Bill Morrison

4 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

@Bill Morrison   Thank you for the comments, Bill.  If you read my first post on this build log, you will understand that this is not my ship.  I am merely completing the model for a family that recently lost their father who was the original builder.  Since the family would like the model as a tribute to their father, I do not want to change any of his original work if I don’t have to.  I want there to be as much of him in the completed ship as possible.  Are there some things I might have done differently were it my ship?  Sure.  As an example, I would have painted the masts solid white instead of having black bands.  But my assumption is that the original builder had a reason for the black bands.  Maybe it was his signature style or maybe he just liked the way it looked.  Not sure, but I don’t want to change something like that because if I did, in my mind I would be making it my ship instead of his.  The same goes for the height of the white band.  

 

Regarding the gunport lids, I measured the upper and lower pieces and they actually fit the opening perfectly.  So it may just be some bad photography on my part that makes them look too tall.  

 

As for the spar deck cannonades not being cannonades, you got me on that one!  I had to read the armament part of the kit instructions 3 times to realize it was saying “carronade” instead of “cannonade”!  My mind kept seeing cannonade.  So thank you for the correction on that terminology.

 

Thanks again for the comments, Bill.  I appreciate you looking in.
 

I appreciate your comments!  Thank you! You explained yourself clearly and cheerfully.

Bill

You are doing great work so far.  however. there are several small that I need to make.  The first concerns the width of the white band; it is simply too tall for the Constitution (not Connie). That said, the gunport lids are also too tall.  I would begin by repainting the band. the gunports should be okay.  The ship itself has never been nicknamed "Connie".  Also, the Spar Deck carronades (short range but firing a heavy ball) are not cannonades, which are a light weight but long barreled cannon.  Anyway, I'm not nit-picking, just trying to be helpful.  Again, you're doing a great job!

Bill

Quote

 

On 9/18/2024 at 4:06 PM, kirill4 said:

:))) Bill ... my mind occupated with same thigs... :)))  what to do with it... I feel a little bit easy when finished painting of its stern... at least how it could be in my imagination, but what are your ideas ? about this kit ?

All The Best!!!

Kirill

I currently don't have specific ideas.  But, I plan on starting with Matthew Baker and work from there. I want to illustrate the similarities and the differences between Spanish galleons with their English Race Built cousins. That is barely understood among the general public.

Bill

This Plastic Wood:

Bill

On 7/29/2024 at 10:03 AM, Tim W said:

I am currently building the Mayflower from Model Shipways same scale and amazed at the differences. All minor but different non the less. Nice work

I am building the Trumpeter 1/70 (?) plastic kit of the Mayflower.  The designers of that kit have the Main Deck gratings shifted to starboard. It is far different!

Bill

On 6/16/2024 at 8:43 PM, 72Nova said:

Kirill,

You've been planning this for some time now, so it's good to see it becoming a reality, I have the same kit, so I'll be watching closely.

 

Michael D.

Kirill,

Ditto!  I have the same kit and I have been wondering just what to do with it.  You have given me some ideas.  So, I too will be watching . . .

Bill

Thanks! Great recommendations!

Bill

On 12/10/2022 at 6:28 AM, allanyed said:

Your comment brought up an interesting point.   What was the smallest ship in the RN considered a ship of the line.  I thought a ship of the line was a fourth rate or larger but could be dead wrong on this.   Not the most important piece of info in the world, just curious.

Thanks

Allan  

Yes, the smallest ships that could be considered as ships-of-the-line were Fourth Rates. They had between 60-68 guns.  Next up included Third Rates, ships of 70 to 84 guns. Second Rates were up to 98 guns, while First Rates were any ship above 100.  Please note that these ratings were very dependent on periodicity.  For example, the ratings were vastly different during the first Anglo-Dutch War and the Third Anglo-Dutch War, even though the wars began in the 1650s-1670s. They continued upwards until the mid-1760s.  However. please note that these ratings differed for the Dutch, whose ship sizes were regulated by the shallow waters in their harbors and the North Sea.

The Greyhound was never considered to be a ship-of-the-line. As a Sixth Rate, she was considered a small Frigate.

Bill

On 11/23/2023 at 4:14 PM, 72Nova said:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for chiming in, I am indeed going with the round tuck as seen in these preliminary mock up pictures, I think I'm pretty close but not sure if the angled planking continues up into the gun port area? my thinking they are horizontal in that area.

 

Michael D.

You are very close to nailing it!

Bill

On 8/6/2024 at 2:22 AM, PvG Aussie said:

Finishing touches are all done.

These included:

 

Flags

The supplied flags were very unevenly coloured when I compared both sides, so I made computer generated mirror images and ironed them onto a transfer paper and then onto both sides of a light cotton material.

