Hubac's Historian

EJ, I'm so glad you stopped in to visit my build and I'm excited to have a co-builder to trade tips with. I wish I had made your acquaintance sooner because I recently discovered an interesting resource for French naval architecture of the 17th C.: Souvenirs De Marine - Collection Plans Ou Dessins De Navires, by Vice Admiral Paris, 1886.

In taking over the Musee de la Marine, V.A. Paris took it upon himself to preserve what was known about early naval architecture. He recreated lines plans, interior structure, masting, rig and sail plans for a number of important ships from all epochs. In this, the third edition, La Couronne is the feature ship. He also spends quite a lot of time on Royal Louis of 1692 - which I expect to be quite helpful in filling-in the blanks, here and there. It's in French, and apparently written in his maddeningly tiny cursive, but I am translating portions of it. Very. Slowly.

I know from my background in furniture making that the first time you build something is when you draw it. That's what I am doing right now: drawing, working out construction problems, theoretically. Every day the picture gets a little clearer. I know this must be frustrating to those who are following along. I'm sure they really want to see me do SOMETHING.

But, I promise the good stuff is coming. I have sufficiently developed hand skills to render in three dimensions, whatever it is that I put to paper. But if the design - the layout - isn't good, then the model won't be either. No matter whether it's well crafted or not.

I have a few more hand drawings to do, and then I will disappear for a while, while I learn how to use drafting software. But I guarantee my plan is going to be worth sticking around for.

Please start a build-log EJ, and I'll follow you, as well. Do you have pictures or a log for Couronne?

It just isn't baroque until all sides are embellished!
 
Not sure why, but the image orientation changes from portrait to landscape when I import image from my phone. Too aggravating to correct on the device. You get the idea.

I have been toying around with ideas to give a little shape and dimension to the rectangular window that is moulded into the upper stern, just forward of the quarter galleries. They are kind of plain, as is, and lack shape and dimension.
 
For the time being, below is one preliminary idea that I kind of like. It isn't drawn to scale, but just roughed-in on a piece of scrap paper.

Tonight, I was hypothesizing about how I might go about laying out the new upper bulwark frieze.  My initial plan was to simply scrape away the existing shells, fleur-de-lis, and knotted rope twists - as well as the raised sheer strakes - and just build it up from scratch.  I think that is ultimately what I am going to do.  What was fascinating to me, though, was the realization of just how directly Heller pulled inspiration from the color rendering of the ship.
 

 
If you really study the pressing for the kit upper bulwarks, it becomes apparent that the placement and alternating arrangement of the shells and fleur-de-lis is a direct takeoff from the drawing.  The knotted rope twist things are simplified representations of the lattice-like grid, into which the shells and fleur-de-lis are placed.  It's all simplified, but it is there.  It's just not as profuse and continuous as depicted in the color draft of the ship.
 
I still think that the way to go is to scrape it away and build it up from scratch.  Perhaps I can preserve sections of the sheer strakes, but only in so far as they flesh out the raised, horizontal elements of the frieze; there will necessarily be breaks in these strakes where the grid drops down to intersect between levels of sheer strakes.
 
Inevitably, though, after scraping away portions of the raised sheer strakes, the shells, the fleur-de-lis and the rope twists - no matter how carefully and completely it's done - their ghost image will remain in the plastic.  My hope is that the overlay of the new frieze will completely minimize whatever trace clues remain.  I think that part of the answer, here, is to use the existing placement of elements to layout the new frieze, so that new more detailed elements take the place of the old.

Welcome aboard Marc, good to have you here also.
 
Update on the build, found my filler bocks today while setting up the wood shop. Going to finish up the main mast rigging on La Couronne then I will switch back to SR for a time and get them shaped and installed. Should have some new pictures in the next few days.

Looking good, so far, EJ!  I'm in for your build.

A few more hours and I have managed to dry fit all the frames and decks to check fit. While the thin upper decks are warped a little and will of course have to be shaped to fit the curve of the deck, the two false decks and the bulkheads all line up almost perfectly and will go together well. The only parts that have been glued so far are the two small filler blocks on either side of the bow. I will be adding more fillers here just as soon as I unpack my wood blocks.   The other parts that have been glued are the stern post and the aft bulkhead. This bulkhead was in three pieces and had to be glued in place in order for it to stay up.
 
The forecastle and quarter decks are still lacking a lot of their supports. There are quite a few frame extensions that have to be installed in order to get them into their final position. Also the poop deck will be higher up than what it is now by about another inch.
 
As I have now done about all the dry fitting that I can really do and I'm happy with how everything is lining up, I will now take her back apart and start gluing the bulkheads to the false keel. Wood glue for strength and clamps to keep them all straight and I will be off and running. Till then, here are some pictures. I have also included some with measurements shown for height and length of the hull as is. Completed she will be larger on both dimensions.

