EJ_L

Jud, please read this:
 
http://uvsmgshipmodelguild.wikispaces.com/Hammock+Rail+Constructed
 
The first para or so is all from the literature, some of it from regulations of the day.

A observation. Hammocks and their contents are cotton, their contents are wool and cotton, 'blankets, clothing with some hemp and personal items mixed in'. All subject to rot and mold. Probably those hammock bundles were ordered into the the rails only when battle was expected or a few other special occasions. Those bundles contained the only personal possessions of the seamen they were issued to and keeping them dry and out of the sun would be expected as the norm, we all should know what moisture and ultra violate light does to cotton and wool, especially when rolled tight, the exposed will break down in the sun and the insides will rot, ever here the expression, 'Rolled tight and put away wet'?. We are told that the hammocks were in the cranes to absorb wood splinters, don't think so, anything that would create splinters would force them inboard past the netting's, there is little outboard of those hammocks to create splinters. Wool and cotton is good at stopping projectiles and would work well protecting exposed gun crews from incoming small arms fire, but would be useless against cannon fire hitting the bulwarks. Another thing, those hammock bundles if not wetted down would be a good place for sparks to get caught in and build into a fire, smoldering at first then flame when enough heat was built up. Suspect the hammock cranes were empty except for drills, combat, inspections or some dress ship evolution. When we still were using cotton mattress and wool blankets in the Navy, we Aired Bedding once a week, conditions permitting. We took our bedding topside and threaded it through the life lines and rails, they were allowed to air there, not stored.
jud

David,
 
While I was doing research into the same topic for my Syren I found this picture showing what the current netting looks like on the Constitution. It appears to be two pieces.   I am far from being an expert on this subject so I don't know if it's 'historically' correct or not.  If you use Google Map and type in 'Constitution' you can 'walk' around the ship for better details.
 

Sometime between 1815 and 1861 the USN "suits" directed that the inner and outer surfaces of the hammock rails be wooden panels. They looked better because they could be painted. etc.   It seems that the crews of ships did not favor this.   This was a source of dangerous splinters when struck with a projectile.  When the situation tended to the possibility of sure combat (an actual war), it seems that some captains replaced the wood with webbing and canvas.  I am betting that "It is better to do and ask for forgiveness later, that ask for permission." is a Navy tradition that goes back far farther than we know.

Hi.
Have a look here.
http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/716-hammocks-cranes-and-covers/
A interesting topic this one.
 
Regards Antony.

David, the discussion below from Models ship builder site may help some.  It is relative to the Victory, but could be used generally in that time frame.
Tom
 
http://www.modelshipbuilder.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1655.20

http://uvsmgshipmodelguild.wikispaces.com/Hammock+Rail+Constructed
 
If you think about it, the purpose of the hammock netting is to keep them clean and dry.  Netting alone won't do this.  If you use the netting for support and put a canvas 'bag' inside, the hammocks will be nicely covered.  'Netting' could be net, a lattice of rope or even housed in with wood panels.  I got the method of containment from a period painting.  I need a couple more lines to exactly match the painting, and I think possibly lashings at each crossing of the lines.
 

Thank you all!

The report for the construction of the French Corvette goes on as follows:
With the production of the cover for the hammocks I had begun some time ago. First, I made the Hammocks cranes.
See here LINK !
In the further progress I make the wooden mold, which was then coated with the canvas of fine fabrics.
 
Please Look at the pictures:

 

 

 

 

Starting chapter 3
 
The Temporary Batten
 
I looked and looked and couldn’t find details in other logs on how, precisely, to attach the temporary battens to the BF.   I wanted to be able to adjust the alignment to produce a smooth curve.  
 
And what to use for battens to begin with?  Too narrow, the nails would split them.  To wide, they would be inflexible.
 
After some experimentation I cut my own, 5/32 wide strips from a 1/16 basswood plank.  (I’m lucky my local hardware store sells basswood in all dimensions.  I prefer not to use the kit’s wood for temporary jobs).
 
And I re-discovered the value of rubber bands.
 