 

Anchors

 

Name Plate

 

Lantern

 

Arches (idea compliments of @kirill4) and stern rudder chain (name unknown to me)

 

Alterations/additions to original 1979 Spanish Galleon Kit include:

Cotton sails (not plastic)

Natural thread shrouds and ratlines (not plastic)

Transfer paper sail images (not decals)

Arches

Rudder chain

 

Thanks to all those who followed this build, gave advice and encouraged me along the way:

@mtaylor @Bill Morrison @Ferrus Manus @Louie da fly  @Baker @Knocklouder @ccoyle

@GrandpaPhil @kirill4 @Bob Fraser @Marcel1981 and others

 

Cheers,            

 

Finished Posts can be found here

 

Your sails only add to an already outstanding model! Great rigging as well!  I am most impressed and only wish that I could do as well.

On 12/25/2020 at 5:15 AM, Baker said:

I agree with Kirill.
Mixed colors below the waterline are very unusual

 

Ps,

very nice paintwork  

I have seen it rarely.  Note that HMS Victory currently has a white painted stripe as a waterline above the copper plating. USS Constitution has a red stripe above the copper.  I saw the Mayflower in Mystic, CT when she was visiting the shipyard several years ago but did not see a black lower hull.  But, I will bow to the expertise of the builder!

Bill

On 4/4/2023 at 2:35 PM, firdajan said:

A small update... Just some windows and doors and a small attempt of making sculptures. Now I know, that´ better to make this ship in the bigger scale. sculptures, as you can see on the last pictures are about 2 - 2,5 mm wide.

I have to train a lot 😁

 

Jan 

I am most impressed!! This is an OUTSTANDING work!  Is she still available for sale?

Bill

This is a beautiful ship model.  Well done!

Bill

17 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Bill,

Tragically, the HMS Bounty film replica foundered during the monster hurricane Sandy. Apparently, her captain forgot how the original ship which his vessel was an authentic reinterpretation of. didn't fare that well fighting the massive waves of Cape Horn. 

Yes, I know of this tragic loss.  Unfortunately, the Captain was trying to escape the hurricane. However, he took the ship into the path of the storm, and she was lost. Her crew largely survived.

Bill

On 7/19/2024 at 3:40 PM, rwiederrich said:

Those stories are harrowing.  Frozen hands, and feet...not to mention hungry and tired.  The life has been romanticized till all the reality of such labors has been forgotten. 

 

Rob

I strongly recommend watching The Bounty with Anthony Hopkins and Mel Brooks to really get an idea of life at sea trying to round the Horn.  It wasn't an easy endeavor. I'm surprised more sailors weren't lost.  Also, Gordon Lightfoot released a son called Ghosts of Cape Horn and Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald that stressed the dangers of a life at sea.  These are worth a watch and a listen.

Bill

34 minutes ago, Bill Morrison said:

I've done so with mine. It looks much more proportionate.  You are doing some fascinating things with your SR!  I can't wait for even more!

 

Bill

34 minutes ago, Bill Morrison said:

I've done so with mine. It looks much more proportionate.  You are doing some fascinating things with your SR!  I can't wait for even more!

 

Bill

I do recommend that you get a copy of Mondfeld's  Historic Ship Models.  One of the issues with this kit focuses on the mathematics of calculating the correct dimensions of the masts.

Bill

On 12/24/2023 at 10:06 AM, Ian_Grant said:

One of the improvements you can make is to scrape off Heller's waterline marking and paint the "white stuff" much higher up, reaching or even partially overlapping the main wale. You've probably read about that....

I've done so with mine. It looks much more proportionate.  You are doing some fascinating things with your SR!  I can't wait for even more!

Bill

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Thanks Bill.  It's always nice to hear good things from other model builders.  Hey you built a pre 1805 version of Victory...was that when she was painted blue.  I recall, years ago a fellow built one in that fashion...quite beautiful actually.

 

Rob

Unfortunately, I have never seen the Victory in that configuration.  I have painted one model of Le Soleil Royal in blue, but there are quite a few paintings of her as such. It is a striking version.

Bill

On 7/15/2024 at 6:22 PM, rwiederrich said:

Hi Bill. I have that model in my stash….just for memorabilia purposes.  I’m glad the images(painting)help. Sometimes they’re all we have.

 

Rob

I agree.  I once used paintings as a source for a model of HMS Victory.  The issue was concerned about the forecastle bulwarks in lieu of the cut-down examples on the ship today and in most depictions of the ship. I decided to go with the pre-1805 higher bulwarks as shown by Turner.  Is it right?  I don't know. I do know that nobody else knows for sure.  I was left with nothing but the artist's depiction.  There is also a model of HMS Victory as she was built, but the go with that would be overly incorrect. 

Anyway, I love your model ships. Your Great Republic was excellent.

