ancre A Harbour Dredge (Machine à curer les ports) - English Edition

[James H]

Machine à curer les ports (A Harbour Dredge)
English edition
Written and prepared by Gérard Delacroix
Published and available from Ancre for €59,00 (with 1:36 plans)

 

It’s ok having harbours, but over time, if not maintained, they’ll silt up and become unusable. Yes, they need to be dredged! It’s not the most glamourous task nor are the vessels which perform this vital function, generally thought of as subjects for the modeller’s bench. That’s why it’s great to see a title (monograph) which does look at a dredger in great detail and also furnishes us with a set of 1:36 plans so that the keen and able modeller can have a go at recreating one of these workhorses in miniature. 

Ancre’s title is nicely presented in a format slightly larger than A4, and as a simple folder with high grade satin, heavyweight paper. Sewn spine

 

In Ancre’s words:

“Ever since man created harbours, he was faced with the problem of their maintenance. To this end, he created a rather primitive machine, that in the end was fairly practical and already modern, since it has existed for three centuries without really evolving. The harbour dredge was only removed from ship basins with the arrival of steam and chain dredges.

 

All along its lengthy existence, it maintained the kingdom's harbours so that the “Great Navy” could be maintained and resupplied in the best of conditions.”

 

Details of this monograph:

The work consists as a 72-page booklet which contains the description and the operation of the dredger as well as commentaries on the ten plates of drawings and on the 55 photos of a finished model. The plates are at the 1:36 scale and show every piece of the framework.

 

24 x 31 cm format, booklet and plans contained in an envelope with flaps, adorned with an illustration from one of the plates of Belidor's work.

 

Booklet:

• Harbour dredges, history
• Auxiliary boats
• Description of a dredge
• Operation of the machine
• Commentaries on the ten plates of the monograph
• Ironwork – Paintwork
• Timber scantlings
• Photos of a 1/36 scale model by B. Rimlinger

 

List of the 1/36-scale plates

1. Schematic plan of the hull
2. Drawings of the frames
3. Construction of the hull
4. Deck layout and lengthwise section
5. Detail of the upperworks
6. Outside view of the hull and fittings
7. Cross-sections
8. Detail of fittings
9. Overhead view
10. Overall elevation

PLATES (Sample)

 

Whilst 1:24 plans are also now available, the supplied 1:36 will help you build a model of these dimensions:

 

• Length: 57cm
• Width: 23cm
• Height: 21cm

 

This pack, like any monograph, is intended to help the builder recreate an authentic replica of the subject at hand, with every detail shown on the ten plates (plans), including profiles, formers/bulkheads, dredge mechanism etc. All drawings are presented as fine-line and with a wonderful clarity. They are, of course, designed so you can take your dimensions directly from them. The dredger itself is a flat-bottomed vessel and doesn’t conform to the regular concept of building a ship. That it itself will make this a relatively easy project, and one that will prove to be a nice diversion from what will usually sit on your workbench.

 

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so they say, and the 72-page book shows many photos of this subject completed as a model. A number of full-colour plates in this book show the dredger from many angles which should provide inspiration enough for you to dip your toe into the murky harbour waters.

 

The book itself excels in content with history thrown into the mix, as well as the technological challenges on a type of vessel which had served, until relatively recently, for a number of centuries. The book is also illustrated with more photos and drawings in black and white.

 

Conclusion
Whether a collector or a builder, this is a really nice title to have in your collection, and doubtless will be quite different to other monographs you may have. M. Delacriox  has certainly taken a topic I would never have thought was of any interest and actually created an informative and readable tome, plus the drawings to build what is surely going to be one of the most unusual models in your collection. 

 

My sincere thanks to Ancre for the book reviewed here at Model Ship World. To buy directly, click the link at the top of this article.

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Thanks for posting this. I am an engineer (retired) and often wondered at how they did the dredging in the 18th and 19th century. Now I see it. The book's price though is pretty steep but again thanks for information

[Roger Pellett]

Ras,

 

Some time ago, someone posted a build log for this Port Dredger.  You can probably find it on the scratch built model posts.

 

 

[tkay11]

Alexandru (@guraus) has his build log at

 

You can also find plenty of builds on the web (some in languages other than English) by searching for "Machine à curer les ports".

 

However, as I detect you are more interested in their functioning than in the building of the model, I can send you by PM a page from the English translation explaining how they work. I don't think this breaks copyright as it should only be for personal use and is an excerpt from the book.

 

Tony

[Shotlocker]

Fascinating machine. I'm trying to imagine what it would be like as one of the "hamsters" inside those giant wheels all day long...what a job!

[thibaultron]

"Well, in my day Sonny, we had to walk uphill at work, Both ways!"

[Shotlocker]

Yup, that was certainly true for those fellows!