Gregory

Considering the un-friendliness as a modeling medium, I'm curious as to the background/tradition on the desire to use ebony in wood ship modeling.
 

Gregory: I believe that the popularity of using ebony in models was started by the late Harold Hahn. His stylized models have ebony false keels and wales. Certain trends and fads in modelling come from a wish to emulate star model-makers.

Considering the un-friendliness as a modeling medium, I'm curious as to the background/tradition on the desire to use ebony in wood ship modeling.
 

Might be able to help with more info...  Any pictures?

I suspect that the skull carvings, etc. are pure works of fiction.  Any carvings on ships would cost money.  There's another reason... pirates wanted/needed to blend in.  Anything conspicuous would draw unwanted attention to them.

Nice pictures of the Max Emanuel model here..  Model
 
The lines are virtually identical to the Mamoli Yacht Mary kit, but the details are much finer..

Nice pictures of the Max Emanuel model here..  Model
 
The lines are virtually identical to the Mamoli Yacht Mary kit, but the details are much finer..

Nice pictures of the Max Emanuel model here..  Model
 
The lines are virtually identical to the Mamoli Yacht Mary kit, but the details are much finer..

I remember being a kid in the 50's, going to one of the local drug stores that sold plastic model kits, and looking at the pictures
on the boxes. Particularly the small Constitution & Bounty.  The $3.98 price tag was beyond my means at that time, but a
passion was born.

I remember being a kid in the 50's, going to one of the local drug stores that sold plastic model kits, and looking at the pictures
on the boxes. Particularly the small Constitution & Bounty.  The $3.98 price tag was beyond my means at that time, but a
passion was born.

.  When I have done this, I put drops of white glue on the shrouds, and then,  lay a small piece of line across the drops of glue on the shrouds
to form the ratline, wiggle it a bit from side to side to pick up the glue, and it will stay in place until the glue dries if not disturbed.
 
I can make a pic, if this is not clear.

.  When I have done this, I put drops of white glue on the shrouds, and then,  lay a small piece of line across the drops of glue on the shrouds
to form the ratline, wiggle it a bit from side to side to pick up the glue, and it will stay in place until the glue dries if not disturbed.
 
I can make a pic, if this is not clear.

Gilmer Wood is about 170 miles from Bremerton.

Yes..  I think the vote was con=1, sensus = 0 ..

Gilmer Wood is about 170 miles from Bremerton.

I realized after re-reading a couple of times, that I may have not made my thoughts clear on this;  being that, if this was not the practice at the time, why would a professional
model builder do such a thing?
My opinion was/is, that they would not.  Leading me to believe the model is accurate..
 
 
 

The contemporary evidence supports both scenarios, though I would say that there are two types of contemporary evidence and they support two accurate scenarios.   However dubious we might be with regard to the practicality of a below-tiller arrangment, Chucks research is sound.  
 
It seems like there is a bit of reinventing the wheel here, let us not forget that these are 18th century models.   Of course it was "impossible" to sail with that arrangment, thats why it was changed.  Read Lavery's book as was suggested.  It was also impossible to build pyramids, until they did.  Now we do it differently, and cannot concieve of how they did it then.  Its impossible without cranes.
 
The detractors it would seem are making the very same discovery that mid-18th century sailors made: tacking and gybing the boat is difficult if not impossible with the traveller located below the tiller.   That does not mean that wasnt done or that models reflecting it are inaccurate.   I for one appreciate the level of detail and research and can see (without being expert) that the contemporary evidence and primary sources support Chucks original schematic as possible if not likely.  I actually appreciate that, with regard to model making, this particular model represents an interesting historic anamoly. 
 
I am reminded that we dont fully understand how such things like the Pyramids, Stone Henge could have been built with primitive technology, YET they were, though probably with great difficulty.   Likewise, though it seems impossible to sail a boat with a below-tiller-traveler arrangement, it actually was likely quite possible, though probably very difficult.    Not an expert sailor by any means, but I do sail and I do have a boat, and I can concieve of a way to sail the boat (though not gracefully, and not sharply) with this arrangment.   If I just needed to sail in a straight line, say from my ship to shore and wouldnt be doing a great deal of tacking... well...  its possible.
 
 

It sure makes me wonder why a modeler would have put the traveler under the tiller.
 
It doesn't even meet the oft repeated criteria of " it looks good " ..

I just noticed the moveable cover on the galley stack..  I don't think i have seen that feature modeled before..
 
Photo

I just noticed the moveable cover on the galley stack..  I don't think i have seen that feature modeled before..
 
Photo

FWIW they appear on the Hull model also..  With rope..
 
Hull Model

It would seem that Peterssen's problem would be with the models he chose to document, unless there is a reason to believe he did not
accurately report what he observed.
 
Seems a bit ironic, in that contemporary models are often the go-to authority in these discussions.
 
 

I just noticed the moveable cover on the galley stack..  I don't think i have seen that feature modeled before..
 
Photo

Gregory, if you take a look at xKen's build log of the Conny, you will see how he modeled the stack.

I just noticed the moveable cover on the galley stack..  I don't think i have seen that feature modeled before..
 
Photo