Chapman

Because of the reduction in the number of gun ports by one, I made a paper template for the lowest row of guns on my Phenix model. This allowed me to check if the spacing of the reorganization was correct before I started working directly on the model.

Maybe that would help you too.

Edit: Helpful drawings for the arrangement of the gun ports of the different classes can be found in Les Vaisseaux du Roi.

3 hours ago, EricWiberg said:

there is a better way to carve windows/gun ports in the hull than patient use of a #11 blade and needle files... I would love to know!

I drilled one larger hole in the center and several smaller ones on the four sides of the gunport, then used a No. 11 scalpel to cut from the center outwards to the sides.

That was relatively easy.

However, Heller's Phenix hull is relatively thin compared to the Soleil Royal.

I found the passage using the right search term.

It was the Washington Navy Yard, and a few years earlier than I remembered. It was 1809.

Quote

In the summer of 1809 a few specimen circular skylights of solid glass, manufactured at Boston, were introduced at the navy-yard for the first time. All that were on hand, to the number of six, were immediately appropriated by Captain Decatur for his ship, the United States, to the great disappointment of the officers in command of the other ships in commission. The Secretary of the Navy however approved the invention, and ordered that all our ships should be supplied with these new lights.

The source was an internet post from a few years ago. And: definitely after 1809.

It's possible the information came from the author of the book "The Washington Navy Yard".

Marcus, I've already read something about that.

For the US: the earliest ones I know of are from the War of 1813, which were mentioned in connection with a US shipyard's history. Apparently, the first copies were in stock there and were immediately requested by one of the US Navy captains. Other captains were apparently out of luck for the time being.

I still have the text somewhere, but I haven't found it yet. That's the problem with all the bits of information scattered across multiple hard drives. Someone really needs to compile it all.

I once rearranged all the gun ports on a Heller Phenix, and it was anything but pleasant. I managed it, but now I think a completely rebuilt wooden hull would have been more effective.

You seem to enjoy working with plastic, so I wish you continued success.

Attached is a link to a lengthy but successful conversion to the destroyer Z14 Friedrich Ihn, following some early wartime modifications.

Z 14 Friedrich Conversion from Z17 kit

The only 1:350 scale kit that comes close to the Destroyer Type 1934a is the one from Zvezda/Revell, and that's a Type 1936. This means a lot of modifications, especially to the superstructure. It's possible, but involves a lot of research and work.

Suitable examples can be found in contemporary paintings, drawings, and models to illustrate the differences to boats from later periods.

A friendly inquiry to Mr. Endsor about this topic, via his website, might also be a good idea.

I found him to be a very friendly person to talk to.

Edit: 

At this point, I would like to take the opportunity to mention his new book, which is scheduled for publication next year.

The Lost Ships of Charles II's Navy: Understanding the Seventeenth-Century Warship by Richard Endsor

Restoration Warships by Mr. Endsor

contains beautiful drawings with frame plans for the

31ft longboat

30ft pinnace 

23ft yawl of HMS Lenox.

The Master Shipwright's Secrets

for the longboat and pinnace of HMS Tyger, based on a boats contract and contemporary models.

They don't look strikingly different from boats from the 18th century. But the details make all the difference. Finding suitable ones for the scale of the Airfix Prince is a challenge in the first place.

Richard Endsor's books, with titles like *The Restoration Warship* or *The Master Shipwright's Secrets*, depict boats from that era. I can't say offhand how complete the drawings are; I'd have to look through the books for that. Which is always a pleasure.

Quote

I wonder if the Danish ships was treated the same as well... HDMS Holsteen was captured in 1801 by the Brits and they reused it as HMS Nassau. They used it to capture other ships in the Napoleonic wars. She even served in the second battle of Copenhagen in 1807.

So she must have been a fine ship. 
My guess is that she was repainted and rearmed and rerigged.

Hi Aldaris

Some basic information about the armament.

https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=4754

The NMM Museum might also have plans for the Holsteen/Nassau.

Moin, Hi!

Those are fantastic guns! And that's for that scale and material.

Have you ever considered putting figures on board for a size comparison to the ship?

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.