Royal Louis 1780 by EJ_L - Mamoli - Scale 1:90

[EJ_L]

Thank you so very much! 
 

QG carvings are progressing, filling in the empty spots and making my eyes extremely tired! Still have a lot more to go and since the holidays are past progress has slowed back to normal. Once I get the port side caught up, I get to start on the sculptures. 

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Nice job EJ!

[EJ_L]

Progress on carvings is moving along. I have matched the port QG to the starboard and am now working on the first of the sculptures that will line the outside curve of the taffrail. 

 

I am not completely certain just what/who is being portrayed as none of my drawings nor the cast pieces are very clear. My wife said they look like a stripper on the head of a dragon so I’m going with that for now. We will see what emerges... 

 

I wish I was better at figure carving but that will come with time and practice so for now, I let my imagination run wild! 
 

In other projects, I have started the drawings for a new scratch build model that I have been wanting to do for a long time. I am designing a cross section of La Couronne. I am making it in 1:48 scale which will yield a model approx. 12” wide, 12” tall and 8” deep. (30.48 x 30.48 x 20.32 cm) I will not include rigging as that is not the point of this model. The main mast will stop a short height above the gunwales. 
 

I am wanting to provide a detailed view into the construction of La Couronne and as such I plan on replicating framing and planking as accurately as I can for the early 17th century. While I have found some great works addressing some of these practices, the early 17th is still much assumption and comparing similar practices from multiple countries. I know there will be errors but I feel that my guesses are at least educated ones. 
 

My reason for choosing La Couronne to model is simple really, I wanted a cross section of a ship I have built to display next to each other. The other main reason is that I also wanted to do something that is not readily available. Not there is anything wrong with a Victory, Constitution etc cross section, but there are already a lot of those out there. My hope is that I am documenting all of my steps through these early design and later through the building that I may be able to offer the plans at least to others and put a new model into our hobby. That is a long way out, but a goal I feel worth pursuing. 
 

Here is a first look at my drawings. I have the outer hull planking and wales, drawn in. I have also designed the framing as close to real practice as I could. They will not be made in one piece but instead their individual components, floor, futtocks, top timbers, naval timbers, keel, keelson, etc. I have located the decks and am now placing the interior planks, clamps and knees. I still have a lot of items to check off with mast, ladders, deck framing, and a myriad of other details but I am getting there. Eventually, I will start a log for this project to show how I came up with the drawings and of course the build itself. 

 

As you can see, lots of work and this is just one view. And it’s by hand as I don’t really like computer drawing. 😀

[TimC]

Stunning work so far! 

[Old Collingwood]

Keep going mate  - your work and  commitment is  so  lovely to watch.

 

OC.

[EJ_L]

Work on the decorations continues with the outside of the taffrail arch completed. Next up will be work on the frieze. Slowly the stern decorations are coming together. 

[EJ_L]

Frieze sculptures are progressing. The center piece is nearing completion and I will begin working on the cherubs next. 

[EJ_L]

A couple more carvings added to the frieze brings it to near completion. Paint touch ups and some glue and it will be done. Not the best picture I know. I will try to take some better ones soon. 

 

I have stopped working on carvings for the moment. I finally broke down week before last and ordered some nice micro carving tools from dockyard tools but due to that wonderful winter storm that buried and froze a bunch of us out here in the middle, they have been delayed. I’m hoping they arrive later this week. 
 

While I wait on the tools, I decided to work on the gratings and coamings. I built the set for the main deck and while I am okay with the coamings, the kit supplied gratings are not very good. I am thinking I’m going to try to make my own gratings to replace these. Never done that before so yet another chance to learn a new trick... 

 

On the forecastle, I had some design questions that I could not get definitive answers and so I took best educated guess. The kit plans show the forecastle having a removable section of deck much like the hold gratings amidship. It also shows the galley funnels emerging through the smaller square and it has a capstan on the larger section between the funnels and the foremast. I accepted the galley funnel access easily as that access would make repairs and service much easier. I can also get behind the larger access hatch for a few reasons. While uncommon to have a hatch on the forecastle, it was not unheard of and on larger ships, I would think it a good thing. Loading/unloading of the bow would be easier to undertake and venting fresh air down below decks would also be enhanced. R.L., at least this version is a late 18th century ship. During these years, the ship design was much more understood with more practical and less experimental designs being used. With that line of thought, I decided to keep the access hatches on the forecastle, though I did reduce them in elevation to sit just slightly raised above the deck to help with water control. 
 

