trippwj
-
Posts
3,132 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Everything posted by trippwj
-
I am well. Finally back in the shop here after many months off. Look for an update on the ECB soon (I hope). -
Welcome back, Max!
-
Might I suggest that, when discussing ship design pre-1830, the contemporary record offers abundant discussion of the lack of appreciation of the role of science as opposed to trial and error in British (and American) ship design. The French and Swedish were more advanced in theoretical application. A modern Naval Architect would be applying modern scientific and mathematical knowledge to vessels where that knowledge was not available during design. Essentially, retroactive application to show WHY something worked (or didn't), but NOT proving why it was done. I would suggest a visit to what I have found to be a very readable and comprehensive discourse on the topic in "Ships and Science" by Larrie Ferreiro (and original sources, many available on the interwebz, listed therein).
-
dimensions of US flag on USF Constitution
trippwj replied to silverfoxes's topic in Nautical/Naval History
I will see what may be in some of the pursers records, but that may take some time. A quicker tactic would be to peruse contemporary paintings and see how large the ensign is (compare several to allow for artistic exageration). -
Very nice work. I enjoyed building the HL, though mine is not even close to your beauty.
- 258 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- harriet lane
- model shipways
- (and 1 more)
-
As concerns your #2 above, one would expect that any USN ship would have reported the contact, although it may have been later to avoid letting the Bismark know she had been spotted. If nothing else, it should have been in the ship's log and cruise reports, thence in the naval records. I doubt that after some 80 years that type of information would still be classified, so a committed researcher should be able to prove/disprove by reviewing records/logs etc. from that time frame.
-
Which ship and year?
-
While a bit dated now, you can not go wrong with Longridge.
-
raising and lowering an anchor on a sloop
trippwj replied to timboat's topic in Nautical/Naval History
According to Steel, a sloop of 200 tons burthen would have 3 anchors of 15 cwt each and one kedge anchor of 3 cwt. He also offers detail on the vsrious cables, hawsers etc. for each rate. -
raising and lowering an anchor on a sloop
trippwj replied to timboat's topic in Nautical/Naval History
Well, to start the basic premise is only partially correct. A "Sloop of War" is just an unrated vessel with guns but not enough to be a 6th rate. Rig could be anything (brig, snow, ship etc.). Looking briefly at a few vessels rated as sloops I see capstans and, on at least 1, what appears to be an anchor windlass. If, on the other hand, there is no capstan or windlass, I suspect that the anchor is raised in the same way as cargo - using the yards as the attach point for block and tackle arrangements. -
What constitutes “Fighting Sails”?
trippwj replied to GrandpaPhil's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
While there would be some commonality to what was used, there was also flexibility - each Captain and sailing master had preferences based on individual ship performance and, more important, tactical environment (meteorological and engagement type). Mark is quite correct that the largest sails were generalky not used, as they were for stronger winds and cruising, not manuevering. In general terms, one or two topsails may have been set, along with a couple of staysails and, depending on wind conditions, the driver (spanker). Take a look at the many period paintings available to get a feel for the various arrangements. -
When a lashing is applied correctly, there is no need for pins or notches. Lashing techniques were developed specifically to connect dissimilar items in various configurations as an expedient repair or build. I suspect that one reason that rigid ratlines were less commonly used relates to the loss of "flexibility" and adjustability for the shrouds. With rope ratlines, they flex with the shroud and allow shroud adjustment without necessitating re-lashing each ratline. A rigid ratline would apply additional twisting stress to the remsining shrouds were one adjusted. When considering the use in the whaling fleet, is it perhaps because of the smaller crew (need to get up and down a mast quickliy to also serve the other mast or lines on deck) and/or use as work platforms when processing whales? Two final considerations. First, use of wood vs rope ratlines brings with it increased weight in the upoerworks, impacting stability in a detrimental manner. Second, and then I will shut up, applies prinsipally to war ships. Rigid ratlines would be more vulnerable to damage, potentially affecting the shrouds, but also impacting the ability of the crew to serve the mast. Also, more shrapnel. Of course, I have no documentation, just a combination of 50 years is Scouting (knowledge of lashing) and an interest in traditional approaches to ship stability.
-
Indeed, as a border resident and having some personal knowledge of the postal system (i.e., I work for the USPS), there can be a lengthy delay, particularly with the Canadian postal service (amazing how many Canadian residents will rent a US Post Office Box because it is quicker and cheaper than delivery across the border - even with the drive and customs each way). Also, though not likely a major issue, is the customs clearance inbound (not generally a big delay unless the value, size or description raises a red flag). Keep in mind that mail doesn't move office to office, but rather post office to processing plant to international departure plant to international arrival plant to processing plant (maybe more than one) to destination post office.
