Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Conservation technologies
All models are historically researched and, where possible, built using materials suitable to the period. Timbers for example are selected for their stability as well as their aesthetic qualities. Hulls particularly must be free of movement, as any warping will result in unsightly cracks and splits. Lightly grained veneers are preferred and must be of suitable quality and thickness.
Metals used, unless otherwise specified, would usually be brass; often gilt. Winch bases and pumps may be white metal or steel and are generally painted. All deck fittings would be polished and lacquered, unless a coloured finish is required.
Paint finishes are achieved using contemporary paints, matched as far as possible to original colours. If references are available modern commercial mixing techniques can be used, but due to lead content, period paints are unavailable. Solvent based paints are generally used only as primers, and are allowed to off-gas for a suitable length of time.
Both traditional and contemporary adhesives can be used. PVA (polyvinyl acetate) and aliphatic resins (carpenters glue) are avoided on hulls in favour of hide glues or more modern polyurethane adhesives, which are much more resistant to movement. Contact cement is used for veneers.
Cyanacrylate is used as little as possible and often backed up with pins. Two part epoxy resins can be used but dry mechanical fixings are always the first option.
Silver solder or brazing is used for metal joining where a high strength joint is required. Soft solder is also used, where strength is not so critical and where heat must be kept to a minimum.
Modern materials such as styrene, cast acrylics and casting resins can be useful in certain applications but are generally avoided due to uncertainty of longevity.
Display plinths, cases and vitrines can be made from a host of materials; bespoke, traditional wood framed glazed units, freestanding or table-top, and in a variety of timbers and finishes. We can also supply plinths with frameless cast acrylic or perspex bonded vitrines.