BANYAN

Thanks @wefalck and @Jim Lad, appreciate the feedback and information. Just to clarify/add to my initial info. I should have provided all of this yesterday - sorry): 1. The lithographs show the main fore-and-aft sails laced to the boom (In the rigging warrant these are termed the foresail, mainsail and the spanker). 2. All masts were fitted with a single boom and two different gaffs (one for main sails, and one for the trysail) - all were lifting gaffs with the luff seized to sliding hoops. 3. Being a Barque and a steamer, the contemporary authors advise that the trysail was not triangular, but rather a smaller version of the main sails (quadrangular) and were laced to a wire (vertical) jackstay, but used a shorter gaff. 4. As best I can determine the storm sails were the same quadrilateral rather than triangular (staysail) shape. These also used the trysail gaff, but were laced to a wire (vertical) jackstay. 5. A sheet pendant associated with a sheet tackle is listed against the fore and main booms only (not for the spanker). 6. Boom sheets (guys) are listed against all booms. 7. Brails are listed against the fore and main sails (NOT the spanker). 8. The lithographs show that all of the main fore-and-aft sails had reefing nettles (3 bands) and the rigging warrant lists reefing pendants with reefing tackles. These were worked using reefing combs fitted aft, on either side of each boom. Notes: The above sail outfit is confirmed by their listing in two stores survey reports reported in December of 1858 and 1860. The advice about sail shape is from Nares, Burney and Kipping all writing in the mid to late 1850s and early 1860s. From your advice and the above, I have deduced (assumed) that: A. The primary fore-and-aft sails were used in fair weather and all were laced at both the foot and the head. B. The correspondence from the ship's designer informs that the primary fore-and-aft sails were intended to be used in conjunction with light courses (these were slightly smaller than typical square lower sails, and used No.2 canvass). Sometimes only the fore course was used (based on the imagery, log entries etc.) C. The trysails were for moderate to heavy weather/winds (heavier canvass) and were loose footed. Brails used with these. D. The storm sails were for very bad weather/storms (heaviest canvass) and were also loose footed. Brails were also used with these. E. As there is NO sheet pendant/tackle (only boom sheets/guys), I am assuming that the spanker, trysail and storm sail for the mizen were all laced and did not require brails.

Hi all, I am trying to ascertain why Brails are listed in HMCSS Victoria's Rigging Warrant against the fore-and-aft sails. Based on the imagery (2 x lithographs which have proven very accurate) the foresail, mainsail and spanker were all laced to both the boom and the gaff. These sails were also gaff hoisted and lowered (worked). However the Rigging Warrant lists peak, throat and foot brails against that mast for the fore-and-aft sails. Additionally, she was outfitted with trysails and separate storm sails. The authors writing in this era (mostly Nares, Lever, Luce and Burney) suggest that these latter sails were loose footed. One last point, no sheet pendant or sheet tackle is listed against the spanker. I am therefore assuming that all sails on the mizen mast were laced to both the gaff and boom (no square sails as she was Barque rigged). Having no experience with sailing larger vessels (bigger than a whaler ) I hope some of you more experienced people may offer a little advice. Would a sail laced to both the gaff and the boom need brails, especially noting the lifting gaff? If the trysail and storm sail were both loose footed, but laced to the gaff (a different slightly smaller gaff than used with the fore/main sails etc.), do they require brails to control it, especially when tacking? I am assuming that with a loose footed sail, along with the sheet, these will have helped shape the sail, but I am confused with a stated purpose (by the above authors) that they were also used for furling. As the gaff will have been lowered, and the sail gathered in and furled by men on the deck (at the boom) when furling, how would these assist furling? Am I correct in assuming that if no sheet is provided for the spanker boom/gaff, the trysail and storm sail will also have been laced to the boom on the mizen? I have established how they were rigged, so I am basically trying to determine which fore-and-aft sails required brails, and how they work for those sails if required. many thanks Pat

Hi Marcus, that looks suspiciously like a 'leadsman platform' to me. cheers Pat

Your sternwheeler machinery is coming along really well Keith, great detail to add a lot interest. cheers Pat

That is a masterpiece of SIB modelling Glen. Love your explanation and execution of the weathering; those pieces of wood and the rusty chain look the 'real' deal mate. cheers Pat

