August 2021 - El Blog de Artesanía Latina

Cover the Model Ship Hull: Assembly of a Wooden Boat Model (IV)

Posted on August 26, 2021September 2, 2021 by Administrador DelBlog

We have to cover the model ship hull during the assembly of a wooden naval model, but before we have to sand the frames. Specifically, its more square edges, in order to make them blunt so that, later, they fit better with the cover as they are a little curved. To do this, you can use our sanding block and sandpaper.

Later, proceed to cover the deck with wood veneer with glue. We recommend our dense cyanoacrylate and spray accelerator or the white glue. You can also make it with nails, a magnetic nailer and a modeler’s hammer. It all depends on the age and make of the naval scale model you have purchased, or the method you like best.

It is time to start covering the boat hull with, in this case, the first layer of wooden strips, as can be seen in the image below. Artesanía Latina electric plank bender tool will help you shape the strips. Wet the strips for at least half an hour and apply the heat of the aforementioned tool to shape them. You can also use the manual plank bender tool.

Then, make the holes where the cannons will come out, that is, the cannon ports, as we said, once you have built the first layer of the hull cover. We recommend the use of a template so that the distance between the loop-holes is the same and to facilitate this thorough work. We also recommend tools like drill, cutter and file.

It is time to cover the model ship hull with the second layer, but this time with wooden veneer.

COVER MODEL SHIP HULL: SANDING AND VARNISHING

When the hull cover is finished, sand the entire hull gently and varnish it. Depending on the ship model being worked, some will require that your hull be painted with some color and some brush.

You already have the ship model ready for the rigging installation. This process will be seen in the next post dedicated to any wooden model ship building process. In this sense, Artesania Latina‘s ship modeling kits are the best in value for money.

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Naval & Aviation History

History of the Belem Training Ship: The French Navigable Monument is 125 years

Posted on August 19, 2021September 14, 2022 by Administrador DelBlog

The French Training Ship Belem celebrates this 2021 one hundred and twenty-five years of history. It was launched in 1896 with a steel hull at the Dubigeon shipyard in Nantes for a purely commercial use between France and Brazil and the Indies for the transport of goods such as sugar or cocoa. To commemorate this important date, what better way to talk about its life, also full of great importance.

First, we must highlight the enormous measures of the Belem training ship. The boat is 51 meters length, not counting the 7 meters of the bowsprit, by 8.80 meters of maximum beam. In addition, it has three large masts 58 meters height.

Thanks to the efforts and money of its various owners, the Gallic ship is currently the last three-masted sailing ship to sail in all of Europe. In addition, it is the most precious jewel of the naval heritage of France. In this sense, the Belem received the classification of Historical Monument on February 27, 1984.

Throughout its history, the Belem school ship has suffered many mishaps and inconveniences, as happens with almost all old ships that still ply the waters of the Earth. This long-lived cargo sailboat passed alternately by English, Italian and again French hands.

With the successive implantation of the steamship, the sailboats of maritime routes gradually disappeared. In 1914 it happened to the Belem when it was acquired by the Duke of Westminster, who decided to transform the ship into an excellent leisure boat. Curiously, it had to be docked on the English Isle of Wight for several years because of the bloody World War I.

HISTORY OF BELEM TRAINING SHIP: AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE SAILBOAT

At the beginning of the 20s of the last century, another lover of the Belem school ship, in this case, Arthur Ernest Guinness, bought the three-masted sailboat and went around the world with his whole family. As mentioned previously, the French ship also passed through Italian hands since 1951, establishing itself as the Italian training ship.

The Belem was motorized and renamed for various uses – luxury cruise and training ship. Finally, he was discovered by chance in Venice in a sorry state in the late 1970s by a nostalgic hobbyist.

Purchased with the support of a large French bank, the sailboat returned to its native country in 1979. The bank financed the Belem Foundation, which began its restoration. Currently, the Belem training ship is now converted to cabotage as it offers introductory and discovery courses for enthusiasts. It is destined for the French Navy for the training of its cabin boys, appearing also in the great meetings of traditional sailboats.The last works carried out have been the restoration of the furniture with mahogany wood from Cuba.

Live the passion for history and naval modeling with the fantastic model of the French training ship Belem 1/75. A museum jewel for your eyes!

Click here to read the post about the model…

Ship Models

Belem Training Ship Model. 1:75 Faithful Wooden Replica of the French Boat

Posted on August 12, 2021January 30, 2023 by Administrador DelBlog

Artesania Latina’s modelers have created a spectacular wooden ship model. It is a faithful miniature wooden replica of the oldest three-masted sailing ship on the planet, which still sails the seas today: the Belem Training Ship Model at 1:75 scale.

The great French ship, destined to the learning of the new Gallic sailors, is beauty. It is also majesty and the history of world navigation. 125 years of history endorse it as a world nautical reference.

For just over a year, our model makers have put all their effort and knowledge into naval modeling so that the Belem training ship model from France is identical to the original boat. That is why the Belem Foundation has formally accredited the design and commercialization of the scale model of the French ship.

BELEM TRAINING SHIP MODEL FOR ADVANCED MODELERS

The level of detail work is astonishingly high on this 1/75 scale modeling kit. In this sense, the Belem wooden scale model is aimed at advanced level modelers, the one before the expert. The level of difficulty in its assembly and in the knowledge of the necessary tools for this is located at 3 of the 4 existing.

