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"Craftmats" A New Idea to Simplify Model-Ship Decoration
Popular Mechanics Magazine and Mr. Harold T. Bodkin now offer model makers a decided innovation in a process of ornamentation, which enables those building the "Sovereign of the Seas" to duplicate the miniature carvings quickly and accurately, and makes carving skill unnecessary to simulate the effect of professional work. Use is made of specially prepared matrices, called "Craftmats," into which impressions have been made from the original wood carvings. After obtaining a matrix of all the carvings needed for this model, you simply press in a thin layer of quick-drying plastic compound, which, when hard, is removed from the matrix and is glued to the hull. Full details of this process are given in this installment.
WE are now at the stage where we can apply miniature replicas of the profuse gilded carvings that made the original "Sovereign" the glory of the seas in its day. These are reproduced either by original carvings, the designs for which are illustrated on these pages, or, by the newly developed process of using "Craftmats," which insures more faithful reproduction in a small fraction of the time required to to the carving. Fig. 42 shows where the carvings are placed on the hull. Carvings A, for the gunport panels, are glued into the panels formed by the wales and gunport brackets, the six subjects being so alternated that the general effect is that of many different carvings.
Copyright, © 1933, by Popular Mechanics Company
