uss frolick

Mark, it looks like you got La Venus.

I have only the 1793-1817 volume, and while it's good, it's not great. Rif Winfield's drawings take the place of original draughts in most cases, and they are too small to be useful. David Lyon's 'The Sailing Navy List' is much better.

If you look at the Hackett draught, you will notice a second capstan, called a 'fore-jeer capstan" just aft the fore mast. I must admit that I'm not sure exactly why it was needed when there was a perfectly good double captan just a few steps aft. But it was always placed on an open deck on English ships, and I once read that it was used to haul heavy bits aloft. Its' presence is evidence that the Essex wore only a traditional, narrow removable gangways when launched, not the wide spar deck gang ways shown in the PDF above. We do know that she received a built-up modern gangways in 1809, i.e. a flush spar deck, when Josiah Fox relaunched her. And she did not have a spar deck as late as 1807 when measurements taken off that year referred to a separate forecastle and quarterdeck. When she finally did receive her wide gangways, they were flush with the quarterdeck and forecastle, not stepped down as Portia Takakjian drew them. In 1799, her narrow gangways were stepped down - just as the Frigate Hancock's or Raleigh's would have been. When she finally gained her flush modern spar deck, as Naval Architect William Baker noted to have been "some time after 1807", she also lost her sweet decorative scroll at the break of the quarterdeck. She would have lost her fore jeer capstan as well. Her top timbers amidships would have had to have been raised, in order to support a spar deck clamp. So that must rule out any modifications earlier than 1809. Common sense would dictate that a step down permanently-fixed wide gangways would serve no purpose, other than to inhibit rolling the chase guns fore and aft. The fore jeer capstan was a very old fashioned piece of equipment, like a lateen rigged mizen mast was, but the Essex was considered a old school ship belonging to a previous generation. And PCF Smith theorized in his TFEP that she had been built to the model of the old 1778 Continental Frigate Alliance of the Revolution, as William Hackett had built them both. We'll never know because no plans survive of the Alliance. But I digress ...

What a fun project! Off to Desolation Island we go in "The Horrible Old Leopard"! The main visual problem with Hahn's works was that he skimped on the timber frame thickness. I guess he wanted to make his Boxwood supply last.

I've never seen a kit so cleanly and precisely done. Fantastic job!

Let's not forget that Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin were aboard the Lively! ( ... At least in Patrick O'Brien's "Post Captain" they were.)

I have the NMM draughts of Medea, as fitted out as Cochrane's HMS Imperieuse. She is very beautiful. Her carvings (presumably her new British carvings) are drawn separately in half inch scale. They are IMHO too intricate, with all their fine, swirling 'vine-ery' and 'rope-ery', to have been drawn in 1/4 inch scale. I suspect this is why the carvings had vanished from the plans at around this time.

That stern is an exact copy of Howard Chapelle's reconstruction, right down to the wreath thingy.

Herman Melville's "White Jacket" is the same thing. Before he wrote his famous sea novels, Melville shipped before the mast (in peacetime) on board the US Frigate United States in the Pacific and wrote a detailed account of it.

The fir built double banked frigate HMS Newcastle of 50-guns, c.1813, had all of her spar deck gun ports almost directly above her gun deck ports. Ditto, to a lesser extent, HMS Leander, 1813. The USS Constellation may have been rebuilt the same way in 1829, if one accurate Maltese painting is to be believed. I can't think of any others off hand either. One of Aeolus's junior lieutenants in 1811 was the later author, Frederick Marryat, although he transferred out before the great chase.

Hi Frank! She's really looking great. I love all the pikes around the main mast. The red background is distracting, however. Try a blue tablecloth next time if possible. You've done an excellent restoration job.

Are there any paintings of her sister frigates, Medusa or Aeolus? Did not Medusa also fight the Spanish Treasure Frigates in 1804 with Lively, etc? Are there realistic depictions of that action?

I understand that Harold Hahn wasn't trying to make his models as an example of actual framing practice, but I think he did err, at least visually, by making his frames too thin. On a real ship of war, the rules of "room and Space" dictated that here was always more wood than space all along the ship's frame. The opposite is true with all of Hahn's plans.

While you are building HMS Surprise, you will be allowed to talk like Preserved Killick. Example: Wife: "Honey, dinners ready! Put down your little boat." You: "Which I'm coming, ain't I? Bleedin' wife sez do this, do that, poor old Killick ... I'll trade her in for a new wench at the horse fair, see if I don't ... Er ... Nothing ... Coming Dear."

