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Competition piece

L

LeatherVerse

Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
18
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48

Hi everyone,


I'm guessing this wont be your usual request for help. I'm a Master Leather Craftsman, and I compete in the international show every year in the masters division. Last year I won Blue Ribbon, Best in Category, and Best in Show with a medieval style cottage made 100% of leather (pic below. Everything you see is leather including the grass).

This year I'm making a Spanish Galleon (Same model as the Black Pearl) for my competition piece. It is 100% leather, not including the internal structure. Not only is this my competition piece, but I've been challenged to a friendly head-to-head competition by a Grand Master (There's only 6 of them in the world.) So, needless to say, I want it to be world class.

Not only will this be a pirate ship, but its a ghost ship. I'll be weathering and distressing it to make it look like its been on the ocean for years. When you see the pics below, you'll notice that the planking is a little rough...thats why. I'll be using it to tell the story of the ghost ship.

The ships name will be "The Lazarus."

So, here's my first of many questions. After I get the foundation in (planking, decking, and walls) what should be my next phase? I'm thinking it should be the bow.
It was built from blue prints, and as of right now, I'm 95 hours into it. As you can see, theres a long way to go. (Competition is the first week in Oct.)

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I don't know what your specific plans are, but I would say probably the deck furniture next (all the equipment and structures) like a deck house, a capstan the ships wheel and the ships guns, etc. It will be really hard to install those once the rigging is in place. Then after that start working on the masting and rigging. With the competition in the first week in Oct, you don't have much time ! Best of luck ! Let us know how you do. :)

Jeff
 
Corsair said:
I don't know what your specific plans are, but I would say probably the deck furniture next (all the equipment and structures) like a deck house, a capstan the ships wheel and the ships guns, etc. It will be really hard to install those once the rigging is in place. Then after that start working on the masting and rigging. With the competition in the first week in Oct, you don't have much time ! Best of luck ! Let us know how you do. :)

Jeff
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Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely start looking into those things.

Time is definitely short, but I'm putting in anywhere between 8-10 hours a day on it. Even with that, the deadline is way too close.

When you said you don't know what my specific plans are, what were you referring to? I'm happy to talk through that if it helps with the planning.
 
LeatherVerse said:
Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely start looking into those things.

Time is definitely short, but I'm putting in anywhere between 8-10 hours a day on it. Even with that, the deadline is way too close.

When you said you don't know what my specific plans are, what were you referring to? I'm happy to talk through that if it helps with the planning.
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like what your vision of the completed model is. masts? (some models have the masts cut off just above the deck for review of the ship before construction). Rigging? How detailed? Sails? Sails add a lot of rigging. These are some examples.
 
Corsair said:
like what your vision of the completed model is. masts? (some models have the masts cut off just above the deck for review of the ship before construction). Rigging? How detailed? Sails? Sails add a lot of rigging. These are some examples.
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Well, I'll try to answer them one at a time.

Mast - Three mast plus the bowsprit. At least thats what the blueprints call for. With it being a ghost ship, I could potentially have one of the mast broken off.

Rigging - I'm thinking just beyond the basic rigging. I've got to make the deadeyes and other block and tackle type pieces. I'll definitely be adding the shrouds as well as other basic rigging, but I'm not planning on doing the "spiders web" of rigging that you see on a lot of the incredible kits.

Sails - I'd like to do tattered sails. Ones that are attached at the top, but are essentially shredded and not secured at the bottom.

One of the reasons I chose a ghost ship is because it allows for so much more flexablity and not nearly as much precision. I also like telling a story by weathering my projects. Cracked and splintered wood tells a better story and it doesn't require nearly as much precision. So, I'll be leaning heavily into the weathering part of it. (Worn/cracked wood, discolored paint, barnacles, debris on the hull and deck, broken rigging, etc)
 
DARIVS ARCHITECTVS said:
This choice of material for a model sailing ship has to be the strangest ever seen, not to mention expensive. Huge challenge in keeping moisture from warping things.
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Well, its a leather competition, and I have tons of it laying around. As far as warping, the internal structure is wood reinforced with spray foam. Its solid. Preventing it from warping isn't a problem as long as you take the proper steps.
 
The ship that you are building is pure fantasy as the drawings that you are using to build it are not based on a historically accurate prototype. You can therefore treat it as an impressionistic work of art and add or leave off as much detail as you wish.

Roger
 
First and foremost, I'm breathtakingly impressed with your craftsmanship both in the structure diorama and with the ship hull as shown. I might remind you that you are creating an art piece (contest or not) with no intentions at presenting it as a three-dimensional photo of some object in the real world. A derelict ship is just that, derelict; windblown, sun baked, waterlogged and wave beaten, and most of all, no where near intact. Best have stubby broken masts and loose (if any and probably single-ended) standing rigging. Thus a minimum of blocks and similar ephemera. Looking at your work I don't doubt your creative ability but this will be a tough test for your artistic eye. Good luck.
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Thank you!

When it comes to the "derelict" aspect of the ship, thats one thing I've been debating on, and would love to hear your opinion. How far should I take it?

Again, I'd love to hear your (and everyone elses) thoughts on it.
 
Amazing project! I'd have never imagined a ship made of leather--best of luck with your project and the competition.

But as far as the derelict part, I'm not sure how you make that clear to the observer (or judge) without having them think the work is either complete or just sloppy--my suggestion is not to overdo that aspect.
 
LeatherVerse said:
Thank you!

When it comes to the "derelict" aspect of the ship, thats one thing I've been debating on, and would love to hear your opinion. How far should I take it?

Again, I'd love to hear your (and everyone elses) thoughts on it.
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Uhoh, I get the perception that I possibly surprised you by saying derelict? "Derelict" ship was how I interpreted your word "ghost" ship. Perhaps that isn't your original intention? In any event, I cannot help you with a derelict or ghost, I am a photographic realist, a prototype modeler. I don't "see" fantasy or whimsy. I do respect those who do. Best wishes for your project.
Alf in Iowa
 
Alf in Iowa said:
Uhoh, I get the perception that I possibly surprised you by saying derelict? "Derelict" ship was how I interpreted your word "ghost" ship. Perhaps that isn't your original intention? In any event, I cannot help you with a derelict or ghost, I am a photographic realist, a prototype modeler. I don't "see" fantasy or whimsy. I do respect those who do. Best wishes for your project.
Alf in Iowa
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I'm good! A ghost ship is essentially a floating derilict ship. Appreciate the advice.
 
Thomas said:
Amazing project! I'd have never imagined a ship made of leather--best of luck with your project and the competition.

But as far as the derelict part, I'm not sure how you make that clear to the observer (or judge) without having them think the work is either complete or just sloppy--my suggestion is not to overdo that aspect.
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Thanks!

I think I've decided to have the center and rear mast in tact, mostly, and the front mast to have fallen. (Sorry, I don't know the actual terms.) I'm going to use the upper portion of the mast (above the crows nest, if thats the right term) as the part thats fallen. Essentially the joint between the two has broken and fallen.
 
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