HM Cutter Alert by Blue Ensign - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[Blue Ensign]

Post 40

Rough Tree Rails

This involved more than a little trial and error.

Each section had to be independently fitted between the Swivel posts, whilst hopefully maintaining an even run of the rail.

Before I started I both pinned and glued the Finger and Thumb timberheads between the posts; I used the kit provided items.

The forward end of the rail ends in a curved hance. This was fashioned from some 2mm Boxwood Sheet and cut out on the scroll saw.

3628

3630

Went a little easier than I thought it would be.

3638

A re-check of the swivel fit.

3650

Lemuel my Helmsman assists with a scale check.

3657

Whilst I was on a roll I continued to complete the Timberheads and swivel post at the bow.

I used the kit provided Timberheads (Finger and Thumb) as they are nicely shaped and good for scale. As they are to be painted I didn’t think it worth the effort to reproduce in Boxwood.

3654

The provided Swivel pedestals, rectangular affairs, I replaced with Boxwood Octagonal versions. The measurement I took from the Alert Book.

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3665(2)

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3664

 

B.E.

25/11/2019

[Barbossa]

Wonderful lines...pure elegance

Well done

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Christian, I rather think it is Chris  who has reproduced those wonderful lines in the design of his kit.🙂

 

Post 41

Completing the Swivels

None of the kit parts were used in the production of the Swivel guns.

I have the remaining six bow guns to complete and then blacken the set of twelve.

3672(2)

The crutches in their raw state.

3676

Bringing crutch and gun together.

3678

Cleaned and ready to blacken.

3683

A few dips later and the guns are ready to seal.

3685(2)

For the ball on the end of the handle I use my old standby of pva. This is very useful for creating such features where other methods are impracticable.

I also use it for such things as handles on gun quoins, and bolt heads on metal straps at small scales.

3704(2)

3691(2)

3688(2)

3694(2)

3698(2)

The ordnance is now completed and will be put aside until final fitting.

 

Moving back to the hull where another puzzlement arises.

 

B.E.

28/11/2019

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 42

Channels.

The kit provides clean laser cut channels which correlate to the scale plan* drawings in the Alert Book with the Deadeye spacing to match.

They take the form of a traditional Channel arrangement incorporating what would be a strip securing the Deadeye Chainplates in slots along the Channel.

However, because of my experience with Cheerful I am aware of a different style of channel on cutters which is a narrower, deeper section, wedge shaped channel with the Chainplates supported in shallow slots, without a covering board.

*Confusingly some of the drawings in the Alert book would suggest this simpler form, as does the book cover illustration, whereas the plan drawings show the kit style arrangement.

The model of the Hawke also shows the kit style arrangement, whereas the painting by Joseph Marshall of the Alert model shows the other style.

 

Looking too deeply into such matters can seriously affect your sanity so I guess it’s a case of you pays your money and takes your choice.🤔

 

I have decided to fit a modified version cut from some 4mm Boxwood sheet, and as the channels are to be unpainted, use of Boxwood will match the hull planking.

3716

Working the Channels.

Before permanently fitting the channels it is worthwhile checking how the chain plates will fit along the hull. Having made the channels these are pinned into the hull without gluing so that the position of the plates can be checked.

3709

 Don’t want any late surprises of shrouds fouling gun ports.

3702(2)

Fitting the plates is not quite as simple as it may seem as the bottom end of the plate is pinned immediately below the wale, follows the profile of the wale, (where it is also pinned) then angles outwards up to the channel where it is either pinned in shallow slots or fitted thro’ the slots on the channel if using the kit arrangement.

The provided etched chainplates and deadeye rings are nicely done, but I decided to make my own in the manner of the Cheerful build.

3720(2)

I am using 1.5 x 0.25mm Brass fret which equates to a 3¾” wide plate somewhat narrower than the kit version.

3728

Test fitting a Chainplate.

At this point I have drilled thro’ for the bolt below the wale, but I can’t further advance them until I have made the deadeye strops.

On the subject of deadeyes Steel gives the diameter of the Deadeyes as 12” (for a 200-ton cutter) which scales to 4.76mm.