The item I found myself against was installing a capstan on the forecastle hatch cover. I combed through every book I have on ship models to try to find an example of any vessel that had to be mounted in that position. I found none. Now, where the confusion likely lies is that a ship of this size would have had two capstan. One would be a large, likely double capstan abaft the main mast and the other a single abaft the foremast, below the forecastle on the upper deck. Also another reason for the removable hatch cover above it on the forecastle. Ropes could then be led through the hatch to blocks and pulleys on the deck and then to the capstan. Hidden capstans are no fun on models so we have the deliberate and understandable reason by the model manufacturer for moving it up a deck. 
 

The other reason is that while I could not find a forecastle mounted capstan, the do exist in that area, just not on the forecastle deck. Main decks nearly always had a capstan or wench typically placed abaft the foremast though sometimes a winch would be forward the foremast. Used primarily for anchor duty, it would be easy to mistake the placement of this item as many people associate the catheads with the raising of the anchor ropes when that is primarily done below decks where the rope enters through the hawse holes. On later vessels, the anchor chains would often come aboard on the upper deck before descending back below decks to storage. 
 

I may be wrong about all of this, (Would not be the first time) yet I think my reasoning is at least sound for my decisions on the model. In any case, I relocated the kit provided capstan to set abaft the main mast on the upper gun deck. I used the kit piece with minimal detailing as it will not be easily visible once the remaining gratings are in place over it. More for my satisfaction in knowing it is there. Similar to the ship’s wheel on the quarter deck. 

 

On a final note, yes, I did leave the coamings squared off and raised above the deck. I know that French ships traditionally had curved coamings and gratings that abutted nearly level to the deck but I have also read that by the late 18th century, most vessels had switched to squared coamings raised above deck. I cannot say for certain what R.L. had. Nothing is glued yet on this model. My intent as of time of this writing, is to see what it will take to make a cambered grating. The coamings are easy enough. If I can manage to create decent gratings, then I may change to a cambered hatch. If not, then I will stick with the square. I do not feel that either is fully right or wrong, just aesthetics really. If this was a 17th century model, then a cambered grating for a French vessel would be correct. 
 

Enough ramblings for one evening. As always, thank you all for stopping by! 

[Hubac's Historian]

Hello, EJ!  Your stern carvings look wonderful; your carving skills are improving with every piece.

 

Like you, I am also grappling with this question of a forecastle deck-mounted capstan.  The time period is earlier, but the Louis Quinze model shows the capstan pawls on the deck, even though the drum is absent:

 

 

On the other hand, there is no apparent accommodation for the galley stove pipes, nor the galley stoves.  The main deck gratings continue under the forecastle deck, and the heavy stove would not be built over gratings:

 photos courtesy of Marc Yeu

 

So, I’m not sure what to make of all of that.  At the moment, I favor the notion of a capstan on the forecastle deck, as there’d be more free space to operate the capstan bars between the foremast and the galley stove pipes.  The stoves, themselves, take up considerable space.  I haven’t scaled any of this out yet, so it remains an open question for me.

 

A part of me wants to include it as a visible detail simply because a capstan would be a fun thing to make.

 

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Hubac's Historian

[Hubac's Historian]

I just did a search and found picture of the 1758 model of the RL, at the Musee de la Marine:

 

Stove pipes don’t appear to be addressed here, either, but forecastle-mounted capstans do appear to be a practice that continued into the 18th Century.

[EJ_L]

Hmm... An interesting conundrum. It does appear that the deck is more solid without a removable access on the Musee de la Marine which would make more sense to me. However, the pictures of the Quinze model which shows gratings immediately behind the capstan change my theory that they would not place a capstan on that section. I would have thought that a capstan would generate too much torque and stress on the framing that they would not be we suited to sit over the thinner hatch cover pieces compared to the more solid main deck framing and planks. Perhaps the framing and planking at the capstan was thickened and reinforced, (something that is hard to tell on a model). The Quinze pictures could be suggestive of this as the deck appears to be more solid and of a darker color, something that was often noted as representing thicker planking in models as it is nearly impossible to tell otherwise. It could also be simply aged wood and coloring combined with distortions in the photo and my own reading too much into it...

