Tallshiptragic

G'day Marcus. Yes that's right. The Friesland is a difficult kit. The kit isn't of a ship as such as it's based on a contemporary model built between 1660-1670 of a Dutch two decker. I believe this model was destroyed during or after WW2 but a book was published with very detailed plans. The Friesland kit resembles this model remarkably apart from a few items like the shape of the quarter galleries, though the carvings appear to be the same as this model. Mamoli most likely researched this book and plans to produce the Friesland, so as far as accuracy goes... For a fictional ship, the lines and fit out is accurate for a Dutch warship of the 1660's. I built it basically out of the box though refined the planking and fittings to be more accurate. It is believed the original model depicted a warship called 'De Jong Prins' so if you compare Friesland with this ship, some changes will be needed to make it more accurate. I found all this out too late! Still though I enjoyed building the model and it does represent a Dutch ship well. Corel's Prins Willem also designed from a model of a real ship, is probably the only accurate kit of a Dutch warship of that time currently. I have the book of the Batavia and the 1/50 scale plans of the replica also. There are some issues with the plans but again can be built into an accurate representation of the replica. I'll have to go down to the WA maritime museum next time I'm in Freo (Fremantle) as one of the museums archeologists built a 1/50 scale model of Batavia that differs slightly from the replica so will have to see what that looks like as its on display. The book of De Zeven Provinciën I don't have and find it hard to find but I do have the plans that come from that book. It would be nice to have the book also though The guy that's producing the dordrecht kit is also about to release a kit on the Batavia I believe so am in contact to find out when delivery would be. If that's on the market soon I'll be purchasing that kit, so Batavia will be my next build You are right, while there are books and plans, there aren't many kits at all of that period for the Dutch. Hopefully we will soon see this change.

Triple and double blocks made up for the rescue boat lifts. These are made out of sheet, brass wire and tube. The round silver disc at the base of the bottom blocks of both lifts act as a grab rail when attaching and removing the lifts from the boat.

Fizz boat now pinned in place. I've pinned it to the davits just to assist with support. Now to rig after I've made some blocks up. There are two lifts fore and aft and then two smaller tackles which pull the boat into its cradles leaving it in its angled position. As an extra measure to secure the boat are two straps which lead from the port davit to the aft of the boat and one from the starboard davit to the fore peak of the boat.

Jack - comes from the Middle English word jakke to describe any of various portable devices for raising or lifting heavy objects short heights, using various mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic methods. Cross - it runs across the mast. Jackyard - a short spar to spread the topsail away from the gaff. Combined - cross jackyard. The helmsmen wouldn't need to see where they're steering as they're either steering a course, steering to orders or 'full and by' in which you would be looking at the sails themselves.

Plus while something is drying I'll be planning something else and drawing measuring up parts so when I've finished one item I'm half way along with the next.

Hahaha hi Keith. I don't always upload photos as I'm doing things, which is why it may look like I'm doing things much quicker than possible. I'll take some photos as I go but not necessarily post. This little boat has taken me the best part of a day to bash and paint.

A cross jack yard is the lowest yard on the mizzen mast which does not normally carry a sail. It's used to spread the sheets of the topsail. So on your cutter it's just the lower yard. Here in the pic you will see the cross jack yard on endeavour.

Looks more like our fizz boat now. The reflective tape is from becc chrome metallic and is actually reflective with light. Not as much as the proper safety stuff but still cool. So she now has the dull orange colour scheme, but she is a rescue boat.

Thank you Igor, your comment is very kind and humbling. Especially amongst all the amazing modellers on this site. I get a lot of enjoyment out of this hobby, it's nice to know that my work is appreciated by others also.

So while at my LHS picking up some more plastruct rod and strips, I came across a nifty burago 1/50 scale 19ft rescue boat. Looking at it I was sure it was probably too large though it was in the stash box for only $10 so thought what the hell. Turns out this 1/50 scale 19ft boat is a perfect match size wise for our 22ft fizz boat! A lot of modification needed but the boats hull itself would be suitable. Plastic strip, brass wire have been used to change the seat arrangement, outboard support/aerial base, lift bases and milliput for new seat cushions and bow fender matt. After a coat of primer I think it looks good.

