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Trireme by *Hans* - ancient Greek warship - ca. 480 bc


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After finishing my first scratch build - VOC Retourship Batavia - I will now start with something completely diffirent, a Greek Trireme.

 

Trireme means literally three oars - three rows of oars placed above each other.

 

For one of my sons, who is studying archeology and has a great interest in the ancient Greek culture I already made a Bireme - two oars.  This one is in scale 1:35.

 

post-11645-0-74539300-1414437211_thumb.jpg

 

The European modelbuilder Krick also has a Trireme in its program, so we decided to buy and built this one:

 

post-11645-0-21381400-1414437296_thumb.jpg

 

But this is in scale 1:72 and built it will be about 51 cm long. About the same as the Bireme.

 

So we decided to lay the kit aside and use the plans to upscale the thing to 1:35 scale - making it twice as big as the Bireme, but in the same scale.

This means a model of over 1 meter (3 ft) and making everything yourself - keel - bulkheads - planking etc.  

Therefore this topic in the scratch-build section.

 

First step to do was to upscale the plans, with my copier and some old fashioned carbonpaper:

 

post-11645-0-15154800-1414437640_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-62484400-1414437656_thumb.jpg

 

After that the jig saw and after sawing and fitting the first result:

 

post-11645-0-14336900-1414437722_thumb.jpg

post-11645-0-31058400-1414437738_thumb.jpg

post-11645-0-71317600-1414437748_thumb.jpg

Edited by *Hans*

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Oh... a chair open in the front row.  I got it!!!    That is going to be huge.  You are a braver man than I, Hans to set that on the railing. :)

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Oh... a chair open in the front row.  I got it!!!    That is going to be huge.  You are a braver man than I, Hans to set that on the railing. :)

 

Oh well - I made it myself - and it's easy to start again from here.... ^_^

 

And thank you for your help!

Edited by *Hans*

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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This is quite another build as the Batavia is.

 

I bought me a nice small circular tablesaw to make my own planking. This ship will get a hull made out of oak...

 

I am curious how this wood will work. :)

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Wait a minute now, all the front row seats are taken?  Hmm, I guess I'll move on back and sit next to Jan, hi Jan, how are you doing?  Long time no see.

 

Rather ambitious there Hans but a nice project.

 

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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  • 2 weeks later...

From a bunch of wooden stirrers I had bought I have made the deckplanking of the lowest deck, and some oak beams (glued 4 of them on each other).  These Beams are the base of the seats (made out of beech). Two small undeep holes plus some oak stain make the dowel-mounting of the seats:

 

post-11645-0-02203700-1415480917_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-26397500-1415480932_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-35783400-1415480947_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-79062800-1415480968_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-49312500-1415480992_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-68540900-1415481007_thumb.jpg

 

For the planking a rather strong curving is neccesary. As I have planned to make the hull out of oak I first tried to bend some oak strips 6 x 2 mm over the "wrong" side, but even after two days in water this did not work.

 

After some adjustments on my circular saw I now can make oak strips 3 x 3 mm - will try out the next days if this will work.

 

4 x 4 mm was still a bit to thick.

 

post-11645-0-01502000-1415481314_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-06653500-1415481335_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Oak would almost need heat involved to bend it.  Electric plank bender or curling iron.  That stuff is tough.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Bending the oak strips 3 x 3 mm works quite well, but they have to be soaking wet. There is only one problem, it is quite difficult to twist them as well in the round areas.  Sanding the hull must do the trick in the end...

 

post-11645-0-56290300-1415644321_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-11542400-1415644338_thumb.jpg

 

 

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Some people in Holland asked me to make a picture of the trireme compared to some other recognizable thing.

 

Both are scale 1 : 72 - about 55 meters long (180 feet)

 

post-11645-0-72176400-1415738173_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Yep, that puts it in perspective alright hans.  Your wood bending worked out great.

 

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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I didn't realize triremes were so big, I've always thought of them as being little vessels.

 

 

 

Lextin.

 

I have to make a big apologize to all the readers - because I made a big mistake in scale.

 

The Batavia on the picture is 1:72 - but the Trireme is 1:35 (the original kit is 1:72)  - ooopppsss  :blush:

 

This means the trireme is "only" about 35 meters or 100 feet..

 

Here some pictures for a better idea - the bireme and the trireme

 

post-11645-0-58165600-1415795224_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-37980600-1415795243_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-39894500-1415795260_thumb.jpg

Edited by *Hans*

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Don Farr, please feel free to ask your questions any time you want.   :)

 

I think I also do have the Dusek kit - which is coded D004. But as you have read I have upscaled it to 1:35 - twice as big.

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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As said - oak is quite tough to use.

But I managed to close the hull, will have to do some more sanding, and add some extra planks on both sides.

 

post-11645-0-51853900-1416408943_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-15867700-1416408962_thumb.jpg

 

This is the image I use as example for my build:

 

post-11645-0-91911800-1416408999_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Hi Hans, have not started mine yet but before week is out, have you got pictures of inside construction, and are you following Dusek instructions, Thanks again Don

 

Don,

 

I shall post some pictures within the next days.  And in overall I follow the Dusek instructions, but I will add a personal touch as well.

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Planking of the hull is merely finished - and the ram on the bow is getting its shape.

