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

[archjofo]

@druxey

Thanks for your nice comment.

Thanks also to all for the many LIKES.

 

Continuation: Equipping the yards - studding sail boom irons
After initial problems and a failed attempt, I set out with new courage to make another one. Probably to avoid the mistakes of the first attempt, such as brazing the fine parts of the hinges too much heat, so that they then ultimately become brittle and break off (see picture). In principle, it would also have been possible to make these joints with soft solder. However, for reasons of strength, I chose brazing.

On the next picture I show a photo collage, where single steps for making the studding sail boom iron are shown.

On the next picture you can see the studding sail boom iron still in uncleaned condition after brazing. The outer ring is still missing the hint of a hinge, which I will fix with soft solder.

Here a picture with spar:

And finally the result for the two inner studding sail boom irons of the fore topsail yard.

Making the outer studding sail boom irons should be much easier.
To be continued ...

 

Edited February 13, 2023 by archjofo

[wefalck]

This is watchmaker quality !

[archjofo]

@wefalck

Hello Eberhard,

thanks for the nice comment.

 

Continuation: For topsail yard - studding sail boom iron
In the meantime I also made the outer studding sail boom irons for the fore topsail yard. Like the inner irons, they were made of brass strips with a width of 1.3 mm and a thickness of 0.25 mm. For brazing with a silver brazing paste I fix the pre-prepared parts on a ceramic plate, as already shown several times.
With the following picture I show how the assembly of the inner studding sail boom irons is done. The brass wire ø 0.4 mm, which still has to be shortened, takes over the function of a safety pin.

The next picture shows the outer iron of the fore topsail yard. The end of the yardarm is square with dimensions 2.2 / 2.2 mm.

In order to be able to carry out the assembly and rigging work on the yards comfortably, I made myself this holding device.

And finally, an overview of the construction status of the fore topsail yard, with the studding sail booms, which in the meantime has each received a hole at the octagonal end. At the outer end, a notch has been added for fastening the blocks.

The next step is the studding sail boom irons for the main topsail yard, the dimensions of which are somewhat larger.
To be continued ...

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by archjofo

[albert]

Hi Johann your work is fantastic.

[jdbondy]

Johann, maybe you know about this model already, but I will send you these pictures anyway. I was just at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They have a small but important collection of ship models, and one of them is this French corvette from around 1810. I instantly thought of your build log. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

[dvm27]

Do they still have that magnificent model of he Royal George on display?

[jdbondy]

You bet! Rob Napier once referred to its bow as having the "Mother of all figureheads"!

 

If anyone can duplicate this, it would be Johann!

[archjofo]

@jdbondy

Hello,

very interesting and beautiful models. Thanks for the pictures.

[archjofo]

Continuation: Main topsail yard - studding sail boom iron - Cercle de bout-dehors de vergue
I continued with the studding sail boom irons for the main topsail yard. Since I had thoughtlessly started to make the rings, I forgot to make the bulge for the rollers. Since these rings were already soldered, I tried to solder on this bulge, which then also worked quite well and the even result became more precise.
As they say: the proof of the pudding is in the eating ...😁

 

The following picture shows the rings with the parts to be soldered on.

Here on this picture you can see my " soldering station ".

On the ceramic hole plate you can fix the parts to be soldered quite well.

The jeweler's saw is then used to remove the segments of the rings that are not necessary.

The next picture shows the drilling of the roller bearings with a 0.5 mm drill.

In the picture, all studding sail boom iron for the main topsail yard are united before blacking. The inside diameters of the spar hangers for the fore topsail yard are 2.7 mm, while those for the main topsail yard are 3.2 mm.

For blackening, I still use Brass Black, as I have had very good experiences with this agent. I coat the parts with a brush until they get the desired coloration. This proven method of working allows me to use the agent very sparingly.

The last two pictures show the studding sail boom irons already mounted to the main topsail yard.

Next, I make the irons for the fore yard. At the same time, I'm researching other equipment for the yards, such as attachment of the footropes, jackstays - yes or no, and so on.
See you soon ...

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by archjofo

[archjofo]

Continued: Fore yard- Studding sail boom irons - Cercle de bout-dehors de vergue
In the meantime, I also made the studding sail boom irons for the fore yard. In this context, I would like to go into a little more detail about the method of making the hinges for the two-piece mast clamps. In the studding sail boom irons for the fore yard, the hinge lugs were still bent. In the meantime, I have refined the method, as can be seen in the following photo collage. I think the pictures speak for themselves:

 
To finish this part, here's a picture with the studding sail boom irons for the fore yard already blackened.

 
Finally, only the studding sail boom irons for the main yard remain to be made. 
More about that soon ...

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by archjofo

[Wintergreen]

Mine Got/Good Heavens!

[wefalck]

Wow, this is serious competition in the field of micro-machining ...

[archjofo]

@Wintergreen

@wefalck

Thank you very much for your interest and appreciation.

