IgorSky

Thank you guys, this is all incredibly helpful.  Lots to think about!  I'm excited about scratch building a SIB.  It will be a nice mental break from my current stage of planking the hull of my larger build, a 1:64 model of the sloop Pegasus of the Swan class:
 
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/7267-hms-pegasus-by-landlubber-mike-amativictory-models-scale-164/

I'm really enjoying following your build log.

Painted hull. Made wire staples for shroud lines to tie to later. Drilled some rigging holes. Made windows for Captains cabin. Painted on paper - cut them out to shape & glued them on.

Ready for the masts. I thought about using wire hinges but decided to try to make it hinged with all wood to look more like a real mast coming out of thee deck when upright. It took a few tries. Got a few splits but finally got it. I cut wood splinters with a razor hobby blade for the hinge & carefully glued them on the outside edge making sure the glue didn't seep into the whole hinge.  Pegged the bottom of the masts to glue solid into deck. When these are raised in the bottle a small dab of glue will be applied to the hinges to make it all more like a solid mast.  







 

Dilled rigging holes in bowsprit & got the paper bulwarks glued on.

Didn't put much effort into the jig but it's good enough to get this ship built. Cut out & shaped a strip out of paper that will wrap around & form the bulwarks

Added putty in bottle ahead of time & pressed ship into putty to for its seat.




 

Sketching out my plans. Pre-carved hull.

A person contacted me about wanting a catamaran in a bottle.  He lives in the US.  Is anyone interested in creating one for
this gentleman ?  You can PM me for his contact info.
Many thanks,
Jim

Yesterday, I re-organized my work desk.     I raised the top by three inches, creating a space under it for trays of wire, tools, etc.     Also added sides to stop small pieces falling off.    The switchboard at the back has four switches on it.  
Left to right, Desk lamp, DVD player, Soldering iron and Desk power sockets.    Each switch has a neon lamp indicating it is on.      In the past, I have often left my soldering iron on by accident.   The lamps prevent this.
I never listen to music whilst working - I prefer talking books.      I have become so "automatic" that I can take in the story, whilst building the model.
Bob
 

I am currently making a model of "Bluenose" which is for a vertical bottle. I have made about six vertical bottle models over the years. The others were all with sea in the bottom. This one will be on a stand as it is a full hulled version. The way I bottled them was to put them in stern first, raising the masts whilst holding the ship in an home made tweezer. I then settled the ship in the modelling clay. The masts were then raised to their full extent by pulling the forestays (which are through the bowsprit) through a knitting needle which had been bent into a small U shape at one end. This held the forestays down towards the sea whilst pulling the forestays upwards. John Fox 111 has a method of doing it with a thin piece of wood on which you place the half hull, raising the masts whilst the hull is still in a horizontal position with the bottle on its edge then lowering the ship onto the lower hull part.  This is the method I will be using on this one. 
One of the bottles used many years ago was a large, almost bell shaped, brandy bottle. I filled the bottle with water and sealed it then used a glass drill to drill a hole in the bottle as close to the bottom as possible.  Once the ship was set and secured I passed a cable through the hole, and out through the neck, and secured it behind the ship on the bottle wall. I then attached a light fitting and added a suitable shade. It was for a friend of mine who wanted a different type of table lamp. I haven´t seen her for years but the last time I saw her she still had the bottle and it was always a talking point for visitors. 

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.

 

Bernard...
 
Here's a picture of my "old" ditty box, hard to believe that there was a time in the late seventies when i thought of it as my "new" box. I made the model ship back in 1967, it's the oldest i still own. The box worked well for me, though digging around in the bottom for things was a bit like dumpster diving. My current state of sprawl has out-grown the box, but i imagine i could get back to it if i had to.
 
TJ

When I started bottling ships I moved a lot working large construction jobs and kept all my tools and supplies in a fishing tackle box which I still have 35+ years later. I outgrew it about 10 years ago simply because I got away from that kind of journeyman work but could still use it if I had to.
 

Tackle box closed with dial calipers for size reference.
 

Box with cover open and storage folded.
 

Box completely opened. There's an airline size, single serving glass liquor bottle in the bottom.
There's also a larger single serving glass wine bottle with a partially built America I had forgotten.
Thanks for making me look in this box again; I thought America was lost years ago.
 
As proof that this box is as old as I say it is there are bottles of paint in the bottom that now make pretty good rattles because the volatile ingredients have long ago evaporated.

Hi John,
I am going to build the model in a bottle of one of the ships USCG also.  Have you draw the logo of USCG or used the decal ?
 
Best Regards!
Igor.

Igor,
 
I always enjoy viewing your models both finished and the ones that are in progress.  Your skill in such small scales is a sight to behold.  This model is turning out wonderful.
 
Gwyl

She's looking really good Igor!
Jeff

My new project - Steam schooner "LENA" 1875
 
 

I will be going to Seattle for a week, which for me is a big deal for me as I have only left California once before in my life. Also this will be my first time on a plane so it should be interesting.
 
