BANYAN

Nice work on the decorations Sjors, that will be a stunning model when completed. cheers Pat

That is excellent work Greg, if we didn't know this was your first go at weathering, we would think you were a master with a ton of experience. cheers Pat

Thanks Dan, I will check that out. the cutter is on the backburner at the moment as I am heavy into research for the HMCSS Victoria and prepping for a holiday in May. Will hopefully get back into this on my return Thanks for the link. cheers Pat

Ditto and with nice results. cheers Pat

Thanks COG, based on what we determined today the lithos are actually very close to reality (compared to the photo we have) but as you say - with a grain of salt I had a good day of addressing the rigging plan with a fellow-club member today. With reference to several reference publications (China Tea Clippers - G Campbell, Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship - H Underhill, and Fast Sailing Ships - D Mcgregor) we were able to resolve quite a few of the issues I needed clarified; including, the bow rigging arrangement (we think :)). I will post an updated annotated picture and legend in the next day or so. The breakthrough came from the comments/suggestions offered by by Druxey and Wefalck, which led me to think of a clipper bow rigging arrangement. The extra stays etc , on closer inspection, had a flying jib (which was furled in the litho) and when compared to the rigging plan for the fictitious Foochow in Campbell's book, resolved the issues we think. Still a few issues to resolve but I am getting very close to likely rigging and belaying plans. Thanks again all.

Very nice work Ed, that rigging is looking very tidy indeed. I will be following closely from here as the HMCSS Victoria I am working on had many clipper ship elements so I am sure to pick up a few things cheers Pat

Great progress Dan, the bow and the stern are taking shape very nicely. cheers Pat

Just when you thought...... you always resolve these things Mark so I am sure will resolve this one. As COG says - your model but my thoughts... Leave the holly in-situ and if the colour is off for your needs simply stain it with a dye/ink/wood stain (not paint it) as this will still look like natural timber as dyes/some stains tend to penetrate and not cover the grain of the wood? A light dye/stain of the right colour (experiment off model) may resolve it for the planks in place on the bulwarks, and you can dye the others off the model for future stuff. Sorry, hopefully not motherhood statements.... not intended if so. cheers Pat

Hi Druxey and Wefalck; many thanks for your responses - certainly add food for thought and provides some real options for me. WRT 14; I had thought about manropes (especially noting their presence in the HMS Immortalite drawing earlier but I was thrown by another lithograph which shows the presence of a horse under the bowsprit and I wasn't sure which way to go as they surely wouldn't have both? I will need to look harder to see if there is evidence of the additional stay, but do like the possibility of 10 being the downhaul - need to check that closer especially noting Wefalck suggestion. WRT 17 - good suggestion - again need to check closer but it had me baffled as to its use Much appreciated. Pat

Nice work Dave, looks like these will develop into a nice bit of rigging! cheers pat

Jess that's looking good greg - nice work! cheers Pat

Further to this discussion I am now determining the actual rigging plan and belay points using the excellent plans provided by Andrew Bowcock in his book CSS Alabama: Anatomy of a confederate Raider. As this section seems to attract a wider visit I am linking back to my log to seek comments and suggestions on my current interpretation of contemporary lithographs/photos and try to match to the book to determine a LIKELY rigging and belaying plan for Victoria. All comments, suggestions etc most welcomed. cheers Pat

Hi again folks. After closer inspection of the lithographs and photo I have of the Victoria, and using the belaying and rigging info in the CSS Alabama book, I have derived the following possible rigging arrangement for the bow. Please see this in context with the attached annotated extract of one of the litho graphs. Click on graphic for a larger view. Please note: a. presence of vertical whiskers (2) at the bow b. presence of whiskers on the cat heads (for two lines) - very thin line denotes these (hard to see sorry) c. only one line (at the moment) identified as passing through the bulwark fairleads at the bow. d. the forestays (2) pass inboard of the vertical whiskers and I assume will terminate via tackle at deck eyebolts either side of the bowsprit (inboard) e. stays are terminated via deadeye and heart to eyebolts outboard (as shown in the Alabama belaying plans - not included here). f. cathead whiskers have fairleads for two lines either side. One for Jib sheets? other? I have yet to identify a few of the lines, and some of the lines I have identified may be the wrong interpretation, so ALL comments and suggestions most welcomed. The current interpretation (question marks denote some clarification or confirmation required; and, TBD = to be determined) 1. Fore Royal Stay 2. Fore Top Gallant Stay 3. Outer Jib Stay 4. Fore Topmast Stays (x 2) 5. Fore Stays (x 2) 6. Fore Royal Stay (starboard side of martingale) 7. Fore Topgallant Stay (port side of martingale) 8. Martingale Stay (chain) 9. Outer Jib Stay (starboard side of martingale)? 10. TBD 11. Fore Topmast Staysail Downhaul (leads aft and through bulwark fairlead at bow)? 12. TBD (x 2) 13. Martingale backstays (x 2) - chain 14. Fore Staysail Downhaul - leads aft over vertical whiskers? Why two?? 15. Jib Sheets (aft via cathead whiskers - outer fairlead)? 16. Fore Topmast Staysail Sheets 17. TBD 18. Fore Staysail Sheets 19. TBD (possibly guys but nor extended forward?) I would appreciate any feedback on these. cheers Pat