Thanks for the input, lads. Much more to come; just taking a break.

CAPS FOR SPONGES, LONG GUNS: Canvass before it is sewed together: Two and a half the diameter of the bore of the piece in length, and three and two-thirds the diameter of the bore of the piece in width. The piece for the bottom before it is rounded one and one quarter diameter the bore of the piece each way. To be made of No. 5 canvass, or near that number. The cap ought to be made so large that it will take a cartridge with ease. If in case the powder boy is missing, the second loader, or any other person belonging to the gun, may supply the gun with powder conveyed in the sponge cap from the scuttle to the gun. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths / Width Inches, Tenths / Bottom Piece Square Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 17, 5 / 25, 6 / 8, 7 32 " 16, 0 / 23, 4 / 8, 0 24 " 14, 1 / 21, 2 / 7, 2 18 " 13, 2 / 19, 3 / 6, 6 12 " 11, 7 / 17, 1 / 5, 9 9 " 10, 5 / 15, 4 / 5, 5 6 " 9, 2 / 13, 5 / 4, 6" CROW BARS, LONG GUNS: For 42 and 32 pounders eight diameters on the bore of the piece in length. 24 pounders nine diameters 18 pounders, nine and a half diameters 12 pounders, ten diameters 9 pounders eleven diameters and for 6 pounders twelve and one half the diameter of the bore of the piece in length. One end with a claw and the back viced [?] up two diameters of the bore of the piece, the other end pointed with four squares. Caliber/ Length in Feet, Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 4, 11, 5 32 " 4, 6, 4 24 " 4, 4, 2 18 " 4, 2, 3 12 " 3, 11, 0 9 " 3, 10, 2 6 " 3, 9, 6 "

HANDLES OF MALLETS FOR TOMPIONS, LONG GUNS: "Two diameters of the bore of the piece in length. the diameter of the outer end is one fourth the diameter of the bore of the piece. The remaining part, one sixth. To be made of oak or hickory. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths / Diameter, Inner part Inches, Tenths / Diameter, Outer part Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 1, 2 / 1, 7 / 14, 0 32 " 1, 1 / 1, 6 / 12, 8 24 " 1, 0 / 1, 4 / 11, 6 18 " 0, 9 / 1, 3 / 10, 6 12 " 0, 8 / 1, 2 / 9, 4 9 " 0 7 / 1, 0 / 8, 4 6 " 0, 6 / 0, 9 / 7, 4" MARLINE SUFFICIENT TO QUILT A STAND OF GRAPE: "Nineteen times the diameter of the bore of the piece in length. Caliber/ Length in Feet, Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 11, 1 , 0 32 " 10, 1, 6 24 " 9, 2, 2 18 " 8, 4, 7 12 " 7, 5, 3 9 " 6, 7, 8 6 " 5, 10 , 3 " PRIMING WIRES: "Two and a half the diameter of the bore of the piece in length from the back of the eye to the point and two tenths of an inch in diameter. To be made of drawn wires. The end which forms the eye to be welded to the others The point with four squares [The last statements make little sense as written ...] Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 17, 5 / 0, 2 32 " 16, 0 / 0, 2 24 " 14, 5 / 0, 2 18 " 13, 2 / 0, 2 12 " 11, 7 / 0, 2 9 " 10, 5/ 0, 2 6 " 9, 2 / 0, 2 "

MATCH TUBS, LONG GUNS: " Match Tubs, "Match Tubs: One and three fourths the diameter of the bore of the piece in height Two and one fifth the bore of the diameter of the piece is the diameter of the bottom One and three fourths the diameter of the bore of the piece is the diameter of the head. To be made of oak staves, the head and bottom of pine; 3 iron hoops; the head sunk in one inch, with three holes in it." Caliber/ Diameter of Head Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Bottom Inches, Tenths / Height Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 12, 1 / 15, 4 / 12, 1 32 " 11, 2 / 14, 0 / 11, 2 24 " 10, 0 / 12, 7 / 10, 0 18 " 9, 2 / 11, 6 / 9, 2 12 " 8, 3 / 10, 3 / 8, 3 9 " 7, 2 / 9, 2 / 7, 2 6 " 6, 4 / 8, 1 / 6, 4 HEADS OF MALLETS FOR TOMPIONS, LONG GUNS: "Heads of mallets for tompions, The head four sevenths of the diameter of the bore of the piece in length, and one half the diameter of the bore of the piece in diameter. To be made of seasoned oak. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 4, 0 / 3, 5 32 " 3, 6 / 3, 2 24 " 3, 2 / 2, 9 18 " 2, 9 / 2, 7 12 " 2, 5 / 2, 4 9 " 2, 4/ 2, 1 6 " 2, 1 / 1, 9

