Torrens

Before Conway were taken over by, I believe, Bloomsbury, they advertised for a replacement for John Bowen in expectation of continuing with the publication of the annual, but unfortunately they never followed through their own attempts to recruit an editor and assistant editor. The only potential option would be for Seaforth to take up the mantle and produce something comparable to the quarterly Model Shipwright. However, a key factor would be whether sufficient people would subscribe in order to cover production costs. In this digital age my guess is that there might well be a surge on initial publication but that it wouldn't sustain continuous publication because people wouldn't automatically renew their subscription.

I have all of the books in the AoS series, both sail and steam. All were bought when first published in the UK, meaning most are when Conway was known as Conway Maritime Press (and then a better publishing house too). A number of the 'modern' warship AoSs, including the Queen Mary, were written by a former illustration student of mine, Ross Watton, so I can vouch for the accuracy of his research, draughts and illustrations! Over the years I've been in contact with a number of the authors so know something of the difficulties in putting these books together, not the least the incredible amount of time required to complete the draughts and illustrations (there is a difference!). Whilst some authors were more thorough in their approach than others - John McKay in comparison to Al Ross for example; the former thorough and conscientious, whilst the latter less so, resulting in a reliable reference source from McKay but far less so from Ross. My reasoning is self-evident when examining either author's works. Another problem not always appreciated is that the original source material prior to putting pen to drawing paper was not always readily available or easily accessible. This does mean short-cuts had to be taken at times, but then anyone considering building an accurate model of a named ship at a particular time in her career will never rely on a single source, but search out all available material, and more if time permits. On this basis this series is a worthwhile addition to any nautical library and I would recommend them. There are always caveats to consider when researching a subject, and the use and application of these books is no exception. We would definitely be the poorer without them! As time has progressed and more information has come to light, even internationally recognised authorities have subsequently been shown to have made unwitting errors in some of their works. Norman Ough, Ike Marsh, David MacGregor and Harold Underhill are but a few who come to mind. Maybe we expect too much sometimes! By the way, in cost verses time spent, these books never made their authors money!

Deutschland class 1903 - SMS Schleswig-Holstein, 1905-1946: infamous for firing the first shots of the Second World War?

One thing I always do prior to rigging is to stretch whatever cord I'm using (I try to avoid synthetic cord, because most, in my experience, has a tendency to take on un-natural curves depending on air temperature, etc). I take as long a line as possible, usually the depth from my upstairs ceiling to ground floor level - about 14' (4.30 metres). I weight the line using lead fishing weights or plumber's weights and leave for as long as possible; usually six months or more. Touch wood I've never had any line go slack that's been stretched. One important point to bear in mind is to stretch each line separately as lines of different circumferences will stretch to different lengths.

Just to confirm Cristiano, it was not from any of the classes I mentioned - Calvi, Balilla or Marcello classes?

Hello Don I would recommend the book The Armed Transport Bounty, by John McKay. It was published by Conway Maritime Press Ltd in 1989 as part of their Anatomy of the Ship series. You should be able to get a copy via a second-hand dealer as I believe it is no longer in print. Knowing how thorough John McKay is in his research I would say this is probably the definitive work on the design, construction and rig of the Bounty (the book is profusely illustrated with detailed line illustrations, accompanied by an authoritative text and a number of reproductions of photographs of the replica, built for the film). Good luck with your build! I look forward to seeing photos of your Bounty!

From the conning tower and camouflage pattern I would say she's Italian. From the Calvi or Balilla class? Changed my mind! Marcello class?

I've noticed that underneath my name, on all of my posts, it says 0 warning points. What does this refer to? I haven't seen it on anyone else's posts???

Interestingly, tulipwood is widely used by high quality picture framers in the UK for the framing works of art, particularly box-section frames. I've 'played' with it and it's a lovely wood to work. Straight grained and little evidence of warping. It's almost like lime of sycamore, but easier to work, particularly in comparison to North American lime or basswood.

The green covered edition referred to by Brian C is the second, revised edition published by SeaWatchBooks. This edition was published in 2010 (the first in 2007). It's an excellent production that does justice to the unique collection of models collected by the Kriegstein brothers over a number of years. The models are an inspiration. Indeed, most models are or should rightly be called works of art. As samueljr writes, the models in this book were all built without power tools! Yet again, SeaWatchBooks are to be congratulated on a first class production - and the authors on sharing their collection with us. I highly recommend this book!

Correct Dave! Over to you again!

Thank you! OK, here's mine (I've edited out the name of the artist);

So frustrating...! It looks very much like a First World War Q-ship by the marine artist W L Wyllie, but can I remember the name of this barquentine...?!

By the way, you might be able to get a second-hand copy of Freeston's book Model Open Boats from; Columbia Trading Company 1022 Main Street West Barnstable Massachusetts, 02668. Tel (in the USA): 508-362-1500. They have an incredible stock of maritime and naval books, including a large selection of books on ship model making. I was there for the first time in July and was sorely tempted to spend my life's savings!!! Good luck! PS They have a website!