Hi again Haiko, I don't think the following is where I read this, so will keep looking on an opportunity basis. Falconer page 136 under his long description about 'Engagement" (in the New Universal Dictionary of the Marine - 1856 Edition) offers the following at the order "Up all hammocks" - this is a short excerpt only - As each side of the quarter-deck and poop is furnished, generally, with a double net-work, supported by iron cranes fixed immediately above the gunwale, or top of the ship's side, the hammocks, thus corded, are firmly stowed by the quarter-masters between the two parts of the netting, so as to form an excellent barrier. The tops, waist and the forecastle are then fenced in the same manner." Unfortunately, I think the use of 'tops' in this instance may refer to the 'part of ship' but I am not fully convinced of this. In my Navy days, we stilled called the central part of the ship the 'tops'. It may be that the reference you found could be referring to the same thing? However, most literature and texts that I have read refer to the central part of the ship as the 'waist'. We may need further input on this. As I said, this is probably not the article I had read previously. My recall was that the hammocks were deliberately placed in the 'fighting tops' to protect the marksmen. As most of the marksmen were probably drawn from the Marines, it is possible that it was their hammocks that were used? I'll keep looking. cheers Pat

Braver man than m e John, all that extra rigging to put in place (sail control/handling lines) She's comiing along really nicely; I'll bet the museum staff are chuffed with it. cheers Pat

Coming along very nicely Bob. WRT to the 'shaking' - welcome to my world You're doing a lot better than me. I have had to stop my modelling at the moment while I find a way (medical) to get some sort of control over the shaking - 'Old fella shakes' as my doc calls them. cheers Pat

Hi all, I have heard of this practice before, but I am unable to recall where I have read it. It may have been in in a fictional novel, but I think that it was in a text/manual, so will take a look when next I get an opportunity. From what I recall, this was to provide a modicum of protection to the marksmen in the tops. cheers Pat

Nicely done Vossie, looks good. cheers Pat

I had lost track of this restoration also Keith. The use of paint thinner looks to have worked a treat. I can understand putting this on the back burner. Like you, my period of greatest interest has become the era of transition from sail to steam (essentially 1850-1900). cheers Pat

Your smithing skills come to the fore again Keith. You must have the patience of a saint and the steady hands of a surgeon mate, as the cut scroll pieces look superb. cheers Pat

Looks great Keith - I think this would take the gold medal at the local show - I am sure your granddaughters will enjoy playing with this. Have a great 2025. cheers Pat

Congrats Glen, that is some accomplishment and it looks great! I think this is your best effort yet and that is something as your past few builds have been superb. The real challenge now is how to surpass this one (yeah, I know get back in my corner and shut up) A case of Bundy to you and your crew. cheers Pat

Looks good Keith. cheers Pat

Ha, Ha Glen - okay, I'll keep it down to a loud whisper or, perhaps talk in code? Looks like you are establishing a nice little herd there. cheers Pat

Great work on the whirlpool and your miniatures Glen, they all look stunning. I take a day off an you jump[ so much further into your build - what do they feed those helper penguins of yours - STEAK? cheers Pat

That's a very creditable effort on that little engine Keith; great work. cheers Pat

Hi Bob, somehow I have missed your build - sorry for that. Nice build mate, she is looking great and I love the figures, they add a touch of life. cheers Pat

A lot faster indeed and it looks great John. The spreaders have come up well. cheers Pat

Great work Glen, especially those little cannon. She's coming along nicely. WRT to raising her masts.; is it possible to use a rod with a pulley in the end? Rig as usual and lead the hoisting cord/rope through the end (pully with enough length to go to the back off the bottle and back through the neck. Put her in the way you want her (reverse) with the rod, then push the rod towards the back of the bottle and use this as the fulcrum to pull up the masts? A dab of glue on a long skewer would allow you to secure it. The hard part would be cutting the excess hoisting line away from the bow. Hope this makes sense? Enjoying following along as usual with your logs - thanks. Cheers Pat

That's a great sectional model Chuck. Love your work! cheers Pat

Your efforts have turned out very well Glen. Once you add the streaks that will look very realistic. cheers Pat

Ditto Keith. As much as I too would love to see the detail of the planking; it will all come down as to the level of detail accuracy you wish to portray. Your usual very high quality of furnishings and fittings will accurately show the vessel at a 'particular' time in history and for me the hull should mirror that - if painted at that time, go ahead and paint it. As the artist/artisan it is your final call though Keith. cheers Pat

Looking good Keith. I am sure you will get to grips with this; you always do. cheers Pat