New member starting on restoration project

[Bummer]

Thank you for sharing the true nature of this beast.  I am an absolute beginner, in past I had built some 5 historical and non historical ships.  This was not even a warm up for what I have before me.  This is a museum grade masted "toy" (from a pretty well to do modeler who could of gotten their hands on), a 1861 wood, rope and cloth ship, I think it is a model of the Mayflower.  This gem has in the past been boxed/packed away for the past 13 years under my stewardship, I know it has leaped throughout history from one person to the next.  It needs help, as I said this was originally a toy/ hobby of a young person some 142 years a go.  It was cherished by the previous modelers who ever had claim on her from one era to the next.  Yes apparently, as reported on the bill of sale and documentation, confirming age, skills and materials by University of Wisconsin provided by a former owner, not the persons (s) that from which I had secured 13 years ago.

  she has aged well but even so she needs some help with rigging, issues with sails and some of the details.  I'm taking this on as I am retired now, own what we wanted and really would be a great hobby helping this model to continue on her passage over time, perhaps adding my time and name to her history.  

   Sorry long winded, I do not know where to begin what would be a good step to take as a way to invest and get stuck in to project, one that will lead me to the insides of this project.  I am already having paint sent to get ingredients etc, as well as having a tailor to look into fabrics.    Thank you for your time reading this as well as sharing your stories ... perhaps any ideas for myself?

Alexii.

 

[Bob Cleek]

Alexii,

 

I believe the man you want to talk to is Ab Hoving, an MSW member. He is the retired curator of the ship models at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which has one of the better collections of ship models in the world. You can send him a message through the forum's messaging feature. His forum home page is Ab Hoving - Model Ship World™. 

[mtaylor]

Welcome to MSW, Alexii.   I suggest open a "Restoration" log in the Scratch Build area for this model.  Post some photos along with a bit of history and you get help and suggestions on how to best restore this model.   Sounds like a really fantastic project.