3723

Kit deadeyes often exceed the given nominal size by up to 0.3 mm as is the case with this kit, but they are very nicely made and finished with none of the misplaced holes you often get in a proportion of kit provided deadeyes.

Coupled with the provided Channels and etched Chainplates they do provide the oob builder with a straightforward and effective method of dealing with what can be a tricky area of a build.

3722(2)

My preference is to use Boxwood versions at a nominal 4mm (4.3mm) which with the built-in excess come closer to the given diameter than the provided 5mm (5.4mm) versions.

 Strop and plate making will be engaging me for the next couple of days.

 

B.E.

01/12/2019

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 43

Iron work along the Channels.

I prefer the look of a finer Chainplate and smaller deadeye so some extra work is involved in shaping the plates, drilling the three bolt holes, attaching to the strops, and blackening the metal.

3731

Having formed the basic plate, the first action is to test fit along the hull, mark the bolt holes, remove and drill, and generally clean up and file in the taper and shoulder where the plate fits around the Deadeye strop.

The second part of the exercise is making Deadeye Strops.

This is a fairly simple exercise if you invest in a silver soldering kit.

A ring is made using 0.5mm ø Brass wire wound tightly around a nominal 5mm dowel rod and snipped.

3735

Applying the silver solder paste to the joint which should be very close.

3734(2)

Heat is applied until the silver flashes, and the jobs done.

The success or otherwise of the joint will soon be apparent when the ring is squeezed around the deadeye to form the strop.

3738(2)

 Sufficient excess of wire is necessary over the actual deadeye size to form the strop and a little trial and error may be required to gauge this.

3745(2)

The two elements can then be brought together for blackening and fitting.

Fitting is probably the trickiest part of the exercise, ensuring the deadeye tops look level along the Channel.

3748

The Starboard set completed.

3749(2)

The copper bolts securing the clinker planking are evident in this shot.

3751

3756(2)

 

B.E

05/12/2019

 

[VTHokiEE]

Very nice work, how do you blacken the strops with the deadeyes in them? I assume you paint the blackening solution on the strop, does it dye the deadeye at all (this probably depends on the solution in use I imagine)?

[Blue Ensign]

I did a test and found that the deadeye wasn't affected by the diluted  blackening fluid so I just dunk the whole lot in, and then  quick dry with a hairdryer.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 44

Bits and pieces

Side steps

These are plain affairs that will stand a little enhancing with extra profiling. The kit items do however include the hand holds.

Two outboard steps are indicated although I note that four are shown on the Marshall painting.

Same problem here as with Cheerful; it looks like there ought to be additional steps.

Two steps may just pass muster with the open drift arrangement, effectively an extra step, but the distance between the upper of two steps and the closed in Drift rail is the same as the distance taken up by both two lower steps.

3862(2)

For this reason, I have decided to fit three outboard steps, the added third step being fixed just above the sheer rail.

Inboard steps: the kit doesn’t provide these, whereas the Alert book shows a three-step inboard entry ladder between deck and Drift rail.

With my current set up a ladder would cover the shot rack and interfere with gun side tackles for the second from aft gun.

Still, I think there should be steps, so it looks like re-visiting the Rough-tree rail and shot rack.

3630

I identified the problem as the hance coming too far forward on the Drift-rail, preventing the ladders clearing the side tackles.

Worth mentioning that use of pva allows for painless removal of the rail, quite a delicate fitting, which would not have been the case had I used ca.

I keep use of ca to the absolute minimum on my builds, there is often a need to do modifications and ca tends to make the wood brittle and using acetone to loosen ca can be a messy business.

 

3852

The hance has been modified, the shot rack moved aft, and the inboard ladders installed.

3864(2)

3860(2)

Layout looks more logical to my eye now.

Not yet ready to fix the deck fittings but it’s been a while since I reviewed the layout.

3839(2)

3840(2)

3845(2)

3843

3842

3838

Time to move on.

B.E.

12/12/2019

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 45

A few more bits and pieces.

