Thermopylae

[Glenn]

A few months ago, there were questions asked on 'how to build a sailing ship', well this is how I'm building The Thermopylae. This ship was the sister ship of the Cutty Sark, and used along the same routes, and used for the same trade. She is 2 foot in length, (blunt end to the bowsprit) and not as hard to build as the 3 foot long Sark.
This is the result of my first working period (7 days) where the hull and deck and stand are all connected, and painted completely. I have added the davits, but none of the boats attached. (later, they will be in the road when I start rigging it)
It's funny, but after working on the Sark, I thought 'this would be the end of it', but in February this year, Peter, ( the guy who I make the models for) rang me saying, "Glenn, I've got a few things I bought on the web, airliners, and the Thermopylae from Revell, she was only $35. could you make it for me?" Well, me being a 'mug' said, "yea, sure, love to"
The photo here is Feb/2005, the next shot will be March.
Glenn

[Tophe]

Seeing your scratch-work, with as much talent towards aircraft , sci-fi , boats , I feel... narrow-minded . Congratulations to you, shame on me...

[The Rat]

Lovely!    A friend of mine bought that model way back when, late 60's or early 70's, can't wait to see you work on it.

[John Howling Mouse]

Believe I was the bloke pleading for assistance re: rigging a sailing ship.
As you get to the rigging stage, please inundate us all with how-to, in-progress pics and instructions!

Thanks!

[Captain Canada]

friggin' in the riggin'..........

 

[noxioux]

That's a beauty.  I've never had the sack to tackle a ship model before.  My mom tells me that my dad used to try building them, and it was a gruesome sight.  Staining sails with tea, tying all his fingers together with miles of thread. . .  Ouch!

[lancer]

That ship is looking beautiful. Can't wait to see her finished.

[Glenn]

This shot was taken in March, and is one of two. After constructing the hull and deck, I next tackled the 'bowsprit' and 'anchors' as I knew I wouldn't be able to get to them later. With this, you'll need to assemble the full 'bowsprit' and 'dolphin striker' and the 'cat heads'. Painted the parts completely, and mounted the anchor cable, (anchors attached) and finally tied the anchors to the inner sections of the cat heads.
You will also notice that I've weathered the sides of the hull. With the green finish along the sides, I've added a light blue mixed with the green to give the appearance it's bleached. Also, the copper plate, below waterline is painted with a wet wash of matt black, (acrylic) to give it that extra bit of detail.
Glenn

[The Rat]

[JMN] Well, it's all very nice, but aren't you going to rescribe those raised panel lines? [/JMN]  

Just kidding of course, great stuff!    

[Glenn]

As you can see, at this stage, I've added the masts and yards, painted completely, and with a piece of rigging. If you look closely, you should see, about 20mm above every 'yard', a piece of thread, with two beads attached. These are for the rigging from 'The Bits' to the sails. The rigging will start with thread going from the 'bits' up through the tree, and through the beads along to the ends of yards. when finished, looking from the back, it will appear that the ropes are attached to each sail. It doesn't tell you to do this in the instructions, but it does with the 1/96 Sark. I thought I'd add the extra detail, as Pete would be paying for it!
The next shot is from the side.
Glenn

[retro_seventies]

my grandfather used to make models like this - i used to sit and watch him for hours and hours...fetching him cups of tea/ bacon sandwiches/ digestive biscuits/ glass of lemonade etc etc...

really great to see how this one is going...takes me back to many happy times.

[cthulhu77]

Nice to see some rigged ships again!  That is going to be right beautiful when completed...nice work !

           greg

[Patrick H]

Beautifull work. I'm always amazed at what beauties people can build out of some strips of wood.
Tried it once myself, but not a sailing ship, just a tug boat, the "Zwarte zee" from Billing Boats. Never managed to even finish the hull. The wood ended up in several dioramas  



Patrick

[Glenn]

This is the final shot of when I worked on her in March. It's a better view of the blocks, but it's funny, the more sailing ships I build, the more I want to build! Is that crazy or not.
Glenn

[Tophe]

Is that crazy or not.

According to me: you were right not adding a question mark; the answer is No, it is not crazy, it is great ! (while I love your aircraft inventions too, even more wonderful for my taste, prefering bird to fish... ^_^ but I will not condemn your doing boats too, the genius in creation must come from somewhere and enriching experiences elsewhere are useful steps )