"Super quick and easy sails?" Topic

For the 3D printed ships that I've been working on, I have begun experimenting with paper sails because I haven't been happy with the 3D printed sails, and I HATE painting them…

I've come up with a pretty quick and easy way of doing sails. I don't expect it to rival the work done by modelers here, but it could help get a large fleet (the order of battle at Trafalgar, even?) on the table quick and easy and it looks pretty good from 3 feet away.

I posted a pdf with cursory instruction and sail plans on thingiverse with the models (there's more now too (1st-5th rate and a sloop)

I'd be interested in any thoughts/feedback/ideas for improvement.

Here's what you end up with (don't know how these google photo links'll work…)

link

link

S link top thrbit of Thingverse would help. Its big and badley indexed.

Thanks in advance Brian

One of the Blood & Plunder creators has been using thin craft foam sheet for sail materials. $.99 USD for an 8 x 10 sheet at your local craft store. More durable than paper and flexes well.

I have two simple suggestions that still retain your theme of quick-cheap-easy:

1. Print the seams between the sail panels in a lighter color (light gray, tan, ivory, etc. – experiment until it looks right). The seams add a lot of nice apparent detail to the human eye, but should be more of a hint than a stark b&w contrast.
   
2. Cut just inside the outlines of the sails, to get rid of that cartoonish strong black edge.

Thingiverse link: link

Craft foam is REALLY think if its what I think you're talking about? I like the 65lb card for a good strength and flex and still shape-able. I'd be interested to see a craft foam sail – I think you can shape it with heat?

Yellow Admiral – Good suggestions, I'll experiment further. I'm printing on "parchment" coloured paper, so I can't got lighter than that – but maybe light blue or something (steeling an idea from War Artisan's simple sails).

Excellent work.