I did not pre bend the battens.  The rubber bands would keep them pressed against the bulkhead.  But I did use very small nails to attach the battens to the bow (BH P), the stern (BH 26)  and a couple other location along the hull.  At these locations I aligned the battens with the bottom reference mark of the corresponding bulkhead.  That was important.
 
(Important ... but not quite right!  The battens should have been aligned with the second (from top) not the third reference mark on the bulkheads. The second reference mark corresponds to the bottom of the gun port openings, which is also the top of the sills.  _SalD_ pointed this to me after this post, but he also indicated that aligning the temp battens to the thirds reference line might still work.  It does.)
 
Now I could wiggle the battens to produce a smooth curve.  Here’s a picture of the first batten at this stage:
 

 
Yes.  I did insert rubber bands along the battens before nailing the battens to the bow and stern.
 

 
Here is a picture of the two battens with mostly rubber bands holding them in place.
 

 
Now came the time to use more nails to keep the battens in place.  After that the rubber bands could be cut.
 
First I used a #60 drill bit to make a hole in both the batten and the bulkhead.  (I always pre-drill before nailing).
 

 
Then I pushed a nail using my nail pusher tool.  (One of those “just-in-case” purchases to the chagrin of the admiral).
 

 
Here is a better view of the tool.  Actually pretty handy.  It will make a reappearance when it’ll come time for the tree nails and the deck planking,  It is hard to start a hole with the drill at a precise location, this tool makes it easy.
 

 
 
The last step was to cut away the rubber bands.  Here are two pictures minus the rubber bands:
 

 

 
Sadly, the purpose of the battens is only to enable marking the bulkhead for positioning the sills.  Which I did, then removed the battens.
 
Next:  the sills.
 
Thanks for reading.

@ Black Viking,
 
Thanks for the birthday wishes   
I still have a lot of bamboo but I don't use it anymore.
I'm lying.......I'm using it to start a fire at the fireplace !!!!!!!!
Hennie give me his left over from his Aggy so I can close the hull now 
 
@ Dominic,
 
Have you ever see the SotS without gun ports ????
Take a good look when it is now working with this one   
 
@ Hennie,
 
Thanks for an wonderful afternoon !!!
And I have to say, that dog of yours ( Sansa ) is the sweetest dog I ever see !
When you are coming to our house, take her with you and you can go home without her     
Thanks for the tips and netting and the wood !
We are hoping to see you soon at our place.
 
Anja & Sjors

Hello Jan,
 
36 shipments.
2 first shipments with 2 issues each, the rest 4 issues in every shipment.
 
That would be 132 issues all together.

Thanks for the likes and comments.
 
Grant, I know there's more coming at this size.... It should be interesting.
 
 
Luckily, Mobbsie, I think my marathon at the computer is over for now.  Then again, next week may bring something else....  Hang onto your spare set, they may come in handy. 
 
 
 
Thanks Carl.   Minor math error... it's 0.79 mm... and yes those bits are getting tiny.  But I think I can deal with it.   1:1 would be fun but I have to knock down a few neighbors houses to do it.  That and I'm about 150 miles from the ocean....  
 
 
I love the look.. the mess.. not so much.   I think the last of the ebony for this ship is in place.

This is a very impressive built Elijah. Your hull has a lovely shape and I am very impressed by your attention to detail and the thoughtful way you carry out the different tasks. Looking forward for the hull and deck planking to be completed, you are doing great.
Regards
vaddoc

Hey, transom looks good. Don't know if your plans call for it but you could consider some sort of fashion piece. You would have to hand carve it but it is made to sit on that corner of the hull and transom to cover the joint. This pic might give you an idea what I'm talking about.
 

 
I got to thinking about the half & half paint/copper idea. I believe several of us have suggested it, my reason was that I hate to see that beautiful wood covered up. What might look pretty nice instead would be to go ahead and copper both sides - doesn't it end right about at the waterline? Then stain (instead of paint) the remaining wood on both sides. A dark stain would give the impression of a black paint job but would add a rich look you just won't get with paint.
 
