Muntz metal colour - any idea ?

[NenadM]

Building Cutty sark, I "run" in "problem" with colour of "coopering"

 

Coopering plates you can bye are, for my taste and vision, so much colored to look as they are from cooper

 

As it is known, on CS presented in Greenwich, She is "coopered" with so called Muntz metal, which has different color than cooper

 

 

Definitely , this is not cooper color

 

So I spent a lot of time to find foil with, as much as it can be, simillar color to muntz, and finaly find something. On picture is test piece

 

 

Color is almost adequate, but, it is too much shiney, in comparation with muntz plates on CS

 

Any idea how to "kill" or mufle excess of shine to the right level of shine as on pictures?

 

Nenad

 

PS - forget to sayy: I can not find metal foil of adequate color and thicknesss. This what you can see on test piece is self-adhesive paper foil, this is not metal foil

Edited June 1, 2014 by Nenad M

[NMBROOK]

Hi Nemad

Having worked on the Cutty Sark structural restoration,i did query the new tiles with one of my then company directors.He confirmed the tiles were the correct Muntz metal as originally fitted and the colour is true to the original.In a visit to my local model shop,I found KS now offer rolls of wafer thin foil in larger sheets to what they normally supply in there packets.They come in a clear and plastic square tube.Ideal for your requirements but they are expensive.Brass and copper were definitely available.I think brass is a very close likeness to the original.For killing the shine I would opt for either satin or matt polyurethane sprayed on.

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[NenadM]

Thx Nigel

[normanh]

Its a Brass - zinc and copper alloy, not quiet as mallable as copper but it worked as well in practice and was very cost effective pricewise.

 

Norman

[Stockholm tar]

Having worked on the Cutty Sark structural restoration,i did query the new tiles with one of my then company directors.He confirmed the tiles were the correct Muntz metal as originally fitted and the colour is true to the original.

Nigel,

 

Interesting you worked on CS during the restoration.

 

I was in Greenwich last year and visited her. They've done a good job, but I'm still in two minds about the glass 'sea', although it does make for a usable space in the bottom of the dock. I loved the clustering of the old figureheads at the bow end, very spectacular.

 

Having tea in the cafeteria under the hull, I was examining the plates. Even though muntz metal, I think they are too bright and could have been dulled down a bit, as I can't believe they were as bright after a few years service.

[NMBROOK]

Hi Kester

 

An interesting point.We were responsible for reinforcing the hull and jacking the ship up,another contractor did the glazed 'roof'.The glazed roof met with mixed opinions in our workshop.The ship resto was covered in a UK documentary and the architect did clarify his 'vision' that the glazing represented the sea.Personally I am not too keen,it is all a bit too 'Disney' for my liking and detracts from the vessel.

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[NenadM]

My two cents about glass sea: Now you can not see wonderfull hull lines ,elegancy and strenght of Her bow and stern

[Stockholm tar]

Nenad,

 

I do agree with you on that point.

 

I used to visit the ship quite often when I lived in England, and whenever I happened to be in Greenwich. I was a member of a traditional sailing club, Mariners International (now sadly defunct) and we used to hold our annual dinner on board, on the tweendecks, in the 80's. This was then followed by a suitable lecture in the hold, surrounded by the aforementioned figureheads where they were then displayed. Before hand, we met up for a drink in the nearby pub, the Gypsy Moth, and often walked around the ship.

 

I do believe one could gain a better impression of her lines previously, particularly from the bow, and when looking down into the dock. Unfortunately that is largely now lost by the 'sea' which I think, btw, has far too many criss-cross bars to look effective.

 

Anyhow, what's done is done, I suppose...

Edited July 2, 2014 by Stockholm tar

[NenadM]

Back to the theme

 

In meantime, I did some tests, and find solution in acrylic mat varnish to kill sufficient shine

 

 

And on the model, without varnish (jet)

 

 

Maybe a bit of green shade ?