CaptainSteve

Yerr ... I be thinkin' that I might stop at the hairy coconuts, Matt. (Although, there is THIS, in case anybody is interested in adding it to their Launch)

Arrr ... WoW !!! Thanks VERY much, guys. (CaptainSteve doth blush a deep red in colouration) To be perfectly honest, I wasn't certain how they'd be received.

This past week didst see our Hero complete a task which hath weighed most heavily, indeedeth, upon his mind. Whence last we did leaveth him, CaptainSteve had finished the sewing of his sails and was deep in contemplation. “Specifically, I be most concerned with matters of colouration,” he didst try to explain, as if that never happens. But firstly, there be the matter o’ what wouldst be a-holding his sails unto the Sticks. “Err, I be meanin’, the Spars,” he didst quickly interject. And the answer to this question was to be found in CaptainSteve's vast collection of beads, bits, pieces and left-over kit parts. These actually be the very same bead what 'as been used previously fer the cutlass pommels. To fit the beads, CaptainSteve didst taketh up his knife and hacketh gaping (2mm) holes into his sails. "The beads be coated in two-part epoxy glue 'afore being set into place ..." he said. But, this didst leaveth a glue stain ... ... which didst only help to confirm my idea !!! And, hence, a guinea pig was required, soeth that a test couldst be undertaken: "I doth assure ye," CaptainSteve muttered, "There was MANY tests!!" Now, many of you shalt be pleased to learn that CaptainSteve hath since forgone earlier plans to rend a mighty rip unto his sails. For, since completing some readings into the whole Mutiny saga (and publishing his learnings here), Our Hero hath gone cold on the idea. “I’ve gone cold uponeth that whole idea,” he did sayeth. “Indeedeth, despite numerous references to the fiercest of weather, there be nought in Bligh’s log that doest give any indication as to sail damage throughout their journey.” Indeed, verily, though it was a most goodly thought, even the patches will no longer be making an appearance. “Now, beforeth I doth move forth with the pictures,” Our Hero was heard to say, “I shouldst like ye to consider that everything in the foreground o' this next picture didst be used to achieveth the final look.” “As to the look upon which I was to eventually settle,” CaptainSteve explained. “Twice were I to findeth in Bligh’s scribblings, notes which didst help maketh up my mind fer me ..." "Firstly, rains didst cometh down almost constantly throughout the journey, making the Loyalists cold, wet and miserable for a large portion of the time. “And, secondly,” he didst continue, “there were a LOT of sea-birds about !!” This, of course, doth raiseth that old, philosophical conundrum: 'If a potato chip doth fall-eth upon a beach, and there be-eth no sea-gull to swoop upon it, then didst it indeed fall-eth ??' (... sound of crickets chirping away in the background ... ) "But, I doest digress ..." stated CaptainSteve, perhaps somewhat unnecessarily. For, verily, this was all done with dry-brushing ... Except for the bird-poop ... “Strictly in order to maintaineth authenticity (and texture),“ Our Hero added, most helpfully, “didst I applieth that wet.” “I be a-figurin’,” CaptainSteve didst begineth to wind this whole thing up-eth, “that gannet/booby/noddy poop wouldst be-eth of a thicker viscosity than that of leeching, rust-stained rain-water a-running down me sails.” And one final photograph showing them laid out, this time upon the plans. “At a short distance, they actually be lookin’ quite fine, methinks,” he didst concludeth. Happy New Year to each an' every one o' you !!!

As a little side-project this past couple of weeks (it all started with my recent work accident), I have been re-visiting Captain Bligh's logs. It's nothing too scholarly, but I have put together a little spread-sheet layout which lists, specifically, all provisioning taken on board the Launch during the Mutiny, any and all goods collected along the way, as well as events which may have changed the appearance of the Launch. My primary reason for doing this is to answer the question of exactly what was carried on board. Check it out here !!