Tiny perhaps Greg, but anyone giving a close look will notice. The detail and finish you are putting in will attracty people to look so I am sure you will get plenty of comment on the smaller details. cheers Pat

Just found this very interesting build. Great craftsmanship and good quality finish. Those cowls for the vents are huge Thanks for sharing some of your techniques. Cheers Pat

Those elm tree pump (trunk risers and pump handles) look great Rusty; nicely done! cheers Pat

Those chain plates sit very nicely and look good Denis; nice work. cheers Pat

Nice work Jason, the launch is looking good. I am surprised that with that amount of humidity that the varnish did not start to go "cloudy" on you also. cheers Pat

Of late I have taken to a new author in this genre by the name of Sean Thomas Russell. For my tastes in reading, I find it a very refreshing take with the main character having to fight off not only the French (Napoleonic era) but also people within the RN, as his wife was French and his loyalty is often challenged. The first book in the series is "Under Enemy Colours". cheers Pat

Very nice work; if I did not know this was 3D I could swear this was a wood framed model. That takes some talent! cheers Pat

Thanks Denis and Druxey. Appreciate the feedback. Denis, I assume you are referring to the guys? If so, as far as I can determine these had a tackle or double heart arrangement, the former with a lead through a fairlead and secured inboard as 'running rigging' - this is shown in the HMS Harrier arrangement (1860) - so that may be a viable way to go - thanks. Druxey, many thanks for your helpful PM; that arrangement for a chock block (my bow block) seems a likely candidate. cheers Pat

Nicely constructed whiskers Denis; but, as John said - take some care these are just begging to be snagged cheers Pat

Hi folks, My long-awaited copy of the CSS Alabama: Anatonomy of a Confederate Raider arrived a couple of days ago. Great book with some excellent belaying and rigging/sail plans for a Barque rigged ship. As she is relatively contemporary with Victoria, I am using the Alabama belaying plan as the basis for Victoria's rigging and belaying plan. There will be some difference in the plan based on the size of the ship, different design aspects (bow / sprit) etc. I am also using the internal arrangements plan of HMS Harrier (1860) to identify some cleat/belaying pin locations and leads; as well as using the arrangements shown for HMS Immortalite (1860) and HMS Warrior (1862) for some guidance. I have two immediate issues I wish to clarify and hope someone can assist me in deciding a likely arrangement for the bow related rigging and belaying points. Victoria was barque Rigged. First, I need to devise a likely arrangement for belaying the running ends of ropes passing through the bulwark timbers at the bow. The attached graphic extracts (Immortalite and Warrior) and my drawings for HMS Victoria show some of the arrangement alternatives. In drawing the likely arrangements for Victoria I need to account for the much more sharply angled junction of the bulwark timbers at the bow and the fact that her jib had more of itself exposed above deck than the other ships. Other drawing also show the use of metal (iron) straps in thejunction of the bulwark timbers to provide strengthening and support. My current concept is that the jib will have need some substantial support at the bow also hence the use of the bow block (as I have called it - please advise proper name?). As with the other ships I will use the fairleads through this bow support block, but I remain open to any of the three belaying options shown in the three graphics below, or a fourth as used in HMS Harrier: 1. Pins in a rack fitted athwart the roughtree timbers at the bow (second preference) 2. Cleats immediately below the fairleads. 3. Cleats on the bowsprit (in line with the fairleads) 4. Cleats on the bulwark timbers (similar as those leading away as shown in the Immortalite graphic and similar to HMS Harrier) I have selected the bowsprit option as there are only 6 ropes (three each side) for me to worry about and this provides a direct lead (no chafing of the ropes as they would be subject to some abrading if the led is angled away. One thing that has ne puzzled though is that these graphics show 9 fairleads and lines; whereas, the Alabama only has three each side - what is missing? Open to ideas/suggestions. I know that any would be OK but I am looking for the most likely. Secondly, I am trying to identify what line/rope would have been lead via the whiskers on the cathead? Any assistance greatly appreciated. cheers Pat

Hi Greg; why weather it? if it was only painted black for its last mission it would not have had time to weather? The deck replacement piece looks great! cheers Pat

Many thanks again all. I am now confident the author was referring to fairleads on the shrouds rather than a lead for the shrouds. I have yet to determine which running rigging would have been led through these but should be able to do so using the belaying /pin plan cheers Pat