Bernard Kelly

The quality of ship models in this form is truly amazing yours is one of them
J Zuch

Topsail schooner.
Bob
 

Beautiful work. I like how you did the ribs on the bulwarks. What did you use to carve the model out? It's very clean work.

The European Association of Ships in Bottles has been asked by the Royal Yacht Association to support the British Olympic Sailing Team at this year’s Olympiad by providing some SIBs with team members’ signatures on the sails, for use in the auction at the ‘Sail for Gold Ball’ in July – no pressure then.
(http://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/sailforgold/ball/Pages/default.aspx).
 
I’m the archivist for EASIB, so I’m going to do my best to support this.
 
I said I’d do a build log, so here goes.
 
Timescales are tight so finding a subject to SIB was the task. I’m not particularly keen on anything modern, so I settled on a small West Country Trading Ketch, the Bessie of Barnstaple, Devon, built in Pembroke in 1900 and lost in the Mediterranean about 1947.  These vessels were the equivalent of the modern HGV lorries, but before the advent of large, hard surfaced roads. There were hundreds of them, moving all kinds of cargo around the coast.
 
I saw the following advantages:
 
·         A scale of about 1/200 – the bits are not too small
·         Plain hull shape
·         Reasonably simple deck layout
o   Wheelhouse
o   Cabin
o   Cargo hatch
o   Dolly winch
o   Fore companionway hatch
o   Windlass
·         Two masts, Main and Mizzen
·         Two booms, Main and Mizzen
·         Two gaffs, Main and Mizzen
·         Only 4 sails, Main Mizzen and 2 staysails – mainsail large enough for a signature
·         Reasonably simple rigging
 
Disadvantages:
·         Too wide for a one piece hull and the neck of the bottle , so it’s a split hull – I’ve never used this method before.
I decided to do two, one a test piece and the other the ‘real’ one, then I realised once I had all the tools and materials in one place for that particular build stage, it was as quick to do a ‘spare’ as well.
 

 
I decided to do two, one a test piece and the other the ‘real’ one, then I realised once I had all the tools and materials in one place for that particular build stage, it was as quick to do a ‘spare’ as well.
 
So, I’ve made 3 hull blanks.
 

 
Hull shaped and deck recess cut out 
 

 
Deck laid; it was a working vessel so I think a bit of unevenness in the caulking is acceptable
 
 

 
I'll update as I get more done.
 
Incidentally, I printed out the mainsail (4 copies in case of accident) and sent them off for signature. Havn't had them back yet. I following DSiemens build with interest.
 
 

Hey everybody, I'm a new member!  My name is Terry Fox, from Des Moines, Iowa.  I'm kind of a newby, but I have managed to complete 6 SIBs.  I do mostly pretty small stuff cuz I'm not good at fine detail.  I started with a couple of Christmas bulb ships, which to me are easier to work on, and then went to bottles.  The one pictured is a 750 ml Russels Rye whiskey bottle.  I saw a picture somewhere of an old ship either under restoration or being build as a replica, so I used that as inspiration to do a ship that I could focus on a larger hull and depict it basically half-masted.  I wanted to make a better hull, and compared to my other work, I think I succeded.  There are 150+ parts in this thing, the majority on the hull.  Anyways, I hope for inspiration, as it seems I spend more time emptying the whiskey bottles instead of putting something creative inside of them!  Sorry for the poor photo....screwing around with a laptop and this it the best I could do.

 

Mr. Markus Imthurn gets it right when it comes to modelling miniature ships. Check out his Vasco DaGama collection ... Jeff
http://www.vasco-da-gama.creativepark.com/index-en.htm

Browsing pinterest.com I came across this shot of two sailors building models underway on a sailing ship. The guy on the right, sitting on what appears to be a snatch block, is building a ship in a bottle it seams to me, and he is using a technique I have never seen or heard of before. He has the model on a virticle  dowel or peg with a pin or a nail of some sort stuck into the keel of the model. The peg appears to be unsuported and I think its stuck into the deck with another nail or pin ( the mate will be angry about that) or in an existing small hole?
The controll lines descend from the model and are made off underneath on the dowl. It strikes me as a good way to work and locating the propper line would be easier using this rig than it is on the traditional horizontal cross out-of-the-bottle building ways since the lines emerge from the hull under the mast they originate from and its going to be easy to grab the one you want instead of fishing through a jumble of lines all off the bow of the model. Pretty cool idea.

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

Beautiful craftsmanship Artur. I echo Jim's comments!
Jeff

Wow! That is awesome!
 
Jesse

Excellent! Nice clean/sharp looking piece of work.

Please find further photos

Welcome to Bottled Ship Builder.  Your work is excellent! 
 
Gwyl

Your models are very nice! Everyone will be happy to see more of your work! 

Very nice Roger
I made one with the waterfront of Riga as the background. I copied the buildings from a chocolate bar wrapper that my Latvian friend had brought back for me. It is in my gallery. 
Bernard

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

Bravo Roger! Amazing Work!

Here are some more images of it, all self-explanatory.
Bob
 

I love home made tools 

I find this simple device that I designed several years ago, very useful for scoring decks.     When the handle is rotated towards me, it pushes the scoring guide to the left.    The depth guage attached to the sliding guide gives a direct width reading.   I can score fine decks to a very high degree of accuracy using this device.    Using it is very simple, and requires no skill whatsoever.    Score line with scalpel, turn handle required distance, and then score the next one.     A few minutes will give you a perfect sheet of planking!

Bob

Bob,  This one would look great in a bottle! It looks great in your display case too!
 
Gwyl

SS Moravian.   This would be a good type for a bottle.    A steam clipper with quite a simple, but extensive rig, as well as a funnel.   Flush decked for ease of build.
Bob

I agree with the comments above!  Excellent video Jim!
 
Gwyl

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

Jim,
As usual always inspiring and uplifting. "Your work my friend is like expensive champagne ... with time as it ages the better it gets."
Excellent video and I look forward to more. As you stated hopefully the 4th dimension will allow it ... 
Jeff