Much has already been written on the subject of the Mutiny on the Bounty, the events & causes leading up to it, the fallout after the fact, and the perilous journey thrust upon Capt Bligh and the loyalists cast adrift. Whilst working on a build of the HMS Bounty Launch recently, one of the questions which arose was what additional items could a builder put into their Launch to add a little touch of historical authenticity. As such, the following has been produced from a dissertation of William Bligh's meticulously kept logs. This is not intended to be a historical study or scholarly review to be added to the already impressive collection of writings on the Mutiny event. My main purpose is to allow modellers of HMS Bounty and/or the Bounty Launch to have a quick reference point whereby they can see what was taken on-board at the outset, and what was collected, found or traded along the way. In this way, I would hope you can select and model any additional equipment for your Launch build. Resources used for this compilation were: "The Bounty Mutiny" - William Bligh and Edward Christian (brother of Fletcher) "A Narrative of the Mutiny, On Board HMS Bounty" - William Bligh "In Bligh's Hand" - Jennifer Gall (Any errors or omissions of fact are mine entirely.) Mutiny Spreadsheet.xml

That has GOT to be the under-statement of the YEAR !!!

Tony, Check out this build of the Scottish Maid here. You can do a search of the kit-build forum for others.

Patrick, Any chance of getting me grubby hands on a copy of the patterns you used to make your stern timbers ?? I just figure it may save me some time and heartache (and just a little of the violence) later on.

I still cannot understand the thinking behind that TRANSOM label ?!?!? I mean, it's not likely that anyone would confuse it for any other part in the kit !! You can get away with planking over it. I used those thin veneer strips .. like the ones used in many kits as second-planking. (O'course, I scratched and stained mine up first)

Thanks fer the plug, Matt !! Arr, That's exactly the sort of info we be lookin' for over at Kit-Basher's !! (Incidentally, here's that anchor.)

I couldn't agree more, Pops !! If you check Plan Sheet 5, there is a drawing of a grapnel anchor. From memory, I think the haft was 26mm. Personally, I will be ditching mine and going with something more like this. Also, don't forget that they lost a fluke off the grapnel at one point (3rd May, 1789).

Ken, Just a quick note to add to Matt's advice ... One thing which I found particularly helpful was to pay close attention to the run of the wood grain. The frames will bend a lot easier (and break a lot less) one way, than the other.

Not enough !!! We want more !!!

Great start indeed, Fletch !! I await work on your stern window configuration eagerly. Now, I be wondering ... will ye be giving thought to the horseshoe imprinted between the false keel and stem pieces ?? This shows up in most (all??) drawings of Connie in AOTS, and is one detail (of many) about which I remain quite curious. Also, any plans for internal lighting ?? ("Not !!" is perfectly acceptable, just that I thought it pertinent to ask at this point.)

Sweet job on those handles. The whipping looks very authentic, indeed.

Nice job there, Buck. That just looks so realistic !! I reckon that's another one of your ideas that I'm going to have to shamelessly copy.

Beautiful job, Bill !!!

That's lookin' really good, Matt !!!

Thanks, Guys !! Ken, I think I prefer the idea of a patch or two. It seems a whole lot safer than actually cutting into the sails (which took me some three weeks of hand-stitching). From a current re-read of "The Bounty Mutiny", it is known that Bligh and the loyalists did ride out some quite stormy weather during their travels. Although, as I read further, I see no indication that repairs to sails were made at any point. Hmmm .....

Interesting concept, Matt .. and one worth keeping in mind. As the sails make up the most prominent feature when looking at the model, I just thought that they required some kind of weathering/weather-beating. I'm yet to make any actual cuts to them at this point, and just wished to know what my crew-mates thought of the idea.

I could not find any reference to "Boat on the Spot" or improvements, specifically, in my copy of Bligh's Log. The closest I found around April 30 was when they were at 'Tofua' (in the Friendly Isles), where they stocked up with coconuts, bread-fruits, 'plantains' and water, by "... trading for a few buttons and beads with the friendly natives we found there." Oh, and, yes, the spears are specifically mentioned.

Arr .. it be all good, Ken. I jus' be funning wit' ye !!

I've used these very successfully for rigging ... especially for threading dead-eye pairs.

Arrr ... don't be listening to 'im, Matt ... that be a VERY good impression of the tool chest. Excellent work indeed. Incidentally, I'm not too sure what items for boat repairs they would've picked up. I'd have to re-read the Mutiny log to be certain, but I was of the opinion that they only collected coconuts, fruits and berries - oh, and one seagull - along the way. Not even a single fish was caught, despite reports that a line was constantly set (must've been using the wrong kinda bait).

Looking very good indeed, Tom !!