Model Ship Restoration
Whoever possesses antique ships' models has an obligation to take proper care of them and to preserve them: in particular, Maritime Museums have the responsability to ensure their survival because these models are representatives of our maritime heritage and culture. Ship models need continuous monitoring and attention, thus proper conservation is imperative to ensure that the models are kept in the best possible condition. It is said that prevention is better than cure, and this cetainly applies also to ship models. 'The Art of Conservator', edited by Andrew Oddy and published in 1992, defines conservation as preserving the man-made material of the past. There are two essential difficulties in ship model preservation - firstly models in general are made in a mixture of materials, and secondly most ship models are very fragile. Besides protecting models from being damaged, it has to be decided how much restoration or repairs have already been done, without destroying the integrity and the historic value of the model.
Methodology of restoration
The following is the methodology adopted for the preservation of models:-
1. Models should be examined and documented.
2. Models should be valued historically.
3. The conservation process must be planned
4. Decide on active or passive conservation
5. Set the right environment
Damaged or unpreserved ship models are a sorry sight and only experienced restorers should intervene. Research work is an initial phase in the restoration process and a major problem arises when it becomes difficult to identify the model involved. Antique ships' models may lack identification markings such as the ship's name, emblems etc. Ship plans, if available, will be the best guide because they show every part of the ship with all the measurements. If the ship concerned is identified it will be important to trace the particular phase in the ship's life because a ship's profile alters considerably during refits, modernizations and conversions.
Assessing and categorizing
Damaged models will be assessed and categorized as follows:
1. Severe structural damage
2. Minimal structural damage
3. Superficial damage
4. Disfiguration or deformation e.g. faded paint
5. Chemical deterioration e.g. acids on the textiles or on the paper
6. Biological deterioration e.g. the presence of wood worms.
7. Sub-standard past treatments or repairs e.g. the use of irreversible glues or the use of cellotape
8. Accumulation of dust, oil and dirt on the model
Then the condition of the model will have to be determined as follows:
1. GOOD - stable or will not continue to deteriorate.
2. FAIR - not in need of immediate attention
3. POOR - in need of urgent intervention
4. UNACCEPTABLE - continuous deterioration is under way.
Restoring, Repairing and Conserving
It is essential to clarify the difference between restoring, repairing and conserving models. The former means an attempt to make a model as good as new, and may include the manufacture of new parts, the retouching of paint, producing lost rigging, and so forth. Repairs on models generally involve mending the fittings or parts that are already there, that is to say for example glueing joints without retouching the surrounding wood. Conserving ship models is to salvage what is left of the model and preserving it for the future without trying to make the model look as it did originally.
Contact me for restoration
I restore all the various types of ship models including dioramas. For further information click here
On the left you can see a Museum architects' model undergoing restoration by myself.