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Meteor by Jim Lad - Scale 1:96 - Immigrant Ship Of 1851


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My next model will be the immigrant ship ‘Meteor’.  Built at Bremerhaven as the ‘Admiral Brommy’ in 1851, she was purchased by the Hamburg ship owners T.E & C. Vidal in December 1852 and re-named ‘Meteor’.

 

She was not a large ship – her principal dimensions were; Length - 135.70 ft [41.36 m]; Breadth 29.17 ft [8.89 m] and depth of hold 20.54 ft [6.26 m].

 

She sailed from Southampton on the 17th March 1853 carrying 326 emigrants bound for Australia.  Amongst these were Robert and Rachel Laing – my great, great grandparents.  The ‘Meteor arrived in Sydney on 3rd July after a voyage of some 108 days.  The voyage was described by the Sydney newspapers as ‘excellent’ as only two children died during the passage!

 

The final fate of the ‘Meteor’ is unknown.

 

There are no plans for this ship, however the German Maritime Museum at Bremerhaven were able to provide me with high resolution copies of two excellent paintings of the ship – one as the ‘Admiral Brommy’ and the other (incidentally dated 1853 – the significant year for me) as the ‘Meteor’.  I will be using modified hull lines of a similar ship of the period and the two paintings to build a plank on frame model “in accordance with the best available historical information”.

 

It may be a while before anything happens on this build log, as I first have to sort out the very faint and difficult to read plans I have and convert them into something I can use to shape the frames.

 

In the meantime, here are the two paintings of the ship.

 

John

 

 

Admiral Brommy 1200x823.jpg

Meteor 1200x801.jpg

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A very worthwhile project, John. There's a fair bit of detail in these paintings, which should be helpful.

 

I take it you're going to convert plans for other, similar ships to construct the model? 

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is there a particular hull design that you can mirror her from?

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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How exciting.  It is an excellent way to sharpen your scratch building skills and interpretive ability when modeling a ship after a painting.

Probably the most exciting part is the historical implications of the vessel and personal family ties to it.

 

I'll look forward to this log.

 

Rob

Current build:

Build log: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/25382-glory-of-the-seas-medium-clipper-1869-by-rwiederrich-196

 

 

Finished build:

Build log: of 1/128th Great Republic: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13740-great-republic-by-rwiederrich-four-masted-extreme-clipper-1853/#

 

Current build(On hold):

Build log: 1/96  Donald McKay:http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/4522-donald-mckay-medium-clipper-by-rwiederrich-1855/

 

Completed build:  http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/gallery/album/475-196-cutty-sark-plastic/

The LORD said, "See, I have set (them) aside...with skills of all kinds, to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts."

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Thanks for the support, Denis and Rob.

 

Denis - I 've looked at the hull lines of a couple of dozen ships of the period and found one with what appears to be the correct hull shape and with proportions very close to the 'Meteor'.  I've altered the proportions of that plan slightly on the computer to match the dimensions of the 'meteor' and am currently fiddling with them to produce drawings I can use to build frames.

 

John

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John. It looks like an exciting project. Good Luck. 

Keith

 

Current Build:-

Cangarda (Steam Yacht) - Scale 1:24

 

Previous Builds:-

 

Schooner Germania (Nova) - Scale 1:36

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/19848-schooner-germania-nova-by-keithaug-scale-136-1908-2011/

Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/12515-schooner-altair-by-keithaug-scale-132-1931/?p=378702

J Class Endeavour by KeithAug - Amati - Scale 1:35 - 1989 after restoration.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10752-j-class-endeavour-by-keithaug-amati-scale-135-1989-after-restoration/?p=325029

 

Other Topics

Nautical Adventures

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13727-nautical-adventures/?p=422846

 

 

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John....I agree with the direction you're taking.....when grappling with two paintings of the same vessel with dissimilar details...it helps when dates of pertinent events can help narrow down the direction and look you are wanting to go and are looking for.  It has to be noted that vessels changed appearance when captained by different captains.  His preferences and possibly damage corrections can alter a vessels appearance.   One would hardly know that the Cutty Sark from her original appearance to that of when the Portuguese owned her and renamed her the Farriera and changed her rig due to an accident was the same ship.

