Sailor1234567890

A 1:36 scale ship. Gonna be big.

Rob, would you mind putting that composite image up here for us? I can't wrap my head around the upside downness of it all. LOL

I just thought I'd put a reminder here to have a listen to "The Lubber's Hole", a podcast about Jack and Stephen. While the books may be a bit challenging to read at first, they really are some of the best English literature out there. I'm about to return to the governor's ballroom again for another circumnavigation of the series. There are also a couple of good FB groups that delve into the intricacies of the series.

Tom's in a FB group for Mason Sailboat Owners. Tom owns a beautiful Mason 44 named Constance. He puts out regular videos about traditional seamanship, navigation and all things boating. He's got a sharp wit and a great understated sense of humour as Roger mentioned. He writes articles for sailing and yachting magazines as well. All round good guy to have access to if you're into boating.

A fireship is a very specialized ship. The layout, the construction, how her ports are cut, the internals of her. They're not just a converted ship (generally though some were pressed to serve as fireships with significant modifications made on the spot) because a normal ship just isn't designed to burn. Ports open upwards, burning through the line that holds the port open and they all shut starving the fire of air. The combustibles below are arranged in special systems to be able to have fuses led around without to the various places that needed fusing. There's an escape hatch at the aft end, below the stern usually where the crew can make their escape. Now these things could all be changes made on the spot (knock the port lids off and they won't shut, no need to hinge them from the bottom really), but the crew was specialized as well. And as such, they needed specialized training. So why give them specialized training and let them loose into the fleet? Give them that training and let them loose with purpose built fireships. Can't for the life of me remember where I read/listened to/watched that but it was relatively recently. If I find it, I'll post a link.

For anyone interested in the A-M series, check out a podcast called "The Lubber's Hole". It's a couple of guys who dissect the series book by book. I spend an hour or so soaking in the hot tub on Sunday nights when the new one is released. Gotta justify all that time and money put into maintaining the hot tub so it's my shut down the brain time. I first read Hornblower at 12 years of age. I thought the books looked too big for me until I got into the first one. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. Later, I got into the A-M series. There's no comparison. Hornblower is a fun story. A-M is the greatest historical literature you're likely to find anywhere in the English language. The movie was incredible. It didn't follow the books but it wasn't intended to. The technical advisor for the movie, Gordon Laco, is a friend of mine on FB and he often dips his oar in on groups related to sailing ships etc. when the subject of the movie or other related topics come up. They may not have told the story of the books but they captured the feeling and essence of being at sea in the RN on a small frigate impeccably. There are a number of small "errors" in the film, most done to ensure the viewer "gets the picture" rather than by accident. The scene with the guy sitting on the heads with his pants around his ankles is an example. He would have been sitting facing inboard but had they filmed it that way, it wouldn't have been clear that he was on the seat of ease so they turned him outboard. Other minor little things like that but otherwise, the movie is right up there with Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan for authenticity. It may even be better than those two and they are known for their authenticity. Look up the podcast and re-watch the HH and A-M series. Also read the books again. Another circumnavigation of the A-M books is always in order. I plan to start another one once I finish the book I'm reading right now. I also plan to put the date I start on the inside front cover to track how many times I read it. The A-M books reveal new nuggets every time you read them. They keep getting better and better.

We had that book at home growing up. I remember not really appreciating it. Glad it's appreciated.

Ah, that makes sense.

Is that a ship's boy perched way out at the end of the bowsprit where the jibboom looks to have been cut of flush? Looks like a child to me.

Careful about her waterline there in that picture. It looks to me like there's an overboard discharge of some sort just below and abaft the fluke of that stbd anchor. It seems to be splashing the hull. You can see the darker wet region just above the waterline forward of there but the hull is wet a little higher where the water is splashing into the harbour there. There's also wet hull darkness below the outlet trailing aft. Leads me to believe there may have been wind coming from ahead at some point shortly before that picture was taken. Also makes the shape of her waterline there a little tricky to see.

Ah. Cool. Thanks. I wonder what the etymology of it is in French. Quarter Galleries are a gallery on the quarter of the ship so that's easy but why "Bottle" in French?

The rake of your masts looks a little suspect to my eye. Her masts were raked 1 degree more for each mast moving aft. While the main and mizzen might be 1 degree apart, the mizzen looks raked dramatically different than the main and fore. I'm loving the build though. Cheers, Daniel

Actually, I think he means the spindles above the quarter galleries. They are somewhat "bottle" shaped individually after all.

That's some nice looking shipbuilding you've got there. I think there's something lost in translation though. What are the "bottles" you refer to?

Once a digital model of her hull shape has been created as best can be done with what is known about her today, is it possible for the digital program to incorporate the hog we know was measured? That way, photos of her later in life could be set behind the digital model and compared. That would tell us if the suspicion that the hog has altered the angle of her cutwater is correct and by how much.

Noise transmits exceptionally well through water as most of us already know. Sitting in Halifax Harbour in one of our patrol frigates, I could hear someone's Sonar Pinging. They were conducting trials of some sort and it was irritating beyond belief. In a submarine, you can hear vessels transiting overhead. Not something we like to do but when someone does sail over us (they don't know we're under them) it's quite obvious. The most interesting noise I heard from safe depth was a helicopter passing over head. Yes, the noise of the Helo transmitted through the water, down to our submarine, through the hull and into our ears. One of our Sonar Operators told of a port visit to Bermuda where he met up with a buddy from one of our frigates. He asked him what the problem was with one of the shaft lines. The buddy was flabbergasted that he knew they had sustained damage to one of the shafts because it had just happened. Apparently, it was audible and easily distinguished that ship from any of the other frigates in the area. This is all metal stuff. Wooden ships, as mentioned above, there's a lot of creaking and groaning. You can hear the wind from below and depending on the size of the vessel, you can hear people walking above your head. Larger vessels have decks thick enough that it gets hard to hear. The suggestion of listening to Master and Commander is probably one of the best ones. It's understood by most to be the single most accurate portrayal of war and I seem to recall it was nominated and may have won some awards for sound work. The sound in that movie is amazing. The sound of roundshot coming inboard.... they filmed balls crashing through planking from downrange and used that in the movie so it's exactly what balls sound like crashing through timber. They recorded each different size of gun shooting ball, chain, grape..... each has it's own unique sound and they incorporated them accurately in the movie. Best movie ever if you ask me.

Any update on Bismarck so we know when we can expect an update on Victory?

I suspect the Admins may need to move it for you. Or they could at least explain what you need to do. Glad I don't have to figure that out. Cheers, Daniel

I love the detail you're putting into the cabin. Articles below decks etc. Looks awesome. But why is she in the 1900-present day folder? She was rebuilt as a dilapidated old boat by Slocum in the 1890s. Not sure when in the 1800s she was built but she wasn't even rebuilt by him in the last century.

I agree, those sails are absolutely amazing. A tutorial would be nice. And more pics of course.

I don't have the skills. I am hoping to build them up soon but I don't think Glory is in my future. More a suggestion in case someone else with the skills might be interested. I think it would yield some good/interesting information though.

I looks like a big part of figuring out her shape is determining angles, lengths, distances etc. from photos that may not be exactly angled perfectly parallel, or perpendicular to whatever you're trying to measure. Has anyone tried building a 3D model of her then viewing it from the angle in a given photo to see if it looks the same thereby confirming your best guess as to what the angle of say the steeve of the bowsprit is?

So when are you starting Stephano? Looks awesome. Great work.

I see you placed deck planking under the forward trucks of the guns to get them to the proper height. Is that temporary until you lay the decking or will you be leaving it open like this? Stunning work you've done. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. I'll have to look back through the thread to find that part. Cheers, Daniel