woodrat

Woodrat-  Perhaps, it might be worthwhile, but Texas A&M University, has one of the few programs on Research and Archaeology on marine subjects.

. They can be reached at:

 

 

Montani semper liberi  Happy modeling

  Crackers   

Thanks, Crackers, I have done just that and await a reply.

Dick

Or, in addition to what Crackers suggested, check out the Theses and Dissertations database (http://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/alum.htm).  There's a lot of useful information as well as some that are just plain good reading.

I agree, I have delved into a few of these dissertations and they are a goldmine. Courageous decision, by the way, about your Licorne. Sometimes it is better to "screw your courage to the sticking place" and get on with things.

Dick

Thanks. That's very useful. I'll have to add them to my "must buy" list.

 

Steven

At least get "Vanguard of Empire". Are you thinking of building a carrack or other style of mediaeval ship?

An excellent starting point is Roger Smith: "Vanguard of Empire" Oxford Press.

Other reference for iconography is: Lillian Ray Martin : "The Art and Archeology of Venetian Ships and Boats"  Texas A&M Books

Articles by Mauro Bondioli in : "The Book of Michael of Rhodes vol 3" Long, McGee and Stahl eds.  MIT Press

Of Course The volume in Conways History of the Ship  " Cogs Caravels and Galleons" is a very useful starting point as well.

Dick

 The modification of the stempost is relatively minor and would make it resemble both Oliveira's plan and the Trombetta manuscript more closely.

this is the present stempost and the modified version according to Oliveira , a Portuguese. Is this more like the original?

Dick

  Thanks, Steven, the sternpost rake was calculated by contemporary geometric techniques as used by the shipwrights in the Arsenale. Incidentally it happens to tally with the Mataro model closely.  Dick

MDF board also has health risks due to formaldehyde glues and wood fibre. Good ventilation is required as well as face mask and eye protection if sanding or using power tools on it. A good shop vacuum is a wise investment.

Here is a relevant link:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-health-risks-of-mdf.htm

Dick

Before I get too involved with rigging, I have to build the full hull . This is new to me as I have never done a POB model before. Nor have I designed one. I am making this up as I go along. I hope you guys will forgive any egregious errors and make suggestions as I go.

Here goes, this is the central bulkhead support with the backbone of the ship

I don't know if this is any help, but there's a paper here by Texas A&M University

the TAMU files are a wonderful resource and we must be grateful to them for making them available to lubbers like us

Here are the lines of the carrack to date

[][][]

Thanks to Mooonbug and well done on your reworking of the AL Santa Maria. Good choice to have a round tuck stern. The rigging of my carrack fills me with trepidation, however.

Dick

Excellent!!  Would you consider mounting it on a mirror ?

 

S.os

Yep, I did consider it but decided against it. Please see previous posts for the reasons.

Yes, Crackers, there is guesswork but it is also detective work with many clues and many suspects

here are some preliminary lines, which will be cleaned up.

Dick

Thanks, Steven for the pics which will be of interest to many MSW readers. The Reixach carracks seem to be closest to the carrack I am reconstructing. It also shows a sailor ascending ratlines but they are not drawn in.

The most realistic depictions  of carracks by far are by Carpaccio.

I am presently drawing up lines to build a 1:64 POB full hull model.

Dick

Louie, I have been fascinated by the english carracks in the Richard Beaumont drawings. These seem to be sketched from life and show much interesting detail. Some show ratlines and others Jacob's ladders. Thanks for the link.

Druxey and Doreltomin. Another reason not to place the ship on a mirror was the fact that it was not symmetrical. the bowsprit (if that's what it was) is shifted to the starboard side of the forecastle (a feature seen in many pictures of the period).

Dick

Have fun with your build, Cookster. It is a beautiful ship.

Dick

 

 

: Have you considered putting a MIRROR instead of the plank on which the half model is put? In such a way the model would look complete from any angle!

 

Of course since the plane of the cut isn't now made exactly in the middle but a bit before that, you must "shave" everything to the exact middle and make not a full round mast, but just half of it.  A bit tricky but I believe it would worth the trouble!

I did consider a mirror and tried one but, because of the thickness of glass over the silvered layer, it looked like there was a huge gap down the middle of the ship and I gave up on the idea. Besides, there is a venerable tradition of half-hull models and I rather like the way they look.

Thank you Louie for the article on Master W A +. This will be very useful. I think Landstrom in his excellent book uses the Mataro nao but lengthens in in the mid section to make it seaworthy. the wooldings on the masts in two of the pictures indicating masts made of several pieces of wood whereas the small nao by W A has a one piece mast. Also noteworthy is that, in the first picture, the yard has been lowered to the deck, presumably it was the way they did a harbour furl.

The dragon

This completes the  abbreviated build log of US Frigate Essex Dick

Thanks, Doreltomin. It is unfortunate that the Mataro nao has been interfered with so much over the centuries but it is the best we have. It is a challenging project .

Here are some views of the temporary framework used to support awnings on the stern and fore castles. Also the eccentric "bowsprit"

Have removed the "deck beams" and exposed the underlying bituminised "frames". The planking between the wales left off. Looks more like the illustration Dick

The fore and aft edges of the blocks are always perpendicular to the keel. Problem solved. Have to change the model now Dick

The cutter is similarly constructed

the boot

Another thought. Perhaps the ship in drydock is in the process of being planked and the strakes between the main wales are not yet in place. The square blocks could be the underlying frames. :mellow: Dick

The rudder is made of several pieces with wooden battens and metal straps reinforcing. Note the curve of the tiller.

Really great work. I'm impressed. However, I would have preferred a full rigged model with sails, rather than a half model. Regardless, this project is truly professional in scope. Thanks for sharing.

 

Montani semper liberi  Happy modeling

    Crackers   

Thanks, Crackers. But if you think the evidence for hull construction is poor, wait till you see what's known about mediaeval rigging!!!

I do, however, have a cunning plan to do a full hull with rigging. The half-hull was sort of a proof of concept model. But first I must finish Le Gros Ventre. Dick

The lifeboat alone is a masterpiece!! Following this one too.

Thanks Vivian. Scratch building is very satisfying. I heartily recommend it.

Dick

This is yet another place where I'd love to have a time machine!

Or one ot two archaeological finds! I can find no other reference in my books of nautical archaeology to projecting beams below the waterline but sheathing is well attested. Any nautical archaeologists out there?

The steps in comstruction of longboat over a balsa mold