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[tt1]

Hello folks, assuming this is the corrct term for the stripe / line along the hull at the waterline, what in your experiences do you believe is the best and or easiest way of applying this for a pleasing result, paint or line tape etc?

         All comments ideas and advice welcome as always,

                                Thanks and regards, Tony. 

[BoatyBoy]

Easiest is pinstriping tape but masking & painting looks 200% better imho

[Colin Bishop]

Hi Tony,

This has been discussed at some length on the Forum previously. Just go to the Forum home page and type boot topping into the search box.

Basically there are two options, one is to do a careful mask and paint job, the other is to use  self adhesive tape such as Trimline, see: http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/trimline.html

Both methods are practical and effective but it does depend on the model as on some vessels the boot topping is not of uniform width. Tape is easy to apply and difficult to detect, the Trimline version is hardly thicker than a coat of paint once applied. Masking and painting requires more care and attention but some people prefer it. These points are discussed at length on the previous topics.

Colin

[DickyD]

Hi Tony

I normally use vinyl coach lining from Barry's Model Lettering

http://www.modellettering.com/showProducts.asp?categorycode=05

His Service is excellent and does a lot of the Model Slipway decals.

I say normally, because sometimes the shape of the hull makes it awkward to bend and get the vinyl to stick.

Once it has stuck you wont get it ff without the paint coming too.

[tt1]

Many thanks Boatboy and Colin, much appreciated. 

           Regards, Tony.

[Bunkerbarge]

Here's one worth looking through:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=22510.0

[Bryan Young]

Sheems to be shome short of confusion here about what "boot-topping" is. For a start it ain't a line. It's an area. Not all ships have it. Many ships have (for example) a black hull topsides going directly to the anti-fouling paint job. Other ships will have a boot-topping.
This is an area of painted hull between the topside colour and the anti-fouling colour. Example:- An RFA will have grey topsides, a black boot-topping a few, or many, feet wide then the "reddish" anti-fouling. A commercial general cargo ship may have a black "topsides", but a boot-topping perhaps 10 ft deep before it gets to the red bit. Traditionally the boot-topping was a sort of barrier between the loaded marks and a light ship condition. Very few companies had a "pin-stripe"...the one that comes to mind is that painted on the Federal Line ships. About 4" wide, and very smart it looked. But that could only be described as "owners livery" and not boot-topping.
All clear now? BY.

[Edward Pinniger]

The technique I use for painting boot topping (which I've used on many static ship models as well as R/C) is:

- Mark the waterline with pencil
- Paint the boot topping along this line, "freehand" with a brush or airbrush
- Once the paint's dry, apply a strip of masking tape along the length of the boot topping, over the paint
- Paint the upper and lower hull
- Remove the tape

If you paint the hull and then mask + paint the boot topping, it's usually very hard to get the width constant (at least it is for me!). The only problem with the above method is that the width of the topping has to be the same as the masking tape, which is only available in a limited range of widths. But (with care) multiple strips of thin tape can be used to get a non-standard width.

[Colin Bishop]

Are you not splitting hairs a bit here Bryan? Whether it is six inches or six feet wide and on a liner, warship, RFA or yacht and mentioned on plans or in ship recognition manuals, I have never heard it referred to anything other than 'boot topping'.

Colin

[HS93 (RIP)]

This has been done with striping masking tape you just stick it on and pull the centre out and paint, give it a few min and pull the rest of the masking tape off then wet sand flat.  still needs a polishing in that picture.


Peter

[HS93 (RIP)]

this is the tape


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk//Masking-Tape-Micro-Pinstripe-Removable-Channel-3mm_W0QQitemZ120560089959QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=84ec90981280a0aad325c395ff59caae


peter

[Peter Fitness]

I use Great Planes lining tape, a carry over from my aeromodelling days. It's very thin, and the adhesive cures after a day or so making it very difficult to remove once it has cured. It's also fuel resistant, which is not too important for electric powered boats, however.

Peter.

[Bryan Young]

Are you not splitting hairs a bit here Bryan? Whether it is six inches or six feet wide and on a liner, warship, RFA or yacht and mentioned on plans or in ship recognition manuals, I have never heard it referred to anything other than 'boot topping'.

Colin
[/quote
Afternoon Colin. No, I don't think I'm splitting hairs. I refer back to my example of the Federal Line. Black topsides, a white stripe and red boot topping above the anti-fouling colour. Which do you want to call the "boot-topping, the white or the red? Or perhaps BT1 and BT2? Either way, on a ship that changes draught by a significant amount, the boot-topping is an area between "wind and water", the stripe, if any, is just a company "livery line. Bryan.

[Colin Bishop]

Bryan, I would agree that if you have two bands above the antifouling then the top 'coachline' is a livery line as you say, but such paint schemes are fairly unusual are they not? Cunard for example have a very narrow white line between the topsides and the underwater body which is sometimes referred to a boot topping and sometimes as a ribband. So maybe just loose use of words then - albeit from mainstream sources. Of course many vessels just had/have topsides and antifouling colours with nothing in between.