 

On the stove pipe issue on the Quinze model, it is my understanding that the galley stoves were more typically located on the middle gun deck, not the upper. This has been another confusing point on my own model as the plans call for a small room (presumably the galley) to be built under the forecastle. I built this room as it could be either the galley or another small storage space. In either case, it would be easy for the stove pipes to pass though it and still leave most of the space functional for other uses. On the Quinze model, the galley stove could reasonably be placed on the middle deck and the pipes run up through a grating on the upper deck to the forecastle deck had they been modeled. Stove pipes are not uncommon to not see on historical models. I would think that they may often times have been overlooked as a non important detail to the modeler, or broke off and lost over time.

[Hubac's Historian]

As for forecastle deck integrity on the Quinze model, there would be full scantling beams, fore and aft of the capstan drum.  I would also think there would be at least a boxing between those beams, and more likely a solid blocking, in order to provide a secure mount for the drum axle.

[EJ_L]

Still debating the capstan issue and other things... Going shopping for some lumber to practice making gratings on this weekend. See where that gets me. 
 

On another note, I did receive my new micro carvers today! Now once I’m ready to resume carving decorations, I have a few new quality tools to help me out. 

[EJ_L]

Some more work on the hatches, coamings and grates. I have not glued or applied finish to any of them yet as I’m still adjusting but things are coming together. I did not get a chance to do much with gratings, the weather finally cleared up and heading out to ride my trike as well as doing some repotting of my bonsai trees took precedence. The ones in place now will all be replaced at some point in the near future though as I’m not happy with either set. 

 

I am also starting to look at how I will create the ladders. For spacing purpose, I built one of the kit supplied ones, but they have the same badly pre-cut parts as the gratings and do not make good looking ladders. So those will be custom built as well. Need to make a new template though. I seem to have lost my old one... 

 

My other distraction arrived last week as well; the Syren Rope Rocket. I got it assembled and have begun learning to use it. Will post results once I have something to show. I have never made rope before, for any reason, and am looking forward to learning a new skill. 

 

[EJ_L]

Work on RL has been slow lately, a lot going on that is occupying my time, still some progress to show. While I am figuring out how to make better gratings as I am not happy with the current ones, I started building some of the misc. structures. First up are the ladders to the quarterdeck. These came n cast metal pieces, which don’t look bad really, but I prefer to replace them with wood. I have one set nearly done and another just lacking the ladder to the platform. 

 

These will not be glued I. Place until after I fit the canons beneath. 

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work my friend  - and with the rear artwork  - amazing work.

 

OC.

[EJ_L]

Thank you OC for the nice words and to all for the likes. 

 

Wow! Pictures can be cruel and/or helpful depending upon how you view things. In this case, I've noticed just how crooked my steps are! Fortunately as nothing is secured on the ship yet it will be easy enough to correct. Going to have to see what shifted though and try to catch it faster on the next set. With those steps, my sailors would be thrown overboard with ease! Haha!

[EJ_L]

More work on the quarter deck ladders and handrails. The open spaces between the posts will be filled in with carved styrene. 

[Ulises Victoria]

Fantastic!!! Your work is awesome!!! Very clean and neat. Congratulations on a magnificent work!

[EJ_L]

Bought myself a birthday present in the form of a Byrnes thickness sander to add to the shipyard. Been wanting to get one for a while and finally pulled the trigger. No more uneven planks! 

[J11]

Ohh nice tool!!! Love the fine details your putting into her! 

[EJ_L]

I have not had a lot of time for ship building lately but I have not closed down the shipyard. I have managed to assemble the canons for the upper gun deck that will need to be rigged in place before the ladders to the forecastle and quarter deck can be installed. I had to order more blocks for the gun tackle which should be here early this week. 
 

I did find time to finally try my hand at making my own rope. Made up 20 foot lengths of .018 and .035 inch ropes today and am fairly happy with how they turned out. Took some time getting used to the setup on the first go but by the second, I was moving much faster and the whole process is surprisingly easy and not that time consuming. 

[Hubac's Historian]

That rope looks very good, EJ.

[Old Collingwood]

I agree with HH   those ropes look darn nice and the canons do  - all coming together mate.

 

OC.

[Ulises Victoria]

EJ...What ropemaking machine are you using?