 

Follow your gut.  Who's to argue.

Good luck and following seas.

 

Rob  

Current build:

Build log: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/25382-glory-of-the-seas-medium-clipper-1869-by-rwiederrich-196

 

 

Finished build:

Build log: of 1/128th Great Republic: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13740-great-republic-by-rwiederrich-four-masted-extreme-clipper-1853/#

 

Current build(On hold):

Build log: 1/96  Donald McKay:http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/4522-donald-mckay-medium-clipper-by-rwiederrich-1855/

 

Completed build:  http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/gallery/album/475-196-cutty-sark-plastic/

The LORD said, "See, I have set (them) aside...with skills of all kinds, to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts."

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  • 3 months later...

Ah, found you at last John :D . An interesting little ship, and with a significant history to you as well. I look forward to an update when you're ready.

 

:cheers:  Danny

Cheers, Danny

________________________________________________________________________________
Current Build :    Forced Retirement from Modelling due to Health Issues

Build Logs :   Norfolk Sloop  HMS Vulture - (TFFM)  HMS Vulture Cross-section  18 foot Cutter    Concord Stagecoach   18th Century Longboat in a BOTTLE 

CARD Model Build Logs :   Mosel   Sydney Opera House (Schreiber-Bogen)   WWII Mk. IX Spitfire (Halinski)  Rolls Royce Merlin Engine  Cape Byron Lighthouse (HMV)       Stug 40 (Halinski)    Yamaha MT-01   Yamaha YA-1  HMS Hood (Halinski)  Bismarck (GPM)  IJN Amatsukaze 1940 Destroyer (Halinski)   HMVS Cerberus   Mi24D Hind (Halinski)  Bulgar Steam Locomotive - (ModelikTanker and Beer Wagons (Modelik)  Flat Bed Wagon (Modelik)  Peterbuilt Semi Trailer  Fender Guitar  

Restorations for Others :  King of the Mississippi  HMS Victory
Gallery : Norfolk Sloop,   HMAT Supply,   HMS Bounty,   HMS Victory,   Charles W. Morgan,   18' Cutter for HMS Vulture,   HMS Vulture,  HMS Vulture Cross-section,             18th Century Longboat in a Bottle 

Other Previous Builds : Le Mirage, Norske Love, King of the Mississippi

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Same here, after some browsing I also found your next build. I especially like it because of the personal ties.

I wish you God speed with this project, of which I will be faithfully follow.

 

Cheers,

Piet, The Flying Dutchman.

 

"Your greatest asset is not the quantity of your friends , rather the quality of your friends."  (old Chinese proverb)

 

Current Builds: Hr. Ms. Java 1925-1942

                       VOC Ship Surabaya

 

Planned Builds: Young America Diorama - scale 1:3000

 

Future Builds: KPM ship "MS Musi."  Zuiderzee Botter - scale 1:25. VOC Jacht in a 6" lamp,  Buginese fishing Prauw.  Hr. Ms. Java - Royal Navy Netherlands Cruiser.

 

Completed Builds:   Hr. Ms. O16 Submarine

                             Hr. Ms. O19 - Submarine Royal Navy Netherlands

                             Ship Yard Diorama with Topsail schooner -

                             Friendship Sloop Gwenfra

                           Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack    

                             Golden Hind - Cutte Sark (both not in this forum)

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Just found your new project John; looks like it will be a very interesting build.  As she was built 1851 she is not that far off Victoria (1855) so we may have some common areas :)

 

cheers

 

Pat

If at first you do not suceed, try, and then try again!
Current build: HMCSS Victoria (Scratch)

Next build: HMAS Vampire (3D printed resin, scratch 1:350)

Built:          Battle Station (Scratch) and HM Bark Endeavour 1768 (kit 1:64)

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John 

 

i keep looking in in the hope of finding sawdust. I presume research is going to be ongoing for a while?