Good evening JSGerson! My longboat is from the Model Shipways kit of the Rattlesnake. Open boat model making methods advocated by Freeston can be found in his book, as per the details I gave in my post above. I would strongly recommend this book, though I believe it is now out-of-print, but should be easily available from second-hand booksellers. In making the longboat in the photos above I used the lifts as supplied in the Model Shipways kit. These were a number of horizontal layers - lifts - that you glue together and then refine by carving and sanding to shape. Getting to this stage it becomes increasingly apparent that the lifts are inaccurate as they result in a longboat that is too narrow; too fine in the run aft and generally out-of-proportion to what the plans show and what further research evidences! These errors are confirmed when you study the information in May's book. However, the Model Shipway plans are relatively correct - you just need to ignore the lifts provided in the kit and start from scratch. I'm in the process of doing exactly this and will post a few photos which should better explain the differences. I'll do this as soon as I can. Hope this helps - until I can find the time to post a photographic up-date of a correctly proportioned longboat for the Rattlesnake!

Good evening druxey! I too have a few of the sheets of mimeographed lists - given me by Tucker and Lyon when I was a mere young teenager, or not quite! All on old-fashioned foolscap paper too! Like you, most have fallen to pieces. Only those kept flat, dry and in the dark have survived. I'd forgotten all about these until your reminder! Memories of long, happy Saturdays at the National Maritime Museum, when their displays were more than the pathetic, superficial and pointless 'displays' of today...

The draughtsmanship looks first class and it does look as if the illustrator-author has done his research. I particularly like the lower illustration in the double-page spread you posted. Be interesting to see if the French editions are readily available in the UK, though I guess the European Bookshop off Regents Street, London, should be able to get them easily. Thanks for drawing our attention to these!

SMS Emden?

I find it incredible and beyond comprehension that the ship model gallery at the Science Museum has closed, and this has nothing to do with my subjective interest in ships, because it was via water that civilisations came together and, in most cases, developed positively as a race! I wonder in what state Longridge's models are now in, or will be in in a few years time - and indeed the other, older models from the collection are in (the museum has a small but important collection of models from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries). We can only hope the storage facilities are well-controlled in terms of humidity, etc.

Found the small booklet mentioned in the post above...! Ships Plans - a select list from the collection at the National Maritime Museum, complied by A H Waite and A L Tucker. It was published in 1959. It's by no means comprehensive and has been superseded by David Lyon's book The Sailing Navy List.

Hello David I rarely use the National Maritime Museum online research facilities but for draughts, etc, I rely on a very early publication that lists important parts of the draughts collection. Another very important primary source is of course the late David Lyon's monumental work The Sailing Navy List - All the Ships of the Royal Navy - Built, Purchased and Captured - 1688-1860, published in 1993. For ships histories I refer to the three volume works by Rif Winfield; British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1603-1714; 1714-1792 and 1792-1817. These were published in 2009, 2007 and 2005 respectively. Finally, to bring Rif Winfield's work up-to-date in terms of the sailing warship there's Winfield's and Lyon's The Sail and Steam Navy List - All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815-1860. This book, published in 2004, follows the same format as David Lyon's first book, mentioned above. For probably the most comprehensive over-view of all ships ever used by the Royal Navy in the days of sail, the above books are essential reference sources. As such I would strongly recommend them! Hope this helps.

Some further information about the Cruiser/Cruizer class that might be of interest; The class were, with the Snake and Favourite class, apart from masting differences and an extra midships section inserted to give extra length, the most numerous class of warship in the age of the sail. Their nearest rivals in terms of numbers were the Cherokee class. The National Maritime Museum, in Greenwich, London, hold the following original Admiralty draughts; Lines/profile/lower deck/upper deck/framing/midships section/spar plan/planking expansion (external)/(Internal)/specification. For the Arachne as a ship sloop in 1830 the following draughts; profile and decks. For the Grasshopper in 1817; lower deck. As in 1822; profile/decks. Fir-built vessels; lines/profile/lower deck/upper deck/framing/midships section. Teak-built vessels; lines/profile/lower deck/upper deck/framing/midships section.

Could she be a Russian survey vessel or similar - from the former USSR? The coutesy flag looks Polish.

Good morning Kester Very small world indeed! Who did you work with at the Poole Maritime Museum? Was it Frank Thurland - a graphic designer, and my then boss, who was also an accomplished ship model maker (he learnt his skills with Basset-Lowke during the Second World War). And presumably if you were at Boscombe (Shelly Park?) you were on the Foundation Diploma course, when the college was called Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design? You may remember Jim Hunter? He became deputy head of what has since been called the Arts University, Bournemouth (they achieved full university status some years ago). He retired last month. The Warrior project you mention was designed by me too! It was my second such project whilst I was at Bournemouth; the first was the SS Great Britain, 1845. I cannot confirm, but I understand that the large Warrior illustration was stored in a damp warehouse in Portsmouth and suffered some serious damage. Where it is now I don't know, but it's very sad if it is indeed damaged. That illustration took four years to complete, by a young Spanish student who knew nothing about ships... Best wishes from a bright but wind-swept Moray Firth!

Hello Crackers! I understand what you mean, so I don't think you're throwing cold water on my dreams! I've been dreaming about various ship model projects for as long as I can remember! Indeed, I consider myself an expert in the planning of such projects! It's turning them into reality that's a problem!!! However, in my defence (!!!) I have actually planned and seen some projects through to completion! Besides numerous plastic kits, I've made miniatures (not very well), and a few wooden models: a Danish trawler, a Thames sailing barge, a clinker-bult skiff, etc, etc. There are also about three or four models in my workshop waiting for my attention, but we don't talk about these... Best wishes.