LADLE, BLOCK, LONG GUNS: "Gun furniture continued, Ladle, Blocks, The same length and diameter as the rammer heads, and scored so as to receive the thickness of copper, the length of half the caliber, at the end upon which the copper ladle is to be nailed. To be made of Oak. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 10, 5 / 6, 8 32 " 9, 6 / 6, 2 24 " 8, 7 / 5, 6 18 " 7, 9 / 5, 1 12 " 7, 0 / 4, 5 9 " 6, 3/ 4, 0 6 " 5, 5 / 3, 5 COPPERS FOR LADLES, LONG GUNS: "Copper for Ladles, The copper for ladles, ought to be made, one ninth of an inch thick. It's length is three calibers. It's length, when unfolded, is two calibers. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, Tenths / Thickness tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 21, 0 / 14, 0 / 1 32 " 19, 2 / 12, 8 / 1 24 " 17, 4 / 11, 6 / 1 18 " 15, 9 / 10, 6 / 1 12 " 14, 1 / 9, 4 / 1 9 " 12, 6 / 8, 4 / 1 6 " 11, 1 / 7, 4 / 1 STAFFS FOR LADLES, LONG GUNS: "Staffs for Ladles, Three diameters of the bore of the piece, longer than the bore of the piece, one fourth the diameter of the bore of the piece in diameter. To be made of Ashe Wood. [The author drew up a table, but never filled it in.]

I really am staring to think these may be out of exact order ... HANDSPIKES, LONG GUNS: [Duh. Carronades don't need handspikes, if you think about it ...] "handspikes, For 42 and 32 Pounders, ten diameters of the bore of the piece in length [For] 24 and 18 pounders, eleven diameters of the bore of the piece in length [For] 12, 9 and 6 pounders, twelve diameters of the bore of the piece in length They are to be made of seasoned Hickory The plates, one and two thirds the diameter of the bore of the piece in length, and on each side if required. Caliber/ Length in feet, Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 5, 10, 0 32 " 5, 4, 0 24 " 5, 3, 8 18 " 4, 10, 3 12 " 4, 8, 4 9 " 4, 2, 4 6 " 3, 8, 4 HOOKS AND THIMBLES FOR CHASE GUNS, LONG GUNS: [Again, duh. "Fire the chase carronades!"] "Hooks and thimbles for chase guns, One and one tenth the diameter of the bore of the piece, from the back of the hook to the eye. [And apparently as an afterthought] And sufficiently strong for their length. [i would hope so!] Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 15, 0 32 " 13, 7 24 " 12, 4 18 " 11, 3 12 " 10, 1 9 " 9, 0 6 " 7, 9 HOOKS AND THIMBLES FOR TACKLES, LONG GUNS. "Hooks and thimbles for tackles One and one third the diameter of the bore of the piece, from the back of the hooks to the eyes. And sufficiently strong for their lengths. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 9, 5 32 " 8, 5 24 " 7, 7 18 " 7, 0 12 " 6, 2 9 " 5, 6 6 " 4, 9

TOMPIONS, LONG GUNS: "Tompions, One diameter of the bore of the piece in Length, and one tenth less than the diameter of the piece in diameter, with a gradual swell, one third the diameter of the bore of the piece towards the head. To be made of white pine wood with a hole three tenths of an inch through the center lengthwise. Caliber/Length in inches, tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 7, 0 / 6, 9 32 " 6, 4 / 6, 3 24 " 5, 8 / 5, 7 18 " 5, 3 / 5, 2 12 " 4, 7 / 4, 6 9 " 4, 2 / 4, 1 6 " 3, 7 / 3, 6" TWINE, LONG GUNS: "Twine, Twine sufficient to sew and sieze the bag of a stand of grape, nineteen times the diameter of the bore of the piece in length, part whipping and part sewing twine. Caliber / Length in feet, inches, tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 11, 1, 0 32 " 10, 1, 6 24 " 9, 2 , 2 18 " 8, 4, 7 12 " 7, 5, 3 9 " 6, 7, 8 6 " 5, 10, 3" The above calculations are made on the caliber being as follows, Viz, 42 Pdr, seven inches 32 Pdr, six inches and four tenths 24 Pdr, five inches and eight tenths 18 Pdr, five inches and three tenths 12 Pdr, four inches and seven tenths 9 Pdr, four inches and two tenths 6 Pdr, 3 inches and seven tenths and the shot, two tenths of an inch less than the bore of the piece. The rules for breechings, blocks, Hooks, and thimbles, and tackle falls are not sufficiently accurate to have them made by but by adding or diminishing a few tenths accordingly to the discretions of the gunner, they will answer the purpose. The passing boxes are intended to hold one cartridge."

