HMS Tiger 1747 by Siggi52 - 1:48 - 60 gun ship from NMM plans

[Siggi52]

Hello all,

 

after building the Dragon, I'm starting now the blog about building the Tiger from 1747.

 

The Tiger was a 60 gunner after the 1745 establisment. Last year I ordered the plans for the 60 gunners of the 1745 establishment, but learned later that all the 6 ships, build after that plan, where all a little different. So I decided to build the Tiger and that, because it was the only plan that shows also the artwork of the ship. Interessting is also, that they moved the captains cabin sometimes down to the upper deck! There was more space.

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections.html#!csearch;searchTerm=Tiger_(1747) Here you could see the plans.

 

Then last fall I went to Chatham to see two models of 60 gunners, the Centurion and a unspecified ship (SLR0442 SLR0472). Both ships from the 1730s, but the models are made ca. 1745/47. They will be my reference for the Tiger.

 

And because I had build the Dragon already with frames, I decided to be lazy and build in the bulwark technique. So I started early this year with the hull and that he is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But before I started with the hull, I made the figure head. Just to see if I could do it after pause for a year. 

 

 

And before the questions come, with what did you do the carving, here is most of it to see. Just with hand tools. To the right you see Leo the second.

 

 

And here is Leo III. From toe to crown hi is 9 cm high, in reality he was 4,5 m high  

 

 

 

 

Here Leo did a sit sample. The guy in the background it's me. 

 

 

 

The next steps would be to close the counter and then made the cannon ports. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chuck]

Wonderful work Siggi.   Another great project and I will be sure to watch your progress.

Chuck

[Tigersteve]

Beautiful carving! 

Steve

[wyz]

Wow Siggi!  That is one beautiful carving and paint job you did on that lion figurehead.  Gorgeous!

 

Tom

[MEDDO]

Wonderful figurehead!  I’ll be following along as it will be interesting to see a non-fully framed build from a NMM plan from the beginning.

[SJSoane]

Hi Siggi,

 

It is great to see your new project. The figurehead is spectacular! I wish you could give a class on miniature wood carving.

I look forward to your progress on this very interesting and unusual ship.

 

Best wishes,

 

Mark

[garyshipwright]

Well hello Siggi. About time you get back to work and I do believe you have another master piece in the works sir. I still look at your Dragon just to help on the stern of Alfred. Love the figure head and hope I can do Alfred's carving as well as you have done you Lion. Will be watching sir. Gary

[Old Collingwood]

Very nice work  carving from scratch - not in my capabilties I dont think.

 

OC.

[druxey]

Very impressive figure, Siggi. Well done!

[mtaylor]

Stunning work, Siggi.  I going to follow along also and try to learn.

[Mike Y]

Your lion looks great! This is a surprisingly difficult figurehead to model - lots of other carved lions have trouble with a face expression, it is frequently something like "please, no more sour bread, I need meet! bleh". While your lion looks healthy and strong!

 

Can't recognise the wood you are using for the stem, what is it?

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow, this is sure to be another masterpiece.  Hope you don't mind me following along.  Loved your Dragon, and it's clear your Tiger is going to be another beauty.

[bdgiantman2]

Nice start on new ship model, sir. I am curious as to how you did the fillers between the bulkheads, as in what wood did you use? Ought to be a great blog to follow.

 

Brian

[Siggi52]

Good morning,

 

many thanks for your nice comments and likes. I'm overwhelmed. 

 

To answer some of the questions. Mark, the lion is already in the wood, you must only take all the wood away that did't look like a lion. And for micro carving you need only stronger glasses and smaller tools. Thats all  

 

Mike, the lion should look skinny and hungry. But with some lions you are right. The last lion I saw was that Dutch one somewhere here in this forum, but that cat was a caricature of this kind of figure head. That cat did't like water.

 

Brian, the filling pieces are from balsa wood and plywood and I put it between the bulkheads with the help of glue.

[Siggi52]

Hello,

just a little update.

