ancre La Créole 1827 by archjofo - Scale 1/48 - French corvette

[wefalck]

This attention to historic detail is just exemplary ... 👍🏻

[JerryTodd]

15 hours ago, archjofo said:

In this context, there was still a need for clarification regarding the routing of the fore topsail braces, since, according to the monograph, their standing parts should also be attached to the mainstay, where the fore braces are also attached.

I can't see all those downward pulling braces (#s 15, 16, 26, 27), they would be impractical in practice.  Because the yard moves up and down on the mast, you'd have to cast off the braces to be able to set the sail.  The model and Harland show it where, at most, you have to ease the braces.

Edited May 18 by JerryTodd

[archjofo]

Hello,
I will not follow the monograph regarding the braces, but will instead follow the original Paris model.

[giampieroricci]

What an incredible job you are doing, Johann! Your model should be taken as an example for all those who want to equip their own!

Absolute perfection!!!

[archjofo]

@wefalck

@JerryTodd

@giampieroricci

Hello,

I would like to thank you very much for your interest and contributions.
And of course, many thanks to everyone else for the likes.

 

Hello colleagues,

I've tried to summarize the information I gathered some time ago about the brace routing for my French corvette in a diagram for further rigging work.
If you're interested, please zoom in!
I hope you'll forgive me for only labeling it in German.
But the pictures will explain it to some extent.

[SaltyScot]

That is very explicit, Johann, I like your color coding for the different lines. A nice way to sort all that rigging out. I speak, read and write German very well but, I must say, those words on the images were completely new to me!

 

[jdbondy]

There's German, and then there's nautical German. And then there is the nautical German translation of the nautical French...or vice versa...

[ccoyle]

14 minutes ago, jdbondy said:

There's German, and then there's nautical German. And then there is the nautical German translation of the nautical French...or vice versa...

 

[wefalck]

Use Paasch‘s ‚From Keel to Truck‘ and forget about GoogleTranslator …

[archjofo]

@SaltyScot

@ccoyle

@wefalck

 

Hello,

Since I can't be held responsible for my dear colleagues getting headaches ...😁... , I've tried to translate the terms.
I hope it's more understandable now.👍

[jdbondy]

Wefalck, that book is exactly the reference I have been looking for! Should be immensely useful when looking at Boudriot's books.

[archjofo]

@jdbondy

Yes, the Paasch is really very helpful for translating old nautical terms.

I can therefore recommend it.

 

Continued: Fore yard – Bowlines / Boulines
Since I don't equip my corvette with sails, the question inevitably arose as to how the bowlines are attached. Originally, I intended to simply tie the bowlines around the yard, like on the original Paris model, without bridles. Since I was naturally interested in how bridles work, the next question arose: What happens to the bowline bridles when the sails are taken down?
I found the answer to this question in K. Schrage's book – Rundhölzer, Tauwerk und Segel – on page 144. There, you can see an illustration of how the bridle legs are attached to the yard with timber hitches when the sails are taken down.

Source: K. Schrage – Rundhölzer, Tauwerk und Segel – p. 144

 

Since I find this arrangement very logical, I decided to show it this way for my model. Regarding the number of bridle shanks, I'm guided by the monograph, as diverse variations can be found in relevant contemporary illustrations.
I intend to implement the bowline bridles as in the original, using real eye splices. The bowline bridles in the foreyard had a diameter of 19 mm (1:48: ø 0.35 mm – 2 x 3 Kimono Japanese silk yarn). Splicing the thin ropes is now very easy.

In order to finally attach the bowline, I still had to tie the guide blocks to the bowsprit, as shown in the next picture.

I'm also currently working on the correct mooring of the running rigging.

But more on that soon.
To be continued...

[shipman]

Every new post is simply overwhelming.

[SaltyScot]

3 hours ago, shipman said:

Every new post is simply overwhelming.

 

I second that.I have to remind myself to shut my mouth which falls open in awe when I see this kind of workmanship 

[archjofo]

@shipman

@SaltyScot

Hello,

Thank you very much for the nice comments.
I'm very happy. Thanks also to everyone else for the many likes.

 

Continuation: Fore yard – Bowlines / Boulines
I've also since read up on the arrangement of the bowline bridles in the contemporary specialist literature "Manuel de Greement" by F. A. Coste from 1829, starting on page 167, and it fits. The only thing is that it refers to thimbles through which the individual rope limbs are threaded.

I also looked again in Marquardt, which also covers the rigging of French ships, although again only up to the end of the 18th century.
If I now incorporate the aforementioned contemporary illustrations from the early 19th century and models from the Paris Museum into my considerations, I come to the conclusion that the bowline bridles on my corvette could well have looked the way I have since attached them to the fore yard.

