"Ensigns, signal flags, and pennants for ships" Topic

Hello all –

I am considering the addition of some "eye candy" to a few 1/1200 scale ships. I know that Langton has several sets available, and am wondering if anyone has used them for their ships. Also, if anyone has experience with "shaping" these items. I have heard of modelers using thinned artists gesso to coat the paper and then configure the flags/pennants, but have not tried this myself…

Any thoughts?

A little white glue works.

Bend as desired, before the glue dries.

For my part, I glue the flag with some super glue (you fold it over on itself so that it's double sided) and then I bend it as desired. This will often cause white cracks to appear in the printed colors, but I just paint them to blend in. And I also paint the edges so they don't show up white against the flag color. Usually I bend, then attach to the model (again with super glue) then do touch up painting. Easier to handle that way.

Here's a photo of a flag and pennant set I bent up a lot – though with these I didn't have to worry about the cracking, as the flag itself is white.

I use a put a bit of lead foil then fold over and glue, then just shape the flag however you want

I use the same technique James describes. I download flags & ensigns off the internet, shrink them to size and print them out in sheets. All I have to do is cut one out when I need it. Here are some sites with Napoleonic period naval flags/ensigns:

loeser.us/flags/english.html

tmg110.tripod.com/archive.htm

The Langton flags are just fine. I used them for most of my ships. The copies out of the Warhammer set of rules are ok too. Or you google and print out what suits you …

I use PVA glue (should be the white glue Mako11 mentioned) mixed with water 1 to 1. Folds are created with two tweezers. After that let it dry. Occasionally move the flag while drying so that it doesn't get stuck to the table. As whitejamest described paint has to be used. Stain from the use of the watered glue, damage while creating the folds, for sure the edges make this necessary. Most often I painted the entire flags over. At least for with my French, English and signal flags (the Spanish flags are something different for the emblems – no one wants to paint this!). Finally I use gloss and matt varnish (you might skip the gloss varnish).

Aquarius.

Beautiful ships Aquarius! What are you tying off to on the stern quarters? Are you drilling small holes through the gunwales?

Vol,
I'm using Langton miniatures. In most cases I drill through the gunwale or the hammock nettings on the stern quarter. It just depends on what the model offers. In one or two cases, due to the lack of gunwale or hammock netting, I had to drill through the channels (vertical). Langton (or someone else) mentioned the possibility to use the ratlines to knot the rigging to. I haven't used this idea as I like to get behind the ratlines.
Aquarius.

Aquarius,
IMO you do excellent detail paintwork and your rigging looks exceptionally clean. I am envious of your skills.
Vol