 

When you make a mixture of oakdust and diluted white glue the oak will start to discolor to black a bit.

 

Fortunately this again will be covered by the further planking of the bow and the ram.

 

post-11645-0-47723700-1416600685_thumb.jpg

 

And a few pictures for Don, showing the inside so far:

 

post-11645-0-39109700-1416600735_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-84211700-1416600754_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Looking very good, Hans. I'm following progress with great interest.

 

Steven

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New set of pictures:

 

Bow - including reinforcement is getting in shape more and more:

 

post-11645-0-38169800-1416949348_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-44045300-1416949369_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-40091900-1416949390_thumb.jpg

 

On the inside the structure for the second row of seats is mounted. For the small view you might have inside I have added some extra vertical planks. The original frames will be removed.

 

post-11645-0-61021200-1416949515_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-92877700-1416949534_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Beautiful work, Hans.  I like the looks of the wood having that hewn look on her.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Would be nice Don!

 

I just have finished the structure for the second row of seats, after having removed all the bulkheads.

 

post-11645-0-59066200-1417122941_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-75790200-1417122958_thumb.jpg

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Looking great! I wish I had seen this a couple of years ago; the structure for mounting the seats is so much more sensible than what I came up with for my trireme.

I like the looks of the wood having that hewn look on her.

I quite agree with this. While I do admire the skill that goes into constructing a model on which every piece of wood is perfectly smooth, I can't help but feel that this would be somewhat unrealistic for a ship constructed entirely with iron saws and hand axes. Not to say that the classical civilizations were incapable of producing a smooth piece of wood, it just seems unlikely that every plank on a 37-meter warship would have been planed perfectly flat.

Current build: Roman Quadrireme       Past builds: Mediterranean Merchant Galley,  Roman Trireme (First Build)


 

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Looking great! I wish I had seen this a couple of years ago; the structure for mounting the seats is so much more sensible than what I came up with for my trireme.

I quite agree with this. While I do admire the skill that goes into constructing a model on which every piece of wood is perfectly smooth, I can't help but feel that this would be somewhat unrealistic for a ship constructed entirely with iron saws and hand axes. Not to say that the classical civilizations were incapable of producing a smooth piece of wood, it just seems unlikely that every plank on a 37-meter warship would have been planed perfectly flat.

 

To be honest - this is a bit of a handicap which turns out to be (at least in my opinion) an advantage. 

 

I am a bit of a sloppy builder - when I make some planks in say 4 x 4 mm in turns out that some of them are not exactly square, or the saw has ripped out some splinters or so. Never mind then I say to myself - in real this would have happened as well.

 

In the end my models turn out to be nice, with rough edges, but having a live and vivid character. Just like the real ones after many years of use.

 

(but this is also a long excuse for simply saying I'm not that  a skilled builder.... :P )

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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Beautiful build Hans,

 

Looks great

 

in scale 1:35 you are having plenty of space fir all the Fitting out Details. I`ll be watching out as it deveöps further on

 

Nils

Current builds

-Lightship Elbe 1

Completed

- Steamship Ergenstrasse ex Laker Corsicana 1918- scale 1:87 scratchbuild

"Zeesboot"  heritage wooden fishing small craft around 1870, POB  clinker scratch build scale 1:24

Pilot Schooner # 5 ELBE  ex Wanderbird, scale 1:50 scratchbuild

Mississippi Sterwheelsteamer built as christmapresent for grandson modified kit build

Chebec "Eagle of Algier" 1753--scale 1:48-POB-(scratchbuild) 

"SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" four stacker passenger liner of 1897, blue ribbond awarded, 1:144 (scratchbuild)
"HMS Pegasus" , 16 gun sloop, Swan-Class 1776-1777 scale 1:64 from Amati plan 

-"Pamir" 4-mast barque, P-liner, 1:96  (scratchbuild)

-"Gorch Fock 2" German Navy cadet training 3-mast barque, 1:95 (scratchbuild) 

"Heinrich Kayser" heritage Merchant Steamship, 1:96 (scratchbuild)  original was my grandfathers ship

-"Bohuslän" , heritage ,live Swedish museum passenger steamer (Billings kit), 1:50 

"Lorbas", river tug, steam driven for RC, fictive design (scratchbuild), scale appr. 1:32

under restoration / restoration finished 

"Hjejlen" steam paddlewheeler, 1861, Billings Boats rare old kit, scale 1:50

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In fact this ship isn't that difficult. After making the substructure for the second row of seats I added the deck in between them. Quite simple with wooden stirrers again.

 

After this I started with aging the oak by treating it with ammoniac. This gives a dark shade over the wood. Not sure if I will stain it further - have to make some samples

 

post-11645-0-63748900-1417470633_thumb.jpg

 

Also made the first row of holes for the oars:

 

post-11645-0-31600900-1417470699_thumb.jpg

 

And I started with the frames for the third row of seats:

 

post-11645-0-78748900-1417470748_thumb.jpg

 

post-11645-0-75912500-1417470765_thumb.jpg

 

Here my new circular saw is quite handy :)

Edited by *Hans*

Hans   

 

Owner of Kolderstok Models - 17th century Dutch ships.

 

Please visit www.kolderstok.com for an overview of the model kits available   

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