Keith

 

Current Build:-

Cangarda (Steam Yacht) - Scale 1:24

 

Previous Builds:-

 

Schooner Germania (Nova) - Scale 1:36

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/19848-schooner-germania-nova-by-keithaug-scale-136-1908-2011/

Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/12515-schooner-altair-by-keithaug-scale-132-1931/?p=378702

J Class Endeavour by KeithAug - Amati - Scale 1:35 - 1989 after restoration.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10752-j-class-endeavour-by-keithaug-amati-scale-135-1989-after-restoration/?p=325029

 

Other Topics

Nautical Adventures

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13727-nautical-adventures/?p=422846

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well, at last I'm posting an update.  

 

As I said at the beginning - this will be a very slow build.  So far all I have is a keel, stem  and sternpost ready to receive frames.  I hope to at least make a start on the frames at the museum next Monday.  The slowness of this build will be due partly to the fact that, with a heck of a lot going on at home, I'll probably be doing the entire build at the museum - so only one day a week maximum; and I'll also be feeling my way a bit with this one.  She's earlier than the period I'm familiar with and I'm also taking a little more care with joints and finish in the frame as I may build her with unplanked frames below the main deck - still trying to decide on that.

 

Anyway, here's the first photo of the actual build under weigh!

 

John

 

59792fb5a7ec2_DSC012051200x899.thumb.JPG.05076bb6fdbccba884f303d7f9032bd5.JPG

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John:

This looks like a good start. That is a lot of framing. I will be looking forward to see her progress. I vote for planked, but with some planking being replaced.

 

Russ

 

 

 

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Slow build or not John, I am sure it will be another interesting build to watch :)

 

cheers

 

Pat

If at first you do not suceed, try, and then try again!
Current build: HMCSS Victoria (Scratch)

Next build: HMAS Vampire (3D printed resin, scratch 1:350)

Built:          Battle Station (Scratch) and HM Bark Endeavour 1768 (kit 1:64)

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Hello Jim, I found your log at least. What a great idea to build a vessel with a personal link to your family's history. I lean back and am keen to see further progress. May I ask you from which source/ship you've got the equivalent lines? It would be of a great interest.

Daniel

Cheers,

Daniel

 

In dockyard: HM Colonial Schooner for Port Jackson (scratch), HM Armed Vessel Bounty, HM Cutter Sherbourne

Next builds: HMS Victor 1797 & Gannet 1814 Cruiser class sloops, ship and brig rigged (scratch)

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G'day Daniel - nice to have you along for the (very slow) ride.

 

The ship I'm using for the lines is a slightly earlier merchant ship called the 'Pearl'.  I've altered her proportions slightly on the computer to give me a better fit for 'Meteor'.

 

John

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A minor update - just to show that something is happening.  The first couple of frames have been traced out and their segments fitted together ready for shaping.

 

The photos show the first frame traced out and with its segments fixed and ready for shaping.

 

John

 

59800c05e52ba_DSC012071200x899.thumb.JPG.5a730f05be837b564f60c0f52ba666c0.JPG

 

59800c09b37ab_DSC012271200x899.thumb.JPG.ddf9ae611f707b85fbeee0f881c2a1d7.JPG

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John:

That looks good so far. This vessel is very full bodied indeed.

 

Russ

 

 

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im also interested in following this build, i found this, Im happy to delete if you want me to, 

 

I will be following, good luck

 

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_Brommy_(Schiff,_1851)

Its all part of Kev's journey, bit like going to the dark side, but with the lights on
 

All the best

Kevin :omg:


SAY NO TO PIRACY. SUPPORT ORIGINAL IDEAS AND MANUFACTURERS.
KEEP IT REAL!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the build table

HMS Indefatigable 1794 by Kevin - Vanguard Models - 1:64 - Feb 2023 

 

 

