Royal Caroline by Messis - FINISHED - Panart - 1/48

[MESSIS]

@Mike DowlingNo worries.And thank you for your nice comment.

[MESSIS]

The rail onthe top of the R Cabin, the Gallery 's chimney is there and the fore castle racks.

Metal black was used in order to give to the wooden chimney (but well sanded) the impression is metallic. There is also the anchor rope to be seen.

[Mike Dowling]

As a matter of interest, are you taking measurements from the plans consistently ? My reason for asking is that I am making up the masts. The plan has measurements on it but the drawing which is supposed to be 1:1 is very different. The measurements given are considerably longer. It may be something for you to bear in mind. What do you think ?

[MESSIS]

@Mike Dowling I have to see to that, I just know that not all drawings are to scale. Still if there is doubt  I can consult the book of Bellabarba,there is a to scale drawing of the yards and masts. Please don't hesitate to ask me if you wish me to take for you any mesuarments out of the book.

 

Christos

Edited February 10, 2021 by MESSIS

[Mike Dowling]

Thank you, that is very kind. I have done the masts according to the given measurements rather than take them off the plan but I may ask you about the yards when I get to them.

[MESSIS]

@Mike Dowling have you considered the  length of the mast which is inserted under the deck?

[Mike Dowling]

Yes, indeed I did. Good thought though.

[MESSIS]

Abacus is decorated and the stern looks colourfull. The curtains on the cabin's windows took some imagination and I think arent bad.

Edited February 13, 2021 by MESSIS

[MESSIS]

Falconnets in place. Amati offers a jewell modell in two sizes.

[TimC]

27 minutes ago, MESSIS said:

Falconnets in place. Amati offers a jewell modell in two sizes.

Looking very clean!

 

did the swivel guns come with the kit or were these purchased separately?  
 

Tim

[MESSIS]

@TimCI already mention that these are made by Amati and they are really a piece of art. The RC kit is Mantua.

 

 

Ps the flange on which is sitting are not in the swivel guns kit nor in the ships kit. Are taken from another kit (W.Churchil)

Edited February 15, 2021 by MESSIS

[MESSIS]

Rigging the cannons... as I finished the first one, -they looked a little big- so I wondered if the blocks are out of scale. So I did some checking calculations. The correct size according to Bellabarba's book it should be 180 mm. So for the model's scale that is 3.75mm. That means a 4 mm block was the best I could use. Still there are'nt any 4 mm blocks to buy. Only 5mm and 3mm blocks are there available, but still both have about the same deviation of 1mm from the size I actually needed to use. So betwwen the two I decided to use  the 5mm fine quality Syren Co. blocks which I already had.

[Bedford]

I haven't decided if I will got that far with my RC because I find too much detail on deck can detract from the overall model and it's hard to get lines to "sit" right.

[Mike Dowling]

I rather agree with you. I never rig cannons as, when I have tried the ropes etc never look to scale and do detract from other deck detail. Each to his/her own of course.

 

[MESSIS]

@Bedford & @Mike Dowlingguys you think it was better off without the rigging?

[Mike Dowling]

I just don't rig canons as personally I prefer it that way. I still do all the other rigging.

[DelF]

On 2/22/2021 at 3:17 PM, MESSIS said:

guys you think it was better off without the rigging?

I only rigged the breech ropes on my Royal Caroline, but I admit I was more interested in appearance than historical accuracy. I agree with other folks that too much clutter can detract from other aspects of the model. Of course, real-life sailing ships were very cluttered and crews had to work hard to keep everything ship-shape, but this was a royal yacht so perhaps we can forgive them for not wanting all that rigging spoiling the guns! On my latest build, HMS Speedy, I fully rigged all 14 guns with 2mm blocks and that was an exercise in patience! Rather than go that far, you might want to consider adding some details like the triangular shot garlands shown in the AOTS book you have (see photo below).

 

I like your swivel guns by the way, and wondered if you had also considered replacing the cannon barrels. I don't know if the kit has changed since I bought mine a long time ago, but I found that the cannon barrels were too large according to AOTS - 40mm when they should have been around 32mm. I replaced them with ones I got from the Model Dockyard (now sadly closed) and I can't remember what brand they were, but they looked much more in scale.  Unfortunately it meant I also had to make my own carriages but that was an interesting little side project. This is the only picture I can find of mine (it's difficult to photograph now as it's in a case):

 

 

Derek

[MESSIS]

@DelF Derek it looks grom the picture that you did an amazing work there. I decided  to rig the guns, but still I will change the blocks to 3mm.

[MESSIS]

Name plate andpainting the stand. Same ciolours used on the ship  ochre red, mat black and gold.

[MESSIS]

Some progress, but small.

[MESSIS]

Tiller and ruder inplace

[MESSIS]

Improoving cannon rigging scale

[MESSIS]

Arms ready. Cannon rigging finished. 

[Mike Dowling]

That is a lovely job on the cannon rigging. It doesn't look out of scale, one of the best I have seen.

[MESSIS]

@Mike Dowling thank you my friend. Yes originaly I have used 5 mm blocks... far to big.

 

Then I could not buy smaller from Syren because of the covid post office delays. So it was trouble until I have found these 3mm blocks, which I agree with you is within the scale.

[Bedford]

Messis would you mind measuring the length and diameter of the falconnets for me, just the main body of the gun. I might turn some up for my R.C.

[MESSIS]

@Bedford 13 mm  long and 1.5 max. outer diameter.

[MESSIS]

Lifeboat...  mmm I did enjoyed it.

[Mike Dowling]

Just a hint - you would be wise not to stick your lifeboat and platform down just yet. Wait until you have done your rigging or you will never get to the belaying points with it in the way.

[MESSIS]

@Mike Dowling thank you very much my friend for your precious advice. I havent yet... so your advice came on time.