Actually Collin's Dictionary supports your definition 100% so you are quite right.

Colin

[tt1]

Well what a great response!
            Sincere thanks for your contribution to: Bunkerbarge, Bryan, Edward, Peter (HS93) Peter F. and of course Richard (Dicky D.), Colin and Boatboy. (Sorry Richard - should have thanked you in my earlier reply but I hadn't noticed your posting at the time doh!  0 out of 10 for observation).
           All really helpful, educational  have read the threads and fully understood - (That's got to be a first!)
It can sometimes be difficult choosing the way to go when asking for advice, because of the variety and choice offered, but in the end I have to work with what I can achieve within my capabilities and without too much heartache.
           This is my first time round and am building a Model Slipway Loyal Class, to be totally honest I don't even know if this boat/ship had a boot topping - (when is a boat a boat and a ship a ship? ) but re B.Y's point -  "as the owner I think ithe livery will look smart".
            I'm not a purist and don't know enough or good enough to be technically authentic, but what I do do, I try to do well, and as long as it's close and pleasing to the eye then I'm happy.
The problem with this boat (?) is the angular rubbing strakes along the hull sides (if that's what they are called) a real pain to get a crisp straight masking line, using the narrow Tamiya tape allows a bit of flex - but it's still a tad trying.
           A final question on closing, if I use the coach / lining tape does it have instant grab? I assume until cured, there's time to peel back and readjust as required - is this correct?

         Anyway thanks again to all - what a great forum this is !
                                                                                                Cheers, Tony
          
P.S. Peter (HS93) the finish looks fantastic - what's this polish you use?
        

          

[DickyD]

The vinyl lining I suggested Tony is not instant grab.

Loyal class, white boot topping or line.

[Bunkerbarge]

Glad to be able to help Tony.

My own criteria of boat /ship definition, which i'm sure will be open to all sorts of alternative interpretations is as follows:

"You can put a boat on a ship but you can't put a ship on a boat."  

Let's see how long it takes someone to start mentioning model ships!!

[HS93 (RIP)]

                                                                                                       
 Peter (HS93) the finish looks fantastic - what's this polish you use?
        

the hull has only been sanded in the picture with 1500 then 2000 wet and dry with a bit of fairy soap, this is so the fire stickers had a clean base to stick to I then used a bit of commercial  "T" cut then some car liquid polish, ill see if I have some finished pictures of the hull, it is a bit to polished for my liking but as it was a RAF boat and the paint ref no where for a gloss, but still a bit to shinny.

Peter

[Netleyned]

The vinyl lining I suggested Tony is not instant grab.

Loyal class, white boot topping or line.

No white line at the waterline on fleet tenders
Some had a white line above the rubbing strake
in line with scuppers
They nearly all had chocolate admar as anti-fouling
as opposed to red admar

Ned

[tt1]

Thank for the info Ned.
      Regards, Tony.   

[Bryan Young]

Bryan, I would agree that if you have two bands above the antifouling then the top 'coachline' is a livery line as you say, but such paint schemes are fairly unusual are they not? Cunard for example have a very narrow white line between the topsides and the underwater body which is sometimes referred to a boot topping and sometimes as a ribband. So maybe just loose use of words then - albeit from mainstream sources. Of course many vessels just had/have topsides and antifouling colours with nothing in between.

Actually Collin's Dictionary supports your definition 100% so you are quite right.

Colin

Colin. Thanks for your gracious answer. But alas, I missed out another important fact. i.e. "A reason" for this. The anti-fouling "paint" only works properly when wet (by the water). Expose it to air for a period and its toxidity degrades. That's the main reason why a dry-dock is semi-flooded quite quickly after the toxic anti-fouling stuff is put on. Sorry for any confusion. Bryan.

[Colin Bishop]

Yachts are similar Bryan. The main antifouling is probably a bit more tolerant but you have to launch within no longer than three months of its application. It is also soft and erodes to constantly bring more active elements to the surface (mainly copper) so most yachts have a 'boot topping' of a harder antifouling along the waterline where the friction is greatest. Strangely enough, different brands of paint perform differently around the UK apparently due to the varying predominance of marine organisms.

Colin

[Bryan Young]

Yachts are similar Bryan. The main antifouling is probably a bit more tolerant but you have to launch within no longer than three months of its application. It is also soft and erodes to constantly bring more active elements to the surface (mainly copper) so most yachts have a 'boot topping' of a harder antifouling along the waterline where the friction is greatest. Strangely enough, different brands of paint perform differently around the UK apparently due to the varying predominance of marine organisms.

Colin

Agreed. No more on this topic from me....unless someone else chimes in. Regards, Bryan.