Greek Bireme by Robin Lous - FINISHED - Dusek - Scale 1:72 - First wooden ship build

[*Hans*]

Nice work, Robin!

[Baker]

Beautiful ram and ladder
Glad you're back !

[Robin Lous]

Thanks guys. Good to be back.

 

Robin 

[Robin Lous]

To get back to why I made a simple 2 dimensional ram instead of a highly ornate 3 dimensional cast ram.

The main reason I don't believe in cast rams on biremes is the weight of such rams. Biremes were very light ships, heavy rams will reduce the speed immensely. 

Additional reasons are the cost of such rams. Surely a very expensive gadget. Also...rams are hardly visible, because the point of the ram is below the waterline or skimming the waterline, so why bother? Last but not least...no archaeological find other than the trireme ram Messis showed (replicated on the Olympias) and the very basic Black Sea bireme ram.

 

So, what about the images of rams on Greek vases?

When we look at the vases there a couple of things to notice. One thing is...they're not scale drawings. Note how eyecatching items are blown up or stretched out. The crew...the steering oars and...the rams. These are artist impressions with exaggerated parts and details.

But what about the decorations we see? Yes...I see them also, but that still doesn't mean the rams are cast bronze statues.

I think some rams might have been painted, clad with additional sheet, or had hammered decorations, but fairly simple.

The eyes we see on them are probably  painted on the bow instead of on the ram...above the waterline for sure.

One more issue...the size of the ram. I think many wrongly think the pine tar painted bow (like on my build) is part of the ram...it isn't.

Clearly out of proportion, the ram is far too long, like the steering oars. The eye is the ship's eye low on the bow. Furthermore..a fairly good shape.

The ram looks 2 dimensional.

The ram here follows the shape of the vase, but even when straightened there is a waterline issue. Again...ram is oversized here also.

Despite the decorations, the ram still looks 2 dimensional and has a good shape.

This is the image many use to make a sculptured cast ram (the weight of such a thing?). Well okey, but another waterline issue. Good oar placement btw. Also note the second bireme with a plain ram and good placement of the eye.

Imho Daniel Dusek did it right. Shape, size and placement make sense.

Note how the black bow can be mistaken for being part of the ram...specially with a low placed ship's eye.

This is probably the best image I've seen on a vase. Apart from the oversized helmsman and steering oars, very good proportions and layout.

The only image where the waterline seems right. In the water instead of on top of the water. This shows how pointless it is to put a lot of effort in decorating the ram with eyes and what more.

 

I don't say what I did is the right way to do it...it's what I think makes most sense...after some study and added common sense.

It's something people will never agree about until we find at least half a dozen of bireme rams on the bottom of the sea.

I thought about my construction of the ram and I think it's a plausible solution.

 

Back to my bench to make some steering oars,

 

Robin 

Edited October 2, 2017 by Robin Lous

[John Allen]

Robin Lous,

 

Superb build, enjoyed the way you approached the ram, you showed tenacity and for every problem there is a solution. Kudos

[Robin Lous]

Thanks John! 

 

The steering oars...

And the bronze green...

I think this is enough. I don't want it to be completely toxic green

Again...it's just 3cm long.

 

Next?

 

Those darn blocks I guess.

 

Robin 

[Robin Lous]

At first some good news for people with a masochistic fetish for oars...

The Anatomy of the ship book - The Athenian Trireme..will finally be released in December.

Pre ordered my copy! 

 

And on the shipyard...

 

These blocks...

The "ancient version of a heart block shaped one eyed deadeye". 

Long story short  (for those who missed it). I made them and shortly after...someone threw them away thinking they were grape pips.

So I'm now making a new batch.

Nothing like this is readily available, so I need to make them myself. 

Will keep me busy for the rest of the week, mainly because I don't have much shipyard time this week.

About 30 minutes per block...meh! 

 

More...next week.

 

Robin 

 

[cog]

Try them in brass You sound a bit sheepish ... loosing your vocal cords ... ? you make up for that in blocks though. Looks good, required time sounds less, but when I think about the 30 odd tripple AA guns I have to make than 30 minutes is a walk in the park

Cheers

[donrobinson]

I've had my book ordered since last year when I first heard of it. Looking forward to seeing it in my hands

[Robin Lous]

Yep...I remember that. It's been...and still is...a long wait. Hope it will be good.