SOCKETS FOR THE WORM, LONG GUNS: "Sockets of the worms, The socket one diameter of the bore of the piece in length" Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 7, 0 32 " 6, 4 24 " 5, 8 18 " 5, 3 12 " 4, 7 9 " 4, 2 6 " 3, 7 SHANKS OF THE WORMS, LONG GUNS: Shanks of the worms: The shanks two thirds of the diameter of the bore of the piece in length. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 4, 6 32 " 4, 2 24 " 3, 8 18 " 3, 4 12 " 3, 0 9 " 2, 8 6 " 2, 4 STAFFS OF THE WORMS, LONG GUNS: "Staffs for worms, Three diameters of the bore of the piece, longer than the bore of the piece. One fourth the diameter of the bore of the piece in diameter. To be made of Ashe Wood." Caliber/Length in feet, inches / Diameter Inches, tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 11, 8 / 1, 7 32 " 10, 8 / 1, 6 24 " 9, 8 / 1, 4 18 " 8, 10 / 1, 3 12 " 7, 10 / 1, 2 9 " 7, 0 / 1, 0 6 " 6, 2 / 0, 9"

BITT SCREWS, LONG GUN: "Gun Furniture Continued. Bitt Screw, The screw to be two thirds the diameter of the bore of the piece in Length Two thirds of an inch in diameter. To be made of German Steel. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter in the Clear, Inches 42 Pdr, 4, 6 / 2 32 " 4, 2 / 2 24 " 3, 8 / 2 18 " 3, 4 / 2 12 " 3, 0 / 2 9 " 2, 8 / 2 6 " 2, 4 / 2 " BITT HANDLES, LONG GUN: "Bitt Handles The handles, two thirds the diameter of the bore of the piece in length To be made of seasoned oak, in the shape of a butchers steel handle The bitt is to come through the handle and rivit on the upper part Let the rivit be countersunk, with a copper firuly [A Ferrule, perhaps ? This is a metal ring or cap used to strengthen a slender wooden pole] on the lower part of the handle.] Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 4, 6 32 " 4, 2 24 " 3, 8 18 " 3, 4 12 " 3, 0 9 " 2, 8 6 " 2, 4 " WORMS, LONG GUN: "Worms, The same diameter as the shot of the piece One and three fourths the diameter of the bore of the piece in length Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter in the Clear, Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 5, 1 / 6, 8 32 " 4, 8 / 6, 2 24 " 4, 2 / 5, 6 18 " 3, 9 / 5, 1 12 " 3, 6 / 4, 5 9 " 3, 0/ 4, 0 6 " 2, 7 / 3, 5"

