March 2022 Volume 12 number 3 |
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ShipShape
News, Tips and Happenings
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This time of year, we are supposed to average daytime highs near 35 degrees. This past week we have been struggling to reach 20 degrees, and down to single digits overnight. But, there is a lot more daylight, and we know the end of winter is near. Daylight savings time is in only 9 more days.
For those of you in the Northeast, there is a huge 1-day model show in New London CT on April 30th. You can find details here:
https://www.philadelphiashipmodelsociety.com/nsmc/
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NRG'S MODEL SHIP WORLD
Model Ship World is an on-line forum of over 40,000 ship modelers. Topics range from kits to scratch builds, in-process continuing stories, tips, manufacturer information, technical topics. Too many to list here. Go take a look!
www.modelshipworld.com
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Rigging class 2022 - May 23 thru 27 |
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Our rigging class is a popular event. We run it from 9 to 3 for 5 days (although some people leave early on Friday.) IT IS A CLASS FOR NOVICES. We don't assume you know anything about rigging a ship model. All tools and materials are provided with the class fee of $440. You get a hull to work on, all the sticks and dowels, glue, blocks, deadeyes, threads, wire, beeswax, sandpaper and the following tools:
Excel hobby knife and blades
Pin Vise
Assortment of drill bits
Tweezers
needle nose pliers
flush cutters
clamps
cuticle scissors (best for clipping rigging)
and probably some other things I forgot
If you use magnifiers for your modeling work, you should bring them. By the end of the class you will have learned how to use the tools, tie a multitude of various knots, and will have completed what you see in the picture above.
You can see shrouds, backstays, bobstays, gammoning, vangs, topping lift, ratlines, hearts, throat halyard, peak halyard, sheet tackle on a traveler, lifts, braces, forestays, etc.
Obviously, we don't waste a lot of time to make the model look pretty! We want to concentrate on the rigging. At the end of the class, BlueJacket will ship your model and materials to your home, again all part of the tuition cost.
Monday will include a pizza party for lunch and a behind the scenes tour of the BlueJacket facility. In addition, all students will receive a 10% discount on anything they buy during that week. Kits, tools, books, gift items, you name it!
The hours of 9-3 are flexible, we have the hotel conference room available 24 hours a day for the week. If you bring a family member, the 3:00 PM cutoff lets you do some sightseeing around the area. But if you need to catch up a bit, the room is yours!
Classes will be at the Fireside Inn in Belfast, 4 miles from BlueJacket on Route 1, tel# 207-338-2090. You can ask for the BlueJacket corporate rate if you choose to stay there. They are holding rooms at $99 for us. There is a pool and Jacuzzi, exercise room, a decent breakfast bar, and all rooms have an excellent view of Penobscot Bay. If you are the camping type, Searsport Shores is nearby.
Class is limited to 12 people with payment in advance. Full refund up to 2 weeks before, 50% refund up to 1 week before. Unfortunately, cancellation less than a week in advance cannot be refunded except by extreme circumstances, which we reserve the right to determine.
IMPORTANT - YOU MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED TO ATTEND
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Nautical terms and origins |
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Bollard - A strong vertical post to which hawsers are secured, both aboard ship and shoreside. The term in all likelihood came from an Old Norse word bols, tree trunk.
Dolphin - A pile, usually made up of several heavy stakes or beams driven into the bottom, in a harbor, to which a vessel can moor. The origin can only be guessed at - that some early ones were highly decorated, probably with dolphins.
Manila - Cordage made from the leaf fibers of the Abaca plant, which is native to the Philippines. It is stronger and more durable than other hemp cordage.
Rig - (1) The general term for the type of spar and sail arrangement of a boat or ship. (2) To equip a sailing vessel with sails, spars, and related gear. (3) To set any gear in readiness for a special purpose. The term comes from Old Norse rigge, to arrange or prepare.
Information is from the book "Origins of Sea Terms" by John G. Rogers
copyright 1985 Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. and available from BlueJacket.
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Model of the Month - Another lobster boat |
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"Hi Nic,
Just wanted to share with you my finished – finally - lobster boat model. I purchased the kit from Blue Jacket in May 2020 as a coronavirus pandemic project (while in Maine.) I worked on it through the summer of ’20 and again the summer of ’21. I am in Michigan during the winters and I am doing a Bowdoin model as my winter project.
As you an see, I went “rogue” on the working lobster boat. I expanded the working enclosure to a “lobster yacht” cabin, and also added some interior furniture and features. I also extended the cockpit a bit aft, and added strip laid decking. In effect I made a model of a family boat that had been converted from a salvaged working boat. Additionally I made a different display stand using a wood base and Plexiglas bunks. though much less than “museum quality” I am pleased with the result, at least for my level of skill.
My new and next “summer project” is your Swampscott Dory kit, which I am just starting to layout, and which should carry me through next summer.
Cheers.
Dick B of MI"
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Pictures sent of Dave K's model shop ( 16x24 ) in MA. |
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Nic's bench - Actually working on 2 models. A whaleboat that a customer started 20 years ago and now wants us to finish it. The other model is our Wendameen for display in our gallery.
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Al's bench - Wyoming is progressing. Hull painted, waterways painted, and deck furniture and masts have been placed for the photograph. This is a really big model.
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What gender is a computer?
Answered by a focus group of men:
A computer is definitely female because –
No-one but their creator understands their internal logic
When computers talk to each other, it is in a code language only they and experts can understand
Every mistake you make is stored on their hard drive for later retrieval
Once you commit to one, you spend half your paycheck accessorizing it
Answered by a focus group of women:
A computer is definitely male because-
First of all, in order to get their attention, you have to turn them on
They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves
They’re supposed to help you solve problems but half the time they are the problem
Once you commit to one, you realize that if you waited a little longer, you could have got a better model.
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Tip of the Month - a simple alignment jig |
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Some ships, mostly schooners, have masts that are parallel. While rigging the Ellie Mara, to insure the masts stayed parallel while I was doing the standing rigging, I made a spacer from a popsicle stick and taped it to the masts. I determined the spacing by measuring between the masts at their base. Once the standing rigging was done, I removed the spacer and the masts stayed perfectly parallel. Simple, but effective. |
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With the normal winter slowdown of business, we are re-stocking our shelves with kits. When summer and Xmas arrive, we should be able to ship everything immediately. That's the plan, But of course nothing ever goes exactly to plan. however, we'll be close! |
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Nic Damuck
BlueJacket Shipcrafters
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