Shipbuilder

Thanks
I am kept from building SIBs by the unavoidable nature of the process!    I have very little patience, and spending hours fiddling about through the neck of a bottle would not give me any pleasure at all - more like frustration.       Wire rigging cannot be made fold down and up again without looking awful, and I doubt if I  could ever get a sea into a bottle in a satisfactory manner.      Rigging a SIB by conventional  means seems to require the masts and spars to be too thick for my liking, probably as they have to have holes drilled through them, and need the added strength.       I have made two or three SIB in years gone by, but on each occasion, I cut the bottoms off the bottles, and put them back after the ship was in, disguising the join with fancy ropework.      But another annoying thing was the distortion caused by the glass (I used gin bottles).    I know you can get really perfect bottles if you pay for them, or use light bulbs, or even old radio valves.    But I just prefer the easier option of making them in display cases.     But that does not stop me appreciating what ship bottlers achieve.      For some time, I have been wondering where Dave Fellingham has gone - as his SIB was most impressive.       A major problem with me would be the apparent time required - my patience wears thin very quickly!
Bob       

I got in 3.4 hours work today, and completed the standing rigging.     The next task is to fit the furled fore-and-aft sails, and then fit and rig the four yards.    Finally, make & fit the boat.    Then it will be complete - not long to go now.    Then, I will need to make the display case and carrying case.
Bob
 

I started this today, 17th June.    It is 2.8 inches long on the waterline, and is a 79 ton two-masted topsail schooner.    Length 84.2 feet and beam of 21.3 feet, completed at Peterhead in  1878.     Scale 32 feet to 1 inch.      It has taken me 1.5 (1 1/2) hours to get so far.     It will not be going in a bottle, but I suppose this size is very suitable if you have the necessary skills to do it (which I don't ).        It is just a "quickie" because I haven't done anything for ages.     The hull is completed, and I have just started "fitting out"  with deck details etc.   
Bob

32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) - Scratchbuilt -
Bob

32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) - Scratchbuilt -
Bob

32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) - Scratchbuilt -
Bob

32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) - Scratchbuilt -
Bob

Everard's coaster.    Austerity.
Bob

It is now in the display case.
Bob
 

Completed at last!
Bob
 

Everard's coaster.    Austerity.
Bob

Everard's coaster.    Austerity.
Bob

Everard's coaster.    Austerity.
Bob

The small trading barque Belle of Lagos.     Scratchbuilt.  20 feet to 1 inch  (1:240).    Building time , 42 hours, including display case and carrying case.
Bob
 

The small trading barque Belle of Lagos.     Scratchbuilt.  20 feet to 1 inch  (1:240).    Building time , 42 hours, including display case and carrying case.
Bob
 

The small trading barque Belle of Lagos.     Scratchbuilt.  20 feet to 1 inch  (1:240).    Building time , 42 hours, including display case and carrying case.
Bob
 

The small trading barque Belle of Lagos.     Scratchbuilt.  20 feet to 1 inch  (1:240).    Building time , 42 hours, including display case and carrying case.
Bob
 

I have been at it again, and this time, I took an image of my model of the tea clipper Norman Court, under full sail,  built to a scale of 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) and put it in a calm sea, and called it "becalmed!"      
Bob
 

I have been at it again, and this time, I took an image of my model of the tea clipper Norman Court, under full sail,  built to a scale of 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) and put it in a calm sea, and called it "becalmed!"      
Bob
 

I have been at it again, and this time, I took an image of my model of the tea clipper Norman Court, under full sail,  built to a scale of 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) and put it in a calm sea, and called it "becalmed!"      
Bob
 

After an awful lot of experimenting, I have now found out how to save the files.   Here is a 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) model of the steel barque East African.
Bob
 

After an awful lot of experimenting, I have now found out how to save the files.   Here is a 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) model of the steel barque East African.
Bob
 

I built this about 30 years ago.   Plank on frame brig.     Standing on a small box of matches.
Bob

I thought there must be some reason, although I would always go by the plan rather than someone else's model.     According to my plan, there is no living accommodation in the forecastle anyway.    On the starboard side (pictured above), the  portholes left to right open into the lamp room, washbasins, bath and WC, (four rooms) with the fifth porthole at the front opening into the forecastle itself.    But as you say, the porholes are so tiny, it will not matter anyway as hardly anyone will see them.
Bob
 

I thought there must be some reason, although I would always go by the plan rather than someone else's model.     According to my plan, there is no living accommodation in the forecastle anyway.    On the starboard side (pictured above), the  portholes left to right open into the lamp room, washbasins, bath and WC, (four rooms) with the fifth porthole at the front opening into the forecastle itself.    But as you say, the porholes are so tiny, it will not matter anyway as hardly anyone will see them.
Bob