BOATS TO SAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 194, 17 August 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

BOATS TO SAIL.

Most of us love to sail boats, from the fine model yachts which need a lake or large pond to float them, to the little boats •which float beautifully almost anywhere. I am going to tell you how to make some boats otit of cork. , They will be small enough to place on your sea-side model, and if you make several of them, you will have a nice little fleet ready to sail in the bath. The sailing vessel (Fig. 1) and the warship (Fig. 2) are both made out of

one cork. Split the long-shaped cork in half longways. With the point of a penknife make a hole in the centre of the flat surface, drop in some glue and stick in a match-stalk (Fig. 1). The little pennant should be cut in coloured paper; the sails are made out of brown paper or white notepaper, and gummed, to the mast. The warship is .made from the other half of the cork. Fix two match-stalks in the flat surface for funnels, gum a narrow piece of paper to these to represent the upper deck (See Fig. 2). Two pieces of match-stalks gummed to the paper at each end represent guns. Stick in short pins all round the edge of the lower deck and connect them with thread to form the deck rails. Perhaps Father or Big Brother will lend you a hand in making the ships shown in Figures 3 and 4. To make the steamer in Fig. 3 you must choose three corks- as nearly alike as-. possible.

Cut them fiat on' the top as in A. Shape the two end ones with a sharp knife and file them to make them smooth. Now take a piece of fairly strong wire rather shorter than the

length of the three corks together, thread the middle cork on it and afterwards push on-the end corks. The keel is made from a piece of lead shaped as in B. Make a slit in the cork and push in the lead keel. For the funnels fasten on two corks with pins. The

masts are made from thin sticks. The paddle wheel is cut from thin cardboard and pinned on. The sailing boat in Fig. 4 is made in the same way. as the steamer, and the sails are of linen. The pieces "X" (called the "gaff") and "Y" (known as the "boom") are made from cane and tied to the mast. In making both these ships take care that the lead keel is exactly in the middle and that the sail and masts are not too heavy, if you wish the craft to float well. The submarine in Fig. 5 is made from three corks joined by wire, as in the case of Figures 3 and 4. The middle cork only is filed fiat at the top to form the deck, and, as you will see, the two others are filed round at the ends. Fix a lead keel. The funnel is a small cork and the periscope is represented by a' match-stalk. All theße toys should be painted. Lastly, here is the way to make a very novel steamer. Take half an eggshell and carefully trim the edges v Make a little roll of notepaper, sticking the edges with gum so that a funnel is formed. Fasten this into the egg-shell with sealing wax. If the boat does not float properly put a little sealing wax on the part that is the keel—that is to say, the part which is under the water. Press a small portion of soap to the stern of the boat just at the water line. The dissolving of this soap makes the boat float along.