 

Scuppers

These are given as four in number each side with a diameter of 2½” (0.99mm at scale)

3881(2)

They are made from thin slices of aluminium tubing flattened on the anvil.

 

Iron plates for Backstays

As with the Chainplates I fashioned these from some brass strip.

 

3904(2)

According to the Alert Book drawings these are for (from aft) the Running Backstay, Running Backstay Tackle, and Standing Backstay. (set up with deadeyes.)

The kit rigging follows the Alert book.

 

The subject of Backstays.

There is a confusion in my mind about the notation used in relation to the rigging in the Alert Book. There are several instances where the description for the same line varies across the different drawings.

For instance, drawing H22/2 shows ratlines across all five connections along the channel whereas on H4/1 they terminate at shroud four.

The book narrative notes that:- a fifth pair of deadeyes were added for the Standing Backstay, - on the channel and shown in drawing H4/1

However, drawing D1/1 annotates this as being a shroud deadeye, with the first of the iron plates aft of the channels as relating to the standing backstay. The aft two plates being for the standing end and tackle of the running backstay.

So how many standing backstays are there?

Strangely, the rigging table in the Alert Book (taken from Steel) does not list backstays for the lower masts, only the T’gallant standing Backstay is mentioned.

 

3906(3)

Backstay rigging as I recognise it.

 

The use of deadeyes on the iron plate, ostensibly the same size as for the shrouds along the channel doesn’t sit easy with my eye. Tackles are usually seen hooked into iron plates on Cutters.

The question remains, if the first iron plate is indeed for a standing backstay, what size line is it, and is the use of deadeyes a drawing error.

The kit indicates use of 0.75mm ø line which scales up to a 6” circumference line, as with the shrouds.

Steel gives the circumference of the shroud lines as 8” scaling to a 1mm ø line.

None of the cutter models I have seen have a deadeye arrangement for this standing backstay, except those based on Goodwin’s Alert book, which the kit follows.

 

3301

The Hawke model with the usual tackle secured Backstays.

 

I note that Lennarth Petersson in his book Rigging Period Fore-and-Aft Craft shows yet another variation on backstay tackles, but tackles they are, not deadeyes.

Having looked extensively thro’ all my rigging books and at many cutter models, I have decided not to use deadeyes for the backstays and I have formed all the plates to take hooks.

How I will rig the tackles I can now safely leave until later.

 

B.E.

16/12/2019

 

Edited December 16, 2019 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

Post 46

Gun rigging (Part 1)

For this I will be using Syren rigging line and blocks.

The kit provided rectangular single hole blocks belong to a gone-by kit era, and there are many better options now available.

Breeching line 4¼” circ; 24’ length.

This scales to 0.54mm ø and with a length of 114mm.

I am using Syren 0.63mm line.

114mm scale length seems a bit long on the model, the breeching rope needs to have slack to allow for recoil and look realistic, but too much and it simply looks untidy. Conversely one of my pet hates is a breeching line too tight that would allow no recoil at all.

I played around with the length and decided on an 80mm line.

Attaching the line to the bulwark rings and over the button and thro’ the carriage rings is a fiddly business and connecting the line to the bulwark rings I find almost impossible to do neatly with the gun insitu.

One of the objectives is to not have the splice around the bulwark ring too bulky.

Modellers cannot do better than follow Chuck’s method as given in his Cheerful build.

3950(2)

A simple jig is used to hold the bulwark rings at the correct distance apart. One seizing is made, I use 0.1mm Morope line and a needle, the carriage side rings are slipped over the line and the other seizing made.

3948

The line at the centre is split apart to fit over the gun button, and the job is done.

3957

Trial fit on the deck.

 

3958

Difficult to properly arrange the breeching rope at this stage as neither gun nor rings are yet fixed, but the prime objective of confirming the line length is achieved.

 

I can now at last fix some of the hatches in place.

3959(2)

3963

The Main hatch grating has been modified to allow passage of the anchor cables.

 

Twelve sets of Breeching lines have now to be made up. Not one of my favourite jobs, a rather tiresome exercise.

 

B.E.

