Sunday, 7 May 2023

A toy that's never been played with

a photograph of a model (toy) sailboat that needs restoring

I have a model (toy) boat that was given to me when I was a young boy nearly 70 years ago. I understand it was picked up in poor condition by my father who painted it and fashioned a rough mast, and my mother sewed some material to make a very rough sail. This was back in the days when toys weren't an everyday occurrence as they are now. Though I'm sure we must have tried this out on a local boat pond at the time, I have no recollection of it ever being on water. I doubt it ever worked properly, but the sentiment behind it is immense and I've never been able to part with it.

Recently I have brought it down from it's lifetime in the attic and decided, rightly or wrongly, to re-fashion it and make some sort of display model out of it. I like shiny varnished wood and so that is the direction I'm heading. I am in the process of stripping multiple layers of paint off and sanding the hull ready for staining and varnishing, however, for reasons of space, I think I would like to do away with the tall mast and sail and maybe add some sort of cabin superstructure to try and move it one small step nearer to being 'model' rather than 'toy'. Watch this space!! 


12 comments:

  1. Jo Castillo7 May 2023 at 17:56

    What a great repurposing and lovely memories. Looking forward to the results.

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    1. John (JWJarts)8 May 2023 at 11:18

      Thank you Jo. I'm a sentimental old fool and can't bear to part with these old keepsakes. You may like what I've done with my fathers old fret saw .... https://jwjarts.blogspot.com/2021/05/hobbies-a1-treadle-fret-saw.html

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    2. Jo Castillo9 May 2023 at 00:02

      I love the saw. So very cool. You have a great touch with memories.

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    3. John (JWJarts)9 May 2023 at 19:30

      Thank you Jo. I have a number of things around my garden that were never intended to be outdoors, but they're such lovely things to look at.

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  2. Anonymous7 May 2023 at 22:38

    Oh yes John. This is a memory that you can’t part with. Your idea of re doing it would be wonderful. I’ve seen big sailboats like this as a decorated piece sitting on a shelf .
    Barbra Joan

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    1. John (JWJarts)8 May 2023 at 11:19

      Thank you very much BJ. I'm not sure how far I'll be able to take this but it will be fun trying.

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  3. René PleinAir8 May 2023 at 07:45

    Superb !!

    I too looking forward to the result

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  4. Joan Tavolott9 May 2023 at 00:26

    I'll be watching to see how this works out. How great that you have something from your childhood that you can work on and transform. Good luck with it.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 May 2023 at 19:31

      Thank you Joan. I hope I can do it justice.

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  5. Judy11 May 2023 at 06:55

    Looking forward to see the result of the boat makeover!

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