THE SCUTTLEBUTT

The Scuttlebutt is the official newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Shipwrights – Denver, CO.

Its objective is to promote, develop and further scale model shipbuilding

and the study of maritime subjects, art, history and traditions.

 

VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3                                                                       JUNE, 2002

 

JUNE MEETING

THE JUNE MEETING OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHIPWRIGHTS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 15, AT 0930 HOURS, ROCKLER WOODWORKING & HARDWARE, 2553 SOUTH COLORADO BLVD., DENVER, CO.

SPEAKER: ED QUAM

TOPIC: “WOODS TO USE AND NOT USE, AND WHY ”

 

JULY MEETING

The July Meeting will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 0930 hours, at Rockler Woodworking & Hardware, 2553 South Colorado Blvd., Denver. 

Speaker: Terry Godwin & Mark Pankratz

Topic: “Hahn Method”. 

 

NOW HEAR THIS - SKIPPER’S NOTES

We had a great meeting in May and look forward to an even better one in June.  The meeting, as usual, will be at Rockler’s on Saturday, June 15, at 9:30.  Several dedicated members headed up by Terry Godwin are diligently laboring to get us a true, workable web site for both members and for interested sponsors.  Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

We had some input on the “no-show” logo on the mail out version of last month’s Scuttlebutt.  We’ll try harder.

One of our newer members approached me at our last meeting with an idea that I believe has a lot of merit.  What do you think?  The idea is to keep a loose-leaf, three ring binder available in our library for anyone who has something they would like to sell, such as tools, ships, services etc. 

Also it could be used if you’re looking to buy, need advice, or help just let it be known.  I like it

Mark Prankratz and his show committee are doing a great job in getting things on and off the drawing board for the RMS fall show.  If you have ideas to make it better, let him know.

Future things to think about – Bob Slattery called the other day with a thought about having our December meeting at a restaurant and “breaking bread”.  It would be a good way to get to know each other better. That too would be a good time to get acquainted with the new RMS officers for 2003.  That’s another item to be thinking about.  Who do we want to nominate?  By the way, Bob Slattery knows a nice place with privacy.

Hope to see everyone, now 69 members, at the upcoming RMS meeting.  The program promises to be another real winner with Ed Quam on a subject we should all learn more about; “Woods to use and not use, and why”.

Your Skipper, Jim Smith      

 

NEW MEMBERS

Please welcome the following new members to RMS.

 

Bob Skarbek

rskarbek@yahoo.com

 

RMS members are encouraged to wear their name badges to monthly meetings.  New members can order name badges at Sun Signs, 4420 Tennyson St., Denver, CO 80212 (303-477-1594).

 

UPCOMING 2002 RMS MEETING DATES

Meetings are held on the third Saturday monthly

 

at 0930 hours.  Location: Rockler Woodworking & Hardware, 2553 South Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO.

August 17         Ed Quam, Mark Pankratz                                             Lumber Mill

September 21   Jon Sorensen, John McGann                                         Planking

October 19      Annual Model Exhibition

November 16   Kit Review

December 21   Ed Quam, Jon Sorenson

                        Rigging

 

LIBRARY

During the past month we have added several books to our library.

Terry Godwin donated the book, “The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860”, by James Lees.

Caboose Hobbies donated the following books to the club from their sale table.  We thank Caboose Hobbies for their continued support of the Rocky Mountain Shipwrights and encourage members to visit Caboose Hobbies and get a good deal on some books.

“The Ship Model Builder’s Assistant”, by Charles Davis

“Model Ships from Scratch”, by Scott Robertson

“Ship Model Builder’s Handbook”, by Tom Gorman

“Ship Models in Glass”, by Peter Hille

“Basics of Ship Modeling”, by Mike Ashey

“The Period Ship Handbook 2”, by Keith Julier

“Historic Model Ships from Scratch”, by Scott Robertson

“Ship Modeling Techniques”, by Portia Takakjian

We voted money to purchase some more books from Caboose Hobbies, which will be used to add additional books to the library.

Donations of books from members are especially welcome.  The library is located in the cabinet near the RMS meeting room at

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware.  Members are requested to return any books that have been outstanding for a long time so that other members may enjoy them too. - Roger Hanson 

 

Article Report

“THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A GROUP OF WOODEN MODELS FROM THE TOMB OF DJEHUTINAKHT…”, by Nadia Lokma, ARCE Bulletin, No. 181, pgs 1, 3-6

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston contains an outstanding collection of wooden models from the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. The models include scenes from daily life and 57 boat models.  All kinds of boats are represented, including sailing, rowing and poled vessels. The models are made of local wood covered with a layer of calcium carbonate and glue, to provide a smooth surface, and then painted to add details.

In 1992, reconstruction and conservation of the models began. After studying other models, the figures of people were cleaned and consolidated so they could be handled without causing further damage.  Next, the figures were identified along with their correct positions on the models.  Many of the boat figures were attached during restoration in the early 20th Century using plaster, wood dust, and animal glue.  Most of these had been attached incorrectly.  For example, a lookout on one boat was attached to the bow, but looking backwards!

Standing figures were attached to the deck by fixing the legs in holes.  If the leg had broken off in the hole, the remaining piece could be matched against the figure.  Determining the positions of seated figures (rowers) was especially difficult.  Attachment to the boat was by a single dowel.  If the dowel had broken off, the remains in the hole were matched against the remains on the figure.  If the dowel was not broken off, the size and shape of the holes in the deck and in the figure were used.  After at least one figure had been positioned, the other figures were easier.

The collection of wooden models is now stored in climate-controlled cabinets in the Museum of Fine Arts awaiting further restoration and display. –

Bob Rushforth