Designers Sketchbook

Compensating for steeply raked rudders.

Many traditional hull designs have a steeply raked rudder and this can cause trouble when connecting a steering arm, whether vane or radio. I saw this neat solution to the problem on Xmuna and the construction is clearly shown in the picture and diagram. The material is brass with steel pivot pins and the parts are simply soft soldered together.

Vane Gear

Following a number of requests we will soon have basic designs here for self steering grear.

Cotton Sails

This is an extract rfrom a recent discussion on the MSN Group Vintage Model Yachts

From Earl Boebert USVMYG:

What you want is called "long staple down cambric." "Long staple" refers to the kind of cotton it is. You will also find called "Egyptian" or "Sea Island" cotton. The latter is very chichi and very, very expensive.

"Down" in "down cambric" is "down" as in "down pillow," that is, bird feathers. Down cambric is very tightly woven to keep the feathers from poking through. It is sold to quilters and is best obtained by going to a quilters convention, where specialty mills often show up.

The big problem with cotton sails is getting a material that will hold a sewn seam under strain. Luckily, one can now use the heat-setting adhesive to make the seams with the sewing added later for appearance. The best heat-setting tape I have found (in the US) is sold by the kite supplier "Hang-Em-High." This is a 3M industrial product that they slit down to 1/4 inch and it sticks to cotton like crazy, plus is so waterproof that it survives a bout in the washing machine

From Russell Potts. VMYG:

Ralph's book, 'Ralph's Guide to Vintage Sailmaking: Cotton sails for Older Styles of Model Yacht', is published by the Curved Air Press, a micro publisher that I run.

As the publisher, (and part author- there is some stuff at the end about making sails without sewing, which I contributed), obviously I'm biassed, but I believe that it is the best treatment of this slippery art so far produced, certainly better than anything published when cotton was the material of choice for model yacht sails. I can supply for the cover price of UKP 8.00, plus 1.00 postageand packing in the UK. Overseas orders will cost more to ship, but I only charge actual cost.Payment by Sterling cheque or via PayPal.

Turning to the practical question raised, the most appropriate material we have found in the UK is down proof cambric, used for lining cushions to stop the feathers coming out. It comes in various weights and a small range of cream and off-white colours. The one the Vintage Group in the UK prefers comes from stores in the John Lewis Group and is 'downproof cambric 31805'. Go to the furnishing and upholstery department, not the dress fabrics section.