-
Davis did some good work as one of the early naval architects turned hobby modeller mentor. Writing for a much different audience, he frequently provides a snippet of the information - just enough (often) to achieve something, but not enough to go any further. Nothing mean or lazy, just vastly different times. If we take a gander at works by Lee (masting and rigging), among others, we can quickly begin to wander the rabbit hole. In an effort to simplify and condense large tables of numbers for lines, poles, spars, blocks, yada yada, the desired dimension (let's use the length of the mizzen gizzard on a 1730 54 gun ship (a ficticious item as I am to lazy to get my book). The gizzard, in contemporary literature, is given as a table of length on deck (across the top) and number of guns (down the side). Now, Lee may have gone through this and found that in 1730, the mizzen gizzard was actually 2.31 times some other item dimension, likewise calculated from some other dimension. The thing of it is, decimal math wasn't in common use - the division left a remainder in xx/yy. Thr builder of old would have used something like 2 and 29/94 units. Modern calculators make those conversions to decimal so easy!
-
Somewhere I have digital copies of all the pictures of the HL that I could locate. As I recall, the davits are shown on some of them. Will check this evening. She is coming along beautifully - great job!
- 258 replies
-
- 2
-
-
- harriet lane
- model shipways
- (and 1 more)
-
There are, conservatively, dozens of books about Trafalgar (and/or Nelson, and/or HMS Victory). These range from contemporary reports and "dramatizations" to recent scholarship and reinterpretation (historical, biographical and sociological perspectives). Some works are quite "readable" and others much less so. So, then, are you asking about a new book titled Trafalgar, or looking for a recommendation? If a recommendation, what variety interests you (contemporary, mid-19th century? 20th century? Personal history? Military history? Strategic analysis? Historic re-analysis?). So many choices!
-
That is the issue with all opinion polling. This one is a nice quick snapshot of what the members who voted think about the kit companies. Recognizing the limitations, few meaningful conclusions, and certainly few statistical measures (standard error, things like that) are possible. It is, surprisingly enough, the same with those amazing opinion polls we see, where they polled 1000 likely voters (or similar qualifying characteristic). While you can say that x% were in favor of something, tge plus or minus y percentage points is NOT so accurate - they base that on questions which they infer to indicate how you REALLY feel about something. It is silly how much emohasis folks place on those polls! 1000 people represent accurately the opinions of 200 million?
-
Any particular time period? By the early 18th century there was some attempt to have a standard size, but it wasn't until later in the century that it was adopted in the yards. See, for example, Sutherland's various editions as well as the various establishments (Compiled in book form by Allan Yedlinsky) where the port size is related to number of guns and deck (which, approximately, matches the size of the ordinance). There is also some guidance in various treatises published during the 1750's and later (Rees, Steele, others).
-
So, then. Any thoughts on the type of vessel represented in this drawing believed to have been made by a 10 year old George Washington in 1742? For details, see https://www.history.com/news/drawing-by-10-year-old-george-washington-found
-
makeing sense of rigging plan abbreviations ?
trippwj replied to spongbob's topic in Masting, rigging and sails
I have the Aeropicola Essex plans here - will look for them this evening and see what the "Tr" stands for. -
You have asked an interesting question. If we ignore the honours and distinctions, realizing that opportunity and luck were pre-eminent influencers, then the qualities enumerated by Raleigh (and often repeated) are pretty much what you have listed. It is a challenge, of course, to compare vessels across time. The understanding and application of shape factors changed over time, as did the size and materials used. These, along with the masting and rigging, contributed to the sailing quailities. When looking at number in each class, the historical context is important - was there a war with rapid building? Was there a central design or were individual builders designing? What was the political climate (budgetary)? What was the bureacracy - Symmonds? Sepping? Fincham? Crueze? During the early to mid 1800's, each had different design philosophies, and different results.
-
Revolutionary warship uncovered in Maine by storm
trippwj replied to mtaylor's topic in Nautical/Naval History
It is an interesting old beastie, for sure. The outline does have a "pink" look. Too far for me to take a run down during the week, and another nor'easter due mid week. Oh, well, it will be visible again...maybe.- 1 reply
-
- 2
-
-
As I recall, she suffered major damage to her rigging in 1797 and was repaired somewhere in the Mediteranean. Her first trip back to Britain after that was also her final voyage when she foundered. It is perplexing, to say the least!
-
I disagree, as it is not clear if that is a waterway ir a ceiling plank. As noted, though, difference in interpretation are allowed. Given she had undergone some recent repairs to her rigging at a remote port, it is conceivable (to me) that there may have been a need for a block yet none of the correct size available, so a replacement was used.
-
No worries, Mark. Differences in interpretation happen. Take a look at the 2002 (I think it was) report where Trench 2 is discussed. No indication of the waterway there (this area is adjacent ti the area shown above). In addition, the profile of the excavation also does not show one. It is idd, that's for certain! That scupper does not appear to protrude beyond the planks. I am still working through some of the reports. The absence of a waterway would seem significant, though I am wondering if it was common on all decks or only on "weather" decks?
Our Emblem ®