Bill

Rob,

I am currently working on an old plastic kit from Revell for my grandson.  It is their Stag Hound that contains many errors.  Most egregious is that the kit has quite a few other problems, including a deck house located by the forecastle.  Your pictures are a great resource!  Thanks!

Bill Morrison

Great catch! I once had a similar catch when a local man abandoned his wife. His wife gave his collection to me. Good things can happen!

Bill

On 7/2/2024 at 10:09 PM, PvG Aussie said:

The red and yellow striped one. It goes back to an ancient duchy from 1190 onward.

P

As a retired History professor, I would love to hear the history of your family!

Bill

21 hours ago, Hubac's Historian said:

I do have both of those books in my library, Bill, although Marquardt is on-loan from a friend.  Excellent references, both.

I agree.  I can't count the references on my bookshelves.  Rigging makes up a large part of the collection.

Bill

On 10/15/2023 at 9:30 PM, Hubac's Historian said:

These days, this is what progress looks like for me:

I added the filling pieces for the middle band of wales, so that I can properly mount the chain preventer plates.

 

My J-O-B has transitioned to full-employment, lately, and I have completely lost the pockets of daytime to get small-work done.  The evenings are mostly consumed with coaching sports teams, and emailing families about said sports teams, and generally being a husband and dad.  All good, just BUSY.

 

I don’t have a lot of modeling mojo left in me, to do good work, so I have mostly been reading.  About rigging and other things ship-related.

 

R.C. Anderson really is the foundational read for this epoch.  As I go through it, I have been re-reading the rigging sequence of several of my favorite builds.  The first is Paul Kattner’s intense kit-bash of the DeAgostini Vasa; as a first-time builder, his approach and technical mastery are just incredible.  His log is extremely well-photographed throughout. Along the same lines is Michael’s (‘72 Nova) Airfix Vasa, which is just exquisitely well-done in an impossibly small scale. The third is Marsalv’s Le Gros Ventre, which is just a model that I love, through-and-through, and the rigging is truly excellent.  Very honorable mention goes to Daniel’s Victory, which like Michael’s build is excellent for the technical tricks of making rigging look truly professional.

 

These are peripheral time periods to my own, with their very specific contributions to the history of rigging, but the sequence of work in these builds is enormously helpful for understanding what is a very complicated process.

 

I am, of course, well acquainted with Archjofo, and all I can say there is - dare to dream.  A true Master Class.

 

Now that I have some rigging vocabulary and understanding of what most of the lines do, it has become much easier to conceive of where my belay points should be.  Just as with anything else, you can’t really build a rig until you can understand it and visualize it.  We are getting there, though.

 

As is my custom, I make frequent visits to The Strand, hunting for obscure, and out-of-print ship books.  Most of the time, I come up empty.  Occasionally, though, I find a gem!  On my most recent trip, there was a veritable treasure trove!

 

Winfield’s First Rate (have it)

Lee’s Masting and Rigging (have it)

An updated and comprehensively illustrated Pepy’s Navy (don’t have it, yet)

 

And, then, these two:

I will likely go back and poach the Pepy’s title on my next paycheck.  The two I did pick up are invaluable for both my current and future projects.

 

The Art of Ship Modeling has a very detailed accounting of the construction of Frolich’s L’Ambiteaux, and all of his subjects are beautifully photographed in hi-res.

 

Lavery’s edition of Dean’s Doctrine is also beautifully illustrated and the math of Dean’s approach is very clearly explained.  It isn’t a guidebook to reconstructing a French First-Rate of 1670, but it is useful for understanding the methods in vogue for that specific time period.  Again, you can’t build it until you understand it.

 

Lastly, John Ott clue’d me-in to the fact that an English only edition of Le Chevalier de Tourville was back in-print by Ancre for a very reasonable sum.  I bought that too!  From what I have gathered, here and there, the rigging and belay plans of this monograph are relatively easy to follow.  Thank you, John!

 

So, I just wanted to say “hello,” and thank you all for visiting.  More to follow!

 

Best,

 

Marc

 

 

Marc,

I recently picked up two books That may be of interest.  They are

1. Lees, James, The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860

2. Marquardt, Karl Heinz, Eighteenth-Century Rigs & Rigging.

Granted, they don't fit your interesting in seventeenth century French warships, but they are of a general interest.

Bill

On 6/16/2024 at 12:19 PM, Gregory said:

I don't know if that's close to your final look, but the rudder would be almost flush with the stern post.

Your arrangement looks rather incongruous.  Sorry to sound critical, but I wouldn't want that to detract from an otherwise excellent build.

The kit supplied gudgeons and pintles  may leave something to be desired, or require a lot of work to get a good fit.

He did say that the pintels and gudgeons were temporarily mounted and that corrections were to be made.

Bill