Featured I have a conundrum & need help in how to get it solved on an old ship Model!

My parents, quite a while ago, had bought, I THINK at auction, a lovely, what I believe is a Napoleonic POW bone 30 gun Frigate model....needed a case for it, my oldest brother was creative and a talented craftsman....built a wooden and thick plexiglass case.... he didn't want it to be taken apart apparently!!! We nearly didn't figure it out....but, finally found the four screws in the bottom...covered by felt.....BUT also, held down we believe by we think wood glue!!! MAN, was brother in heaven getting an earful from ME!!!! And, before I forget, the measurements are: Length-tip of the bowsprit to the stern-most boom is 15-1/2”, height is I think from the bottom of the cradle it’s sitting in to the top of the main mast, 13”. Beam of hull is roughly 2-3/4”. Here's where I need the help!!! This can't be turned upside down, SO I desperately NEED ideas, help, suggestions on the best was to loosen the rest of the felt that he so diligently glued to the bottom of the whole piece (I could almost kill him if he weren't already deceased )!!!! I was able with a sharp knife blade to peel back/off just enough of the felt to find the screws that HAD to be there....and we were able to release the model from the casing, but firmly attached to the whole base!! SO, a QUESTION: Will wood glue soften with enough hot water on a sponge??? I know this is going to be a mess to do, but I'm pretty sure I want to get it sold.....it won't bring a fortune, but I think it will bring a decent price (although am waiting for an estimate from one 'house') The first images I sent them weren't great as the inside of the case wasn't that clean anymore just from so many years sitting in the case...not quite air tight!!! I will attach one image of the model without casing over it, but to see the bottom with the now felt mess, will have to wait until daylight tomorrow! I'm going to REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUGGESTIONS, AS I REALLY NEED THEM!!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR STARTERS!!!

 

No need to remove the felt. Just make a slit for each screw and turn them out through it.

 

It kind of depends on the type of glue used. Older water based wood glues will be easier than the newer types. Whenever you put water to wood, you can raise the grain.

I did a little research, and this product has good reviews:

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Glues_and_Adhesives/Glues/Wood_Glues/De-Glue_Goo.html

May want to read about it, and see if it's a good fit for your little project.

Good luck

 

If it's white glue (Poly Vinyl Acetate) he used (probably) the only thing to break it down (it takes a while though) is Acetic Acid, i.e. VINEGAR.

I have used it to remove bad white glue repairs on wooden pieces where it had to soak into the joint ...on felt it should be much quicker.

 

BEAUTIFUL SHIP !!!! ... Joy.

 

If I understand the problem correctly - it is the felt you want to remove, not the ship from the wood. Rather than risk staining or warping the wood by soaking the whole thing, I would opt for mechanical methods. Use weights, padded clamps, or a patient person to hold half of the board to a table, leaving half suspended over the edge. Crawl underneath, and use a razor/paint scraper to carefully remove as much of the felt and glue as possible. Then use sandpaper to smooth it out. (Wear eye protection - and channel Michelangelo working on the Sistine Chapel). Turn the board around and repeat on the other half.

 

If the ship is sitting on the cradle, is the ship glued to the cradle? Are you thinking the cradle may be screwed in up through the base? I am missing something here. Hopefully more pictures will help. Or if anyone wants to elaborate on what they already know...

 

If I'm understanding correctly and you want to sell it, wouldn't it be more practical to leave it as it is? The purchaser may want to display the piece as it sits and even if not, it seems to be securely anchored (forgive the pun) for transport to a new location.

 

Wow! I wouldn't want to sell it!
Leslie

 

Terry, the felt HAD to be released to First, FIND the screws, and then to release the case above from the base.......

 

Thanks, @sabre123, I've saved the link and it's not a fortune and might just work....do you know if ELMER'S Carpenter's Wood Glue is water based....I do know it's for interior use only and works really well, but that's it!!!

 

Hi Sandra, well to pun another bad phrase, "that ship has already sailed" as we managed to get it apart, and WILL GET THE CASE BACK ON IT, but it ("it" being the display/protective case) REALLY needed the cleaning!!! I want to do it right, and at this point it's just a matter of getting the remaining old felt off!! I believe it WILL sell better with it looking this much better!!!!

 

Once the glue has set up, water based or not, it will be impervious to water. Use vinegar!

 

OK, @blooey, but I hope it won't make the whole thing......stink!!!!!????? But love the idea of it working!!!!!

 

Thank you Joy!! I think I know most of my relatives and I "think" most aren't going to want this......I DO know what they prefer.....$.....sadly!!

 

HA!!! @2manybooks!!! What'd you DO???? WATCH US??? That's pretty much EXACTLY what we DID, as far as we've gotten!!!! Not sure a paint scraper is sharp enough, and a razor just isn't big enough, or my patience isn't big enough!!!! It's most DEF a 2-person project!! I LIKE @blooey's idea.....just need a bit of reassurance that it won't stink up the whole model!!!! Otherwise, might try the stuff that @sabre123 had a good suggestion to use!!

 

It will smell while you are doing it of course, but it should disappear afterwards ..if it persists, put the whole thing into a black garbage bag with an open box of cow brand soda - that will get rid of any odor.

 

You mean THIS?

 

YESSIRREEE

 

As you probably surmised, it is.