Ensign

Hello Srodbro I managed to get a second hand copy of the AOTS book Captain Cooks Endeavour by Karl Heinz Marquadt through EBAY, you may be able to find one there, it has a wealth of info and very detailed rigging plans. Hope this helps.

They are Stun'sl booms. they are swung out from the ships side to allow extra sails called Stunsails to be attached between them and similar booms mounted on the yards above for extra sail area given suitable weather conditions. If you Google Stunsails you will find a good description of their function. Regards Gary (Ensign)

Hello Toms10 Your are correct, the netting should be a light tan colour, mine is white which is ok. I searched for netting material when building the Caldercraft Victory. I finally found it at store selling craft and sewing supplies of all places, you could also try an outdoors store. What I found was mosquito netting. It is perfect and is the correct diamond shape. Best of luck Ensign (Gary)

Hello Rob, Thanks for the prompt reply. I may have to work using the dimensions you have provided as I live in Australia and postage may prove too expensive, alternatively if you check out the cost of postage and let me know perhaps we can work something out. Just a thought. Please let me know your thoughts on this. PS: It's been over 40 degrees Celsius a few days this past week, think I prefer an English summer right now, was pleasant in June last time we were there. Kind regards Gary

Hello Rob, I sent a PM to Shipyard Sid (David) re his Top and Butt planking jig as I have HMS Diana waiting to be built and would like to use this planking method on the deck. David advised me that he had sent the jig to you. I would be happy if you could email me the dimensions so that I can make my own jig. I tried to pm you but apparently you can't receive messages according to the website. My email is garyjean46@bigpond.com If you can help with this it would be much appreciated. Regards Gary (ensign)

Hello Noel, Thank you for your kind offer, however Banyan, who lives in Melbourne has offered to help with info that he has so I shall take him up on his offer. Thanks again Gary

Thanks Noel, I have bookmarked their website, I may contact them and see what they can do. Gary

Thank you Bluenose2 and Druxey. I have Petersson's book, which is some help. I am currently chasing up a local source for Marquandt's Captain Cooks Endeavour, I know someone with a copy and he may be able to provide the info I need. Thanks again Gary

Thank you for the replies gentlemen. Gregory, checked out your reference to 'Historic Ship Models' on Amazon, I may purchase a paperback copy for general reference, very affordable at $7.83. Banyan, never thought of Ebay, I shall try Abe books as well, didn't know about them. The logs will also be a good source. Druxey, I shall also check out 'The Fully Framed Model' Vol. IV. I guess I'm just a bit OCD. Our friend wouldn't know if the rigging was correct or not but I want to get it right, it is after all probably the most important historic vessel to sail in these waters. Thanks again Gary

Ensign here, I have recently completed Caldercraft's HMS Victory, log elsewhere in the forum. I have now been approached by a friend to complete a model of the HMS Endeavour, Captain Cook's research vessel when he sailed to Australia. The model is by Artesania Latina and leaves a lot to be desired IMO. I have tried to obtain a copy of the AOTS publication HMS Endeavour only to be informed it is out of print. The problem I am mostly concerned with is the rigging, the AL rigging is not accurate and not well presented. If I could obtain an accurate set of rigging plans the task would be much easier. I have searched the web with no luck and so was wondering if any of you could provide me with rigging diagrams or point me in the right direction to obtain same. Thank you in advance Gary (Ensign)

Thank you B.E., Nils, John Reid and all others who have commented much appreciated. The next challenge awaits. Gary

Hello Klaus, With regard to the acrylic case, it was made to order by a Plastics fabrication company near my home here in Australia. I'm sure there are plenty of these companies in Germany and all over the world. May I suggest contacting another member of this forum in Germany, Heinz746, he may be able to help you in finding one of these companies. If you send him a PM via the forum he may be able to assist. Alternatively look online for Plastic Fabricators in your local area. When I ordered my case I took photos of the finished model and a drawing showing dimensions for the case, be sure to allow extra space around the model so that it fits nicely in the case. Refer to my Victory photos to see what I mean. My case was made from 6mm Acrylic because Victory is so big, you can get by with a 3mm case for a smaller model, the plastics company should be able to advise you on what you need. I hope this helps Regards Gary

Hello Klaus, Thank you so much for your information and drawings, you have gone to a lot of trouble and have been extremely generous in providing this data. The people at American River requested an estimate of the time to build this model and how much it might cost. I provided them with an estimate based on kitbashing an existing model kit including mounting it in an Acrylic display case for protection. They tabled my estimate, which I thought was very reasonable ($1300 AUD), at a committee meeting and decided their budget would not extend to building the model at this stage but that they might take it up again at a later date. If I hear from them again, and they have a bigger budget, I shall consider either a scratchbuild or a kitbash at that time. So for now the project is on hold. I shall probably buy Peterrson's book also, I have his book 'Rigging Period Ship Models' so your suggestion will make a great addition to my library Thank you once again, you are most kind. Warm regards Gary

