Full Sail Or Furled ?

I had customer who've want the model both ways??? I had to explain that a suit of sails were either in use or furled. However when a ship came into port to load or unload, the sail were unbent from the yards and taken to dryout and be repaired. This is espespcially (sp) true if the ship was going "'round the horn".

They needed their best and stropngest suit to weather the high winds and strong waves.

I prefer to build the yards bare so you can see the rigging from all angles.

Jim:
Glad to hear you are using the plastic sails as a former only, as they are never worth trying to put on the model.

My own view (and it is only that) is that unless you are modelling a ship at sea then a full suit of sails set on a static model just does not look right.

Jake is right when he says that a ship at anchor would unbend the sails, so showing a ship without them is certainly correct. This also eliminates a good part of the running rigging so for someone not experienced at this type of modelling it would be a good way to start.

If you are furling sails don't forget that the clews of the sail (the bottom corners eh?) were drawn in towards the mast and not straight up to the yard, resulting in a sailcloth bundle that tapers out from the mast to the yard arm. Furled sails also need all their rigging. In order to keep the correct perspective you do not make your furled sail full height, rather 1/2 to 2/3 is all that is required to achieve the correct size of furl. This is because the thickness of your sail cloth material will not be in scale.

A compromise option, and one that I like to use, is to brail the sails; this means to use the clew lines, leech lines and bunt lines to draw the sails up to the yard but not furl them. The sail hangs down like a bag. This is the way sails appeared just before they were set or furled, like when getting ready to depart or anchor. This allows you to display all your sail and rigging handiwork without detracting from the details on the decks.

You can also correctly mix these options, furling the upper sails, setting the top sails, and brailing the courses for example.

Don't forget that you can also brace the yards around for a more interesting and accurate working appearance. Yards were rarely if ever squared up when the vessel was working.

For information on sail making try "Historic Ship Models" by Wolfram zu Mondfeld, or "Ship Modelling from Scratch" by Edwin Leaf. Both discuss the issue of sail sets and their manufacture.

Remember that a quick look at any collection of models will show you that sails are displayed in all possible sets. At the end of the day it is your model and so whatever you decide to give you satisfaction will be correct for you and your model.

Good luck and feel free to come back with more questions.
Bruce

PS:
Hear you bought a spokeshave ...

Hi guys, yes picked up a Stanley spokeshave last week. No excuses now!!!!!!!! Everybody is waiting to see this ENDEAVOUR. But on the way back from the tool shop I also picked up another 1/96 CONSTITUTION (Revell) for the one I had to leave behind in London. TIME<TIME, So many kits,so little time. Sometimes I wish I was into 1/48 Planes or 1/35 armour. Only kidding but building large fully rigged ships is slightly,very slightly masochistic.

Definitely separates the men from the boys ...
What is that old MCP line ... "Sailors do it with Waves"? or something to that effect.
I must add that I have never tried bellying the sails with a stiffener yet. how has that worked out for you/
Bruce

My 2 cents worth.

If you have a fairly simple rigging like a sloop or small gunboat, I'd definitely have the full sails. It really fills in the space like on a Viking ship.

however, for something with extensive rigging like on the Constitution or Victory, I personally prefer the sails to be "furled" or rolled up to show off the rigging. Extensive rigging gives a model it's "WOW" factor

I guess it depends on the model and the patience quota for that day but I usually use the full sail option on my waterline models. The stiffened full sails give a real feeling of movement. You just use an absorbent non treated natural material,(cotton handkerchiefs etc) after your favourite staining process when it is good and dry use the kit sails as a former and wash with dilute PVA. After 24 hrs remove,trim carefully and away you go.

Jim:
I can see doing that on a waterline model to give the idea of the ship in motion. Thanks for the tip,
Bruce

You have to judge how much PVA to use,too much and the back of the material next to the former will have a very shiny surface. Another good product which is better but hard to track down(for me anyway) is the special starch you can buy to make your own roller blinds. You just soak the material and it gives just the right amount of stiffness and holds the moulded on pattern of the Kit sails. You can get it in Craft shops and some places that sell like embroidery kits and suchlike.You may have better luck at getting it in the States.

Jim:
I never heard of that roller blind stuff before. There is a store near us that specializes in window coverings and I'll make a point to ask there, also at Michael's (a craft store chain).
If I can get it and it is not hazardous to ship would you like some sent out?
Bruce

Bruce,
A little off topic, but the saying went "Join the Navy and ride the Waves." In the beginning of WWII, women were not technically allowed to enlist in the Navy, instead they joined the Women's Auxiliary, which became known as the WAVES. Get the picture?
Sails can be done both furled and unfurled, and at the same time. Imagine dock maneuvering under a full sheet! It would be impossible, so they would only hoist certain sails for the desired speed and maneuvering options.

demono69

Another option you can try is the "battle sail" configuration that the Constitution used when she sailed back in 1997. Also, when you build your ship as a waterline model, give her a little heel, 2 or 3 degrees is all in the direction of the apparent wind shown in the billowed sails and you will be amazed at the increased sense of movement. I have sailed on tall ships before and they are almost never level, deck with the sea. Fair winds and following seas.
Paul