Lord Nelson

To do a vertical SIB depends on the bottle and the ship. Generally the ship is longer than it is high, thus the longitudinal way is the most common. I did 2 verticals and in both cases the ship is as tall as it is long. You want to fill the bottle. For example the Cutter in Schouten's book is as tall as it is long so if you have nice globe shaped bottle a vertical display would be nicer.

Same for me, summer least, winter most

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Boats-Ships-/152928/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=ship+bottle+kit The link above will show you some of the kits available. Igor's lovely model is not a kit nor are there kits in that size, most are normal bottle size. The degree of complexity varies with these kits and to be honest your time line is short. I would suggest the WoodKrafter ship America along with a Ship in a bottle book that you could get in the library or on line on ebay or amazon. I recommend the book because the kit is oversimplified and the book would show you how to upgrade the build.

I recorded it and watched it . Great job

While you can't comment or ask questions there are many build logs at the Folk Art in Bottles / workshop site. I have a lobster boat and a Fantasy build there and I'm sure the other builds people are members here also so if you have a question you can ask here.

For many more build logs check the Folk Art in Bottles Workshop at http://www.folkartinbottles.com/workshop

Yes get a book if you can, I found my first book in the local library. One great advantage of a book is it will have scale plans to follow as you go..

Nothing but Dremel attachments. I have carbide tips for gouging, diamond discs for cutting, sand drums for sanding, and drills. I taper masts and yards by spinning then in the Dremel, When I first started I used chisels, coping saw, and a pin vise.

I couldn't find it.

I use the 2 bulb method. The nice think about the metal ends are they are always the same regardless of the bulb size. I make the cut just below the top of the metal. You should put masking tape around the bulb where and the top of the metal is to reduce glass fractures. Remember you are cutting through the glass also so when you first get through the glass you will be removing the vacuum. I use a 1 inch circular diamond disc in a dremel to make the cut and run it under water to keep the area cool.

OK this is not a model but I spent a lot of time building it

All kinds of plastic, resin(C3PO), wood (Cutty Sark), paper (RcD2)

I'm like you, I don't measure but early on when the hull is shaped and the highest mast is installed, I do a test fit. I guess the easiest way to measure is estimate the height then place a piece of wood in the bottle and stand it up with a tweezer.

I would add Jack Needham's "Modelling Ships in Bottles". His clipper was my second ship and his Long John Silver was my one and only figure in a bottle. My first book and ship was Don Hubbard's. I did a few from Demarco and Van Schouten, the ship in a light bulb method from Thorne and the "Collier Brig" in Leon Labistour's book "Making Ships in Bottles, Beginners to Advanced " (great for vertical bottling because the hull is short in length).