Just acquired HMS Victory. My first wooden ship

[Phillipsart]

Here is another image. As I mentioned earlier a lot of the green powder is under the copper plate. Some of the worst pieces I removed, cleaned and glued back on.

I spent two hours just in this side to get it as it is.

I gather, if I brush the enamel lacquer on now. It will stop any further degradation?

If so. I’m going to go with this. I like how it looks now.

 

[Namabiiru]

I’ve cleaned it up a bit. I used a bit of white vinegar mixed with baking powder. It’s a gentle cleaner. Used my fingers and ear buds to clean the copper plates.

There still some of the green in it but the majority is gone.

View attachment 524506

That looks much better! (To me )

 

[Phillipsart]

That looks much better! (To me )

Thanks. I agree. I love how it looks now. I’ve not purchased any of the enamel lacquer thus far. About to go up town to purchase some. I’m undecided if I should use gloss, semi gloss or Mat lacquer

 

[Corsair]

Matt is my opinion (for what that's worth ).

 

[Namabiiru]

Matt is my opinion (for what that's worth ).

Concur. Gloss tends to look toy-like in small scale.

 

[Phillipsart]

I searched today and no one where I live sells mat clear enamel lacquer, not easy to find here in Australia.

Not sure what I’m going to use now.

 

[Namabiiru]

Graham’s suggestion to use lacquer is not a bad one, but honestly I don’t see any reason a spray acrylic wouldn’t work. Unless you live in a humid, salt-air environment (which I am led to understand is not common in the land of Aus) then I don’t think you need worry a whole lot about additional oxidation on copper. If anything, I think it would tend to even out the patina.

I prefer acrylic finishes over lacquer because of drying time and clean up. Might not be the right thing for furniture that gets a lot of wear and tear, but works fine for models.

 

[RussF]

I searched today and no one where I live sells mat clear enamel lacquer, not easy to find here in Australia.

Not sure what I’m going to use now.

Krylon is available down under and they have a wide variety of clear spray (rattle can) finishes in gloss, satin or matte. Most any of them would work, but I would stay away from the artist's fixative - it will wipe off. You should be able to find them at your local home center or at The Artist Warehouse, although it will probably be more expensive at art stores.

 

[Phillipsart]

Krylon is available down under and they have a wide variety of clear spray (rattle can) finishes in gloss, satin or matte. Most any of them would work, but I would stay away from the artist's fixative - it will wipe off. You should be able to find them at your local home center or at The Artist Warehouse, although it will probably be more expensive at art stores.

Graham’s suggestion to use lacquer is not a bad one, but honestly I don’t see any reason a spray acrylic wouldn’t work. Unless you live in a humid, salt-air environment (which I am led to understand is not common in the land of Aus) then I don’t think you need worry a whole lot about additional oxidation on copper. If anything, I think it would tend to even out the patina.

I prefer acrylic finishes over lacquer because of drying time and clean up. Might not be the right thing for furniture that gets a lot of wear and tear, but works fine for models.

i live in a high humidity area in Australia. Humidity at the moment up around %80. Uptown 95%

 

[Phillipsart]

Would this work?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-300g-metalshield-brass-and-copper-enamel-clear-spray_p0034970

 

[RussF]

Would this work?

https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-300g-metalshield-brass-and-copper-enamel-clear-spray_p0034970

I've never used it, but I don't see why not. It should theoretically "freeze" the plating the way it is, which is what you want, right?

 

[Phillipsart]

I've never used it, but I don't see why not. It should theoretically "freeze" the plating the way it is, which is what you want, right?

Yes that’s the goal. Basically keep it the way it is. I can not find anything else to use where I live. The only thing. I believe it might be a gloss Finnish.

I may have no other option but to use this. Where I live is a harsh environment, High humidity and close to the coast.