Age of Sail 2 - 3d ship models for PC wargame

[Martes]

And I went into rebuilding the 74 for a reason.

 

I used the Vindictive plans on the hull of the Colossus (which will explain a slightly different gunport arrangement and a straight stem). The elaborate semi-elliptic stern with hanging quarter galleries is especially interesting.

 

So we have a frigate of a size of a battleship, with comparable armament, built to 1830's specification over a hull with lines designed in 1740's. Lacks only steam engine for complete madness, and even that's not impossible.

 

For me it was a long dream, to actually and properly razee something

 

 

Interesting, that most of the large post-war British frigates, starting with the Vernon, were, more or less, similar to those converted frigates, both in size and in armament, as if the Admiralty, after long decades got the idea that it just may be easier to design a large frigate from the beginning, than to build a two-decker and then cut it.

Edited February 5, 2020 by Martes

[Martes]

At a glance:

 

[Martes]

Finally got around to finish the HMS Spartan, Pique's little sister:

 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Martes

[Martes]

Some closer views of the hull and the elliptic stern of the Spartan:

 

[Martes]

Another ship in my "monstrous frigate" series: the HMS Vernon (1832):

 

 

Considered at that time an experimental frigate, she was very large (similar in size to 80-gun ship), and one of the first to be constructed with some ergonomics in mind (space between decks increased to 7 feet, for example), and carried her guns at 10 feet above the waterline. The stern is also interesting - it's actually an extended round (elliptic) construction with a very conservative sternboard attached to it to make the appearance more classic.

I have a weakness for the works of William Symonds, apparently.

Edited March 21, 2020 by Martes

[Martes]

Vernon under sail:

 

[Martes]

To give a sense of scale:

 

Vernon (center), Pique (left), with 80-gunner in the background

[Martes]

Close-ups on the Vernon

 

And some general scenic shots

[Martes]

A preview (still very much work in progress) of the Symonds' Albion, a 90-gun two-decker:

 

 

[Martes]

The Albion is complete and tested under sail.

 

 

 

 

Like all the ships from the period, she was somewhat difficult, because of the amount of modifications the class was subjected to. The gunports as depicted on the original plan did not match those on existing photographs of Aboukir and Exmouth, and were closer to later and slightly different Hannibal (and this was a source for endless frustration) but in the end I was able to find the specific plan for Exmouth with slightly altered scheme that did match the photographs. Phew.

I did keep the original stern, though.

 

 

[Nirvana]

Martes, 

Your skills with the creation of age-of-sail ships are real good, now I know why a friend of mine is not building models at all but playing the game instead.
I have been bugging him to get back to the building table to no avail. 

[Martes]

I always liked the models to be interactive.

 

6 minutes ago, Nirvana said:

now I know why a friend of mine is not building models at all but playing the game instead.

 

The original models in the game are much more symbolic. Or you mean some other game?

[Nirvana]

No, he is very much into Age of Sail, and has the highest rank and helping out when others having issues.

[Martes]

You're definitely talking about something else, most probably Naval Action.

This game is very old (early 2000 release), and does not have any ranks and communities. It's more of a tactical sandbox - you can make scenarios and play them out, with quite rudimentary LAN multiplayer option.

[Nirvana]

Aah, that's the one Naval Action - but anyway he is lost in that world😄

[mikiek]

Per - I can understand your friends obsession. It happened to me with Naval Action as well. Fortunately I was able to see the light and limit my involvement there now.

[Nirvana]

He's also a MSW member but haven't been here in a long time.
He has the longboat, syren and amatis Endavour (large kit) stalled.

[Martes]

I can only offer my condolences, but I have a feeling we are straying completely off topic here.

[Nirvana]

However, you creations are as I said before, really nice.
I have been working with Fusion360 and still prefer the regular planks and sticks for my models.

[Louie da fly]

Great stuff, Martes. 

[Martes]

Thanks

 

The chosen style of virtual block models keeps the models simple enough to be able to finish them relatively quickly and be able to perceive the designs and the ways they developed one from the other, the evolution I find most fascinating. And they work, turn, sail and fire.

 

Also, I am constantly tinkering with the ships until I am satisfied with their look or in case I find some new information or picture, and their appearance changes slightly from the posted screenshots, so here is a bunch of more updated screenshots (shallow and calm water allows to see the underwater forms):

 

 

 

 

[Martes]

 

Colossus full and razee

(haven't pinpointed a separate name for the frigate, but technically the closest analogue is the Grampus ex-Tremendous)

 

 

 

Pique and Vernon

[Martes]

Completed another monstrous frigate, even larger than the Vernon: the Emerald of 1848. The model is of the original, pure sailing configuration of the ship, making her a pinnacle (more or less) of the class development before the transition to steam. The real ship and all her sisters were completed as steam screw frigates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martes]

And, just to show off, a reworked version of my special favorite, the Liffey:

 

 

 

 

Showing the complex French mid-18th century hull form combined with British decorations.

The amount of iterations this model has passed is innumerable

 

[Martes]

Haa-hm.

 

 

 

Don't get any hopes up, though. I have no idea about how the bloody thing works.

[whitejamest]

I have a lot of fond memories of that game. Your models are an enormous improvement over the originals. 

[Martes]

Sorted out the buoyancy settings, extracted the masts from the original and made first attempt at camera control - I can move it up and down now, exactly as it was in the old game.

 

 

[Martes]

 

 

 

Experimenting with rigging where I can fully control it.

[Martes]

 

Boat can be launched and separated, and move a little (but transfer from the deck to the launch position still needs to be done).
Anchors have two positions (stowed and catted), and the next stage will be to actually drop it with the cable.

[Martes]

Experiments with lowering anchor: