From the days of the ancient mariners, the simple sail has been used to harness the power of the wind. For thousands of years, sailing vessels have traversed the great oceans of the world. The sight of a sail on the horizon could be a dangerous omen or a sign that company is coming. The sailboat, like the ocean, has captivated the human imagination. Replicas of the some of the worlds best known sailing vessels can bring the beauty and history of the great era of sailing into your home or office.



Model Sail Boats in a Bottle

No type of model sailboat captivates the imagination quite like the ship in the bottle. Some people wonder how in the world a complete model sailing ship could ever fit in a glass bottle. The answer is, of course, very carefully. These finely detailed replicas are literally built inside a container such as a clear glass bottle. Ships with slimmer hull designs can be partially built outside the bottle before being placed inside. Larger types of vessels must be built with great care completely inside the bottle.

The process of creating this works of art takes a good deal of patience, skill, and time. Specialized tools are required as is a keen eye for detail. There are mass produced models available but these cheaper replicas are no substitute for a model that is properly built to scale. A properly built ship in a bottle can be a real collectors item.

Larger Models

If a ship in a bottle represents the smallest example of a model sailboat, there are larger versions available. For the modeling enthusiast, there are some choices to make when building a model sailboat. Modelers with a great deal of experience will often choose to build a replica from scratch. There are plans available that closely resemble the plans for a full scale boat. Experienced modelers will often build a scaled down duplicate of the actual design, sometimes down to a very fine level of detail.

When building sailing ship models from scratch, the hull components may be the easiest part of the process. Producing the sails, masts, spars, and other pieces of rigging can be the time consuming tasks of all. The time and skill required to make these components depends on the level of detail the modeler chooses to work to. There are finely crafted model sailing ships that are built right down to the smallest cleat and belaying pin.

Some modelers may choose to build a model sailboat from a kit, with precut pieces. Some kits feature plastic parts, though some kits are made from wood. Some kits provide the rigging pieces though the sails may have to be cut and sewn by hand.

For those of us who lack the time or ability to build a model sailboat, there are some great alternatives. Model sailboats can be purchased that require only a modest bit of assembly. The hull may come completely assembled leaving the masts, sails, spars and other rigging components to be completed. Instructions will come with the model that will help you to finish the assembly leaving you only to sit back and enjoy having the beauty of sailing in your home or office.