HMS Thorn by Kevin Kenny - 1:48 scale - Swan-class - David Antscherl practium

[dvm27]

Nice video on blackening Kevin. Some random thoughts - I use either alcohol or acetone as a degreaser. Also, keep in mind that brass is an alloy and, depending on the composition, some brass is much more difficult to blacken. For large groups of pieces I find that pickling first makes a difference in the blackening and uniformity of the finish. For small pieces you can use a paint brush to polish them in a deep tupperware piece so they don't fly away. Polishing prevents the finish from transfering to surrounding pieces and evens out the finish. Finally, while it's easier to blacken the Swan PE sheet whole don't you find that you still have to blacken the cut edges after removal from the sheet?

[Kevin Kenny]

What a number of the videos and modelers notes seem to indicate is that no one knows what is on the brass and different solvents will affect different contaminants on the pieces. I have acetone and should have mentioned it. Certainly the best results was pickling the pieces. Based on my soldering experience this has never disappointed me. You are right about blackening the photo etched pieces still connected to the frame. I actually used a stiff paint brush with the solvents and could see something coming off in the solution.  My choice would be to prickle the pieces, rinse, then blacken. If they did not take then i would try one of the three solvents i have in the shop until i get success. Thanks for the feedback.

[Kevin Kenny]

Getting to the completion of the forecastle

[ccoyle]

I could be wrong about this, but I think the openings in the door panel should be just large enough to straddle the bitts. I think this is an error (i.e., openings too large) that I made on HMS Fly, but that was along time ago.

[Kevin Kenny]

This is a copy from the book so it is correct.

[ccoyle]

These are the gaps I was referring to:

 

In the book you can see that there are no gaps:

[Kevin Kenny]

Chris that’s just a template. That’s not the finished piece. I haven’t started working on that as yet

[Kevin Kenny]

 

[yvesvidal]

Beautiful work Kevin.

 

Yves

[Nearshore]

Hi Kevin,

 

Thank you for the informative video. I am on cannon duty now on my build and found some of your techniques very useful. 

 

Nearshore

[Kevin Kenny]

This is the first attempt . I am sure that i will make these removable doors and windows a few times before i get it correct. 

[AON]

Kevin.

While watching your video and seeing the train tackle that could not be used as it was already hauled in as much as possible... I wonder if they would have used the port deck eye with the starboard gun and the starboard deck eye with the port gun? This would allow them to pull the gun back all the way to the eye and possibly expose the muzzle inboard for loading.

I know it will be covered and hidden from view... but I am left wondering if this was the solution?

Alan

[Kevin Kenny]

Hi Alan

the recoil from the cannon would push it  all the way back to the end of the breeching line. After which the gun would be reloaded and i feel will need both port or gun tackles to get it back to its firing position. Also pulling on one side of the gun tackle may cause the gun to move to one side. So my guess is that they pulled both sides together. The train tackle was probably only needed when starting the firing sequence. 
 

i also found how the port tackle was flayed. Photograph attached. So they did not coil the side tackles but instead tied it on itself as i did with my guns. These storage solutions for the various tackles would only be used when the cannon was not in use. When in use rope would be all over the place just like it is in a modern racing boat. The tackles would also be tight when the cannon is not in use to prevent ut moving around. 
 

i also found a short video which may be useful to those who never knew how the cannons were used in battle. 
 

 

[AON]

Thanks for the video... I learned something from it about loading bullets!

 

My only thoughts were for the use of the train tackle. Yes the gun would recoil on firing so the train tackle was mostly used to retract manually. I cannot envision that one getting used and wonder if I might experience the same thing on my ship, and if so what might be the resolution to the issue. I will reflect on it for a bit more... quietly in the corner! 🤔 

[Kevin Kenny]

I was unhappy with the colour difference between the plywood and the mahogany so thought I would go back to the safe colour choice. Still not happy with the fit. 

[Kevin Kenny]

Here is the natural colour of the plywood. I think i prefer the red.

[AON]

agreed!

[yvesvidal]

Why not paint it soft white? British ships had a lot of the cabin walls, painted in soft white with blue frames.

 

Yves

[druxey]

Yves: that was only for the aft accommodation.

[scrubbyj427]

I like the red as well Kevin, I’m going to do the same on mine. It shows the panel definition really well 

[Kevin Kenny]

I found this on earlier post on the forum.Checking on Ai it came up with the same reasoning. So i will stick with the red.

   

“ The following is more likely the reason.   Deck furniture, bulwarks, etc, were red ochre. This was discussed in an earlier post here at MSW in 2021 and it was mentioned that this was for protection from the weather and ochre (earth) colors were inexpensive.  In addition, after long sea voyages and during repairs it was also refreshed. The idea that it would hide blood was coincidental, not the reason it was most often red.  There are a number of contemporary models where much of the inboard works were painted black.  I have no idea if this was original or done at some later time.  The Navy Board stated 18 July 1715 that painting (presumably outboard and inboard) was "not to refresh oftener than once a year or two and the inboard works that are from the weather."  There is no mention of a particular color or hiding blood.  The actual usefulness in protecting the wood from rot and the cost would probably be a bigger concern to the navy than the mental state of the sailors in the age of sail.    If you are next to a man that has had some part of his body ripped off, I doubt hiding the blood on a bulwark would make it any easier to avoid fear, panic  or the onset PTSD. 

Allan

Edited May 28, 2023 by allanyed”

[kurtvd19]

The NRG Conference was in Boston in 1996 or 7 and part of the conference was time on the USS Constitution (and the shops).  At that time the inside of the bulwarks was green.  Very surprising to me.