Subject:
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Re: custom sails
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.pirates
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Date:
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Tue, 13 May 2003 18:53:14 GMT
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Viewed:
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2754 times
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In lugnet.pirates, Stephen Rowe writes:
> hi! i have come to an impasse. i am trying to build custom sails for my
> ships, but have hit a couple of difficulties. first, what does one use to
> punch or cut holes to mount them, and how do you cut them so they bulge
> correctly? i have tried a couple of different methods for making holes,
> including a punch, and cutting slits, but neither worked very well. also, i
> have been cutting archs in the lower part of the sails to make them bulge,
> but they do not do so evenly. if anyone has any suggestions, i would much
> appreciate them!
>
> thanks
> steve
Hi Steve,
What I've found that works best for punching holes is a leather punch tool!
It looks like a set of pliers only it has a wheel on the end. It allows you
to select different sizes for the holes by dialing the wheel to the correct
size. I think I use the 1/8 inch hole size for my sails! If you could find
just a single leather hole punch in 1/8 inch size, it would work. I've
found this works better than any paper hole punch or trying to cut the holes
with scissors or a knife. It leaves a clean looking hole and it fits nice
and tight on the round stubs that the Lego sails use.
As for making the sails bulge the right way, I have found that first you
need to have stiff material for the sails. If the material you are using is
not stiff enough, they will sag and not look as nice. One of the best ways
to stiffen them is using a fabric stiffener like "Aleene's" which you can
find in any fabric store or Walmart. (A cheap method would be to use white
glue and delute it) I delute "Aleenes" half and half with water then soak
the fabric in it. Don't wad or wring the fabric as the wrinkles are hard to
remove. I wipe off excess and hang the fabric until it dries. I sometimes
need to iron it before I cut it or decorate it. If it doesn't come out
stiff enough, you can repeat the process (even after the sail is finished).
The stiffener will also help keep the edges from fraying. You will find
that cotton fabric works best in this method.
To get the right bulge, I cut the holes on the sails to be about 1/2 inch
wider in distance than the stubs that they are being placed upon. If your
sails are already made, then just set the stub pieces to be 1/2 inch closer
by adjusting the length of the mast parts. To get a nice look, it helps to
copy the basic design of the Lego sails. I always make a cardboard template
before cutting the fabric. Use the Lego sail as a template for your
cardboard template. It's easy to extend the Lego sail by just adding a
little distance between the corners using the same curves and arcs as the
Lego sail.
You can see some of the sails I've created on my website:
http://www.zyworld.com/tmot/Home.htm
If you need scans of sails, I've placed a number of them for use on
Brickshelf. Here is the address:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=27997
I hope this helps you. If you have any other questions, I will be glad to
try and help. Good luck!
Tom
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: custom sails
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| In lugnet.pirates, Tom Reed writes: (Some good advice on sail making). Just a couple of extra points - The product I used for the Misérable and the Intracty was a US product called "Stiffie" (!) I used a standard paper hole punch for the rigging (...) (22 years ago, 13-May-03, to lugnet.pirates)
| | | Re: custom sails
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| (...) thats some good advice, thanks! i think i will try to stiffen my material up, so it will hold better. i did not think about the cardboard template, but i will try it! i am trying to build accurate sails for the period, and have to figure the (...) (22 years ago, 14-May-03, to lugnet.pirates)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | custom sails
|
| hi! i have come to an impasse. i am trying to build custom sails for my ships, but have hit a couple of difficulties. first, what does one use to punch or cut holes to mount them, and how do you cut them so they bulge correctly? i have tried a (...) (22 years ago, 13-May-03, to lugnet.pirates)
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