Bevel/rounding edges or not

[mic-art]

I wonder what would give the best and most realistic result on the keel. Keeping the edges sharp and square or soften a tad?  What do you think?

[wefalck]

What does the prototype look like ? That should be the guide.

[druxey]

In 'real' ships, sharp edges are to be avoided. Rope can wear against them and a sailor would suffer badly if thrown against a sharp edge or corner.

[wefalck]

True. Usually, edges were bevelled or rounded or profiled using different types of planes - something that is not often reproduced in models. But in the case of the keel/stem, as in other cases, one should check against the prototype what was/would have been really done. One should also not overestimate the radius of any rounding and work to scale. So on a model the edge might still appear quite sharp.

[mic-art]

Thank you all for answering! 🙂

As you point out most edges would be rounded. But looking at the bow of the fishing cutter Deodar(see photo), built about 100 years later then the Sherbourne, which I try to build, the edges are quite sharp. I'm not sure though if one can use that as reference.🤔

 

[wefalck]

If you look closely, you can actually see the bevelling, it begins at a distance of about the diameter of the bowsprit below the bowsprit.

 

[mic-art]

7 minutes ago, wefalck said:

If you look closely, you can actually see the bevelling, it begins at a distance of about the diameter of the bowsprit below the bowsprit.

 

Is it the bevelling at the arrow you think of? Because the edges still are sharp.

[wefalck]

Exactly. Bevelling doesn't mean rounding, it means that a corner is 'broken' into a facet, often 45°, but not necessarily so. This kind of bevel with sharp edges is frequently found on stems in order to improve the hydrodynamics. You would have to verify it, however, for your special case.