I managed to get more accomplished with unpacking at the new house today and so I decided that I needed a reward. Therefore, I have started my build of Le Soleil Royal. This will probably be a slow build as I am still working on La Couronne and she still gets priority but, as I plan on making a lot of changes to the kit, things will work out well.
 
So to get started, here are the pictures of the contents of the kit. The parts all appear to be usable. The wood is of good quality and the laser cut parts are very clean. The metal fittings look usable as well though as with most, they could be improved. The instruction book is about what is expected in a kit. Plenty of information to build the ship but further research and knowing how to gather additional information from the drawings will be needed.
 
Something nice that was included is a very large, clear and full color picture of the completed model. This helps to make some of the details a little easier to see. 
 
Here are the pictures!

Well, EJ, I scanned through Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil several times, and could not find it - although, I'm sure it's in there somewhere.  For now, you'll have to do with the much smaller version (and poor iPhone photo-quality) from Designs:
 

 
In any event, it gives some sense for the paneling and general affect that would be appropriate in the aft cabins of a ship like SR.
 
Here are a few pics of the Royal Louis of 1692, 1/100 scratch-build.  Given the complicated nature of the carved ornament, I think this builder did a really exceptional job of using what I assume is polymerized clay.  He mentions, on the site where this appears, that he was breaking with his usual method and experimenting with "clay."  Really great work!!
 

Yes, discovering Pinterest was like fuel on a fire for me.  It just exposed me to such a broad spectrum of original 17th C. ship artwork, schematics, models as well as contemporary models and full-size replicas - a few of which I have even worked on, personally.
 
I have a few ship blogs.  There's also Navies of Other Euro Nations, for everything else that wasn't specifically French.

Well, EJ, I scanned through Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil several times, and could not find it - although, I'm sure it's in there somewhere.  For now, you'll have to do with the much smaller version (and poor iPhone photo-quality) from Designs:
 

 
In any event, it gives some sense for the paneling and general affect that would be appropriate in the aft cabins of a ship like SR.
 
Here are a few pics of the Royal Louis of 1692, 1/100 scratch-build.  Given the complicated nature of the carved ornament, I think this builder did a really exceptional job of using what I assume is polymerized clay.  He mentions, on the site where this appears, that he was breaking with his usual method and experimenting with "clay."  Really great work!!
 

Well, EJ, I scanned through Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil several times, and could not find it - although, I'm sure it's in there somewhere.  For now, you'll have to do with the much smaller version (and poor iPhone photo-quality) from Designs:
 

 
In any event, it gives some sense for the paneling and general affect that would be appropriate in the aft cabins of a ship like SR.
 
Here are a few pics of the Royal Louis of 1692, 1/100 scratch-build.  Given the complicated nature of the carved ornament, I think this builder did a really exceptional job of using what I assume is polymerized clay.  He mentions, on the site where this appears, that he was breaking with his usual method and experimenting with "clay."  Really great work!!
 

Hard at work building the foremast and I thought I would post a quick update. Trestle trees, and platform have been successfully mounted. Working on the parts for the railings now. I'm trying to remind myself to take a lot of progress pictures and post them with the hope that I will start to make it more of a habit. 
 
 
 
 
 

Port side gun port lids have been installed this week. I also took some time to build the entry balcony. This feature is completely made from my imagination as I have found no reliable source that shows what this would have looked like or if it even existed. This entry has always been a mystery to me on if it was on many ships or not. I know that it was on some ships but with others, some designs show it and others don't So I made an executive decision as I liked the look and think it is something that could have easily been on a ship of this size and so there it is. I still have to build the ladder up the side of the hull to get to it.
 
I have started building the next set of lids for the starboard side but those will probably be another week to get completed and installed. Then I will switch woods for the forward and aft lids and the off to the next item. The list is getting shorter of things to do before the masts begin.

All canons have been installed on the upper gun deck. Most are on a simple carriage without rigging as details will not be seen once the remaining decks are in place. The four canons on either side of the cargo hatches are the only ones on this deck to receive full rigging since those will be the only ones visible from above. Granted even they will not be easy to see once the spar deck and ships boat are in place. There was a lot of learning and trial procedures that took place with these guns. Trying to find the best ways to rig the guns so the ones on the spar deck that will be completely visible will look awesome.
 
Now that the canons are installed I will finish cleaning up a couple details and then I will be installing the spar deck and up another level I will go. It is an exciting step as this next deck is when I really start installing the heavy details. Support columns, arches, interior bulkhead planking, ladders and railings and many more items will be getting installed.  