18/12/2019

 

 

[Gregory]

Gun rigging is exceptionally nice, and does not look out of scale..

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Gregory,  that is just the test version which won't be used on the model, but I think I will have had enough of them by the time I've completed  twelve pairs.….. and then there's the side tackles. 🙄

 

B.E.

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 47

Looking at Anchors.

Taking a break from the tricky business of gun rigging preparation I’ve had a look at the anchors.

According to the Alert Book five anchors were carried:

1 sheet anchor 17/18cwt

2 bower anchor 14/15cwt

1 stream anchor 6cwt

1 kedge anchor 3cwt

The kit provides two white metal cast anchors to represent the bowers. They are cleanly made and to an accurate scale for the Sheet anchor (Best Bower), but perhaps a tad large (by 5mm) for the smaller Bower usually stowed on the port bow.

3976lI

Alongside are outsourced anchors to represent the smaller Stream and Kedge anchors.

I was less impressed by the wooden stocks; they had caught my eye on the photo’s in the kit build manual, looking too thin and without the depth to allow proper shaping.

 Ideally, they should be deeper in the centre section to allow for a taper upwards towards the arm ends.

They did however reflect the taper towards the arm ends when in plan view.

3977lI

The issue can be seen here, the upper stocks are from a Caldercraft anchor kit which are properly split down the centre and allow for shaping.

The lower stocks are the kit provided items which for me don’t pass muster.

 

Using the Caldercraft stock as a template, replacement Boxwood versions were made cut out of 3mm sheet.

3987

3986

3985

I will leave the finishing off until later and return to a last push to complete the Breeching lines, seven down, five to go.

 

B.E.

20/12/2019

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 48

Gun rigging (Part 2)

 

 The breeching ropes are at last attached, and scuffs on the iron work touched in.

 

4005(2)

4001(2)

It is time to fix the guns in place along the bulwarks.

A small dot of pva is applied to the trucks to fix them to the deck, and the breeching lines can then be attached to the bulwark.

 

4023

Quite fiddly getting the eyebolts into the bulwark holes without marking the paintwork or even worse the gun blackening.

 

4024

The eyebolts also have to be orientated to allow the Breeching line to hang properly.

4028

4015

The Breeching lines are not glued down and it’s quite nice not to have to fight them to get them to drape naturally.

4013

4025(2)

4026(2)

4029

 

I’m quite pleased with the look of her, but now onto those side tackles, 24 tackles to make up, - what joy. 🙄

Happy Christmas to my fellow MSW members, and thank you to those who have shown interest in my build over the past six months.

 

 

Gun Rigging (Part 3)

In this post I am making up the Side tackles, again jigs are required to ease the pain of making up these fiddly little items.

4036(2)

The Alert Book indicates 5” double* and single (hooked) block combinations for the side tackles. These equate to 2mm blocks at scale.

 

*I seem to recall that only single blocks were used on small guns such as six pounders, so that is what I will use.

 

The tackle line is given as 2” circumference with 30’ length

This scales to 0.25mm ø with a length of 143mm.

Making up the tackles

 I am using Syren Boxwood 3/32” blocks (2.38mm) to give me a little leeway over the tiny 2mm blocks given that hooks must be attached.

 

4033(2)

For the hooks I am using Syren 3mm black plastic hooks, something Chuck no longer supplies, but they are ideal for tackle rigging at small scales, much neater than the equivalent 3mm brass etched versions.

 

For the tackle lines I am using Syren 0.20mm line which will provide a visible contrast to the heavier Breeching lines.

 

The blocks are rigged using a third hand tool, and the tackles are completed on the ‘Gun’ jig.

 

 Each tackle assembly takes me around 20 minutes to complete. For the full set around eight hours of work are required, but it feels a lot longer than that.

 

Side tackles are difficult to get looking right; often on models the blocks look over-scale and with the necessary addition of hooks there is only a short space between the two blocks, which makes the tackle arrangement look unconvincing.

 

There is a particular issue with Alert where the securing eyebolts for the tackles are placed in the faces of the shot garlands, reducing the distance between the tackle blocks.

