BANYAN

Thankfully there is Glen - Bundaberg Rum - my favourite tipple cheers Pat

Thanks Michael. I have been doing that over the past few days and also trawling through the various authors (especially naval architects). It is unusual that most are shy on discussing this. To date, I have established that only a few make the statement that the tops were set "horizontally" but do not specify whether horizontal to deck, waterline or to xxxx. None mention the cap orientation at all. I am putting something together which summarises all this research which I hope to post in a day or two. In the meantime, I will keep looking. cheers, and appreciate the feedback. Pat

I think you may be 'fibbing' just a bit Glen. To come up with this idea, and then blame your mate and son, suggests you may have drained that bottle yourself . Anyways, it is another very clever and interesting way to display your miniature masterpiece 🦑. Now where is that bottle of 'sauce' - I need some inspiration. I'm also along for the ride; look forward to you log. cheers Pat

Thanks Mark, actually, the attached might shed better light on the internal arrangement which shows the holes for accepting the spars angled to the appropriate rake? This is for the Mizen which has the greatest rake and as you can see, the mast would still get full support. These would have been cast parts so the complexity would not have been an issue, I think. But I would tend to agree that most are shown at 90 degrees/perpendicular to the mast axis - it just sort of looks wrong on such highly raked spars. My real issue with the left (drawing version) is how they will have press-fitted the iron cap on at such an angle - which sort of drives me to the perpendicular anyway. cheers Pat

Thanks Keith, so it is one vote to the perpendicular to the mast (option 2 above). cheers Pat

Hi folks, I am trying to determine the orientation of the iron mast caps in steam/sail screw vessels (mid-19th century). I have established the form/construction of these from contemporary authors, but they are shy in stating whether the cap was placed horizontal (parallel with the tops to the waterline) or perpendicular to the masts? The imagery does not clearly show one or other in the two lithographs and single photo of the ship, as in some instances they look parallel and in other perpendicular. Either form is easily made as the fittings will have been cast. Even with the severe rake of 'Victoria's' masts (5/10/15 degrees for the fore, main and mizen respectively), the angular displacement within the cap could have been cast once the dimensions were determined. The following show the two options (images used with permission) and I seem to recall one author saying perpendicular, but it does just not look right? The protruding lugs at the rear hold a roller for the topmast forestay next abaft. If horizontal is correct, its position has to be lowered a little as the imagery shows a couple of inches of the squared mast head protruding. I would greatly appreciate the 'correct steer' on this, preferably with some evidence so that I can cite it), but any suggestions are most welcome. cheers Pat

Great find Steven, thanks for the heads-up. Happy new year Pat

Sorry to hear of your heating/power woes Rich, I hope you find yourself back in your home soon. I hope you and your family have a better 2023. regards Pat

Hi Greg, I have been following in the background as I cannot offer much in your build genre. Another great project you have underway. Wishing you the best for 2023. cheers Pat

Lovely display/feature wall of maritime artefacts and your model Rob; what a great way to show her off. Now off to the workshop and tidy up that mess, and stop goofing off cheers Pat

Sorry Dave, have not come across anything, but will have a look at the reference materials I have for this period re armaments. cheers pat

Hi Terry, to add to this conversation, the following is from the research I have conducted for HMCSS Victoria of 1855. The 'corner posts' you refer to were called 'sheet-bitts' in the Contract (specification) for Victoria. The Specification required “Topsail sheet bitts to each mast properly sheaved and fitted. Gallows, bitts, and cross pieces, …”. The Specification also required the builder: “To work stout copper on all the bitt heads,...”. The following may also assist? Burney, page 74, informs that to rig a chain topsail sheet: (The Boy's Manual of Seamanship and Gunnery 2nd Edition_C Burney 1871) To reeve a chain topsail-sheet, bend a hauling-line to the inner end of the chain, reeve it down through the cheek at the lower yard-arm, in through the rollers underneath the lower yard, through the gin in the sling of the yard, and secure it to the lags of the whip-block by a bolt; the standing part of the whip is made fast to an eyebolt in the deck, and the hauling part is rove through a sheave-hole in the bitts, or a leading block; the other end of the sheet is secured to the clew of the topsail with clasp hooks or shackled. Nares, pages 62 and 63, informs: (Seamanship_ GS Nares 1868) By reeving the hauling part of the lift through the after sheave of the lift block, the standing part may be secured on the fore side of the lower yard out of the way of the topsail sheet. If chain, single, with a whip―the chain is led through a gin under the quarter of the lower yard, through rollers under the yard, up through the cheek which has a metal sheave on the after side of the lower yard-arm, and shackled or hooked with clasp hooks to the clew of the topsail; the end of the chain has an iron-bound block shackled to it. The whip is rove through the block on the end of the chain sheet and secured to the bitts. In Victoria, I believe the standing end of the topsail sheet fall was set-up to an eyebolt just outboard of the sheet bitts, rove through the upper block (as described by Nares) and led down to the deck. The running part of the fall was then rove through (aft to forward to allow sufficient working room forward of the bitts) the outer sheave in the sheet bitts, the slack removed and belayed to the outer ‘ears’ on the top of the respective sheet bitt. The topgallant sheets utilised the inner sheave and were also secured to the ears of the bitt, but the lower block shackled just inboard of the bitt. However, please note Victoria was not fitted with fife rails, only a crosspiece between the sheet bitts for the Fore and Main masts only. Sheet bitts only (no cross piece) were provided to the mizen. Hope this helps a little? cheers Pat

Those telegraphs are superb Keith. Are you sure you just don't have Marvin the Martian's shrinking ray gun stashed away somewhere out of our sight - it looks so very realistic. cheers Pat

Seasons greetings to you and your family also Keith; I hope you have an enjoyable and safe holiday season. cheers Pat

Seasons greetings to you and your family also Vlad; may 2023 be a better year for all. You are certainly powering ahead with that rigging; looks good. cheers Pat

And to you and your family also Brian. A happy modelling 2023 to all. cheers Pat

Ditto; an exercise in patience and expertise. Looks very good Eberhard. cheers Pat

I have used those small brushes designed to clean suede shoes (aka Hush Puppies) with some success. The finer wire bristles fit better than the coarse bristles in typical wire brushes. For the more stubborn areas I use an old scalpel/X-Acto blade and scrape out each individual 'row' between the cutting ridges with the tip of the blade. It is somewhat time consuming, but once you get a feel, it is surprising how fast you can clean the file. cheers Pat

Simply stunning detail and workmanship Keith - your skills have excelled in this delightful model. It has been an absolute pleasure following this build. cheers Pat

Nice work Vlad; particularly like your thimbles for the stays. cheers Pat

Great to see you back Joss, must be great to be back at it. Nice neat work on the stem timbers. cheers Pat

Many thanks Kevin, much appreciate these. cheers Pat

That'll make a very exciting activity for the lucky recipient - what a great Christmas gift for your granddaughter - Captain Bean will have lot of fun and many fond memories Love her face in the porthole. cheers Pat

Hi Keith, as expressed by Druxey I also have run out of superlatives for your build. The enjoyment I have gained from following along cannot be adequately described. Thankyou for sharing. Tom, a great photo - you almost have a full crew there . Grandkids are what it is all about at this stage of my life - the enjoyment I get in their company is a wonderful pick-me-up. cheers Pat

Hi Vlad, again an interesting update to your build. She is coming along very nicely, and I think you undersell your skills a little. It is great to see your positive attitude to the constructive criticism and suggestions offered; it makes such a refreshing approach compared with many who see such as an attack on their character/abilities. cheers Pat