Canon building is progressing nicely. Only three more to build for the upper gun deck. Fortunately for this deck only 8 of the guns are visible and will receive full rigging. The others on this deck are covered up and so will not get as much detail. If my plans for the day continue as I hope I will have all the canons built and rigging well under way.

Don't get me wrong, I love the look of the ship even with it's impractical designs. That is actually one of the major things I love about ships of this era was all the unique features they possessed. Their architecture to me was just such a huge wow factor that it negates the "well that is just dumb" design elements that are often found on these ships. Although ships of the late 18th and 19th centuries were better built they lost the grandeur and awe that the 17th and early 18th century ships had. Granted fancy designs don't win wars and as a former Navy man I appreciate a well designed ship that will win vs something that looks good. However, for modeling purposes bring on the elaborate and impractical!

It's now 250 hours into building la Couronne and the hull planking is complete! I still have some sanding and a few areas that I will be filling with saw dust and glue but the hard part is complete and I'm happy with the results. Next up is work on the forward bulkhead at the bow. I need to plank it and trim it out and finish shaping the curve of the hull planking. 
 
On another note, the feet that she is resting on are kit supplied. I am just using them temporarily for pictures as she will be going back into the clamps for work. I do not completely like the stands design that the kit instructs me to build but I do like the shape of these feet. I'm thinking I will use them as a template to make new ones with a nicer wood.
 
Now for the pictures. Enjoy!

Well, EJ, I scanned through Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil several times, and could not find it - although, I'm sure it's in there somewhere.  For now, you'll have to do with the much smaller version (and poor iPhone photo-quality) from Designs:
 

 
In any event, it gives some sense for the paneling and general affect that would be appropriate in the aft cabins of a ship like SR.
 
Here are a few pics of the Royal Louis of 1692, 1/100 scratch-build.  Given the complicated nature of the carved ornament, I think this builder did a really exceptional job of using what I assume is polymerized clay.  He mentions, on the site where this appears, that he was breaking with his usual method and experimenting with "clay."  Really great work!!
 

Also, EJ, I was wondering what your choice for third 17th C. ship would be and I think RL, 1692 is the perfect choice, as it is so well documented with a contemporary model.  I recently found a really wonderful scratch build of RL, which I posted to my Pinterest Page, under my screen name Tafferal.  The blog is French Vaisseaus.  The model is 1/100 scale, and interestingly, he modeled ALL of the decoration with polymerized clay, and the results are really spectacular. Check it out, if you have a chance!

Hi Dan, thank you!  Yes, I know what you are saying about the placement of that window.  It's in line with the quarter deck guns.  Those are round port guns, however, and the window is furnished with mullions.  Interestingly, the color rendering of the ship shows two octagonal ports above the quarter deck guns.  Perhaps, this is Heller's halfway compromise to adding another piercing to the hull.  I will keep this a window port, as opposed to a gunport, as this additional small window is a common feature among 17th C. warships of all nations.
 
EJ - you are in luck!  I have in my possession, what was either the proposed decor of the three aft cabins of SR, or in fact, the actual decor.  It is contained in my book by J.C. Lemineur, Les Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil.  I will try to take a decent picture of this later and upload it, here.  By the way, the same schematic is re-produced in the Admiral Paris, Dessins, 3rd Edition - albeit, much smaller and of a lower print quality.  
 
I was impressed with your build of Couronne.  I got to page 3, on my phone, and thought that was the whole log, so I started to comment.  After I posted, of course, the other 16 pages came up.  I'll be looking at that more, in depth, later.  Great build!

Great looking build, EJ! The planking looks incredible - very nicely done!

Hi Dan, thank you!  Yes, I know what you are saying about the placement of that window.  It's in line with the quarter deck guns.  Those are round port guns, however, and the window is furnished with mullions.  Interestingly, the color rendering of the ship shows two octagonal ports above the quarter deck guns.  Perhaps, this is Heller's halfway compromise to adding another piercing to the hull.  I will keep this a window port, as opposed to a gunport, as this additional small window is a common feature among 17th C. warships of all nations.
 
EJ - you are in luck!  I have in my possession, what was either the proposed decor of the three aft cabins of SR, or in fact, the actual decor.  It is contained in my book by J.C. Lemineur, Les Vaisseaus Du Roi Soleil.  I will try to take a decent picture of this later and upload it, here.  By the way, the same schematic is re-produced in the Admiral Paris, Dessins, 3rd Edition - albeit, much smaller and of a lower print quality.  
 
I was impressed with your build of Couronne.  I got to page 3, on my phone, and thought that was the whole log, so I started to comment.  After I posted, of course, the other 16 pages came up.  I'll be looking at that more, in depth, later.  Great build!

It just isn't baroque until all sides are embellished!
 
Not sure why, but the image orientation changes from portrait to landscape when I import image from my phone. Too aggravating to correct on the device. You get the idea.