Over the years, sails have been
seen on model boats in one or another form. The majority of ship model kits include sails that are
made of muslin cloth due to its color as well as close look to old time canvas.
Such sails are typically pre-cut and sewn up around the corners with rope in
order to fasten rigging lines and blocks securely. There are several boat kits that
include sails that do not look too bad as the sails are given the authentic
appearance with detailed sewing of seams and panels. Plus, they look rather
natural in the way that it hangs, therefore, improving the overall look of the
entire ship model.
Such sort of sails are even one
that can be created on your own (by the modeler) simply by using a sewing
machine having a bit of sewing experience. Let’s talk about Silkspan sails. Even
though it gives the impression of a tissue paper, however, is way stronger
since the availability of silk spun into the fibers. Most often, it is
available in a white sheet of tissue and can be converted into any type of the
color. To make it limp and let it form any shape, water can be applied to it.
Once shaped, the shape can be retained as the water gets evaporated.
Strangely enough, a lot of
modelers building ship model kits
have discovered that details like seam lines onto the Silkspan can be printed
easily. Moreover, the pieces of Silkspan can even be glued to each other to
make it look like strengthening panels, which can be seen on authentic sails. Given
such properties, let’s explore how simple it is to make Silkspan sails in any
color, size, or shape and make use of them on the scale mode boat. Such sails
have to open up all sorts of possibilities for display like sails under the wind,
furled sails, or simply plain sails hanging from a yardarm.