 

In practice with guns run out the tackle blocks are quite close together as apparent on this shot of a twelve pounder on the Quarterdeck of Victory.

12 Pounder gun, Victory Qtr Deck.

I much prefer this look of secured tackles rather than stylized cheeses arranged on the deck.

The Royal Yacht Squadron it ain’t.

Getting a loose frap arrangement at model scale is very tricky, so my approach is to frap the lines and arrange the line ends in a loose coil.

This too is somewhat stylized, but it is my option at this scale.

Once made it is fairly simple to attach the tackles to the guns. and making up separate coils completes the job.

 

 

B.E.

24/12/2019

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by Blue Ensign
additional information

[Blue Ensign]

Post 49

Hull completion

This post marks six months into the build and completion of the hull by the fitting of the gun side tackles and remaining deck fittings.

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4094

4084

4085(2)

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4091(2)

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7764(2)

 

That’s it for 2019.

Wishing my fellow MSW members successful modelling in 2020

 

 

B.E.

29/12/2019

 

[jimvanlan99]

B.E.

I want to congratulate you on a really superb build.  Just beautiful

Jim

[VTHokiEE]

Very nice work! I received this key for Christmas and I can’t wait to dive into it (although I plan on sticking closer to the kit contents as it will be my first planking kit). I really appreciate your log and I’m certain that I will reference it if I get the urge to indulge the build. Have a happy new year!

[davyboy]

Hi Maurice,very very nice indeed,super job👍. I look forward to the continuation next year.

 

I had a rethink on my Speedwell POB. Didn't like the filler blocks fwd of the front bulkhead so they were chiseled out. Made the upper

parts of the bollard timbers and 4 hawse timbers from pear and fitted them. Had to do some "surgery" on the fwd bulkhead and part of

the lower filler blocks. Looks very much better. It was quite a job making these parts with a fretsaw,razor saw and files

 

Regards and I wish you a Happy New Year.

 

Dave 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Jim, much appreciated. 🙂

 

@ VTH - I'm sure you will enjoy this kit especially if you have the newer version with enhanced fittings. It's a good first planking  subject, not too bluff in the bows.

 

@ Dave - Thanks Dave, I'm always pleased when I reach this stage of a build. Hope things go well with Speedwell in 2020.

 

Happy New Year Guys.

 

B.E.

 

 

[Rustyj]

Hi B.E. Great workmanship and a Happy New Years to you!

[Blue Ensign]

Post 50

 

Draught markings

This is an opportune time to add the draught markings down the stem.

I found these quite tricky things to apply, getting the spacing and orientation looking right.

 

4153(2)

They were chemically blackened and once fixed a weathering powder mix was sparingly applied.

 

Galley chimney.

4136

I remodelled this from a piece of Boxwood sheathed in lead foil.

 

The Guard rope stanchions are not immediately required, but a convenient time to blacken and trial fit them.

 

4155

To my eye the provided kit stanchions looked a little heavy for the scale. Fortunately, I had some stanchions left over from my Pegasus build which are finer in profile and I used them in preference.

They will be put aside until the rigging is completed; they present as perfect snag magnets.

 

Carrick Bitt pin racks (parts 57,58)

These fit thro’ slots in the Carrick Bitts and in the Pawl Bitt strongback.

 

4128(3)

Came across a little problem here; when I came to fit these, instead of running level between the two bitts they angled upwards because the slot on the Pawl bitts was higher than on the Carrick bitts.

I have no idea how this has come about; I had checked the fit during the assembly stage, and it seemed ok, or at least I thought it did.

The windlass assembly is firmly fixed to the deck, so removal and re-working was not an option.

 

4143

A bit of very careful scalpel work on the Pawl bitts was required, followed by some filler and re-painting.

Inclusion of these pin racks stems from the Alert book and is duplicated in the kit.

Still not sure about them on cutters of this period but there is a need for them when it comes to rigging so I follow suit.

 

The kit provides brass etched belaying pins which didn’t suit my eye.

