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Frequently Asked Questions ? |
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How long have you been making ships in bottles and what was your first? ------My first ship in bottle was made in 1973 and was two Schooners in a little whisky bottle. |
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why do you build them?--------It started as part of a hobby which I've always loved to do however as demand increased I realized that I wanted to do it for the duration. |
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Did you always build models?------Since I was about 4 or 5 years old. I mostly built planes and military vehicles. It wasn't till the 60's that boats came into my life. |
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Where do you find your bottles?-------At antique shops, tag sales. flee markets, church sales and some times friends give me great bottles. Also, whenever I travel I keep an eye out for that perfect bottle that I've always known exists. |
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How many can you build in a year? -------That depends on how complicated they are. If they are all four masted barks, perhaps three. |
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what are the sails made of?--------- I've used an onion skin paper that is 25% cotton. The cotton gives it strength especially when it gets wet during the water-coloring and shaping that takes place . |
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What are the hulls made of.--------I use cherry wood that is quite dry and fine grained with no knots. It has a very nice color that, when varnished looks like oiled teak, sort of. |
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Which is your favorite ship in bottle that you've built?------- The last one is always it! |
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How many have you built?---------I've just finished number 80, the four masted bark EDWARD SEWALL in a long kerosene bottle. |
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DO YOU EVER BUILD MORE THAN ONE AT A Time?------- Only when all are the same ship in the same commissioned project. |
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Do you ever cut the bottom off to get it in? ------ NO! I build them just like the old sailors did in the forecastle of their ship a hundred years ago. Of course I have better tools, materials and to say the least, surroundings. |
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What do you use for the hulls & cabins? ------Mostly cherry wood for hulls & cabins, however I've been using brass and silver solder on many of the more intricate parts. |
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Do you ever repair ships in bottles that have been damaged?----- Yes! Its very interesting to try to replace a glass bottle. I keep quite an inventory of classic bottles for just that purpose. Its also a challenge to duplicate another persons style and make it look all original. |
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