HMHS Britannic by Kevin 

SD 14  - Marcle Models - 1/70 - March 2022 -  Bluebell - Flower Class - Revel - 1/72   U552 German U Boat - Trumpeter - 1/48  Amerigo Vespucci     1/84 - Panart-   HMS Enterprise  -CAF -  1/48     

Finished     

St-Nectan-Mountfleet-models-steam-trawler-1/32 - Completed June 2020

HMS Victory - Caldercraft/Jotika - 1/72 - Finished   Dorade renamed Dora by Kevin - Amati - 1/20 - Completed March 2021 

Stage Coach 1848 - Artesania Latina - 1/10 -Finished Lady Eleanor by Kevin - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1/64 - Fifie fishing boat

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Hello John,

 

As your build is very interesting to me too, I have an old plan of a German barque Albert Neumann similar to meteor from 1869, launched and commissioned in Warnemünde/Rostock (Baltic Sea). The plans are a bit rotten and form a German model magazine from 1987. The lines are in 1:200 and some details about rigging and deck fittings in 1:100. All in metric measure. There is a belaying plan included. If it might help you, I can scan it and send it to you here as private mail.

 

Additionally I can recommend the book "Von der Fregatte zum Vollschiff" (from the frigate to the full-rigged (merchant)ship) from Wolfgang Quinger. On Amazone you will find it to a low price. The book includes the planes, lines, belaying plan, deck details of the full-rigged three-mast-merchant-ship Alt Mecklenburg from 1856 as well as from the brig Auguste von Wismar. The Brig is originally launched in 1840, the plan shows her as she was fitted out in 1860. The lines are in 1:100 scale and in Swedish feet and in metric measure. The plans might help to get some information about differences from German builds to the well documented English counterparts.

 

Regarding the rigging let me recommend you Marquart's book the global schooner. In the appendices of the English version are the frame and plank dimensions of German Baltic Sea merchant ships in 1835 following the tables of Gustav Klawitter, dimensions of the main-components and rigging, mast & spare dimensions for ships and boats of Hamburg-build merchant ships (North Sea) following the tables C.F. Steinhaus from 1856.

 

Daniel

 

 

Cheers,

Daniel

 

In dockyard: HM Colonial Schooner for Port Jackson (scratch), HM Armed Vessel Bounty, HM Cutter Sherbourne

Next builds: HMS Victor 1797 & Gannet 1814 Cruiser class sloops, ship and brig rigged (scratch)

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John,

 

It's good to to see the start of the wood cutting. What is the relevance of the Museum?

Keith

 

Current Build:-

Cangarda (Steam Yacht) - Scale 1:24

 

Previous Builds:-

 

Schooner Germania (Nova) - Scale 1:36

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/19848-schooner-germania-nova-by-keithaug-scale-136-1908-2011/

Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/12515-schooner-altair-by-keithaug-scale-132-1931/?p=378702

J Class Endeavour by KeithAug - Amati - Scale 1:35 - 1989 after restoration.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10752-j-class-endeavour-by-keithaug-amati-scale-135-1989-after-restoration/?p=325029

 

Other Topics

Nautical Adventures

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13727-nautical-adventures/?p=422846

 

 

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good to see you've begun to make sawdust John.   are you going to reinforce the frames as you make them?

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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Kevin - thanks very much for that link.  It's good to have a bit more history of the ship.

 

Daniel - thanks for the information about the book.  I've ordered a copy and will struggle through the language difficulties.  Thankfully we have a friend who is a German language teacher!  The Albert Neumann will be a bit late for my purposes.  There was a vast change in shipping practice and merchant ship design in the second part of the 19th century.  Ships went from boxes with slightly sharpened ends in the 1850's to the sleek China clippers of the late 1860's (Cutty Sark was built in 1869).

 

Keith - Sorry; I tend to assume that members know that I'm a volunteer model maker at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.  I spend my Mondays (when we're at home) sitting behind a desk building my model and talking to visitors about model making.

 

Denis - Thanks, mate.  Each joint will have a treenail through it just to add a bit of strength.  As they go onto the model they'll be supported in the building jig until I'm ready to put a couple of battens in

 

John

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