4177

The Alert book drawings show what are termed belaying posts, more rectangular in shape than a traditional pin, and I opted for these instead using some 1mm Boxwood section.

4166(2)

I need to shape the posts a little more and test them for strength.

4174(2)

 

Time to look at the masts and yards.

 

 

B.E.

03/01/20

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2020 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

Post 51

Square-sails, Crossjacks, and Spread-yards - What’s it all about?

 

To properly rig a cutter of this era these need to be understood, and I start out not being very clear at all.

I am particularly interested in the Square-sail yard, a peculiarity of this type of cutter, also referred to as a Crossjack yard (by Steel).

 I am unfamiliar with both the yard and rigging associated with it.

The Alert book narrative indicates that the Square-sail yard was set flying between the Topsail yard and the Spread-sail yard which held the foot of the Topsail.

The Spread-sail yard in this case is what we would think of and performs the same function as the Crossjack Yard on a Square rigger.

 

Horse for Square-sail yard.

 

Steel lists a ‘horse down the mast’ associated with the Crossjack yard which for our purposes is the Square-sail Yard.

The Horse has an eye splice at the upper end lashed to masthead.

The Lower end is set up with deadeyes and lanyard to an eyebolt in the deck forward of the mast.

Horse 5” circ. (0.63mm ø line) 7” deadeyes (3mm at scale)

 

Marquardt, Eighteenth-century Rigs and Rigging provides the most comprehensive description and drawings.

Topsail rigged vessels had the horse fitted forward of the crossjack yard*. The horse was led through an aft facing thimble on the Square-sail yard.

 

Note: *I have taken this reference to the crossjack yard as relating to the Spread-sail yard, otherwise it makes no sense to me.

 

In relation to the Square-sail or Crossjack Marquardt writes:

Bent to the yard and comparable to a main or fore course, this sail was usually known as only as a Square sail, though Steel called it a crossjack. The latter name was used by Falconer only for the sail carried on the crossjack yard of a three masted ship, and he commented ‘this sail, however, has generally been found of little service and is therefore very seldom used.’

 

The Square-sail was only bent to a crossjack yard if the vessel did not carry a square topsail (Alert did)

If a topsail was set, it was bent to an extra yard known as a square-sail yard, or club yard, which was hoisted up to the crossjack yard.

 

In vessels with only a Topgallant mast stepped, (as with Alert) this yard was hoisted past the crossjack yard to below the hounds.

 

The square-sail frequently had a bib to fill the space left by the deeply roached topsail.

 

 

Use of a Horse is not mentioned in either the Alert book or the Kit rigging instructions.

If a horse is to be fitted, then an eyebolt will be required at the foot of the mast to secure the deadeye.

I mocked up a mast/yard arrangement to clear the set up in my mind and establish the position for the lower deadeye on the deck.

 

4213Li

The Square-sail yard can thus be lowered to the deck, running down the horse.

 

4220

I trial fitted the arrangement on the model and I think it works.

4217

4215

 The deadeyes can be made up off the model and be hooked or seized to a deck eyebolt which I can now put into place.

 

 

B.E.

05/01/2020

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

I would have to disagree Dirk, I rather think that the yard and horse were dispensed with in the later rigs.

I think Alert sits right in the period where  this square-sail arrangement would apply. The Square-sail yard is listed on the Original plans for Alert, and Steel includes the Horse  in the rigging requirements for a cutter.

The later arrangement is shown on a model in the Alert book, circa 1785. It is annotated as... showing improved and standardised rig. The spread-yard by this period had been omitted and the foot of the  topsail spread on the square sail yard. The longer topgallant mast was stepped afore the lower mast head.

 

It makes sense to me that having both square-sail and spread-sail yards on Alert, that a horse would have been used.

 

Whilst I accept that there were probably many variations in cutter rig during the last quarter of the 18th century, I think I will stick with the horse. if nothing else it will make an interesting variation.🙂

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

No worry Dirk, it took me ages to get my head around the set up. It doesn't help that different terms are used for the same yard..🙄

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

My understanding is that the Spread-yard was there purely to  attach the clews of the Topsail and as such would have had a truss arrangement to secure the yard to the mast. I can't see how a horse would have been of regular benefit, as the Topsail was the sail most likely set .