 

Completion: Main yard - Studding sail boom iron - Cercle de bout-dehors de vergue
With the production of the studding sail boom irons for the main yard, this chapter can be brought to a close.

The first picture shows the already mounted studding sail boom irons of the main yard.

In the next pictures I have gathered all the yards that have been equipped with studding sail boom irons.

For the further equipment of the yards with blocks, footropes and jackstays, various details still have to be clarified.
More about that soon ...

[Gahm]

Absolutely beautiful, Johann!

 

Thomas

[jdbondy]

I find myself sad that this chapter is coming to a close...but even more exciting chapters to follow!

[Keith Black]

 Johann, those yards are a beautiful thing. 

[archjofo]

Fore studding sail booms / fore stays - Arc boutant de misaine 
The lower studding sail booms were attached to the fore channels of the La Créole with a hinged fitting. 

Source: Monograph on the La Créole by J. Boudriot

I made these lower studding sail booms together with the yards from pear wood (largest diameter 3 mm) some time ago. Likewise, the corresponding fittings with the eyelets for hooking in these booms were made and mounted on the front fore channels some time ago. Now these fittings had to be manufactured.
For the execution of these fittings I oriented myself at a corresponding illustration of the Paris model in the monograph. This design corresponds with drawings in the Atlas du Génie Maritime.
 

Source: Monograph on the La Créole by J. Boudriot

On the following picture collage, I have only shown the essential steps for the production of the fittings. I think the pictures are self-explanatory. The slots were milled. Unfortunately I did not take any pictures of this.

The next picture shows the blackened and mounted fittings.

 
And finally a picture of how the lower studding sail booms are hooked to the fore channels. These booms are secured to the front shrouds in the upper area by a lashing when not in use.
 

The next step will be the jackstays for the lower and topsail yards. There are still some details to be clarified. 
So far I could not find much information in the relevant literature or on the internet.

Would be very grateful if one or the other could contribute something to this topic.

 

Continuation follows ...

 

[wefalck]

Well, what praise can one still add ... 😲

[archjofo]

@wefalck

Hi,

thank you for your interest and the nice note.
Also thanks to all the others for the many LIKES.

 

Here it continues with a small update:

Continuation: Equipment of the yards - among other things Jackstays - Filière d`envergure.
Petrejus writes in his book "The model of the brig of the Irene" on page 207, that around 1811 yards were equipped with jackstays for the first time. By the early 1820s, these were in general use on larger square riggers, Petrejus continues. This is also consistent with statements in the Journal of the German Maritime Archives on the Hamburg Galiot Mary Ann on page 413. Initially these were made of cordage of natural fiber, and later these were made of wire rope or iron rods.
As can be clearly seen in some of the pictures of the original Paris model of La Créole, jackstays made of stiffened cordage were also used there. I have not found anything on the plans of Jean Boudriot's monograph on the La Créole itself. Under the illustration on p. 170, however, there is a short description of the jackstays. Accordingly, the sails should only have been attached at the lower and topsail yards by means of jackstays, if I have understood it correctly. The topgallant sails and the royals were obviously attached to the yard in the conventional way by means of a lashing.

Source: Monograph La Creole by J. Boudriot, p. 170

 

Since the jackstays, except for the head cringles, had to take the whole tractive force of the sails, I am of the opinion that massive eyebolts with collars were used to fasten them to the yards. In this respect, I am guided by a drawing from the Atlas du Génie maritime, which shows a massive forged eyebolt. Whether these eyebolts were also used for this purpose, I could not determine. However, this possibility does not seem to me to be completely absurd.

Source: Extract from Atlas du Génie maritime

 

Therefore, I made scaled test pieces and mounted them on a yard, which was a scrap from the yard production. After pulling in a served rope of the appropriate thickness, I think it looks quite passable, as can be seen in the following picture.

The jackstays were set on top of the yards in the forward area.
A served rope was first placed around the yardarm with an eye splice and then passed through the eyebolts, which were attached to the yard at intervals of about 3 m, towards the center of the yard. There at the rope end of the jackstay a thimble was tied in. With the thimble of the jackstay end from the other direction and a lashing tied in, the jackstays were braced in the center of the yard.
I will soon start making and installing the jackstays.

At the same time, there are still a number of questions to be clarified regarding the equipment of the yards, such as:
- Sequence of ropes to be attached to the yardarms (jackstays, lifts, braces, footropes, yard tackle etc.)
- design and fastening of the stirrups
- number and size of yard blocks
- yard hangers and fastening
etc.
The extent to which the French, like the English, had yard tackles permanently attached to the main yard and fore yard, or only when needed, also needs to be clarified. On the Paris model, however, there are no yard tackles to be seen. However, I miss corresponding hangers on the yardarms to attach them when needed. As described by Petrejus, it would be conceivable to have strops around the yardarms to which the pendants including tackle could be hooked if necessary.

Would be very grateful for hints and suggestions on the open questions.

 

[giampieroricci]

The fineness of all the details in this splendid work is something unimaginable! A true masterpiece!

