Ferreira

Now that you mention it, that "de-lamination" problem strikes a familiar note.  Years ago (in the late seventies, I think) I started a Revell Cutty Sark.  (I had great ideas for modifying it, on the basis of the wonderful George Campbell plans.  I still think that was a good idea, but for one reason or other I got sidetracked onto other projects and never finished that one.)  I guess I'd bought that particular kit at the hobby shop where I was working; it was a newly-manufactured kit at the time.  The hull was made out of a strange black styrene that had a consistency almost like mica - quite unlike any other styrene I've ever encountered.  I seem to remember that the surface "layer" actually tended to come loose when masking tape was pulled off it.  I've never seen any reference to the problem till Shipwreck's last post; I hope Revell quit using the stuff.  At any rate, I'd advise any purchaser of a Revell Cutty Sarks to check the date on the box, which may give at least a hint of when that particular kit was manufactured.  If it dates from the mid- to late seventies - beware, and be careful with masking tape.

C'mon Revell - put that kit back in the catalogue!

Well I had this Cutty Sark on my shelf that I started 30 years ago. I finally decided to take up this enormous project. The water line (that's as far as I got) was an ancient enamel gloss white. It had to go and I didn't think I could dissolve it over such a large surface (wrong - it will dissolve) so I used a steel brush to gently scrap it off. It worked well except for the last third of the right side of the hull. I damaged the copper plate and wood grain detail. That wasn't all, it seems that Revell laminate the detail on the hull and the trauma of the scrubbing has caused sections of the detail to lift up, even in areas I didn't touch.

Solution - get another kit off of eBay. Now I have two kits. I plan to build one along the lines of the pre-Ferreira configuration probably with full sails, and a second one of the barquentine Ferreira. I will use the damaged hull for the Ferreira.

I am now interested in what you find out on this subject since it would be a nice project to do the 1/96 Revell kit in something other then the normal tea clipper garb.
Sorry I can't help either,

Scott

All I've seen regarding the Cutty Sark in her Portuguese schoolship days are a few photos and some brief notations in the standard histories of her - which you've probably already looked at.  As I recall she was, at least for part of her Portuguese career, painted with phony gunports. 

I used to have a copy of a fascinating article called "The Restoration of the Cutty Sark," by Frank G.G. Carr, the gentleman who was in charge of the project (back in the 1950s).  I bought it in the ship's gift shop in 1978, and apparently lost it in one of the four changes of residence I've made since then; I've ransacked the house looking for it, but can't find it.  As I remember, though, the restoration project didn't entail any major changes to the deck furniture.  (The money for such things wouldn't have been available.)  That implies that the Portuguese left such things as the deckhouses, cargo winches, windlass, etc. pretty much as they found them.  (Sometime or other she got a new steering wheel; I don't remember the details of that story.) 

As I recall, the most conspicuous change the Portuguese made (other than the cutting down of the rig) was the conversion of the 'tweendecks space from cargo hold to living quarters for the ship's cadet complement.  That entailed, among other things, the cutting of a row of round portholes on each side of the ship.  Mr. Carr's restoration team considered removing those ports, but eventually decided to leave them where they were as a means of providing air circulation to the ship's interior. The alternative would have been to install an electric ventilation system, with the attendant ductwork and decidedly unauthentic noise of blowers (and a good deal of initial and ongoing expense). 

The Cutty Sark is currently confronting a huge restoration and repair project.  I believe there are plans to replank the hull - and do away with the portholes.

I'm afraid I haven't helped much; that's what I can remember.