The Square-sail yard ran up and down on the horse to above the Spread-yard, and when used  presumably had the sail attached at deck level,  as far as I can see there were no footropes on the Square-sail yard.

 

ps. William Falconer's dictionary published in 1780, also describes use of the Horse.

HORSE is also a thick rope, extended in a perpendicular direction near the fore or after-side of a mast, for the purpose of hoisting or extending some sail thereon. When it is fixed before a mast, it is calculated for the use of a sail called the square-sail, whose yard being attached to the horse, by means of a traveller, or bull's-eye, which slides up and down occasionally, is retained in a steady position, either when the sail is set, or whilst it is hoisting or lowering. When the horse is placed abaft or behind a mast, it is intended for the try-sail of a snow, and is accordingly very rarely fixed in this position, except in those sloops of war which occasionally assume the form of snows, in order to deceive the enemy.

 

One may presume that Falconer was writing before 1780 which puts his description as being extant at the time of  the Alert 1777.

 

B.E.

Edited January 5, 2020 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

 We’re all looking at these things removed some 250 years from the time, and your insights and input are always welcome Dirk.

Thankyou,

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

Post 52

Mast and Yards

 

In preparation for mast and yard making, my standard approach is to firstly compare the given dimensions across several sources.

I compared the scale lengths as per a) the kit.  b) Steel. c) The Alert Book. d) Admiralty Plan.

 

The Bowsprit I have already made to the kit dimensions, which are very close to the Admiralty plan notation.

 

The main/topmast  is  the first job. (In Cutters the main/topmast are combined to make one lower mast.

                           Kit            Steel       Alert book      Adm Plan

 

Length                367mm      419.1      423.9mm     373.8mm

Diameter                8mm        8.7mm      8.7mm         8.0mm

With a diameter of 20” (8mm scale)

 

*The quarters work out as follows:

                   Partners     1^st Qtr           2^nd Qtr           3^rd Qtr

                       20”         19¾”            18¾”               17⅟8”

Scale 1:64        8mm       7.83mm       7.44mm          6.8mm

*Taken from Steel.

 

The kit taper from 8mm to 7mm is close enough, and the dimensions given in the kit instructions matches those of the Alert Book.

 

I like to mark the quarters on the dowel to get as far as possible an even taper during sanding.

4236

I am making the mast from some Ramin dowel, so this will entail either adding the square section above the cheeks with some square stock or taking the riskier route of squaring off the top end of the mast.

 

4286

I squared off the top section by hand and eye using a fine chisel, content in the knowledge that I could always cut it off If I didn’t like it.

Where the cheeks fit, the mast needs to be flattened off and some more fine chiselling is required to set the cheeks into the mast sides.

 

4285

I somehow lost the kit provided cheeks, but they are easily replaced, cut from Boxwood sheet.

Treenails were added to secure the cheeks.

Note: there is an orientation to the cheeks, the top is angled upwards aft. This is to compensate for the rake of the mast when fitted and will bring the trestletrees level.

With the cheeks in place, the Trestletrees can be test fitted, these follow the line of the cheeks.

I used the kit provided laser cut versions which were accurately cut and robust for what is usually a fragile kit item.

 

T’gallant Mast

 

All the references agree to the scale length of 170mm (35’6”)

A shorter Storm T’gallant mast of 25’ scaling to 119mm could be used if height is an issue on the model.

The kit indicates use of 4mm dowel for the T’gallant mast, but I think there should be a square heel on the mast to fit into the trestletree.

 

4288

I made the mast from 4mm square stuff and rounded the mast on the lathe.

The incorporated Pole head is very narrow (1.5mm ø).

2mm was the smallest diameter I risked on the lathe lest the part snap, and the pole head was finished by hand.

The final test is does it all fit together with the Mast Cap.

Yes it does.😃

 

A  minor point for the detail obsessed, the hole in the mast-cap to fit the tenon on the lower masthead should really be square not round, as should the Masthead tenon.

