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[Positive]

A 246 ton collier brig of 1809, currently under construction.     94.5 feet in length, with a beam of 24.9 feet.    This brig humped coal from the northeast coaling ports of the UK, down to London for an amazing 67 years!   Model at 25 feet to 1 inch.   Hull length: 3.8 inches.
Bob

[dreadnought72]

I do watch these builds with interest - you're working at sizes and scales I couldn't begin to get to grips with!


Andy

[Positive]

Most modellers cannot build models at this scale, not because they don't have the ability, but because they decide they can't, without even trying!        Once-upon-a-time I built large models, but having very little patience, I eventually gave it up.     These miniatures can be built very quickly, and the rigging is the easiest part because it is done with fine copper wire, and there are no knots anywere.   I just stretch a short length of wire with two small pairs of pliers.   This makes it perfectly straight, and it does not spring back like an elastc band.    I then cut of the required length with a scalpel, pick it up in the centre with a fine pair of tweezers, dip each end in glue, and just place it in position on the model.   Running blocks are just blobs of paint!    None of the deck details are particularly complicated either.
Bob

[Positive]

The brig ready for rigging - Bob

[Positive]

Rigging now well-advanced - Bob

[Footski]

You remain the undisputed master of the art Bob.

[Martin [Admin]]

 
                 

[ballastanksian]

Lovely Model Positive 

What are your masts and spars made from? I use selected cocktail sticks turned in a minicraft drill with sandpaper and brass rod.

[Positive]

Thanks,
The masts, spars and rigging are 100% metal.    The lower masts are brass tube, the topmasts copper rod, t'gallant masts silver steel rod.    The yards lower yards are brass rod, topsail and t'gallant yards copper rod.    The rigging, including ratlines  is fine copper wire and the running blocks are blobs of paint.   The furled sails are white airmail paper.    This is an extremely simple model, and has only taken a few days.   I hope to complete the brig itself tomorrow, but still some work to do on the base and display case.    The Lord Ripon, below, is something rather more complicated.    But sailing ships are far easier to build than steamers, as their hulls are less complicated.   The rigging looks complicated, but it is not, but it does involve quite a lot of repetition
Bob

[dreadnought72]

Please tell us that pen is three feet long.   


The thing is, I could build a model to these sizes - but all I'd see is squint masts, thumbprints all over it, and giant blobs of glue. There's a clarity and finesse to your work which I doubt I could ever achieve. Do you use supports for your hands when moving in with the tweezers? Hold your breath? Surely rely on magnifiers?


Andy

[Positive]

They are so small that I can rest the side of my hand on the desk.     Most of the time, I only use reading glasses (I am almost 74), but of late, I have used a head magnifier for certain very close work, but do not use it for long spells.    I don't hold my breath.     When building them, I listen to talking books - never was all that keen on listening to music!      I found a "bottomless pit" of free talking book downloads on Librivox.    They are all long out of copyright, and all over 70 years old, but I find the quality of stories and the writing is superior to most modern books!        The few modellers who have tried my methods have found them surprisingly easy and have all been successul, but as I said, most will never try!   
Bob

[Positive]

I have now completed the brig, but there is some work to do on the sea base and display base.    It will look a lot better when it is in its sea.
Bob

[Positive]

In the sea - Bob