Chapman

11 hours ago, uss frolick said:

Most of the book is just fine. But the author found plans of beautiful, but unusual, schooner taken off in a Maltese {?} dockyard, and claimed that those were of the uS Navy's Schooner Enterprise, which repaired there in 1804. I, and most others, think he was wrong. But his evidence is interesting, nevertheless, and it was only one chapter. I think the book is well worth the price. Geoffrey Footer is a well-known, trusted historian and author.

I can agree with that. However, the reproduction of the plans in my edition is rather poor to very poor.

If you want to use paints you already have that weren't specifically developed for DKM ships, you can simply check the model manufacturer's specifications to see if they would match the color of your desired model.

Scalemates.com offers the option to compare paints across manufacturers.

Experience has shown that the color on the screen looks different than the color in the can.

And the contents of the paint cans vary slightly in color from batch to batch.

In addition, some model builders wonder whether to use slightly lighter colors than the original to achieve the scale effect.

Life can be so hard

A look at one of her original plans (as captured) clearly shows that she had entire lids that opened upwards.

Regarding the Shipyard cardboard model of the Coureur in 1:96 scale. I wanted to modify the model according to the English plans as taken. However, I noticed a problem with the dimensions.
I printed the English deck plan in length and width according to the known English specifications and placed it on the model. The length fits the model, but not the width, as you can see!

An addendum: I remembered that I have an article about the U.S. Brig Syren 1803.

A Naval Architectural Study of the U.S. Brig Argus. BY W.M.P. DUNNE
Published in the NAUTICAL RESEARCH JOURNAL

Contemporary information exists (Argus Journal of Indents, Naval History Society Collection) on the three boats of the U.S. Brig Argus from 1803. It describes the cutter on board, its size (25 ft) and its equipment (with a well and windlass), but not whether it was a clinker boat.

It seems doubtful whether any information about the Syren's boats can be found. Perhaps in the logbook, if it still exists. Based on current knowledge, I would build the cutter with carvel planking.

Clinker boats are more difficult to repair, which is probably why the English preferred clinker cutters on board in their home waters rather than on long overseas voyages. I don't know how the Americans handled this. The US frigate Constitution has been quite well researched, and there is a wealth of information on the types of boats used on board.

Author Tyrone G. Martin has compiled such facts in his literature on the Constitution.

The USS Constitution Museum has also collected information on the boats.

My respect for this amazing rigging on this scale.

It requires a lot of patience and a steady hand. How do you motivate yourself?

I actually wanted to reply to Force9's last post, which unfortunately no longer exists. However, it's no longer visible. So I'll skip the reply for now.

I have the following from Eriksen: CONSTITUTION All SAILS UP AND FLYING.

Chapter on Flags and Pennants 1812-1815. Pages 142-145

From Captain Hull's log:

"...then hoisted our Ensigns and Jack, at the Fore and Main Top Gallant Mastheads."

Eriksen supplements this information with his interpretation for the flags flying on Constitution under Captain Hull.

Stars and Stripes from the peak and a second flag with canton even high with the main topgallant masthead. The U.S. Union Jack from the foremast (same height), and the Commission Pennant from the main mast-truck.

My addition:
Hull was not a commodore in this case, so it is quite likely that no broad pennant is displayed at the time of the engagement with the Guerriere.

Attached is an excerpt from the original plan. Hope it helps.

Hi Markus,

Flags with the slogan "Don't tread on me" or "Catch me if you can" are very common on contemporary depictions of US privateer ships from the War of 1812. "Catch me if you can" is pretty cheeky.😀

Hello Waldemar,

Interesting project. I hope a better plan for the Randolph can be found.

M.V. Brewington thought about the design of the first US frigates many years ago.

His article, with plans for the first US frigates, can be found online. I don't know if you're familiar with it.

Published in: The American Neptune Vol. VIII No. 1 January 1948
Unfortunately, the plan for the Randolph isn't any better there either.

