Lord Nelson

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.

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

Topsail schooner.
Bob
 

I colored the silicone with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

For quite some time... in fact decades... I have thought about wargaming the Battle of Trafalgar. However it's a massive undertaking to say the least especially if one is to make all of the ships. There are lots of options. However once I picked up Sam Willis's book; the Fighting Temeraire, I realized the famous painting of the battle would make one awesome diorama inside of a medium sized commercial light bulb! So for now I have the book signed out from the library. This book is an excellent read and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Well written with lots of maps, glossies and even a picture of a prisoner of war model of HMS Temeraire kept in the Wool House museum, Southampton.
 
So the quest begins ....
 

 

 

Initial Hull Construction
 
The hull is made from basswood, with the bulkheads made from 0.4mm plywood that I feathered into the hull.  I have never been very good at painting, so I decided to split the hull along the waterline.  I also added a cutwater and rudder.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just came across this a few minutes ago:
http://www.miniatureshipbuilder.com/a-b-o-u-t-t-h-e-m-o-d-e-l-s/4588535241
He wanted to build models like mine, and obtained one of my downloads concerning the building of the motor tramp Glenmoor.       This is what he produced as a "first attempt!"      It is practically indistinguishable from my prototype of the Glenmoor, and it was only after looking closely at it, that I realised it was his, and not mine!    It is very satifying to know that I have passed some skills on to someone else!
Bob

my new item: Port of Gdansk ( Poland ) 4.5 liter bottle

There was an article in Bottle Shipwright a while back on how to build a SIB the Japanese way where the ship goes in backwards. The lines on the bowstrip are secured at the bowstrip, through the masts and out the bottle. The masts are then pulled into the bottle one at a time and set in an indent in the hull. Once all lines are in the backstays are tied to a wire hook on the hull buy using a "sliding knot tool" that you make.

Excellent video Jim. It gives me a warm feeling knowing I'm one of those 200

Excellent video Jim. It gives me a warm feeling knowing I'm one of those 200

Excellent video Jim. It gives me a warm feeling knowing I'm one of those 200

In order to cut down on weight you can build a platform out of sheet wood or plastic and build the waves on top of the platform. Paint the inside of the globe below the platform with the sea color. i used clear silicone with paint added for color. It's lighter than clay. .

As far as the build is concerned, I did something similar using a plastic ship from a game. When it came to the masts I used a hinkley hinge for the main and thread glued to the bottom of the aft mast which was then pulled into the hole in the deck.

So a friend at my local club brought in a few of these. I guess his dad used to own a modeling store and he has a lot of old inventory.
I think this one was made for war gaming but I'm going to paint up the hull replace the masts and sails with wood and paper. The rig her up and bottle her. Any suggestions for paint on die cast models?

Are you sure he wasn't taking the Pee?  
     All aboard HMS Urinia!

I colored the silicone with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

In order to cut down on weight you can build a platform out of sheet wood or plastic and build the waves on top of the platform. Paint the inside of the globe below the platform with the sea color. i used clear silicone with paint added for color. It's lighter than clay. .

I colored the silicone with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

In order to cut down on weight you can build a platform out of sheet wood or plastic and build the waves on top of the platform. Paint the inside of the globe below the platform with the sea color. i used clear silicone with paint added for color. It's lighter than clay. .

Made some progress with this one.  Added hatches, masts, spars.  Still need to do something about the stern and windows and doors.  Maybe some other parts too.  I added some green paint for good measure.  
 

I colored it with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with elmers white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

I colored it with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with elmers white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

I colored it with blue acrylic paint while it was still wet and spread it out on a piece of paper that I had drawn a circle the size of the wood platform. The platform was made up of slats that fit the neck and were glued to a piece of cloth and unfolded in the bottle. Once the silicone was dry I painted white caps, cut the circle out, rolled the sea up and put it on top of the wood with elmers white glue. I then painted the bulb below the platform with the same paint that I mixed in the silicone, adding a touch of Elmers at the edge of the platform to keep it from moving.

If you are on Facebook, take a look at a group titled Ship in Bottle Builders. also take a look at www.shipsinbottles.org and check out their links section