MATERIALS FOR MODEL SHIPS.

Block of wood: white pine or soft deal; at almost any wood-yard, and particularly at those in the neighbourhood of the docks; cost for a 2 ft. boat, 2s. 6d., for a 3 ft., about 10s.

Masts, booms, &c., of bamboo canes, at florists, who sell cheap bamboos for about 8d. per dozen for gardening purposes; the best can be selected, and they will serve for masts, all the spars of a 2 ft. boat, and for booms, gaffs, and topmasts of 3 ft. boats. Bamboos for the mast, bowsprit, and mainboom of 3 ft. boats can be got at fishing-tackle shops and toy shops; both sell cheap bamboo fishing-rods at about 3d. each. They can be easily selected of the required thickness and length. Excellent bamboo canes for booms, gaffs, and topmasts can also be obtained at umbrella shops and stick shops, but they cost more—1d., 2d., or 3d., and even 6d. each.

Twine, white line, &c., for standing and running rigging, can be had at fishing-tackle or cord and twine shops.

Calico and tape at any linendrapers.

Lead at any plumber’s shop, 2d. or 3d. per lb.

Paint and copal at any oilman’s. Paint 6d. or 8d. per lb. Copal varnish about 1s. per pint; 3d. worth is enough for a 3 ft. boat.

Brass and copper wire at most ironmongers, as also screw-eyes of any size. If the two former cannot be readily obtained, Messrs. Jackson and Sons, 17, Sun Street, Finsbury, keep every size in brass and copper wire, and every thickness in brass and copper sheets; all these are sold by weight.

All sizes of rings can be had at fishing-tackle shops. 1d. or 2d. per dozen.

Ferrules or bands for tipping the ends of spars to prevent them splitting, can be got at fishing-tackle shops, and the amateur builder can file off any length required; they are very cheap. For small bands, pipe mounts are excellent, very light and thin, and easily cut to any length. Most tobacconists keep them in all sizes, 1d. or 2d. each.

If the boat builder cannot get or make bands, lash or bind the ends of the spars neatly and strongly with good white thread, and then paint it well with copal. It will answer every purpose, but does not look so neat and trim.

Lastly, slides can be made of any hard wood as well as of bone, and the requisite holes bored with a bradawl, and then seared with a red-hot skewer.