September 2025 Volume 15 number 9

With the Rt 1 construction completed, the addition of a turning lane in front of us helps make the traffic flow more easily. However, I have seen people using the turning lane as a passing lane, which really ticks me off because it's so DANGEROUS.- OK, rant finished.

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! And yes, BlueJacket is one of the sponsors.

www.modelshipworld.com

Recently, the family of Charlie Cook asked us to advertise his model steam launch that we have on commission here at Bluejacket. Charlie was the voice of our help line, and assisted hundreds of modelers, many of whom still refer to his help. Charlie passed away in October of 2020.

If you or anyone you know has interest in purchasing this model, please contact us. Price of $1,500 does not include a case.

Josh

Bell, Ship's - It is not known when ship's bells were first carried; it may have been in the XVI century. We do know that they were in use in the XVII in the same manner as is traditional now, to mar the time, particularly of the watches, of one to eight strokes for the four-hour period. (An interesting note: an old custom, still followed in some ships, is to strike sixteen bells at midnight on New Year's Eve.)

Fastening - Pertaining to a vessel's construction, the method by which her planks or plates are fastened to the frames. The word comes from the old English faestnian, fasten, possibly in the nautical sense.

Landlubber - A shoresider, especially one who knows little about the water. Lubber comes from Anglo-Saxon, also from Old French. (see Lubber)

Lubber - An awkward or not-too-bright sailor or workman. The origin is Anglo-Saxon, lobbe, a slow, clumsy person.

Romboline (also Ramboline) - An old term for worn or condemned canvas and cordage, suitable only as chafing gear and for chinsing. The term's origin is obscure, but it could be a corruption of rummage.

Information is from the book "Origins of Sea Terms" by John G. Rogers

copyright 1985 Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc. and available from BlueJacket.

From Tom H of UT

"Hi Nic-

I had some scale lumber left over from other projects so I decided to make a few little boats from scratch. I came across the plans for an eight-foot plywood pram in a 1953 DIY magazine. It was the same pram that my father and I built in our basement when I was eight years old. Okay, so dad built it and I messed around with the tools. But it's what got me started on a life-long hobby of woodworking. The pram is 1/4" scale so it's four inches long."

"I also wanted to learn how to loft. I used an article in WoodenBoat Magazine (No. 210), Lofting Basics by Karen Wales. She used the 11-foot Asa Thomson skiff as the example. I didn't need another full size boat so I made it in 1/4" scale. These were both pretty fun projects. 

Happy modeling,

Tom "

From Dave R. of FL

"Hi Nic,

I am a long-time fan of both BlueJacket and Shipshape, which I look forward to reading each month, especially the segment “Let’s see Your workbench”. I’ve learned a lot from seeing how other modelers fashion workbenches into their personal oasis of creative calm. On September 28, 2022, the south wall of Hurricane Ian made landfall directly on to my small town of St. James City, FL, destroying virtually everything in its path, including my modeling workbench area. Since then both our town and my workbench area have largely been rebuilt. However, I send this along as a reminder that, while we all encounter setbacks and challenges in our ship modeling projects and in life, it was the community that helped rebuild our town and it’s the community of ship modelers that provide support, encouragement, and answers when our projects run into difficulties. Thank you for being the center of our community and keeping this wonderful hobby of ours going.



Dave R"

Nic's bench - Planking of the America progresses.

Al's bench - Al is busy making the many drawings for the lumber schooner instructions. Here's one of his drawings...

To use these flags, first cut the flag out and fold on the centerline.

Next, spread a thin coat of glue like Elmers or Titebond on one side, then lay a halyard line in the center.

Fold the two halves together, and while the glue is wet, form folds in the flag.

When the glue is dry, the flag will hold the shape of the folds.

The crispness of fall is in the air here, 50 degree nights, low 70's daytime. Time to think of our winter projects and start our Xmas lists.