Work on the Kobaya is moving forward again. While coming up with a way to deal with the decorative patterns on the hull has held me up, I did have some ideas. But, the best I could think to do required the use of a new tool, and it took me a while to bight the bullet and buy it.

The solution I came up with was to either create a mask for painting or possibly for the application of gold leaf, or to simply cut a pattern that was itself gold leafed. This probably sounds more complicated than it turned out to be. The central part of the solution turned out to be the use of a vinyl cutter, like those used in scrapbooking.

After looking at a few of the leading models, I finally made the leap and bought a Silhouette Cameo 3. I found one for about $200 online and spent another $150 or so on materials and accessories.

It took me a couple days to set up and test out the Cameo and to start creating the artwork I’d need for the Kobaya model.

There are three groups of decorations that I wanted to take care of using this machine: The patterns on the sides of the rails, the stern decorations, and the scrollwork patterns on the sides of the hull. There are also other items that I have been considering making with the cameo, including the gold borders of the black painted area of the stem, and the bird decorations on the sides of the hull at the bow. I have been calling these birds carvings, but it is unlikely that they were carved. More likely, they were painted onto the hull (see the photo at the beginning of this post).

In any case, to find out if the cut vinyl would work out, I had to start with something, so I started with the simplest of the decorations, which was the hexagonal pattern on the stern.

Now, I happen to like the simple hex chain pattern. But, if Paris’s work is to be believed, then I would need to figure out how to make that sunburst pattern.

I played around with some ideas, but these individual sunbursts would be very small and I didn’t know if the new machine would handle them. Fortunately, I made the hexese in the chain a bit too small, so I made a slightly larger sized set, which allowed for slightly larger sunbursts. These were easier to work with and apply. Also, you might note that near the top and bottom edges are half sunburst patterns – an even smaller detail.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the cuts worked. Some of the pieces weren’t usable, but the vast majority were fine.

I’m still a ways from being finished with the model, as I have also to create a sagari, which is the hanging tassel at the tip of the miyoshi, or stem. Also, I’ll be fitting the rudder and then I have to make 28 ro or sculling oars, each about 5 inches long.

Oh, you might notice, I had removed the mast support, which I’ll be replacing soon as well. Mine was short, based on the French museum model, when I should have noted that it should be much taller.

Finally, there is the matter of the yakata and frame and awning that I discussed earlier. At this point, I’m leaning toward leaving those speculative features off until after the next big Japanese boat models display, which should be at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival this Fall. I’ll post more about that later.