Thukydides

If it was me it would depend on how visible you expect the frame to be. If you are planning to plank the area (or only plank one side of the hull, then you could choose to do so on that side), then I would just build it up. Otherwise I would probably try to remake it (though I am a bit of a perfectionist, one I know a problem exists I have trouble unseeing it). That being said it is probably best to at least try option two first. You can then decide how much of a blemish it is and if you can live with it. In any case the model is looking great. Looking forward to seeing you progress it.

Are you able to elaborate on what you are doing with the "double wall"? It appears the end bit looks like it is wormed, but you don't show that process, are those separate pieces of rope or are they the ends of the three strands you split off to make the wall? This is really fantastic work. I am really impressed and am learning so much.

A very watered down paint, often with additives that help it flow into the recesses. It pools in the recesses increasing the definition of cracks. You can build it up in layers to increase the contrast. Often the second stage in the (very simplified) model painting process: base layer -> wash -> highlight. Edit, it seems I should have read all the subsequent posts before I answered, chuck beat me to it

I don't want to derail the conversation from your specific subject too much as my example is only somewhat related (British, smaller ships, earlier date etc...) That being said I am not 100% sure though I have trouble thinking on what else they could be. They can't be sweep ports as they are too low (most of them are just below the planking of the deck about the level of the beams. The contract for Perseus and Unicorn (ships of the same class) also make note of cutting scuttles for each of the officers cabins and the size quoted appears to be similar to that drawn on the plans. Only thing here that might be applicable to your modeling application is that the contract does note that they should be lined with lead. Yes this is the challenge of this, lots of confusing and sometimes contradictory views. If they are vents I suspect they must angle down (similar to the the example you showed), but they appear to largely be around the beams, just below the deck planking. One thought I had was maybe they run through the room and space between the frames. The second example is from 1727 so I suspect given the number (and regular spacing) of them that those are meant to be sweeps. Many of the earlier smaller vessels had them. Your planking is looking very nice. Well done.

Very interesting @Marcus.K., I appreciate the amount of work you are putting into this research. As @The Bitter End said I also find the research process to uncover obscure details as much fund as building models themselves. One thing that stands out to me with the vents is how many of them there are. I have found air vents on plans for HMS Camilla of 1776 (https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-83800) and also Daphne 1776 (https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-83787), but there are only 6 of them on each side. One for each cabin and then one near the bow. They are drawn in black pencil at about the line of the deck.

Congrats on reaching this stage. This is a very impressive kit and I am sure there are going to be some great models built with it.

Great work Andrew.

I am really enjoying this build log, learning so many things I was not aware of. I don't really have anything to add apart from great job.

Really good work. How did you handle the lofting at the bow? I found I had a lot of trouble with that when I was faring the hull for perseus.

Thanks Glen, the main change is that I have dropped down to about half the size (1/1200 vs 1/700 scale). This certainly brings some modelling challenges, but it allows the ships to be an appropriate size for use of the table top. The age of sail was about maneuvering into position and if the play space is too small then it just becomes a matter or rolling dice for the guns.

These files are a fantastic resource. Very kind of you to make them available for everyone.

1/1200 Vigilant Class Brig - Finished It has been a while since I updated this log as the vigilant class brig was sitting in limbo waiting on me to get around to varnishing it. Since these pieces are intended for gaming, it is important that a protective layer is applied over the whole model. This also helps to stiffen and strengthen the rigging and the sails as well as protecting them from the natural oils on your fingers. I used satin varnish as I want the colours to pop somewhat and we are at such a small scale that I felt matt varnish would render things too dull. Once the vanish was on, it was time to apply the water effects. First I used a small flat head paint brush to dab on the water effects. I am using vallejo transparent water for this. The paste appears white when added and then dries clear. The dabbing of the paint brush causes it to sit in peaks and valleys which gives the impression of smaller waves. Once this has fully dried, I mix some white ink with a little bit of the water effects and go back in with the smallest paintbrush I have to pick out the crests of waves and paint in some of the foam at the bow and in the wake. And with that the model is finished. You can see it below with a penny for scale.

Yes hope you are feeling better soon.

This is a very cool project.

The first source is from a national archives documents I have. The Caruana reference is because he transcribes part of TNA WO 55/1745 (1765) in his book and I don't have the original. The raw data from TNA ADM 160/150 (1794), I have transcribed in my research document for Perseus which I released a first draft of parts of it for a while back (see the linked post for the download): The relevant transcriptions of the primary data can be found on pages 71-73. Essentially, based on the guns carried by a particular class of ship and the stores that accompany them as well as some notes the documents had on the blocks, you can figure out what size of block / rope was used. I just compiled it all into one table to save everyone the effort. Note practice may have varied somewhat from ship to ship and this is mostly based only only 2 sources so a degree of caution with the conclusions is advised. The carronade data is from 1794, so it may not be completely applicable to the earliest use of carronades and things were changing fast at this point so they could also have changed practice in the early 1800s. I should add that I have some other sources from the period that differ slightly on the size of the breechings and tackles depending on the size of gun so that may indicate there could also have been variance on the block sizes, but these are the only ones I have found which give sizes for the blocks and the only one that gives details for carronades.