Joe100 Posted December 7, 2020 Share #1 Posted December 7, 2020 Greetings! I’m building a diorama of HM Cutter Alert under easy sail with the mainsail and gaff lowered. I’ve seen some drawings and painting depicting this, and it’s allowing me to not only depict the ship under sail but show off the rigging too. The big mainsail is impressive, but it’s blocking a lot of detail. My question is this: With the main gaff lowered, how would the flag be rigged, if at all? Would it still be connected to the main boom? This seems to be a fairly extreme angle. Or would the storm gaff be rigged and the flag rigging connected there? Thanks for your input! joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Ensign Posted December 7, 2020 Share #2 Posted December 7, 2020 In that situation I doubt the Ensign would be displayed. Ensigns were not routinely worn during voyages, unless action was imminent and an enemy was to be engaged. What would be worn is the Commissioning pennant at the mast head, this would be in place for the duration of a commission. A smaller (Harbour)Ensign may be displayed if the ship was at anchor, worn at the gaff or perhaps otherwise on a staff at the stern sheets. Still a well presented Ensign provides a nice touch of colour on a model, and there must have been times when it was displayed to meet a particular situation. B.E. mtaylor 1 Quote Current Build: HMS Indefatigable-1794-by-blue-ensign-vanguard-models-164-scale Medway-longboat-1742-by-blue-ensign-½”-scale Completed builds: HMS Sphinx 1775 by Blue Ensign. 1:64 scale - Vanguard Models Queen-Anne-Royal-Barge-circa-1700-by-Blue-Ensign Fifie fishing boat Lady Eleanor Muirneag-1903-–-a-scottish-zulu-fishing-boat-164-scale-based-on-the-vanguard-models-zulu-kit/ HM Cutter Alert 1777 HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 18th-century-English-longboat-by-Blue-Ensign-ms-148-scale/ finished 18thc English Pinnace by Blue Ensign-Model-Shipways-1:24 scale/ finished HMS-Pegasus-by-Blue-Ensign-finished-Victory-Models-1:64-scale/ Heller Seventy-four 1:150 scale - modified Le Superbe/Le Glorieux kit after Boudriot, waterline setting with sails. The schooner Pickle, Jotika pob kit 1:64 scale, my interpretation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTHokiEE Posted December 7, 2020 Share #3 Posted December 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Joe100 said: under easy sail with the mainsail and gaff lowered. I’ve seen some drawings and painting depicting this I apologize for the slight hijack, but do you have a link to these pictures at all? I have been considering rigging my Alert with furled sails and I’m beginning my search for inspiration. mtaylor 1 Quote Current Build: HM Sloop Echo 1781 (First Scratch Build) Previous Builds: HM Cutter Alert, Sharpie Schooner, Chesapeake Bay Flattie, Half-Hull (NRG) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe100 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted December 7, 2020 Thanks BE! However, the question is more about where the flag lines would be attached, if the gaff is lowered and lashed to the boom? I doubt I’ll have the ensign on the model, but I would like to make sure the rigging is there. thanks! mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Ensign Posted December 7, 2020 Share #5 Posted December 7, 2020 The Ensign halyard usually passed thro’ a small block attached to an eye in the end of the Gaff. I would think that with the Gaff lowered and secured to the boom the halyard which was essentially a loop with a toggle attached to the flag when required may well have been removed and neatly coiled somewhere conveniently at the stern. B.E. mtaylor 1 Quote Current Build: HMS Indefatigable-1794-by-blue-ensign-vanguard-models-164-scale Medway-longboat-1742-by-blue-ensign-½”-scale Completed builds: HMS Sphinx 1775 by Blue Ensign. 1:64 scale - Vanguard Models Queen-Anne-Royal-Barge-circa-1700-by-Blue-Ensign Fifie fishing boat Lady Eleanor Muirneag-1903-–-a-scottish-zulu-fishing-boat-164-scale-based-on-the-vanguard-models-zulu-kit/ HM Cutter Alert 1777 HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 18th-century-English-longboat-by-Blue-Ensign-ms-148-scale/ finished 18thc English Pinnace by Blue Ensign-Model-Shipways-1:24 scale/ finished HMS-Pegasus-by-Blue-Ensign-finished-Victory-Models-1:64-scale/ Heller Seventy-four 1:150 scale - modified Le Superbe/Le Glorieux kit after Boudriot, waterline setting with sails. The schooner Pickle, Jotika pob kit 1:64 scale, my interpretation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe100 Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted December 7, 2020 Very nice, thank you. I’ll just leave it off mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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