AON

looks darn good to me we used to step on the (real life size) splice and roll it on the deck under our boot to compress and tighten it up still have my spike but I think I'd use a needle at that scale!

Gil, My "engineering skills" may be the biggest hurdle as I find I am likely being far too anal (strict) in my thinking of my build. I intend to do a scratch build of the first HMS Bellerophon (which happens to be the ships badge you can't recognize... but it is for the last Bellerophon... the image is a Gryphon). Presently I am in my "planning stage", attempting to purchase the plans of HMS Goliath and Elephant as they are exactly the time of the Bellerophon and record the changes from the earlier versions. This I intend to redraw in 2D/3D and make my templates. Your assembled tutorial of the Victory will be an invaluable aid along with those kits of the Bellerophon (Vanguard) found on this site. Regarding ships served on... I have a very impressive list, that is until you stop and think about it: HMCS Cornwallis, HMCS Naden, HMCS Haida, HMCS Quadra. All "stone frigates" except for the most distinquished of all which is now a floating museum. I served (using the term extremely loosely) as a Sea Cadet (13 to 19 years old) then joined the Sea (Naval) Reserve on the Cadet Instructors List and later served as CO of #141 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Bellerophon, then the oldest corps in Canada by virtue of her Charter date (1917) having began as a Boys Naval Brigade. She was "decommissioned" a few years ago to the displeasure of many of the old crew. Politics. I now seem to be rambling (as old folks do) and so once again say thank you so very much for such a wonderful diversion from my daily headaches. It is so beautiful and fills my dreams at night. Alan

What a fantastic ride this has been for me! I have learned so much with your photos and particularly those few that had labels (tags) added into them. Thank you very much and BZ Doc! Alan

'Doreltomin': Indeed they are the same book and same table! Looking at your link to Wikipedia, it gives examples of the foot measurement having been standardized at even an earlier time (Henry III) and becoming 11/12ths of what it had been. My understanding is the metric system nailed everything down and created a world wide standard where no one could be short changed. After all a foot was originally the measurement of the length of a standard foot... I wear a size 11 so if I were to measure something I might get more of it than my very good friend and neighbour Pierre who wears a size 9-1/2 An inch was the width of the thumb. If I hit my thumb with a hammer and it were to become swollen.... you get my point. The Merchant I am sure would find a way to use the system to his advantage. I believe the French established the standard to eliminate the confusion and did indeed find the average English foot to be what was reported, equal to 308 mm in their new and improved international system of measurement (SI units) and then in there "right and might" of the time decided they would re-invent it to be 304.8 mm. After all Napoleon did have very high aspirations! Alan

I just acquired a slew of invaluable reference books from a member and while looking through one book (Historic Ship Models by Wolfram zu Mondfeld, pg 66) I stumbled onto a chart of historical units of measure. The unit of measure was standardized across the board with the introduction and acceptance of the metric system in 1799. (no surprise to me) Many countries were using the foot (and inch) as their unit of measure but the actual distance that comprised a foot differed between various countries. (again no surprise to me) What surprised me was to learn that the English foot (12 inches) was established to have been (on average?) 308.0 millimetres prior to this date. Today (as of the standardization made in 1799) it is 304.8 mm ............... a difference of 3.2 mm shorter than earlier dates. This doesn't seem like much but a ship measuring 168 feet long in 1786 might be 168 x 3.2 = 537.6 mm = 21 (and a wee bit) inches longer today using the measuring stick of that day! One of them hemmm moments. Here I thought the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calender in 1582 might have mixed up a few historical dates. Alan

What you outline above might work... give it a try! For me I think using "construction lines" and fixed "points" to then use the lofting feature might be best Some day soon I expect I will be trying this myself so I would not know for sure until then Having one master file for the 3D lofting (all construction lines) and then save it as another file multiple times to create the individual parts from (change select construction lines to object line then extrude the shape for the individual part) then a final assembly file to assembly the individual parts in to build the 3D model might be my approach This would be a lot extra work compared to what I believe you are trying to accomplish but the finished fitted 3D model part files could then be used as templates for an actual build Again, I have to say I have not done this yet so it is just in my humble opinion, untried and unproven. Alan

finding this interesting attached are images from BR67 Manual of Seamanship 1937 VOL 1 reference to describe clinker, carvel or diagonal built boats Alan

I can see by the work so far this will be one to watch!

Grant I just download that excellent paper by Wayne you provided the link to above. Thank you (now I have even more homework)

DraftSight is a free downloadable CAD program that can be easily used by any junior draughtsman to create 2D drawings I have it at home and we use it at the office

Another incredibly awesome build and log. I aspire to be 1/4 as good as this if I should live so long. (my darling wife is going to be so upset with the amount of time I'll be spending here) Alan

Absolutely awesome ! Alan