Blog Feed: The Art of Age of Sail

Restoring a Folk-Art Ship Model

Published on 2012-03-27 19:05:00

The > read more

Oyster 82 model - how fast can a sailboat look?

Published on 2011-12-26 11:30:00

Oyster 82' model close to finishing. Her hull is cherry planked over bulkheads, which was then epoxy resin coated. Upper structure is built from a combination of quality plywoods and walnut, as are the keel and rudder. The plywoods help prevent warping but also have the added benefit of 'seeing symmetry' while being shaped. Her main windows and hatches are transparent 'limo-black'. Shown below is the model while being painted, the upper-structure in gloss white and the hull in blue. In the image [..] > read more

S.S. Newfoundland Project

Published on 2011-07-11 10:27:00

Our S.S. Newfoundland model commission is progressing to the finish line. The St. John's Newfoundland steam sealer has been pieced together from mere scraps of information, gaps have been filled in with information available on contemporary vessels. She's still missing her main railings, as are the wooden beams which hung from her sides to allow the crew to disembark and board the vessel en masse. Her steam windlass has just been completed, and image of the 2 inch wide scale version is shown di [..] > read more

Museum Quality Ship Models?

Published on 2011-06-03 21:48:00

Every once in a while I spend a few hours visiting different ship model and model builder websites. Not to keep an eye on the competition, more out of pure interest and sometimes to get inspired. I find it important to follow my own path, t > read more

Project HMS Simoom

Published on 2011-05-25 18:20:00

We've finished our HMS Simoom model. She has been built as to how she must have looked like after 1852 when she was converted from a frigate to a troop transport. A full length upper deck was added, her guns were removed and her stern-galle > read more

Displaying HMS Simoom

Published on 2011-04-16 13:43:00

Our HMS Simoom project is almost finished. The image below shows the model in her custom display case while still being tweaked for optimum display. The four dark holes in the background will of course not be there in the final display. The case is a > read more

In search of a Silver Cloud

Published on 2010-12-11 11:24:00

We're currently researching the mid to late 18th century vessel Silver Cloud. There are very few pieces to the puzzle, the model below so far being the most important piece. Captained by John McLachlan she must have sailed the oceans anywh > read more

Made from concrete you say ... ?

Published on 2010-10-23 10:37:00

A book has come out about CGS Concretia, North America's first self-propelled concrete vessel. We're currenly looking into the mechanics of building an accurate model of Concretia as she must have appeared during WWI.The author of Captains of Co > read more

19th Century Three-masted Steam Frigate HMS Simoom

Published on 2010-08-17 12:00:00

An Admiral Class model is currently being built for a Canadian client whose forefathers immigrated to Canada on the British troop-transport HMS Simoom.HMS Simoom was an iron hulled auxiliary (350 horse power steam engine) screw Frigate. Simoom was na > read more

Reconstructing the S.S. Newfoundland of 1872

Published on 2010-07-01 22:44:00

` We've started the design for the wooden steam screw driven brigantine Newfoundland. Relatively little information remains for this vessel which was seized by the United States in 1898 as a blockade runner on Cuba during the Spanish-American War. La > read more

Model Restoration.

Published on 2010-05-20 12:12:00

We've completed the restoration and repair of a circa 1922 model based on Joshua Humphreys’ designs for the first six ships built for the US Navy.The model was in severe disrepair and had to be completely disassembled. The use of iron nails in her > read more

Modern Yacht Models

Published on 2010-04-09 10:54:00

As an example of what is possible with a fully custom yacht model, the Johnson 75 based 'FedEx' model shown below was specifically created for a special occasion. She carries loot in the form of gold bars on her fly deck, flies the 'Ole Miss' flag an > read more

HMS Diana Model - project finished

Published on 2009-11-16 11:14:00

Shown below is the completed HMS Diana model. Her paint-scheme as per client's request and she carries no sails. Notice the studding booms on her yards.She can be created with sails if preferred. The model shown here is also rather large and can be c > read more

Float Your Boat! - by Dr. Mark Denny

Published on 2009-09-26 11:09:00

Float Your Boat!: The Evolution and Science of Sailing is a hardcover edition for anyone wanting to know more about the history and science of sailing without getting bogged down with too much detail.The book is easy reading, while the author display > read more

Walking the plank - fact or fiction?

Published on 2009-09-21 22:33:00

On a regular basis I receive questions on my website about "Walking the Plank", a supposed pirate habit to ceremoniously march prisoners and captives into the sea along a plank extended from the side of a pirate ship. The unfortunate 'plank-walkers' > read more

Displaying a Fine Ship Model

Published on 2009-09-12 16:27:00

The traditional way to protect and display a model ship is under glass. A display case can be of the wood framed variety as made by Hallen Display Cases or brass framed such as available from Clear View Designs . As a third option, relatively 'newer' > read more