 
 
 
 
Lextin.

Congrats Daniel!
 

I often ask people what's new and exciting?  It's usually met with confusion since most of the time when some one greets you all you have to do is say good and keep moving.  Sometimes it's fun to make people think.  Any way, I have some exciting news I'd like to share but starting a post all about me seems self centered so I want to keep this open to any one that has new and exciting news to share.  Since it's off topic it could be about anything.  Grand kids, cars, toy's, what ever.  
 
  So here's my exciting news.  You may have noticed I haven't been around much the last couple weeks.  I've been doing a lot of hoop jumping paper work signing and bought my first house!   
 

 
It is small comparative to houses in the US but it's a good start.  We have a spare bedroom my wife would like to make into an office for her writing.  I'm going to see if I can't steal a corner of it for a ship yard.  Which would mean I'm out of the coat closet!  I also have a shed I can store bottles and wood I mean to get to eventually.  
 
So that's what I've been up to.  Any one else have exciting news?

I am one of those beginners. I have completed three ships and started with "Build a Ship in a Bottle" by Capt. Dan Berg. This was a very good start for me. I then proceeded to build my library by first checking out books on building ships through the local library and if I found one that I liked I purchased it. This way you don't spend money on a book that doesn't fit you. I have also owned several sail boats and built two from plans over the course of my working life. Due to having five fused vertibre in my back and age, my sailing days have come to an end. I really enjoy the hobby and find it to be very rewarding for me. However, I have a tendancy to want things perfect before I start a project and find I sometimes thinks things to death instead of just "doing it". My last project was the CSS Albermale, which I have completed but not bottlesd yet.  
For me, the books, this forum, and a few of the other forums have helpled me tremendously. I don't post very much as I am in no way as knowledgeble as others on this forum. Well thats my two cents worth hope it helps a little.
Jerry

If I had to do it over again I'm not sure I would change much.  I am very lucky to have started in an age where information is plentiful.  I had quiet a few ships done before I picked up a book.  Almost every thing I've learned has been from websites and forums.  It was surprising to me at first how freely the ship in bottle community gives their secrets away.  As I learned more and discovered how few we are it made sense.  Any way as far as the questions.
 
1. I think first sibs should be simple but enjoyable too.  If it were me I'd start with one any one mast ship.  Though if you have little interest in the ship your doing it's less likely you'll persist when things get tough.  Their is a sense of accomplishment doing two or three masts and if you so dare go for it.  I remember George Fulfit in the movie Steady as She Goes talking about how exciting it is to get those first few ships done.  He recommended starting with a two mast brigantine.  Then he said, "Then you get excited.  I'm going to do a three master...no wait better slow down and do another two master."  He had such enthusiasm and charm it was fun to watch and he's absolutely right.  That's how it feels.  No matter what the ship.  You get one done and you feel so accomplished and excited you got to do it again.  
2.  I think size is a personal preference too.  I get intimidated by larger models for some reason.  I started out building 4 to five inch models.  I think that's as good a size as any.  
 
3.  Starting out I think the most important thing to have in a bottle is a wide bottle opening.  Condiment bottles are good for this especially teriyaki.  It is a different feel seeing the model and not being able to just reach out and touch it.  A wide opening can help adjust for that since it allows more movement with the tools.
 
4.  I think smaller ships should have sails.  Looking at various models on line I think the ones that look good with no sails have a lot of masts and a lot of spars.  There is a lot of beauty in good rigging.  It's an art in and of it's self.  Starting out though I think either or.  I don't think adding sails is difficult.  Paper sails was a bit of a learning curve for me in figuring out how to get them in with out crinkling the paper.  I suggest starting with cloth sails just because they are easier.  
 
5.  I wish I had known rigging in general with my first sib but that's a long story.  Figuring out hull shape was a big turning point for me.  My first ten to fifteen ships were planks of wood with sticks and cloth.  They sort of resembled ships but not very much.  
 
     
 
Once I discovered how to add tumble home and other various parts that make up the hull my ships started looking much better.  My Stratenjaucht is was probably the first one that I started figuring out how to carve hulls.
 

 
Every thing else just sort of builds on each other.  I saw other modelers doing fantastic work I barraged them with questions and they told me how to do it so I tried things out.  Some times it worked, sometimes it ended badly.  I used to have a list of who I thought was the best at each part of the ship and I studied every ones work closely to figure out how they made it look that way.  I've come a long way but I think I still have a lot to learn.  Learning new techniques and getting them to work is probably the funnest part of ship bottling.  

Daniel as always you have wise words to say , you where one of the people who replayed in an very nice and open way when we met on face book and I do not know or yourealise that your building skills have improved impressive i hope i can grow alike ,  but the best is your thoughtful approach to every subject in live , like your comments , friendly greetings from france ..........

July 14, and this is what's on my bench!