Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: Positive on April 01, 2010, 12:47:26 pm

Title: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Positive on April 01, 2010, 12:47:26 pm
I fitted the model in the sea this morning.      As the build progressed, this model grew on us to such an extent we have decided to keep it!
Bob
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Bunkerbarge on April 01, 2010, 12:52:23 pm
Once again a beautiful job Bob.  I don't know how you have the patience to rig models at this scale!
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: oruna1 on April 01, 2010, 01:28:09 pm
What a beautiful job  :-))
Is that pen 24" long? {-)

That sure is something to be proud of.
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: barryfoote on April 01, 2010, 01:30:53 pm
I just don't know how he makes those pens so big.... :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Wetwater on April 01, 2010, 09:17:02 pm
   Brilliant, as usual Bob.   :-))   
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: The Antipodean on April 01, 2010, 09:23:12 pm
Amazing work and it is great to see the build that goes in to it as it gives a better appreciation for the finished model.
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Tug-Kenny RIP on April 02, 2010, 11:49:52 am

Superb piece of work. I've been following it with great interest. Well done to your good lady for her sea-womanship. It sets the model off very nice.   :-))

ken

Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Positive on April 02, 2010, 12:37:25 pm
Thanks,
Christine sailed with me for my last 5 years at sea, so had plenty of time to study that element.   Her late grandfather was 30 years at sea, mainly in sailing ships including full-rigged ships PERSIAN EMPIRE, BALCLUTHA and COUNTY OF PEEBLES as well as four-masted barques EUDORA and LOCH NEVIS and numerous smaller ones.

Voting figures quite interesting.    13 like it, one doesn't and 53 didn't bother to vote!     So not a great deal of interest in this type of model from modellers.     Despite this, collectors cannot get enough of them, so its all to my advantage.

Bob
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Tug-Kenny RIP on April 02, 2010, 08:22:08 pm

Interesting remark about the size of the pencil.  Could you place a ruler in front of a picture, out of interest.  I'm sure we'd all get shock, as to their size.  Well done again.

ken

Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Positive on April 02, 2010, 08:30:59 pm
The pen is 5.1 inches long!     I will try another photograph tomorrow to give you a better idea of the size.      The hull is 9.5 inches long from figurehead to after end of poop deck..
Bob
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: tt1 on April 02, 2010, 08:59:59 pm
What a great piece of work, and from a purely personal viewpoint, whether the model is liked or not ( I actually like it) there's no getting away from the time and skill needed to produce such a fine model especially in that scale.

     My clumsy fingers, and eyesight alone wouldn't allow me to attempt such detail let alone the question of skill or patience!  {-)   - a real work of art, congrats Bob. :-))

                   Tony.
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Positive on April 03, 2010, 07:36:40 am
Hi Tony,
Thanks for replies.       One of the most common comments is that I must have a lot of patience, but the truth is that I have hardly any!   The DONNA FRANCISCA was started on the 14th February, 2010 and completed on the 1st April, 2010.    That is a span of 47 days.     Of those 47 days, I only worked on the model for 28 of them, and never more than about 4 hours a day (two in morning, two in afternoon).     On 19 of those days, I did no work on it whatsoever!    The total building time was 63 hours with an average of 2.25 hours per day!     I enjoy building them, but it does not dominate me and I always found time to work on them even when I was at sea .     The fact that I was at sea is what directed me towards miniatures, as large models were not viable.
The skill is developed over time.     Eyesight is not really as important as a steady hand.    I use reading glasses when working.      As I don't have to tie any knots (the rigging is all straight pieces of wire), I use tweezers rather than my fingers.
Bob
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Positive on April 03, 2010, 11:31:38 am
This will give you a better idea of the size.
Bob
Title: Re: DONNA FRANCISCA Miniature Steel 4-masted barque. Completed at last.
Post by: Tug-Kenny RIP on April 03, 2010, 02:39:43 pm

Strewth.....  That puts it into perspective.  Smashing job.   :-))

ken