pollex

Don't forget to peruse the site that published the late Jean Boudriot's drawings and books. 

there are (were?) a few  publications like the Xebec and other Mediterranean vessels listed.

23 Jan'24 Pollex Calgary

When I was training with the Royal Canadian Sea cadets in Esquimalt, (Victoria, BC), I visited the Maritime Museum, and there was an interesting display for "Thermopylae", as it had sailed to BC also. This was

nearly 60 years ago, so I can't remember if there was a large model with

the clipper ship display.  pollex (Calgary)

Gentlemen; Your discussion of the Dutch yachts reminds me of the replica of "Nonsuch"

that was built in Devon, UK.  It was built to celebrate the 300 th anniversary of the start of

the Hudson's Bay Company in 1670. This replica "Nonsuch"  is now kept in downtown

Winnipeg.  I think the late Alan Villiers was involved in sailing the replica to Canada. The

vessel size and rigging of "Nonsuch" seems similar to the Dutch yachts being discussed.

Regards  Pollex, Calgary

I remember reading "South" by Sir Ernest Shackleton in the 60's, as a teenager. 

I was lying outside in the  bright July sun, the glare from the pages almost

blinding me, but I was shivering  as  I read about the cold Antarctic Ice  crushing

the hull of "Endurance"  Brrr.  Mark Pollex, Calgary

My inquiry seems to fit this category.  I am registered as "pollex", but my browsing "visits" aren't  noted recently..  My reading various forum comments are noted as "unknown" or unregistered visitor.  Does one have to re-register after a certain duration? The number of visits seems to be important for commenting in the Traders/Dealers section. I've been enjoying this Forum for several years. 

Kind regards, pollex (calgary)

For those Ship-modellers interested in modelling the "Great Eastern", please refer to

the British forum Model Boats.  A gentleman by the name of Bob Abell built a large

model ( 7 ft or over 2 m.)  which was propelled by 2 paddlewheels and screws (props.).

Apparently the BBC sent a crew to film the model sailing at Hoylake, Wirral.  If you

read the MB forum, you'll read Bob reminiscing about this build.   Pollex, Calgary

Are you using the J.Boudriot books or plans as the source of your data. ? 

I also have Boudriot"s books (4 volumes); also several other Ancre Monograms.

They are EXCELLENT !  Pollex, Calgary

Hello Alexandrus,

I agree with the other folks that you've made a very fine model.  However, as a retired draughtsman/designer, I 'm noting

an omission. I also have a set of the "Jacinth" dwgs from Ancre, but I'm not able to look at them now;   I see you have put

3 reefs in the fore-topsail.  How could the seamen reef the topsail, if there are no foot-ropes to stand on? These would not

be difficult to add!  Kind Regards, Pollex (Calgary)    20 april'2020

Hello Druxy;  I bought a set of plans drawn by R.J. Collins in the 60's

of a 50-gun Navy ship c.1730.  There were 4 sheets to the scale 1:72

or 1"=6'-0".  Then, they were sold by Percival Marshall, but now they may

be available from the British company which handles the "Model Boats"

plans.   Hope this helps.   Pollex, Calgary

Hello Patrick;

     With reference to the "Golden Hind", I bought a set of drawings from Glasgow

many years ago (30?) which were drawn by the late Harold A. Underhill.  He named

this set of drawings, an "Elizabethan Galleon"  HAU was an excellent draughtsman.

His details are very interesting.  They were sold by "Brown, Ferguson & Son"

I'm sure you'll find them on the internet.  Regards, pollex (Calgary)

Hello Bear; Setting a lateen Sail is an interesting challenge! I've studied sail rigs for some time

and would have thought the sail was set outside the shrouds!  I'm referring to "Mediterranean"

practices which were tried later in European waters. Reports of King Richard's fleet sailing to

Acre in 1192,  describe his oared-galleys attacking and sinking a "huge" 3-masted Muslim ship,

which may have been a dromond.  Huge ships would have required larger sails. John Pryor,

an Australian scholar has studied these vessels, and written a paper on them. I can't find this

reference at the moment. European sailors used to square sails, were cautiously "experimenting"

with lateen sails  (say 1500's) which is why they were much smaller.  Arab dhows also had large

lateen sails which would not work inside the shrouds.  Regards, Pollex  Calgary

Hello David Goulden; Please look at <metromarine.org> This is the website of

"Metro Marine Modellers" of Toronto.  They usually have a club meeting each month,

on the 3rd Friday I believe. Check the site to see if you can "connect" in July or August. 

They used to have a list of hobby shops and sources most useful to model builders. 

It would be great if you could "connect" with someone either at a Fun Run or a Sunday

sailing event. There are Static, Scale & Sailing Divisions. This club was a special part of

my life during the 10+ years I lived in Toronto.  Regards, Pollex

Hello Druxy; I have a book "Bluenose II" Saga of the Great fishing Schooners

      Measured Drawings by LB Jensen. This is a soft-cover book  11"x14" (almost).

Nimbus Publishing 1994/2002    ISBN 1-55109-063-5   125pp.