I'm still making up my mind about my next build. The Dusek trireme or the Kolderstok Duyfken.

170 oars or rigging I'm not ready for yet...tough choise, but this book might push me towards the trireme.

 

To be decided.

 

Robin 

[Robin Lous]

Finished making the new batch of blocks...

..so I can now start with the rigging.

 

There's one more modification I like to do...

The sun roof and battle curtains.

 

The roof was used to protect the oarsmen from the sun.

The curtains were lowered during battle and bad weather.

Likely also used as a tent during the night when beached...supported by some top oars. Not read anything about this, but it makes perfect sense.

 

Robin 

[CDW]

Where do you buy your Dusek kits, Robin?

I've been looking at several different models through the Cornwall shop. Their prices are favorable with the pound - usd conversion right now. Shipping prices very reasonable, too.

[Robin Lous]

I like to buy from his own website. He's a really nice guy to deal with.

http://www.dusekshipkits.com/

 

Robin 

[Baker]

Congratulations with the new blocks

Keep the admiral far away this time  

 

The canvas roof and curtain will be special

but if you add it, then you are likely to see less of the hull details i think

 

 

[Robin Lous]

Thanks Patrick...and I agree about losing the inside view.

So I plan to do them stowed to the railing.

 

A nice example of a trireme without a top deck with the canvas cover...

Triremes with a top deck (like the Olympias) only needed the curtains of course.

 

Robin 

[cog]

Interesting way of closing up a curtained roof ... Did they have a dress maker aboard too

[donrobinson]

That looks cool, you should give it a try

[Robin Lous]

My first small steps in the world of ship model rigging 

 

Made the blocks to fix the stays and attached them to the sides, bow and stern. I used the eyes of bronze coloured fishing hooks.

I must now attach the same blocks to the stays themselves.

 

I copy the rigging from the Greek olkas merchant ship reconstruction. Mentioned before.

 

Note the 600 BC copper paperclips! 

 

More soon.

 

Robin 

Edited October 9, 2017 by Robin Lous

[Mirabell61]

Very nice build Robin,

 

your Greek Bireme looks wonderful....

 

Nils

[Robin Lous]

Thanks Nils...and the likes. 

It's a "quick release system" to make it possible to lower and raise the mast easily.

Mast was lowered for battle...or even left ashore to reduce weight.

 

More soon,

 

Robin 

 

[zappto]

I like your paintings, all reminds real ship! 

[moreplovac]

Hi Robin

nice work on the ship. Those Greeks were really before their times by using copper paperclips :-)

 

Is that color schema/colors you are using from the kit or you were doing research and improved the model by putting some colors on it? 

 

[CDW]

I think Robin is putting us on about this being his first wooden ship model. 

If it is his first, man, we are in for some good stuff if he continues to build wooden models. 

 

Just kidding with you Robin. I do believe it is your first, but it is so very nice. Great 1st wooden model! 

[Robin Lous]

Thanks!

The kit came without a colour scheme. I did a lot of research...and used my imagination.

There isn't much to rely on really. Some Greek black pottery images, Homer mentioned black bowed ships and some shipyard records about the use of resin and pine tar. Most artist impressions you see in books are pure fantasy, so there is very little you can trust.

Most helpful to me are the reconstructions of the Argo (pentakontor), Olkas (trade ship) and Olympias (trieres). Most of my modifications come from the 3 ships.

 

I'm not saying my modifications and colours are right, but they're plausible.

 

The Dusek kit is very good imho, a bit basic though.

 

Robin 

[Robin Lous]

With the stays done...

The yard...

This jigsaw puzzle will keep me busy for a while. 

 

Robin 

[cog]

You need all that for one square sail  

[Barbossa]

Nice ship, Robin

Yet another fine example that there's so much more than traditional XVII and XVIII century sailing warships on the forum.

Keep up the good work, and flush away the Photobucket frustrations with a few fine beers.

[EJ_L]

She is looking very nice Robin! Good job on your rigging. I'm liking the look of your sail also. She will be a great model to display with pride!

[Robin Lous]

Thanks gentlemen!

 

Carl...2 clewlines and 8 buntlines go from the yard to the "large" pinrail aft. And the 2 brace and 2 sheetlines....3 more to hoist the yard and 1 for a flag or to get a crewmember up. So...that's 18...or so. 

 

Something like this...

Robin 

[cog]

Who's counting right ...