qwerty2008 Posted January 10, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) I have decided to build a Ship in a Lightbulb. I have rigged a base to light up using parts from a cheap LED flashlight. The base is an old light fixture. the LEDs push into the light socket which is wired to the flashlights battery pack and on/off button, I have also added a sheet of thin plywood stained with some redwood stain. Sadly during the process of making the base I broke the lightbulb there is still enough of the bulb left for me to be able to size and make the model but I cannot use it in the finished product because it has a large hole in the side, incandescent lightbulbs are hard to get in California but I think I can get a halogen that will work. I am thinking of making the HMS Sophie from Master and Commander by Patric O-Brian. Lextin. Edited January 11, 2014 by qwerty2008 avsjerome2003, IgorSky, mtaylor and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainbob Posted January 10, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 10, 2014 Nice start on what looks like a fun project. I like the lighting. What ship do you plan to build? Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esion Posted January 10, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 10, 2014 This is a great idea, I can't wait to see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor1234567890 Posted January 10, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 10, 2014 Incandescents are hard to find? I have them lying around the house here. You can buy them for pennies apiece at the grocery store, hardware store, walmart etc. Interesting how things can be common in one place and rare as hen's teeth in another. I would ship you a few but they likely wouldn't arrive in much better condition than the one you already have.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugra Posted January 10, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 10, 2014 Very good start indeed. Watching the build with an interest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademaster2444 Posted January 10, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 10, 2014 Can't wait to see your ship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenadM Posted January 10, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 10, 2014 Wish you luck and gooooooooood eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted January 11, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 11, 2014 Lextin, What type of bulb do you need? Shape and wattage, I have a stockpile of some clear incandescents I was saving for a rainy day and I'll see if I have anything that will help. Sailor1**, They've practically outlawed incandescent lights down here in the States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior ole salt Posted January 11, 2014 Share #9 Posted January 11, 2014 WOW a full rigged ship in a light bulb. That's going to be some project. Looking forward to seeing your progress. S.os Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted January 11, 2014 Mark I will try go get into town and get a halogen bulb that should work, I just changed out several of them for a friend abought a week ago I wish I would of had the foresight to take one of the old ones. For now I will start the planning for the model. Lextin. mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted January 11, 2014 I started work on the ship which is going to be HMS Sophie from Master and Commander by Patric O-Brian. The hull is made from some fine grained softwood I had left over from a previous project, the bulwarks are made from card. The HMS Sophie changed paint schemes throughout the book so I chose the one that I could make with the paint that I had. Lextin. Piet, Senior ole salt, Small Stuff and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugra Posted January 11, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 11, 2014 Wow ! You've black fingers! Very interesting project. Can't wait to see more.. Cheers, Bugra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Small Stuff Posted January 15, 2014 Share #13 Posted January 15, 2014 Absolutly great!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted February 9, 2014 Its been awhile since my last post but i'm back. I made the mast and started on the rigging. Lextin. Senior ole salt, captainbob, IgorSky and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSiemens Posted February 9, 2014 Share #15 Posted February 9, 2014 Looks good. She's going to look great in the light bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted March 19, 2014 I have not done much work on the Sophie but felt that I needed to post an update so you you guys don't think that I abandoned the project. Since my last post I did some work on the rigging and got a new lightbulb. I wont be working on the Shopie for a wile as I am making a SIB for a relative right now. Lextin. mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted May 17, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted May 17, 2014 I got some more work done on the Sophie. I prepped the new lightbulb and cut the threaded portion shorter so it would fit in the base with the LEDs behind it then I made the sea from non hardening modeling clay. I made the sails from paper then painted them white a slightly off white color. I still need to add some finishing touches then I will bottle it. Lextin. Omega1234, Elmer Cornish, IgorSky and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainbob Posted May 17, 2014 Share #18 Posted May 17, 2014 She's looking good. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted May 17, 2014 Share #19 Posted May 17, 2014 Looks great, Lextin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwerty2008 Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted May 20, 2014 I finished the Sophie. Here are the final pictures. Lextin. GrandpaPhil, IgorSky and captainbob 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted May 20, 2014 Share #21 Posted May 20, 2014 Congratulations, Lextin. One sweet looking SIB . qwerty2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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