HMS Beagle by bluenose2 - Mamoli

[bluenose2]

Pictures of Mamoli plans for deck guns. How do I rig them?

[Stockholm tar]

Bluenose,

 

I would seriously consider acquiring the book about the Beagle in the Anatomy of the Ship series. Many do not believe these books are that accurate but, as has been said, they certainly show more detail than the kit plans. It is also written by a recognised authority – Karl Heinz Marquardt. A study of the cover of the book, indicates that the bulwarks in way of the guns are actually planked, the supports shown on your plans being on the outside of this. I had the Airfix kit of the ship when I was younger, and don't remember open bulwarks on that either.

 

Planking the bulwarks should solve one part of your problem – where to attach the breech ropes and side tackles. There should also be a ringbolt, positioned behind each gun and close against the hatches, for the running in tackle. The book will most likely show all this. However, the book also shows that there were no guns in this position on the upper deck, but were below as the gunports indicate.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Stockholm tar

[bluenose2]

I have Marquardt's book on the Beagle. A quick note in the front cover says survey ship fully rigged as barque, after 1825. The guns are indeed below decks in his book and many details are very different from the Mamoli kit.  This leads me to believe that the Mamoli ship was the one used before Darwin's voyage, not  the one represented by Mamoli as the ship Darwin sailed on to the Galapagos. Any thoughts on this? Thanx Les. 

[Stockholm tar]

Les,

 

I might have known you had the book! I believe it is considered one of the better ones from AOTS, and in fact Marquardt would seem to have been quite thorough when researching the ship, as witness this in-depth article I found on line:

 

http://karl-heinz-marquardt.com/reports-of-karl-heinz-marquardt#beaglerevisited

 

As regards Mamoli's model, the reviews of it I have read don't consider it to be much like the original ship – it does look a little like the Bounty – so no real surprises there. As you've probably read Beagle was converted from a ten gun brig, a class of which there were many, so the gunports would already have been there from those days. She also seems to have carried some light guns on the upper deck (so the model is not completely wrong) and the the bulwarks would appear to have being been planked, as I mentioned  – which would provide for the gun tackles to be fitted.

 

Your point about her being before Darwin's voyage is interesting, in that there are no aft davits for the surveying boats which were fitted during her refit. However, I would have thought that most kit firms would want to model the ship at its most historic moment – even though they often don't get the details right!

Edited June 26, 2014 by Stockholm tar

[bluenose2]

Thanks for the input. I purchased this kit before getting the book. So I was quite disappointed that it doesn't look anything like the ship should have. Mucho kit bashing in my future I see. I will pack it away and work on some other projects to gain more experience so I can do it justice. Thanx Les.

[bluenose2]

Hello bluenose here. I have to eat some crow on my comments. On further review the guns are indeed on the top deck. What fooled me was I thought the photo showed the upper deck not completed to show below decks detail. The gunwales appear high so as to make it appear that the guns were below deck. Sorry about that.

[maurino]

Hi Bluenose , it's nice to have a companion navigation in the construction of the Beagle, good job!
Mauro

[usedtosail]

A few years ago, I attempted to bash this kit to match the AOS book. The link to pictures in the gallery is in my signature, if you are interested. The poop deck was the biggest correction that I couldn't make.

[bluenose2]

My question is how do I determine the upper deck height so I can get the correct build for the upper deck. does any one know as this will determine how to carry on with the build.

[usedtosail]

I didn't change the upper deck height from the kit, but you could get the height from the plans in the AOS book.