uss frolick

Chris, I love your descriptions of the design process, since your work in bringing this new kit subject to market stands in sharp contrast to the efforts of Certain Unnamed Foreign Enterprises who somehow only manage to design "new" kits for which detailed plans just so happen to already have been published by AOTS, ANCRE, or Seawatch. 🙄

OK, little update.
 
Designs for Indefatigable are now about 85% complete. The pictures shown are of the pre-prototype, so looks very rough as usual, as many parts have been glued, ripped off and new parts added in place - and is built for part checking only (just like Sphinx). There are still a few mistakes on this prototype model, so does not entirely reflect the final designs.
 
I have also included a drawing I did of the basic outline of what I think Indy would have looked like during most of her career. The only concession I have made is keeping the forecastle timberheads, rather than berthing up this area, with the decision based purely on aesthetics (plus the plans show this anyway.
 
What I did change is the quarter bulwarks. I know she had 7 gun ports per side and three (with spare chase port) at the bow, so the 7th port had to be worked in, and this meant altering the bulwarks to the same height. I have placed the additional 12 pounder long chase guns right at the front, as I could not see Pellew being chased, more the chaser...
 
I have tried to keep the poop profile as low as I can. Pellew didn't even want the poop at all, and would have been happy to have his cabin on the main gun deck and Indy fitted with sloop like quarter badges (would have looked odd..). With this in mind, I have kept the poop profile to a minimum, as I am sure Pellew would not have requested anything that would have increased windage. I will add 'iron stanchions' to this area, and that's it.
 
I have the bow area to design, which will be the last of the main areas, and then I need to do all the photo etched parts. (Oh, and of course, a figurehead and stern decoration - which will be minimal). For the first time, I decided to go with laser cut and engraved columns for in between all lights/windows, and I am very happy with how they turned out. Channels are made by laminating three patterns together, a wider and thicker centre and not so wide and thinner top and bottom.
 
You will be able to build this without the open slots in the decks if you so wish, they are not mandatory. The stand is 4mm acetate and a 2mm duel colour engraved nameplate.
 
ETA - Forgot to mention, I have moved the poop skylight back by 3 beams, as I realised it was too close the edge of the poop, so it is now over the great cabin, and not in the position shown.

Thanks to all for the comments,all the likes and the interest in my project. Today is the 15 Floréal CCXXX, and in the Arsenal in Munich we enter in the last phase to rise up the frames !

I can't keep up with all the reading that you are supplying, Bruce! This is fascinating stuff. Thank you.

Capturing the Curve: Underlying Concepts in the Design of the Hull by Taras Pevn
The number and quality of the CAD illustrations makes this stand out. The subject of 'maker's marks' is a whole new playground for me.
Capturing_the_Curve_Underlying_Concepts.pdf

Linking_Land_and_Navy_archaeological_inv (1).pdf

Dave
 
Model Shipways Shipwright series is a great way to start off!  There are additional great kits as well, but also some others that are difficult to work with and are avoided by many folks due to poor materials, poor instructions, and design details such as gratings, belaying pins, etc.  that look nothing like what is found on a real ship or a well scaled model.  Study the build logs here at MSW and compare to photos of contemporary models and plans on various websites like RMG Collections to get a better idea of which kits will suit your needs and tastes in the future.
Allan

Chris, will the forecastle bulwarks be open, as was in the original plan, or planked over, after the change to a nearly all carronade upper deck armament?

Very interesting! The Shark might make a nice scratch build project.

The Texas A&M thesis site is a gold mine of information for those who haven't looked.  Be prepared to spend some time there as it's a deep and information rich rabbit hole.

Thank you for posting. Towards the bottom of the link is a photo of their exhibit at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Oregon. https://www.crmm.org/current-exhibits.html

Thank you. That looks very interesting!

Thank you. That looks very interesting!

THE ANALYSIS AND CONSERVATION OF TWO 18-POUNDER CARRONADES FROM THE U.S. NAVY SCHOONER SHARK
A Thesis by BRENNAN P. BAJDEK Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS
 
The_Analysis_and_Conservation_of_Two_18.pdf

Chris, will the forecastle bulwarks be open, as was in the original plan, or planked over, after the change to a nearly all carronade upper deck armament?

Chris, will the forecastle bulwarks be open, as was in the original plan, or planked over, after the change to a nearly all carronade upper deck armament?

The Conquerer - reminds me a bit on Sean Connery as "Man who would be King"

 
Well - only a bit ..

Although they will be completely hidden! 
 
Cannon carriages - These will be the same as I did for Victory. The front axles will have a tab which will locate into a slot on the gun deck. The barrels are added after. I didn't want to do this, and avoided this method, hoping to think up a solution. However, unlike Sphinx, this has some pretty heavy duty beams and a much wider gangway with boat beams under the gangway, not on top. The only real solution was to add the carriages and then barrels later, so no cap squares. The 12 pounder long chasers on the forecastle will have integrated cap squares, however, and the 18 x 42 pounder carronades have none anyway..
 
ETA - The kit will come with 1.5x6mm limewood for first planking, I used 1x5, so I could more easily check the overall run of the planking, all is fine...

Just a little update on Indefatigable. Development going well, still tons to do, but the pre prototype (test bed) model is starting to take shape with final parts (and some not so final parts)..

Just to throw a bit of snark in: given what Ive seen of Victory as a model kit, I would say the best one is the one you think you can complete.   

Just had a new book arrive for stock:
 
Ship Models from the Age of Sail – VANGUARD MODELS
 
It is very nice, written by Kerry Jang, and features Speedy as one of the builds. There is reference to Chucks (Syren Models) great models, and a picture of the fantastic Winchelsea  and Cheerful.
 
Book is hardback and full colour. I shall keep one for myself...

On a happier note, Indefatigable development moves on relentlessly. I have started the first planking of the hull, which will take a few days. Still not sorted a figurehead though, but all armament, anchors and other castings type fittings have already been produced.
 
I decided to 3-d print the majority of the belfry. This is still quite small, and the original has many shapes.  I did originally design it in separate parts, with laser cut and engraved supports, but it would have been quite fiddly to assembly, and I don't like fiddly if I can help it. I then designed it with the stanchions and canopy (always a problematic shape if in wood form) as one piece, and the bell cross beam in pear.
 
I have attached my original drawing for this, it will not look as 'clunky' as a wood only part. As with the anchors and guns, this is produced using black resin.

Just got my Grant Walker books! Great timing. Thanks! 

Finally picked up both of the Rogers Collection volumes! Was long overdue ...

Just got my Grant Walker books! Great timing. Thanks!