Ancre Fitting and Rigging a 74-gun Model Ship

[mtaylor]

Fitting and Rigging a 74-gun Model Ship

Francis Jonet

ANCRE (www.ancre.fr) – December,2020

118 pages-color photos-diagrams

This is an updated reprint of the original book’s first printing and is available in French, English, Spanish, and Italian.

 

 

 

 

Overview:

While not part of the seminal books by Boudroit of the 74 Gun Ship series, it is an add-on that complements the series. This book provides references and how-to instructions.  Numerous images (both color photos, drawings, and tables) illustrate the items and the techniques using a minimum number of tools.  Everything included relates to construction of the 74-gun ship from late 18^th to the early 19^th centuries.  Do note that the first chapter is dedicated to finishing the upper works and fittings as well as what’s required to add the rigging. 

 

Contents by Chapter and sub-headings:

Chapter I – Fittings and more, Tools, Laminates, The sandpaper file, Working on the stern and stem, Making gratings, Upper deck and Poop deck breastwork, The breast rail stanchions and belaying pins, Ladders, Shroud chains, Anchors, The guns, The figurehead, The stern lantern

 

Chapter II - The Masts – Making the spars, Lower mast and lower yard hoops, The yardarms, Building the tops, Topgallant trestletrees and crosstrees.

 

Chapter III – Blocks – Preparing slats, Making the shells, Finishing the blocks

Chapter IV - Rope Work – The workspace, Theory, In practice, Serving, Particular cases for small cables

 

Chapter V – Finishing the Ropework – Eyes and mouse (stays), Shroud masthead rigging, Rope bights, The shrouds, Wall knots, Ratlings, Hammock nettings, To clap on blocks to the yards, Small block straps, The thimbles or rings, Hooked return blocks, The anchor buoys

 

Chapter VI – Making the Sails – The cloths, Tabling, Linings and patches, Eyelets, Bolt ropes, Foot ropes, Head ropes, Bolt ropes cringles, Reef point, Gaskets, Grommets, The bent sails

 

Chapter Vii – Installation of the Sails – Leading and belaying the ropes, Jibs, Staysails, Lower sails, Topsails and mizzen topsail, Topgallant sails and mizzen top gallant, Driver, Jib sheets and Installation of anchors, Finishing the Installation of square sails, Staysails sheets, Inspection of the work done

 

Chapter VIII – The Ship’s Boat – Construction method, The forms, Framing, Keel, Stem, and Sternpost, Sterns, Planking, Form removal, Stern sheets, Floor timber and inner planking, Thwarts, Stem and stern inner areas, Rudders, Finishing details

 

Chapter IX – Technical Data – Making the ropes, Shrouds, back-stays, stays, Preventer stays, bowsprit mast, Catharpins, range cleats, belaying cleats, Blocks, sheet blocks, staysail stays, bolt ropes, foot ropes, etc. Fall tackles, yard tackles, Sail tackles, anchor ropes and cables, Yard rigging, Lower sail clusters, blocks for the stays

 

Chapter X – Block Distribution – Rigging parts for the masts and for the operation of the yards, Rigging parts for the operation of the sails, Rigging parts for the operation of guns.

 

Chapter X – Return Tacks – Forecastle, Quarterdeck, Poop deck.

 

Technical Data – Tables for all of the rigging, blocks, and tackle sizes,

 

Review:

This is basically a journey, in which shows not just the author’s successes but also his failures, both of which are useful.  Every chapter details the jigs he used along with the methods, along with photos of this process which, was eye-opening to me and would be useful (with modification) of any ship of the period.

 

While there are minimal plans (you will need the monograph for the model you’re building), the appendix has much to offer in the way of tables which not only surprised me but somewhat overwhelmed me by the amount of data there.

 

The book is well-written with the photos being annotated to explain what is being done. Everything is broken down into bite-sized chunks and processes used explained.

 

Though I have no intention of building a 74, as my preference is frigates, the same techniques and tools will be very useful and save me a lot of “re-do’s” and figuring out how to do it.

 

Would I recommend this book?  Yes, very much so as it will help any builder come terms with the complicated rigging.  I’ve decided that this is one the books to keep at all times near my workbench instead of in the library.  I really can’t recommend this enough.

 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Thanks for the review. I know that you are building a french frigate.

So the book is perfect. For English frigates you need another source.

[mtaylor]

4 hours ago, AnobiumPunctatum said:

Thanks for the review. I know that you are building a french frigate.

So the book is perfect. For English frigates you need another source.

True, same goes for English 74's as this is for French 74's.

[GrandpaPhil]

On 1/20/2021 at 5:53 PM, mtaylor said:

True, same goes for English 74's as this is for French 74's.

While we’re on the topic, is there a particular book that you would recommend for English 74’s?

[Gregory]

Can be a bit pricey, but you might check out:

 

Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815

Lavery, Brian

[AnobiumPunctatum]

In English:

James Lees: The masting and rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860

David Antscherl: Rigging a sixth rate sloop of 1767-1870, which is very detailed. I haven't checked if it is useful for rigging a third rate

 

In German:

Klaus Schrage Rundhölzer Tauwerk und Segel

I recommend the this book, because it contains a lot of useful detail drawings.

 

The last two are my favorites for rigging English ships

 

 

[GrandpaPhil]

Thank you very much!