 

4294

I replaced the kit part with a Boxwood version.

 

4295

4293

4292

Still stuff to do on the masts, sheaves to cut, cleats to add, and finish to be decided.

 

 

B.E.

08/01/2020

 

Edited January 8, 2020 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

Post 53

 

Booms and Gaffs

 

Another case of confusing terminology here.

 

The kit lists a Main Boom (283mm) and a Driver Boom(181mm)

I think the Gaff has been misnamed as a Driver Boom in the kit instructions, altho’ the overall dimensions are in keeping with a Gaff.

 

The Alert Book Drawings have a (Main)Boom (273.75mm) and a Gaff, (171mm) but also show a Storm Gaff (79.5mm) and a Driver Boom (184.5mm).

 Sizes scaled up from 1:96 drawings.

 

The Admiralty plan lists:

A Boom            58’10” (280mm)   12⅝” ø (5mm)

A Gaff              40’ 0” (190.5mm)   9” ø  (3.6mm)   

A Storm Gaff    17’ 0” (81mm)       93/8” ø (3.72mm) 

A Driver Boom 27’ 0” (128.5mm)   6¾” ø (2.7mm)

 

The Alert Book links the Driver Boom to the Storm Gaff, presumably for carrying reduced sail. The Main Boom is linked to the Gaff.

 

Steel

 

Main Boom 66’ (14¼”ø)  (314mm)   

Gaff 49’ 6” (10¼”ø)         (235.7mm)

Driver Boom 42’ (8”ø)      (200mm)

Storm Gaff 21’  ( 8¼”ø)    (100mm)

 

As can be seen there are variations, some of them greater than others, so you pays your money and takes your choice.

 

For my build I am going with the kit despite the gaff about the gaff.

 

Booms were not evenly tapered, and ship and cutter booms differed in their proportions.

 

According to Steel:- For Cutters.

The maximum dimension is towards the outer end at the point of the sheet, just inboard of the stern.

Taper is then made both inboard and outboard to given proportions.

 

The inboard section is quartered as follows;

Max scale diameter 5mm

1^st Qtr         2^nd Qtr         3^rd Qtr           4^th Qtr

40/41          11/12           7/8                2/3

 4.87mm     4.58              4.37mm        3.3mm

 

Outboard section

 

 Mid Point         End

    11/12           ¾

  4.58mm        3.75mm

 

I made a boom to these proportions and it looks good to my eye.

4318

This shape is not reflected in the kit where the maximum diameter is at the inboard end, tapering to 3mm at the outboard end.

 

The Jaws

 

The kit provides a simplified all-in-one version that simply slots over the end of the boom. In practise the jaw and tongue were made up of separate sides, port and starboard, fayed and bolted to the chamfered boom end.

 

4317(2)

The ‘iron’ bands are only there temporarily at present.

 

I don’t really like kit boom jaws they always look unconvincing. I did use the kit version, but I split it and fined it down to suit my eye.

 

One of the worst examples I have seen of pre-formed boom jaws, is a lumpy, clumpy, blocky, example provided in the Pickle kit, but it is easily remedied.

 

The Gaff

4320(2)

This was made as per the Boom, but the maximum dimension is 19mm from the inboard end.

 

Maximum scale diameter 3mm.

1^st Qtr         2^nd Qtr         3^rd Qtr           4^th Qtr

40/41          11/12             4/5              ¾

 

There is still the finishing to do but that can wait until the yards are made.

 

My aim is to get the sawdusty element out of the way and clean up before I get onto the finishing.

 

B.E.

10/01/2020

Edited January 10, 2020 by Blue Ensign

[Vane]

I really like this build, well done!

Maybe u have written it earlier but what type of Wood are u using for the decks and the 2nd planking?

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Vane.

I used Boxwood  strip for both Deck and hull planking.

Above the wale I used the kit provided  1mm thick Boxwood Strip, (which is actually supplied for the decking), and below the wale some thinner stuff, 0.7mm thick.

I also used the thinner Boxwood strip for the decking.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.