Is this the book you're referring to?  Regards, Pollex (Calgary)

Hello Squire Trelawney (aka S. Coleman);

The cutwater is never planked, as it's a "build-up" of timbers extending up

from the keel. It's painted like the rest of the hull, which in this case would

either be black (tar) or off-white cream (white-stuff). Hope this helps, Pollex

Hello Ulises; I've taken a quick look through your build.  I'd suggest you carefully check the

"pitch" or the angle of the bowsprit.  Check the angle with the waterline, as it looks very steep,

almost 45 degrees! Is it really supposed to be this steep?  Kind regards, pollex  (Calgary)

Re: DWL & LWL

     It is always fascinating to read extracts from the logs of 18th & early 19th century

ships of the British Royal Navy, where Captains were urged to report (in as much

detail as possible), the ship's best point of sailing, the draughts and the loading of

stores & ballast. These extracts are found in books by Gardiner & Lavery, etc. and

show how important the Admiralty considered them for reviewing present ships and

future designs.

     I'm convinced that the mathematical reckonings for DWL & LWL were known

as early as the beginning of the 1600's by Phineas Pett & Co. but were kept as the

secret "black magic" by which they presented designs and estimates preferred to

their competitors.  Later, as mathematics became a more public knowledge say

after 1750,  design theory added to practical build experience.  Regards, pollex (Calgary)

Re: Surcouf (Alexmd)

This was a most interesting vessel, which was lost in the Carribean during the war. She must have sailed with the

"Free French", the French seamen who were willing to fight within the Royal Navy, as I don't think she was lost

after "VE Day".  I seem to remember that there were two 8" guns in the turret, although not the cause of her sinking.

Regards, pollex (Calgary)

Re: 'The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor'. For Canadian modellers among us who may be interested

in obtaining a copy of this book, it is available in Canada at "Lee Valley Tools". My hardcover copy was

published in 2000 by Algrove Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-921335-71-7. Please check the Lee Valley site

for the current pricing & availability. Regards, Mark Pollex, Calgary.

Hello Lextin,  You mentioned earlier (post #301) that you weren't sure of

some rigging details. Let me refer you to "Rigging  Period Fore-and-Aft Craft"

by Lennarth Petersson. I hope you'll be able to find it. My copy is dated 2007 and

was published both by Naval Institute Press, USA and Chatham Publishing, UK.

ISBN 978-1-59114-721-3 The contents cover the British Naval Cutter, the French

Lugger and the American Schooner.  I paid C$53.95, good value for over 110 pages.

I hope this helps. Mark Pollex

Hello Matrim; It's good to see more books covering the topic ships of Eastern Asia. 

    I became intrigued this subject when I discovered several titles written by Gavin Menzies.

Gavin with his book "1421" challenged the "sacred cow" of American History that Columbus

was the first foreigner from Europe to discover America in 1492!  Although the large fleets

of Cheng He date about 150 years later than the Mongol invasion,  this is still a similar

Marine Archeological Study.

     Others inspired by Menzies have been studying huge wrecks found on the east Australian,

New Zealand, and Oregon coasts.  Evidence of huge mahogany timbers, and ferro-cement

bulkheads 600 years old have also been found in China. What a fascinating study!

Regards, Pollex

 Hello Matrim; I would like to add an observation to your review of  "The Bounty"

       Few have noted that Bounty was under-manned; there weren't enough officers!!

Captain Bligh was the only "commissioned" officer on board for 40+ seamen. Fletcher

Christian the most experienced midshipman (officer in training) aboard, was appointed

by Bligh to be "Acting Lieutenant".  Had there been another commissioned officer, the

story might have had a much happier ending. 

      Consequently I would consider Bligh to have been an overstressed exasperated nag! 

The unfair Hollywood character given to him of 'a cruel tyrant" really described Captain

Edwards of the Pandora.  Regards, Mark Pollex

French Dimensions: Hello Mark, There is a possibility that the dimension in question may be

"French inches" which are are not the same as English (Imperial) inches.  I don't have the

reference at hand, but 34/100 may represent the "French" inch as  3.4 centimetres,

which is larger than the Imperial inch of  2.54 centimetres.  Regards, Mark Pollex

Message Port?

    Hello Frank; Are you sure this definition is correct, not mislabeled in translation?

I would have thought it was more like a scupper for draining wash-water from the pumps!

Another possibility, it could be a ballast port through which stones,etc. were loaded into

the ships hold.    Regards, pollex

Chinese "Treasure Ship" 15th Century

     This is a fascinating picture of a model representing a huge "junk" or ocean-going vessel. This period of

Chinese maritime history has been studied by the British author Gavin Menzies. Gavin is a retired career

naval officer, having formerly been Captain of a Royal Navy submarine. Gavin has written several books

on the subject of Chinese ocean-going ships sailing all over the world, long before Columbus reached

the Caribbean.  Gavin and his research team contend that  Admiral Zheng He 's fleet of ships (several

squadrons each numbering several hundred), sailed around the continents of Africa & Australia, and sailed

up the West and East coasts of South and North America!

     Of particular interest to ship modellers is the fact that an 80' rudder made of wood about 600 years old

was found in China (can't remember the seaport) verifying that a 450' long junk could easily have been

made using teak and ferro-cement compartments.  A large replica has also been made.

     Regards, pollex (Calgary)

HMS Victory (1765 - 1812)

Haynes - Owners Workshop Manual

    I have recently received my copy of this book from Amazon and wish to say

how impressed I am with this book. It was first published 2012 written by

Peter Goodwin. There are coloured photos on just about every page and the

detail of the ship's construction & fitting out is a great complementary work to

John Mckay's AOS "100-gun ship Victory"  The Manual has almost 180 pages

and can be found by ISBN 978-085733-0857. McKay's book concentrates on

excellent detailed drawings, but the Manual has lots of info which helps us

better understand naval administration and life-on-board during formal service.

    Regards, pollex