Edited April 19, 2021 by Ulises Victoria

[md1400cs]

Yes E.J  - as Ulises asked???  --- Have been using Chuck's ropes for years - so loved them - but he's no longer producing them. Never wanted the challenge - but now it appears as if there is little choice - and your comments about it's actually sorta easy is encouraging. And your ropes do look very good.

 

Also what kind of threads??  lot's of new learning coming up for me as well.

 

Cheers,

[EJ_L]

Thank you all very much!

 

I am using Chuck's rope rocket from Syren and his recipe for a polyester rope made of Gutterman Mara thread. I have attached the pdf from his log to share. I bought the thread from Wawak.com. I did have to change the color for the lighter rope as I could not find the one he recommended of 2899, so I went with 696 which I can post a picture of later. The dark brown in the pics above is the same 868 in Chuck's recipe.

 

It really is an easy skill to learn. Watch Chuck's youtube videos about it. It really is that simple. The hardest parts are determining the amount of twists applied and that is only learned through doing. I over-twisted both ropes initially, indicated by the ropes wanting to curl up on themselves. This was easy to undo by simply pinching the rope between my fingers and running them down the length of it allowing it to unwind until it laid naturally. Honestly, I struggle the most with tying the individual strands to the eyebolts as the lighting in my basement where I have the most room is horrible right now. The entire process takes me about 15 minutes to lay up the ropes and that is with a lot of start/stop time double checking things and just being slow as I learn. Then there is another 4-5 minutes of bake time to set the rope at the end after it has been cut free of the ropewalk. 

 

I have only made the two ropes so far though I will be making more likely this upcoming weekend as I need to get some in the running rigging color for the gun tackle. I am curious to see how the larger ropes lay up. These were only 3 and 4 strand ropes with 1 thread per strand. The larger ropes use multiple threads per strand and require a little more work on the initial twisting but I do not think it will be much harder of a process just more time consuming set up.

 

I will be glad to keep sharing what I have learned, and highly encourage you all to try it. While rigging is far from simple, making the ropes themselves actually is. 

Chuck Passaro Rope Recipe.pdf

[md1400cs]

Thanks E.J.,

 

Very helpful 👌

[Ulises Victoria]

Thanks a lot EJ. I've been obsessed with making my own ropes since my days of plastic building. I tried everything from twisting the thread with a rotary drill and then just bend it in half and it would twist over itself. Very rudimentary. At his moment I have spend a large amount of money in ropewalk machines: I have the Byrne's, the Domanoff and one which was made by a friend who has a metalworking business. Each has its pros and cons. The one made by my friend makes really tight and even ropes, but you can only make fixed lengths of about 250 270 cms. Another nice feature is that since the thread goes to some hooks you can have a single length of thread in 2, 4, 6, 8 strands to make different sizes of rope, and since it is one single thread it always keeps the same tension. But is very tiresome to work with. The Domanoff makes a continuous length of rope but you can use one strand at a time, so to make bigger rope you need bigger thread. I just found some thread called Cordonnet that is available in 7 different sizes and comes in white color. I will received it in a few days. I hope I can use these in the Domanoff machine to make various sizes. Will post my findings after a few trials.

Edited April 21, 2021 by Ulises Victoria

[EJ_L]

I would imagine that all the ropewalks come with their own sets of pros and cons, I do not have experience with other ones so I cannot speak to those beyond what I have read. Set up is by far the worst part of the process. The distance does not make much difference that I have seen thus far. I'm sitting at about 21-22 feet between the two ends and that yields about a 19-20 foot length of rope. I am tempted to go further as I have a hallway I could run down to give me a little over 30 feet, but the 20 I am at now is comfortable. Also I read Chuck's warning that he had tried a 40+ run once and decided that was too much and had not done so again (or at least not written about it). It would be nice to make really long runs, my back yard I could easily get nearly 200 feet in a straight run, but Kansas winds, even on a calm day, would make this a nightmare, plus I doubt I could successfully keep the tensions even on the strands and would likely need the corded drills as I doubt the batteries would hold up for the amount of spinning that would be required.

 

If my plans work out, I am going to try to make up some large diameter rope to see how multiple threads on a 4 strand lay up. I've done the smallest and a medium so I am curious on the large sizes. I will try to remember to take more step-by-step photos to share as this really is a good skill to have for any ship builder.