Hello Mobbsie, I shall follow along with your Pickle build as well, I do have an ulterior motive however. The admiral and I visited Kangaroo Island in South Australia just before Christmas and whilst there we went to an inlet called American River where an American Brig called the Union was based for sealing in 1803. They built a small Topsail Schooner called Independence to enable access to shallower inlets in order to catch seals. This small schooner has the honour of being the first vessel built in South Australia, consequently the folks in American River are now engaged in building a replica, and this is where I come in. They found out that I have just finished building the Caldercraft Victory, photos in my log under "Ensign". They have asked me to build them a model of Independence for fund raising purposes and as it happens Pickle is identical to Independence except for the deck fittings which are not an issue, kitbashing to the rescue. They would like an estimate of build time and costing from me. Like you I am retired so can put in the time. Would it be possible for you to give me some idea of how long you think this project might take, I have built a number of larger ships so am not fazed by this. Secondly, and I realize this could be more difficult, the costing issue, I'm not sure what would be reasonable. I have only built for myself before now. Hope I'm not being too much of a pain, but as a Pickle builder you won the prize, sorry. Regards Gary

Hello all, I have a request. On a recent visit to Kangaroo Island South Australia the Admiral and I stopped in at American River, it was here that the Sealing Brig Union, captained by Isaac Pendleton from Stonington Connecticut, wintered in the year of 1803. Whilst they were here they built what is purported to be the first ship built in South Australia. The ship/boat was named Independence. A 45 foot Topsail Schooner of 35 Tons, she was built to allow access to shallower waters to aid in the capture and transport of seal skins. She was lost with all hands in 1805. The people of American River are attempting to build a replica of Independence and this is where I come in. The Admiral informed the volunteers there that I was a model ship builder and we showed them some photos on the Ipad. Oh dear! They asked me if I would build a model about 3 feet long for them to use in their fundraising efforts. I made no promises but feel that it would be an interesting project. Therefore I'm asking if anyone knows anything about this ship or has any documentation on it or could suggest a model kit that is close enough to be used/modified for the purpose could you please let me know. I will attempt a scratchbuild if necessary but a kitbash would be quicker. I have included a copy of the drawing they gave me which is as close as possible to what the ship may have looked like as there are no plans and probably never were any. Thanks Gary Independence Schooner.pdf

Victory is finally finished and resting in her display case. I do still have a little tidying up to do, but don’t tell anyone, they’ll never notice. A couple of photos follow.

Hello grant, Words fail me, absolutely stunning work. Do the switches and gauges also work, wouldn't be surprised. well done you Gary

Hello Rich, Regarding the anchors, if you search for Gil Middleton's log of his Victory build he has broken it up into sections, you will find an article on the way he constructed the anchors there. I used it for reference when I got to that stage. I'm sure you will find it very valuable. Regards Gary

Thank you all for the kind comments and the likes, they are very much appreciated. This forum is a great source of knowledge and inspiration, looking through the many fine build logs here spurs one on to try and continually improve ones own efforts. Best Gary

Finally another update. The ship is completed, I am now working on the boats. My intention is to mount one of the boats on the Skid Beams one on the Davits and the other two on support cradles alongside Victory in the display case when that is made. I will need to tension the Main Stay tackle pendants when the boat is secured to the skid beams. I will post more photos when the whole task is finished. Meanwhile here are some photos of where I'm at now.

The Main brace on Victory has the standing end attached to a ring bolt on the outside of the Bulwarks above the Quarter Galleries as your drawing shows. The running end is taken through a sheave at the top of the bulwarks just in front of the Taffrail and belays to a large cleat on the bulwark just aft of the Mizzen shrouds. Alternatively it could belay to a cleat in the deck as suggested by others. Ships of this period were rigged pretty much the same way so this is the way it should be done. Regards Gary

Thank you Ed, yes that does make sense. Both Inhauler and Downhauler secured near the end of the Stay. Regards Gary

I am in the process of rigging my Caldercraft Victory model. Could anyone provide information on how the Jib Downhaul and Jib Inhaul rigging is handled if the ship is built without sails. I have fabricated the Jib boom and Flying Jib travellers as per Longridge but can't find out how to rig these two lines. The Jib traveller has two 9" blocks attached for the Downhauler and Inhauler and there is one block on the Flying Jib traveller, these lines obviously run through these blocks and terminate on the Beakhead Bulkhead but what about the ends which would be attached to the Jib sail(s)? I hope this all makes sense. Gary

Hello Robert, I am following your build log and saw in yesterdays post that you have coppered the Belfry roof, I then checked my own photos of Victory for confirmation. It's amazing how one can overlook small details, thus the value of this Forum for all of us. Thanks to you I have now coppered the roof on my Victory, which is very timely since I am near completion of the Standing Rigging and things will only get more crowded from here on out. Gary

Hello David, Diana is coming along well, I have the kit waiting in the wings. It appears Caldercraft weren't too fussy with the supplied wood in this kit, I have already replaced most of the Boomerang dowel and will check the planking timber when construction time comes. I have sent you a PM re the Top & Butt planking jig. Regards Gary