Hi,
Thought I'd share this attempt at an inshore fishing boat day signal for a version of Vic Smeed's Cormorant I am freelancing from a Sarik polystyrene hull.
I was wondering how to make the ubiquitous double inverted cone tell-tale that inshore finshing boats display. I was struggling to find a commercial fitting and really struggling how to make one myself until last weekend when I had a try. I am aware some boats have sheet material in quadrant fashion but I wanted to show one similar to those that are woven.
Bsically, I 3-D printed two plastic rings with an array of holes on a PCD. I also printed a jig to string-up the thread. In similar fashion to old fashioned radio aerials I strung up the two discs with the thread passed back and forth. The jig is rough and ready and just flexible enough that with an extra bit of small thread it's possible to tie in a knot in the middle to create the required double cone shape which tensions the whole thing up. All thread is secured in the top and bottom rings using CA adhesive, the threads inbetween are also plastered in CA to stiffen the whole thing up. I trimmed all but two threads from each end flush and tied the remining two thread ends on each end together and added extra line for rigging up to the mast. Again -all knots etc secured using drops of thin CA adhesive.
I admit my quick pictures aren't great and you don't need a 3-D printer but you get the idea. Real day signals often seem to be woven from net but I think mine looks passable just with the individual threads -how many other details like these do you see on models anyway?
...Was pleased enough to share it with you for inspiration anyway. I've just loosely draped mine on my model so far -will be painted and fitted properly in due course!
Some real examples can be seen here...
https://fishingnews.co.uk/features/pittenweem-photographed/Richard