The City of Fremantle Coat of Arms is the armorial bearings of the City of Fremantle – granted by letters patent 20 April 1971. Interpretation Arms The pile (or wedge shaped area) coloured silver with wavy blue lines alludes to the position of Fremantle at the mouth of a river. The black swan identifies the river as the Swan River, and at the same time symbolises Fremantle’s connection with Western Australia. The pile divides the remainder of the shield into two triangle areas, coloured green, which represent an open cape, or mantle. The tasselled cords are not joined, and the result is an heraldic pun, viz. A free mantle. Such arms are known in heraldry as canting’ (or punning) arms. Crest The crest is reminiscent of the crest of the Fremantle family, except that the lion has become a sea lion and has exchanged his flag for a trident, thus echoing the emblem Fremantle has used for many years. Supporters The sea lions supporting anchors symbolise Fremantle’s connection with England and its maritime and naval interests. The sinister sea lion (i.e. the right hand one) has a naval crown around its neck. Naval crowns are used in the arms of distinguished sailors and naval towns of consequence. The gold buckles occur in the arms of the Stirling family and so commemorate Sir James Stirling, the first governor of Western Australia. Two red lions occur in the arms of a family by the name of Samson; thus a happy allusion is obtained to the Fremantle family of Samson. Motto The motto, which is also that of the Fremantle family, is taken from an ancient Roman work of rhetoric. The original reads Nec prece nec pretio…a recta via deduci; Neither by entreaty nor by bribery…to be drawn from the right path.

Leeuwin carries the coat of arms for the city of Fremantle on her stern. Fremantle is also our home port of registration.

Thanks Patrick, I guess hahaha so far I'm doing about 4 hours a day into the build. While the boss is at work and maybe an hour later in the evening. I promise I'm slowing down... Anyway, made some decals for green safety signs - life jackets, Epirbs, life bouys and life rafts etc - our call sign and IMO number plus hull name plates. I use the micro decal sets for inkjet printers and make up my designs using photoshop. Once printed, the images are sealed and then work just like a bought decal.

Gorgeous little boat bob. Really well done

G'day Marc, not a problem. We have a unique history here on the west coast and in general. I've also found the history with the Dutch explorers and accidental explorers very interesting.

'Fizz' boat davits fitted to the transom. Quite a bit more to add, though the basic structure is complete.

Wikipedia is almost right. Cape Leeuwin is in fact named in honour of the possible Dutch ship Leeuwin of 1622. Mathew Flinders a British naval officer circumnavigated and mapped Australia and rounded Cape Leeuwin in 1801. The south west cape of the then called New Holland wasn't actually called leeuwin's land by the English. Flinders named the cape in honour of the Dutch as the name Leeuwin's land (in Dutch obviously) had been noted. As an interesting side note, if it wasn't for Flinders we might be speaking French over here as at that time a French explorer was also in the process of mapping this part of Australia. Correct about the Leeuwin II name but it wasn't a yacht but a fishing vessel. Leeuwin was originally to be named Leeuwin, though when the ship was in survey and to be registered, the name Leeuwin was already in use by a commercial vessel, so II was added. Below a photo of cape Leeuwin. Where the southern ocean and Indian oceans meet.

Capping rail test fit. Currently all raw parts cut and in place.

Both sides for the f'ctsle capping rail shaped.

Thought a break from making boxes was in order! Have three wooden deck boxes plus the helm station, another box! Had some stashed mahogany planks which I'm going to use for the capping rail. On Leeuwin the capping rail is Jarrah (an Australian red hard wood) and the colour and grain from the mahogany works well in this scale. I'll be using this for the pin rails also. To get the extreme curves I'll be doing the tried and tested - well for me anyway - soak and heat. To get this first forward curve, I soaked the plank in warm water for 30mins and using an iron slowly manipulated the plank to a suitable curve. Looks good for a test run I think.

Hi Keith, I don't think you need more tools, you should see what I have.... It's very little haha. I find working with plastic very easy, and I have a large stash of various sheets, strips, tube, angle strips etc which does make life easier when in need of a certain size. I'm sure if all this was done in wood it would take me a lot longer to cut and assemble, and then to make it look like steel

How her deck looks now.

Milestone reached! Both forward access hatches complete as is the access hatch to the chain locker. No more hatches to make!

PE grate used for the mesh, over a blacked out part of the deck. Looks the part I think.

Oh and the large steel frame on the sides of these are for the attachments of the lifelines fore and aft.