 

 

[albert]

Hi Siggi great work, very very nice.

[Siggi52]

Hello,

today only a small update. I located the positions of the Rails, wales and gun ports at the hull. 

 

[prutser]

Hello .I'm following your build with intrest.Regards,Richard

[Siggi52]

Hello,

and many thanks for your likes and comments.

 

Today I finished the first ten gun ports at the Gun deck. These one are not so complicated, but the next will be. The next one I have to do manually for each port. 

 

I think I must not to explain the pictures.

 

 

 

At the inside I made them nearly flush with the hull, so that I have not so much to file and sand later.

 

 

 

 

At the last picture the outside of the port frames are cleaned up and are flush with the outside of the hull.

 

The next time you will hear not so much from me, because I'm busy doing the rest of the ports.

 

 

 

[garyshipwright]

Hi Sigi.    Nice job on the ports sir and seeing your work am sure they will come out just as good as the ones in the photo. As far as gun ports I just finished up the ones on Alfred which has taken me a while to do. Hum come to think of it 17 years. ;o). Look forward to seeing your next update. Gary

[Siggi52]

Hi Gary,

 

17 years, wow. I hope I will get ready earlier.

[SJSoane]

Hi Siggi,

 

That is a very ingenious way of framing the gun ports. You will be planking soon!

 

Mark

[Siggi52]

Hello Mark,

 

I hope so, at least when I'm ready with the gun ports. May be next week. But before, there is something not clear with the wales.  

[SJSoane]

Ah, yes, wales are more complex than I had expected.

Mark

[garyshipwright]

1 hour ago, Siggi52 said:

Hello Mark,

 

I hope so, at least when I'm ready with the gun ports. May be next week. But before, there is something not clear with the wales.  

Hi Siggi52. Is it the curve at the bow sir? Gary

[Siggi52]

Hi Gary,

 

you mean the problems that I have with the wales, no that is't the problem. It's a problem with the hook and butt joints. Tomorrow, when I'm ready with the ports at the gun deck, I will post more. I have to prepare something to explain the problem better. 

[garyshipwright]

Hi Siggi. Mark is right the wales are more complex then one thinks in their layout and construction. Look forward to seeing what you come up with sir. Gary

[Louie da fly]

Very impressed with the way you made the gunport frames so they're all exactly the same, and avoiding the method of building with "sticks". And the way you installed them is brilliant, as well. So simple and obvious once you've seen it done, but first someone has to think of it . . .

 

Steven

[Siggi52]

Hello,

 

the gun ports at the gun deck are ready.

 

 

I don't think that I'm be the creator of this way to install the gun port frames. I think I saw it somewhere. But you could't use it at the whole ship. There where the lines of the decks going upwards, you have to fiddle with the sticks again  Here I cut the square piece of wood a little lower and have now a good help for having the port sides upright and aligned athwartship. 

 

[Siggi52]

Now to my problem. It's not really a problem, but something that is not clear.

 

The 1745 establishment did't say nothing about wales, so I went to the 1719 establishment. I copied this out of Goodwins book English Man of War, page 256.

 

 

The wales at this time had 2 strakes with a strake between them. And these strakes are connected with butt and hook joins. What also is curios, that the stuff between has the same thickness then the wales. As I know they have the same deep, or nearly, but not the same thickness as you could see at the next picture.

 

 

Now, how did these butt and hook joins look like? I collect some ways, but wich one was used and there are other ways?

 

 

For my ship the wales where made of 3 strakes. They made I think, only the stuff in the middle to a part of the wales and now with the same thickness. On pictures it is hardly to see, because of a thick layer of paint and reflecting light. But I found two examples. First the Centurion and second an early 74 gunner at the museum in Chatham.

 

 

 

 

Nice yellow colour! These 3 strake could't be connected with the known Anchor Stock or Top and Butt planking. So I think that they where connected, each strake for them self, with a butt and hook connection. 

 

What is your belief in this case. Many thanks in advance

 

 

Edited February 16, 2018 by Siggi52