I also find it worth mentioning that Corné depicts the USF Constitution's farewell salute here, possibly to a US battery from the home port. The ship's flag is lowered halfway and then raised again, accompanied by a simultaneous cannon salute.

Pennants can also be seen on merchant ships; at least I know of two depictions of the famous sloop Union (1794?) with a pennant. I thought this might be a home pennant upon arrival in her home port, but she also carries this pennant in Nootka Sound.

Attached is a recently discovered MIT link to a high-resolution file depicting the frigate USS Boston. Thanks to Baugean and the MIT Museum.

It looks as if your Vanguard's shrouds are in danger of being damaged by its own guns. It's also worth noting that the gun ports for carronades are larger than those for cannons. 

Every conversion of a model involves a lot of work, also because you are not aware of all the problems beforehand.

Attached for comparison is the plan of the Spartiate as fitted for the RN in 1803.

The Spartiate is still very French, but also shows corresponding RN modifications.

Edit:

HMS Spartiate is excellently documented for a conversion based on the Heller Le Superbe kit, except for the masts.

A French Spartiate would also be possible after appropriate research.

2 hours ago, AON said:

Chapman: I thought both Vanguard and Edgar were Arrogant class ships.

The Arrogant class is correct according to the anatomy book on HMS Bellona that I have in front of me right now. I got the classification for the Edgar class from Threedecks.org. Why they created a new subclass, I don't know at the moment.
 

HMS Vanguard, as one of the Edgar class ships, is certainly well represented in its initial state of construction by the plans of her class mate  Elephant 1786. The forecastle would certainly have looked the same in 1798. The time when the forecastle of ships of the line was equipped with a bulwark came only a few years later.

A lot of interesting information about the ship can be found in the fabulous book about HMS Bellerophon.
David Cordingly: Billy Ruffian from 2004.
It's been about 20 years since I read the book, so I can't say for sure whether the armament was covered in more detail, but the book was definitely worth reading.

Hi!

I've been following the construction report from the beginning.
I noticed that the French plan of the ship, from the first album of Admiral Paris Souvenirs de Marine, shows the construction of the rudder and sternpost in more detail. Perhaps that will be of interest to you.
I'm attaching the relevant plan excerpt.

Quote

could be kept in ports or near by, for these kind of missions.

The schooner brings several advantages to the group: unlike square-rigged merchant ships, it can sail close to the wind and, especially during longer missions, can also serve as a kind of mother ship. For example, it can tow boats to conserve the rowers' energy, transport large supplies, etc. And from the tops of the masts, one can identify a target earlier.

However, some types of rowboats also have the ability to set sail. However, they would likely be inferior to the schooner in rough seas.

It was common practice to use boats to attack ships in harbors, even on the high seas when there was no wind. This was particularly successful at night because of the surprise. If the loss of human life was not an issue, things could get bloodier during the day. The latter is exemplified by the boat attack in 1814 by the frigate HMS Endymion on the privateer Prince de Neufchatel.

Below a information about Rigols from the book Navy Board Ship Models 1650-1750 by John Franklin.
I've had the book for so long that I've not thought about it anymore.

Quote from the book: From about 1675, port rigols are fairly frequently seen on models.

The two Rigol drawings in the book are of the type shown in post 8.

And indeed, a few pages further on there is a photo showing Rigols at the model of the third rate Hampton Court of 1678.

The described action shows parallels to the Danish-British Gunboat War of 1808–1814, in which groups of gunboats attacked English sailing ships such as gunbrigs (HMS Turbulent for example) and forced them to surrender several times.

5 hours ago, druxey said:

The absence of rigols on contemporary models does not necessarily mean that they were absent on the actual ships.

I agree with that, of course.
The earliest models I have found equipped with Rigols are these three First Rates linked above. I don't know of any others before that time at the moment. I haven't found any other models equipped like that before that. That's my own interim assessment after just a short search.

I think only the discovery of a corresponding instruction from the Admiralty or perhaps one of the royal shipyards regarding the appropriate equipment with Rigols could provide accurate data.