The objective of Artesania Latina with this fantastic wooden reproduction is that our faithful friends modellers from all over the world enjoy its construction. It has more than 1,300 pieces in wood and metal.

When the modeler finishes assembling the model kit for this boat, the wooden model measures 31.73” (806 mm) length, 10.07” (256 mm) width and 21.25” (540 mm) height. That is, it can preside over any room given its large size and beauty.

CONTENTS OF BELEM TRAINING SHIP MODELING KIT

Among the contents, the presence of laser cut board to different thicknesses, slats and rods of birch wood, linden veneer, chemical cuttings in steel and in brass and cast parts stand out.

In addition, to emphasize the realism of the Belem training ship model, decals are included for the details of the hull such as the depth marks or the name of the ship itself. Also, cotton cloth sails identical to the originals and ready to be placed and cotton thread for the rigging.

To all this is added a very important gift for the exhibition of this naval scale model at home or in the office when the modeler finishes building it. The wooden base is essential.

One of the most impressive buildable parts of the Belem training ship model at 1/75 scale is its bow winch. The thirty parts you need to assemble is an accurate reflection of the level of detail in the design of the Gallic scale model.

Here you can see even more precisely the impressive winch of the Belem training ship model.

In this video you can see which are the components of the Belem naval modeling kit with greater precision.

NAVAL MODELING KIT WITH THE BEST DIGITAL INSTRUCTIONS

But before exposing it, of course, you have to build the model of the Belem school ship. For this, the Artesania Latina‘s modelers have designed the best step-by-step instructions in color. With around 1,500 images and video tutorials in DVD format!

The DVD also includes a magnificent digital poster of the 1/1 scale model of the French ship.

We care about being up-to-date with digital times. At the same time, we preserve forests in these times when taking care of our planet has become a priority objective for Humanity.

The modeler can easily enlarge digital instructions on his computer or tablet, accurately view even the smallest detail. In this way, we combine modernity with tradition, helping and encouraging new generations of modelers to join this wonderful hobby.

The model maker has a specific set of paints and finishes to paint the boat. It is for sale separately and facilitates the painting of the Belem training ship model at 1/75 scale made of wood.

You can also purchase the Belem Gift Pack (22519L), which includes the model, its paints and some tools.

Read the post about the history of Belem here…

Model Building Tips

Ship Hull Construction: Assembly of a Wooden Boat Model (III)

Posted on August 5, 2021August 29, 2021 by Administrador DelBlog

Once the modeler who starts in the world of ship modeling has prepared the workshop and has supplied the necessary tools for modeling according to the skill level, the ship model lover can begin to know everything about the ship hull construction of the boat model thanks to this post.

On this way, the steps that will be undertaken to carry out this purpose are divided as follows. Firstly, we emphasize that it is necessary to check the contents of the modeling kit, so that the modeler becomes familiar with the shapes of the different parts. Also, as most of these kits, in this case ship modeling, have a list of parts, we recommend that you make sure that all parts are present. It is also convenient to see if it brings all the plans and instructions for its construction. (Artesania Latina modeling kits bring them on DVD format).

SHIP HULL CONSTRUCTION: KEEL AND FRAMES OF THE SHIP MODEL

The next action would be the assembly of the keel. It is the fundamental area of the ship’s model structure. It goes from the bow to the stern of the ship longitudinally on the exact center of the model, since everything will be built from this part.

Remember to take the drawings that show the hull assembly and hang them in front of you, at your workshop. On this way, you can quickly and clearly see how to assemble each part.

The next step would be to adjust the frames to the keel, although the modeler must first make sure that they are not broken. The good thing about Artesania Latina modeling kits is that you don’t have to file the frames before they are placed. They are ready to fit. Just do not paste them until you see that, once placed, all are perfectly.

ASSEMBLY OF SHIP MODEL DECK AND MASTS

Afterwards, the modeler must check and fit the decks of the wooden ship model. This action has a great relevance since the decks will make the keel straight, and it help align the frames.

Small scale models, usually aimed at beginner modelers, only have one deck, thus facilitating the work of the novice. Never force the cover on the frames when assembling it, be very careful, or it will yield and damage the hull construction.

As for the installation of the masts, Artesania Latina’s ship miniatures facilitate the assembly to the modelers, because they will only have to insert the masts through holes arranged for it on the deck and the keel. Speaking about other brands, you have to put some wooden blocks to hold the mâsts. But we will comment this later, although we show you below where they would be inserted.

SHIP HULL CONSTRUCTION: BOW AND STERN OF THE NAVAL MODEL

It is time to assemble and fit the bow and stern parts – the stern reinforcement is not necessary on Artesania Latina’s boat models because it comes to ‘die’ at the end of the last frame-, which will provide a solid base to the wooden strips that will finally cover the hull. The parts provided must be symmetrical and follow the shape of the mentioned hull of the wooden ship model.

Once you have seen the good disposition of the frames and that the decks are not bent or sunk, proceed to glue them, as well as the rest of the ship built, with cyanoacrylate for porous materials because you are working with wood. Once you have pasted everything, let it dry for at least twenty four hours. We will speak about more steps for ship hull construction on next post.

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