[B-Ram]

WOW!! Amazing detail. Thanks for showing how you created the fittings.

[albert]

Wonderful work, Johann your model ship is masterpiece.

[archjofo]

@giampieroricci

@B-Ram

@albert

Hello,

Thank you for your interest and good approval, and all the others for the LIKES.

 

Here my further research results to this topic:

Continuation: Equipment of the yards - among other things Jackstage - Filière d`envergure.

In the meantime, I tried to get more information on this topic via contemporary technical literature. The search in the digital library of the French National Library was successful so far. In the work "Manuel du Manoeuvrier" I found this representation. This is an example of the yard arm of a topgallant yard, where the corresponding ropes are laid out in sequence.

Source: Manuel du Manoeuvrier, Agustin Challamel, Paris 1891, page 235

 

In this respect, I assume that this sequence can also be assumed for the other yards, because Petrejus also describes this arrangement in the book on the "Brigg Irene".
It is clear that for the lower yards a hanger or a strop with thimble for the yard tackle must still be considered. I tend to believe, as also described by Petrejus, that later it was also quite common to remove the yard tackle when not in use.

For the serving of the jackstay and footropes I show here the following:
For this, examples of the USS Constitution and the L'Hermione, showing served variants of footropes, and an unserved jackstay.

Source: Internet - USS Constitution

 

Source: Internet - L'Hermione

 

Whereas, to my knowledge, the jackstay on the L'Hermione cannot be historically correct in this way, but it probably serves as a safety line for the crew.

This illustration of a jackstay and footrope show unserved ropes. Here you can also see a strop with thimble and hooked yard tackle.

Source: Atlas du Génie maritime, annexe No. 1, detail Pl. 19

 

 

To be continued ...

[Jimnclare]

Every time I check in on Johann's mind-bendingly brilliant project I need to go and lie down in a darkened room with a bag of frozen peas on my head to stop my brain melting! The patience, skill, creativity and artistry is truly sublime.

[JerryTodd]

The jackstays on Constitution are iron, I doubt anyone served iron fittings.

[archjofo]

@Jimnclare

Thank you for your kind words.
Also thanks to all the others for the LIKES.

 

@JerryTodd

Thank you for your interest.
Correct. As seen in the Constitution picture, the jackstay is an iron bar and not served.

 

Continuation: Equipment of the yards - quarter blocks - poulies d'ecoute et de cargue-point
Next up is making the blocks for the lower yards. In the first step I placed the quarter blocks, which were arranged in the middle of the yard using a double strop. These single blocks were used to deflect the topsail sheets and were among the largest blocks on the corvette. These blocks are 8.7 mm long for the main yard of the model and 6.8 mm long for the fore yard.
The blocks were made in the usual way and real discs were installed for this size.
In the euphoria I accidentally made four 8.7 mm long quarter blocks, although of course only two are needed for the main yard.

To produce the discs, a brass rod was turned to the required diameter of 5 mm, axle holes were drilled and grooves were cut. I then sawed off the discs with the jeweller's saw.

Here you can see the finished block housing with the discs and axles.

 
In the last picture I have shown the finished quarter blocks for the main yard together with a single block. The block sizes for the model range within this range.

 
After making the quarter blocks for the fore yard, I'll send you a picture to see the size comparison.
In the meantime, thankfully, I have also received interesting information from G. Delacroix on the rigging of the yards
Up soon …

[archjofo]

 

Continuation: Equipment of the yards - Quarter blocks of the lower yards - Poulies d'ecoute et de cargue-point
As already announced, here are the smaller quarter blocks for the fore yard.

In addition to the fully assembled quarter blocks, you can also see some eyebolts and thimbles for the jackstays here on this picture.

[archjofo]

Continuation: Equipment of the yards - Quarter blocks of the lower yards - Poulies d'ecoute et de cargue-point
The quarter blocks of the lower yards were equipped with double strops and lashed at the appropriate positions with rose lashings.
Other model building colleagues have successfully demonstrated that it is even possible to depict a rose lashing on a scale of 1:75 and smaller. It should be all the easier to do on a scale of 1:48.
In this context, I remembered Frank's contribution "Making rose lashings" (LINK). In it he explained very clearly and comprehensibly with text and pictures the step-by-step process of how to make a rose lashing. The tool he made from toothpicks makes the process a whole lot easier.
Thanks to these excellent instructions, I was able to try a rose lashing on a test yard relatively quickly in advance, after I had modified Frank's tool a bit. In this respect, I can simply pull it apart through the sockets and don't have to snap through the toothpicks later.

 
By temporarily gluing the aid to the yard, the required cross lays can be easily produced.

 
I like the result. So I will then do it at the appropriate positions.

 
I still have to think about the execution of the knot.
Sequel follows …

[Mic_Nao]

A lacemaker's job ! Bravo.

[jfhealey]

Wow!  I think between all of us following your extraordinary log we have exhausted all the superatives available - so just a simple "wow".

Fred