Copper bottom question

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Dec 8, 2019
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Virginia Beach, VA.
I don't like the bright finish you get with the copper foil used to cover a hull bottom. Wondering if anyone knows how to use chemicals to get a nice green patina? Stained glass hobby stores carry stuff that might do the trick but haven't tried yet. Store closed right now anyway.
 
Yes, there is very good build log and I think video on how to for the colored copper bottoms.

 
Yes, there is very good build log and I think video on how to for the colored copper bottoms.

Great. Just what I was looking for. Thanks.
 
Always glad to help another builder, or Baby Yoda, being its Star Wars day today.

May the 4th be with you in your ship coppering quest.
 
Ironically,by far the best Patina I have seen on a coppered hull was created by wiping on human urine.That is no joke.honestly!

Kind Regards

Nigel
 
I thought vinegar was the thing to use, my buddy does copper bay trim, one homeowner wanted it all weathered. I forget what he used. See me I like a all natural wood and shiny ship model, lol.
in the micro mark catalog there’s a metal ageing in the Train section
 
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I thought vinegar was the thing to use, my buddy does copper bay trim, one homeowner wanted it all weathered. I forget what he used. See me I like a all mat wood and shiny ship model, lol.
in the micro mark catalog there’s a metal angering the Train section
Finally found a YouTube video of a process with ammonia and salt. Also several other concoctions. Might try a few experiments.
 
For shinny new ships you could just leave the copper platting bright new look.

When I was learning my ship modeling in local group, I learned why some ships had cooper and others didn't.

It was used in warm water craft, to keep wood worms from boring into planking, they don't live in northern cold water!

Not sure what year platting on hulls was started.
 
One point to take into account is that the green patina only appears in areas exposed to air,in other words around the waterline.The area of the hull fully immersed would only turn dark brown.The green only appears on the whole hull when the vessel sits in drydock for some time.

Kind Regards

Nigel
 
I had never heard that, give new view to how the coopered hull should look, depending on if set for sailing or set in dry dock.
 
One point to take into account is that the green patina only appears in areas exposed to air,in other words around the waterline.The area of the hull fully immersed would only turn dark brown.The green only appears on the whole hull when the vessel sits in drydock for some time.

Kind Regards

Nigel
Interesting. Thanks for the info. Thinking about doing another USS Constitution cross section for my son. Sprayed the first one with copper paint, OK but not the look I wanted.
 
There is a chapter in this Book on Coppering. Here’s a pic. (Ship Modelers Notes)image.jpgimage.jpg
 
good to know, love the ship on side to get to bottom keel to re-plate copper. Can't tell if the other side was underwater at that angle.
 
Looks like a city job. 14 guys to do that. Lol.
thoght you’d dig the pic being from Va.
 
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