Regarding the possible curve of the garboard. Don't forget that even if the gap does start to close up quicker than you anticipated, there are planking techniques to deal with that. A drop plank, where 2 planks turn into 1 right at the bow, can help that situation. I get the feeling you will probably have to do at least a few stealers as well. The deadwood area at the stern looks like it will end up wider than the rest of the hull. No fault of yours, just the design of the boat. I found the basic planking document in the MSW library very helpful in that regard. It gives a good description of what they called correction planks..

hello every body
in the mean time I have worked on the rigging, except for the sails all seems to be finished, some weathering will be applied to metal parts, looks too shiny now :-) not appropriate for my model....
 
the hook of the winch looks like a fish hook now but I will hang a bulk of cargo on it, hope that appearance will be changed then :-)
 
Mehmet

hello eery body, I have applied some weathering on the deck, as it was too white :-)

thank you all for your nice replies, still trying to improve. Hope it does not look too worn out...as it is supposed to be a still in service boat.

Love those little gold decorations especially the fish ones

EJ,,
 
Looking sharp there.   As for the capstan, take a look at the Billing's Wasa.  That might be appropriate but I'm not 100% certain.

Great work Mark - that is truly Liliputian detail.

I've been diligently working while continuing to dig for information.  I've looked at what seems to be a zillion plans, paintings, sketches, etc. online of French frigates...   this darned ship's galleries don't match any of them.  There's a couple of other odd things I noticed but since the NMM plans have them, I have to assume that the guys in the yard taking the lines, etc. knew what they were doing and drew what they saw in front of them..  My eyes are killing me from staring at the computer and the NMM plans...  Aspirin helps. 
 
I've reworked the roof to match the lines (and this time allowed for tolerances and my own stupidty) and then stained it black.  I momentarily thought about using ebony but 1) didn't have the proper size stock and 2) didn't want to deal with the mess.   I've reworked the rail/decorations.  These appear to be more decorative than an actual railing so I'm cutting the pieces as individuals and will fit them as I go.  
 
In the pics, one set of decorations has been cut and etched on 1/32" (<1mm) Euro Boxwood.  The other still needs cutting but I need to thickness another chunk of wood for that as i wasted a bit getting the settings right on the cutter.  There will be a black covering board for the roof top with a piece of boxwood trim around it.  
 
Well.... here goes....  wish me luck as I dive off the deep end.  I hope there's water in the pool... metaphorically speaking.
 

Thanks for the help and support.    
 
Part of the fun of this build is the research. I've learned that the French had a very different life aboard a frigate than their British or American counterparts.  Examples being the sleeping arrangements, the use of the Great Cabin as we know it was different.  
 
I'm very much suspecting that at the time of her capture, Licorne had been or was still being used as a testbed.  The French were pretty good about this.  Take a good design and then pick a ship of that design and tweak it.  Her masting shows that as her masting is the same dimensions of an 18 pdr built after she was captured .  The fact that she has more in common with Belle Poule than Renommee.  Looking at the "as built" versus the "as captured" I see a trending in what was done... no port lids, the change in planking and wales.  the change to the transom appears to be an intermediate step.
 
As for the galleries... my sense is that these also were in transition also from the galleries on ships like Renommee to the time of Belle Poule.  
 
But that's what I have, a sense... and not hard facts.  Everything I've mentioned is circumstantial except for the two sets of plans.  
 
I think the roof on the galleries is correct way to go.   I won't be fully committed to that until the moment I glue it on.  And I'll continue researching up until that moment.   I know there's an answer... somewhere.
 
In the meantime, I hope that someday, my building skills get to be at least equal to my research.  

I'm sure the French know a lot about beauty!

Probably there is something about the altered lines and details. I can't say the switch between nationalities has gone quite fluently (either way).
 
So far I can't say it looks like a balcony or a tub like form. The carving does give the impression, but looking at the lines, I have to stay with the roofed version. Not as much a bathtub as well as a bath house.
 
Having had a second look at Geatan's drawings you can see clearly it is "tub-ish" and the railing is open. The lines of the hull are clearly visible. When looking at the Licorne's drawing it is not the case.
 
Mark, I wonder if you will find a definite answer to this question. You might as well go with your gut feeling. It's your build ...
 
Cheers

Sweet, isn't it?   I'm liking the French ships.  There's just something about the lines and the details.