Nautical Research Journal Shop Notes


Another way to make sea bases for waterline models By Maurice Richard


T is is how I create the ‘water’ bases for my models. I must start by emphasizing that the basic method I use for making water bases for my models is not original to me, but I have adapted it from a method used and described by Jim Baumann in England.


For the foundation I use heavy cold pressed watercolor paper for the water surface. My models are to 1:250


scale and I fi nd the papers that give the best results are all-cotton papers advertised as ‘Indian hand- made’ even though some of them actually come from China. T e paper weight I use is around 320 gsm, so it is quite thick.


I fi rst draw around the hull of the model, then cut out the shape to leave a recess to accommodate it. (Figure 1) For ease of handling and because it facilitates making the base so that it is simple to put a cover over the fi nished model, I like to mount the paper on an underlay of 3mm foamcore board, so I cut this to match the paper. (Figure 2) I then paint the paper the appropriate colors for the area in which the vessel is operating. I usually use car body touch up aerosol paint cans for this in various tones of grey, blue, and green, and apply them quickly and wetly so that everything merges well. To make the surface appropriately shiny (since most of these paints actually dry with a fl at fi nish) I use the same gloss coat that would be applied over the touch-up paints.


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Figure 1.


Figure 2.


Figure 3.


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