I can't clearly verify the attachment of the bowlines without sails for the French, as shown in the K. Schrage's book – Rundhölzer, Tauwerk und Segel – . But I think it's quite realistic that the French did it the same way as the British.
I'm currently building a jig to make rope coils for the belaying pins.
I imagine it might look like this:

More on that soon...

 

[archjofo]

Continuation: Fore yard – Leech lines and bunt lines / Cargue-fonds et cargue-boulines
Among other things, I am currently preparing to attach the leech lines and bunt lines to the fore yard. The corresponding blocks are already in place both on the yard and in the form of guide blocks under the fore top.

Since I am rigging my model without sails, these ropes must be secured against slipping from the corresponding blocks. Knots have been tied to the lines for this purpose, as seen on many models, including contemporary ones.
However, what I have also occasionally seen in illustrations of these on models from the Musée de la Marine in Paris are loop-shaped knots, presumably buntline hitches, but could also be bowline knots or similar. The leech lines and bunt lines are then securely attached to the corresponding cringles of the sail using buntline hitches.

Source: Manual of Seamanship, Vol. 1, 1951

 

In any case, a knot that can be easily untied when the sails are hoisted back up.
Here, using the example of L'Egyptienne from 1799, the "loops" are clearly visible upon closer inspection.

Source: Image detail from the original model of L'Egyptienne 1799 in the Musée de la Marine in Paris

 

A third way to secure the bunt lines against slipping out of the blocks would be to simply tie the ropes, as can be seen on the original Paris model of La Créole.

Source: Image detail from the original model of La Créole in the Musée de la Marine in Paris

 

Three possibilities, which naturally raise the question of which one is closest to historical reality.
 

Therefore, I would be very grateful if you could share your expertise with me.
I look forward to your contributions.

Edited Monday at 08:13 AM by archjofo

[archjofo]

Continuation: Fore yard – Leech lines and bunt lines / Cargo-fonds et cargo-boulines
I'm still wondering how the leech and bunt lines were secured without sails to prevent them from slipping off the blocks. After further research, I've now come across a stopper knot called the figure-eight knot (French: Noeud de huit).
This seems to be the ultimate stopper knot, especially well-suited for temporarily tying lines, such as leech and bunt lines without sails. When attaching the sails, it can be easily untied, even when attached to a block. It's stronger than a bowline and easier to control.

This is also how it is described in principle in "The Ashley Book of Knots" with reference to the Lever's Sheet Anchor, as the following excerpts show.

Source: The Ashley Book of Knots

 

Source: The young sea officer's sheet anchor; Darcey Lever, 1813

The French call this knot a "noeud de huit."

Once again, as so often with specific, detailed questions, G. Delacroix provided me with expert support. When I asked about the figure-eight knot in connection with leech and bunt lines, he told me that these knots are generally referred to as "stopper knots" in historical descriptions, and he could imagine that the figure-eight knot would have been quite suitable for this purpose and that its use is not uncommon.

As for L'Egyptienne 1799, the loop-shaped knots should be viewed with skepticism, as the rigging is likely questionable in terms of restoration.

 

In summary, I have come to the conclusion that I consider the figure-eight knot to be a completely historically credible variant for my model and will implement it accordingly.

 

To be continued...

Edited yesterday at 04:05 PM by archjofo

[Kenchington]

The figure-of-eight is the modern recreational sailor's standard stopper knot, often used at the end of some piece of running rigging to prevent it unreeving through blocks or fairleads. But, while I would not argue with Ashley's statement that it is less likely to jam than an overhand knot, it can still be awkward to release if pulled up tight.

 

I wonder whether your leech and buntlines were secured by stopping the loose end to the standing part, forming a temporary loop with the sheave of the last block caught in that loop. It would only need a few turns of a scrap of marline, tied off like a crude, quick version of a seizing. Then it could be released with a simple knife-cut through the twine.

 

However, that would be a painful way to rig a model, so go with stopper knots instead!

 

Trevor

[wefalck]

The figure-of-eight knot is the classical knot that one puts on the end of line to prevent it from running out through blocks et. I learned this already 50+ years ago during my first sailing lessons. It becomes a habitual gesture to put one on, as soon as one has reeved a line through a block.

 

This has not be confused with the 'stopper-knot' that was used to attach shorter lengths of rope to anchor-cables inboard to relief spills etc. when riding at anchor.

[Kenchington]

58 minutes ago, wefalck said:

not be confused with the 'stopper-knot'

Knots for stoppers not to be confused with stopper knots!

 

Nautical English ought to be a model for clarity in technical communication but it is knot not 😎

 

Trevor

[SaltyScot]

8 hours ago, Kenchington said:

Nautical English ought to be a model for clarity in technical communication but it is knot not

 

I have missed that wit, Trevor!