Build Log; Model Shipways 1:32 Willie Bennett Skipjack

[Corsair]

Can anyone tell me if the Willie Bennett kit by Model Shipways comes with sails? If not, could anyone recommend a kit that does?

I built a skipjack from scratch many years ago as a gift for my father. After several moves and new ownership(my daughter), the boat has taken a beating. Instead of repairing it, I'm considering building a new model for her. She and husband live on the bay and are very much into the Chesapeake Bay heritage.

Thanks in advance!

It says it does on their web site.

 

[Workboats]

Dear Outrider58:
The Model Expos kit does come with sail cloth and wooden mast hoops. You have to cut the sail cloth to the sail pattern from the plans and follow the details on stitching and attachment to the mast hoops and rigging. When I got to this point, I said I am done, and I left the sails off and out of my mind! But it is a great kit of a classic Chesapeake Bay workboat, and I hope you enjoy the journey!
Bert Shoemaker, Aiken, SC

 

[outrider58]

It says it does on their web site.
View attachment 594954

Thanks Corsair. Looks like I would have to sew them myself. I,m good at sewing some things. I did a lot of sewing of custom area rugs and runners, but sails will require a machine. Appreciate the reply sir!

Dear Outrider58:
The Model Expos kit does come with sail cloth and wooden mast hoops. You have to cut the sail cloth to the sail pattern from the plans and follow the details on stitching and attachment to the mast hoops and rigging. When I got to this point, I said I am done, and I left the sails off and out of my mind! But it is a great kit of a classic Chesapeake Bay workboat, and I hope you enjoy the journey!
Bert Shoemaker, Aiken, SC

Thanks for your reply. I will look into that Bert!

 

[Roger Pellett]

Much has been written here on SOS about sails on ship models. Most agree that at reasonable modeling cloth and sewing stitches are overscale and spoil an otherwise well built model.

A solution is to use Silkspan, a lightweight product used by model airplane builders. Use the forum’s search function and you’ll find plenty of discussion.

A distinguishing feature of Chesapeake Bay workboats is the use of Ladyjacks, a series of lines from the masthead to the boom. These provide a nest for the sail when lowered. This eliminates the need to furl the sail, hence their name. If I were modeling a Skipjack I would show Silkspan sails lowered into the lazyjacks.

Roger

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Thanks Corsair. Looks like I would have to sew them myself. I,m good at sewing some things. I did a lot of sewing of custom area rugs and runners, but sails will require a machine. Appreciate the reply sir!

Well you could be like the old sailors and ship modelers and sew by hand! Slower and harder, but it can be done, just look up Olha and how she does sails.

 

[outrider58]

Much has been written here on SOS about sails on ship models. Most agree that at reasonable modeling cloth and sewing stitches are overscale and spoil an otherwise well built model.

A solution is to use Silkspan, a lightweight product used by model airplane builders. Use the forum’s search function and you’ll find plenty of discussion.

A distinguishing feature of Chesapeake Bay workboats is the use of Ladyjacks, a series of lines from the masthead to the boom. These provide a nest for the sail when lowered. This eliminates the need to furl the sail, hence their name. If I were modeling a Skipjack I would show Silkspan sails lowered into the lazyjacks.

Roger

View attachment 594967View attachment 594966

Lazy jacks, I've heard them called. I rigged them on my original Skipjack build(though I didn't have sails).

 

[outrider58]

Well you could be like the old sailors and ship modelers and sew by hand! Slower and harder, but it can be done, just look up Olha and how she does sails.

I've watched her use a machine. She does sew the bolt ropes on by hand.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

This is something that I have not tried yet, and dread it like doing all the ratlines on a large ship.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Lazyjacks or Lazy Jacks are permanent rigging. Showing them on a model without sails is correct.

 

[Schiffsmodellbauer]

Here are some samples that I derived from this piece of sailcloth. Traced it from the plan then hemmed all corners, added sail cord and wipped it onto the edges. Regarding the built of this Willie Bennett is NOT for the inexperienced builder. I am sure frequent Model Builders here will do this set up with aplomb. I innocently build the HMS Endeavor as my 1st model and find it pretty accommodating except the riggins that to me were challenging for a first timer. In my opinion the Endeavor was " pretty easy", not so with the Skipjack which lacked OCcre style brochure layout and instructions... nevethless was and is still fun.

Cheers...

 

[JerryTodd]

A pair of brain-surgery goggles and I can sew a bolt-rope on anything. If you're gonna take the time to sew hawsers in as seams, you can properly sew on a bolt-rope - no machines required.


The lazyjacks are part of the rig, they're attached to the boom and the club, not the sails at all.

I worked on a few Skipjacks, such as the Minnie V (V not 5), and did a season dredging oysters on the Sigsbee, I know a little bit about Skipjacks.

 

[Schiffsmodellbauer]

Here are a few pictures of my unfinished Willie Bennetts Skipjack box model.

Cheers...

 

[outrider58]

A pair of brain-surgery goggles and I can sew a bolt-rope on anything. If you're gonna take the time to sew hawsers in as seams, you can properly sew on a bolt-rope - no machines required.
View attachment 595099

The lazyjacks are part of the rig, they're attached to the boom and the club, not the sails at all.
View attachment 595102
I worked on a few Skipjacks, such as the Minnie V (V not 5), and did a season dredging oysters on the Sigsbee, I know a little bit about Skipjacks.

Looks like a younger DJT in the background of that pic...