger

[allanyed]

43 minutes ago, wmherbert said:

I've been building late 1800's fishing schooners.

Internally stropped blocks are likely the most appropriate. There are drawings and detailed list of block sizes for several fishing schooners including  Grampus 1885, and Columbia in Chapelle's American Fishing Schooners Pages 341-347, not to mention a LOT of other details on construction, rigging, et al.   

One example on a model follows, it being Ernestina 1894

Allan

[GrandpaPhil]

On 1/14/2019 at 3:31 PM, GrandpaPhil said:

I’ve been making single-sheave blocks and deadeyes.  

 

I’ve been making the blocks out of 1/8” stock.  I measured them off 13/64” intervals.  I made a cross cut there on all four sides.  I then drill the hole for the line and make a longitudinal line on all four sides.  Then I cut the blocks free.  I’ve been making 12 at a time.

I like making my own from wood strips.

 

They are relatively easy to mass produce.

 

Here is how I do it.

 

I have refined my technique to round them out a bit before cutting them apart.

[RossR]

I love GrandpaPhil’s goal and quote in his signature.  

[Kolouch]

You can try blocks from Radek Beseda:

https://www.hismodel.com/articles-category-with-subcategory-9

[allanyed]

5 hours ago, Kolouch said:

You can try blocks from Radek Beseda:

From the website it does not appear that he makes internally stropped blocks which is what Bill would require for his late 19th century fishing schooner.  Do you know if Radek also has internally stropped blocks?

Thanks

Allan

[wmherbert]

I did buy some blocks from Crafty Sailor and they turned out to be pretty much the same as the model shipways beautiful blocks. Made by master Korabel. And half the price 

[allanyed]

Are they internally stropped?  I don't see any on their website.  Those that I see on the website are not at all appropriate for a late 19th century fishing schooner that you mentioned was the subject vessel.

Thanks,

Allan

[catopower]

A little late here, and may be better solutions already mentioned, but Ages of Sail's realistic blocks are same as ME's "beautiful blocks", etc., all from Master Korabel. 

 

Most sizes are still available, but supplies are running thin and no word as to when they can be restocked.