Next page. This document is not bound, nor are the pages numbered. I am listing them in the order given to me twenty years ago. Since all the Gun's dimensions are listed together separately from the Carronade's, I will assume that this is still in some logical order. SPONGE BLOCK, LONG GUN: [Note: NOT Sponge Bob!] "Sponges, Blocks, The same diameter of the shot of the caliber below the caliber [of the piece]. [if ] the sponge is intended [to be] Viz. a 32-pounders sponge, [then the] blocks ought to be the diameter of a 24 pounder shot. One and two thirds the diameter the diameter of the bore of the piece in length. To be made of a poplar wood with a secret worms. [i don't know what a 'secret worm' is, but the carronade's sponge block doesn't have one. Maybe he's a friend of Sponge Bob.] Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter in the Clear, Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 11, 6 / 6, 2 32 " 10, 6 / 5, 6 24 " 9, 6 / 5, 1 18 " 8, 7 / 4, 5 12 " 8, 7 / 4, 0 9 " 7, 0 / 3, 5 6 " 6, 1 / 3, 2" SPONGE STAFF, LONG GUN: "Sponges, Staffs, Three diameters of the bore of the piece longer than the bore of the piece [in Length - important omission!] One fourth the Diameter of the bore of the piece in Diameter. To be made of Ashe Wood. Caliber/Length in feet, inches / Diameter Inches, tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 11, 8 / 1, 7 32 " 10, 8 / 1, 6 24 " 9, 8 / 1, 4 18 " 8, 10 / 1, 3 12 " 7, 10 / 1, 2 9 " 7, 0 / 1, 0 6 " 6, 2 / 0, 9" [Note: Above Identical to rammer staff dimensions, except for 6 pounders.] SPIKES FOR TOMPIONS, LONG GUN: [i'm not sure what this is ... Perhaps the tompion was hammered so hard in place to keep the water out, that they needed a chisel to remove it?] "Spikes, for Tompions, One and a half the diameter of the bore of the piece in Length. One eighth the diameter of the bore of the piece in Diameter, with a smooth round head a narrow chisel end, a little turned up." Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter in the Clear, Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 10, 5 / 9, 0 32 " 9, 6 / 8, 0 24 " 8, 7 / 7, 0 18 " 7, 9 / 6, 0 12 " 7, 0 / 6, 0 9 " 6, 3/ 5, 0 6 " 5, 5 / 5, 0"

I found this document in the National Archives, "Record Group 45,, Office of Naval records and Library, Subject File, 1775-1910." Specifically in "Box Number 139", while researching my Johnston Blakeley biography. Since it looked kinda cool, I had a copy made. Good thing I did, because I don't believe such a document appears in print elsewhere. The documents' full title is "Dimensions of Gun Furniture by Caliber and Length of the Gun, 1821-24." The authors name is not recorded. It is very long, and I almost regret volunteering to transpose it here. But the information is very useful for ship modeling, especially in larger scales. It is divided up separately for long-gun and carronades. Although it is dated 1821-24, I believe it is applicable for all navies, plus or minus at least a generation, probably more. Note on the Staff Table below. They have assumed a length for a standard long gun of the period, but long guns vary greatly in length, and since the staff length is a function of the bore, the staff will be unique to that gun. (Example: There were long nine-pounders that vary in length from five feet long to nine feet long, and the staff must be long enough to push the charge all the way back). I will be copying one page at a time, as time allows. Here it goes RAMMERS, LONG GUNS: "Rammer Heads: The Same Diameter of the Shot. One and one half the diameter of the Bore of the piece in Length. To be made of seasoned oak. With a score to receive a copper [feruly ? [A Ferrule, perhaps? This is a metal ring or cap used to strengthen a slender wooden pole] on the end next to the staff, and another for a seizing. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 10, 5 / 6, 8 32 " 9, 6 / 6, 2 24 " 8, 7 / 5, 6 18 " 7, 9 / 5, 1 12 " 7, 0 / 4, 5 9 " 6, 3/ 4, 0 6 " 5, 5 / 3, 5 Rammers, Staff: Three diameters of the bore of the piece longer than the bore of the piece, one fourth of the bore of the piece in diameter. To be made of Ashe Wood. Caliber/Length in feet, inches / Diameter Inches, tenths of an inch 42 Pdr, 11, 8 / 1, 7 32 " 10, 8 / 1, 6 24 " 9, 8 / 1, 4 18 " 8, 10 / 1, 3 12 " 7, 10 / 1, 2 9 " 7, 0 / 1, 0 6 " 6, 2 / 0, 8" Also on the same page, PASSING BOXES, LONG GUNS: "Passing Boxes Two diameters of the bore of the piece in length and the diameter of the bore of the piece in the clear. To be made of leather, three parts, tanned [?]. They are to be slung with green hide, laid up as a piece of rattling. the cover to overlap two-fifths, the diameter of the bore of the piece. To be rivitted with copper rivits with a piece of poplar wood half an inch thick fixed in the bottom. Caliber/ Length in Inches, Tenths of an inch / Diameter in the Clear, Inches, Tenths 42 Pdr, 14, 0 / 7, 0 32 " 12, 8 / 6, 4 24 " 11, 6 / 5, 8 18 " 10, 6 / 5, 3 12 " 9, 4 / 4, 7 9 " 8, 4/ 4, 2 6 " 7, 4 / 3, 7"