scale

[Pirate]

I have another dumb question about scale. I weather my model so when done they look like working ships. on an  18th   sailing ship question is if they need a part say a pully would they use a larger one

[popeye2sea]

Can you please clarify your question?

Are you talking about replacement parts used by the crew on an actual ship or are you asking about on a scale model using a larger part to replace a smaller one?

 

Regards,

[allanyed]

Why do you think that a weathered model uses larger blocks (pullies) than non-weathered models? 

You wrote above

1 hour ago, Pirate said:

. on an  18th   sailing ship

Am I correct that you mean the 18th century (1700s)?

 

Allan

 

  

[Pirate]

both, if a ships crew would do it it would would be realistic on a model I am going by theory that you work with what you have and a ship at sea can't go to the parts store

[allanyed]

Pirate

Why do you think a weathered ship would have larger blocks than a ship that is not showing weathering? 

 

Regarding spares,  there was a myriad of spare parts (stores) on board, including line, blocks, fasteners, wood, et al.  There were gunner's stores, medical stores and carpenter's stores on board to name a few.   Consider the damaged parts from an engagement with an enemy vessel.  They assumed spares might be required.  It would be interesting to find a list of such stores as was specified for each rate by the Admiralty.  I did some checking and found a list of stores on board in Richard Endsor's  The Master Shipwrights' Secrets  that had many items including standing and running rigging materials, but it did not give the sizes or quantity.    I hope your research digs up some information as this is an interesting topic.

 

Allan

Edited January 27, 2022 by allanyed

[popeye2sea]

True enough, Pirate.

 

However, if you're talking about using what's on hand you still have to make whatever you use work. For example, a larger block may not work with the line you are trying to put through it. The line may jump out of the sheave and jam in the block. Plus, ships did usually carry a supply of spare parts and the carpenter was always standing by to fashion something out of spare stock. 

 

For scale model work you have to take into consideration just how much bigger you are choosing to go. Will it still adhere to the impression of scale you are trying to achieve or will it look completely out of place?

 

I am curious as to why you ask the question in the first place. Are you trying to justify using out of scale parts on your build? Why not just do it the right way from the start?

 

Regards,

Edited January 27, 2022 by popeye2sea

[Pirate]

I,m clumsy and drop things

[lmagna]

Under normal conditions I would think that the ships stores and the all important ships carpenter would fill the needs. If it was a size that they were out of stock then I am sure that a temporary block or fitting could be used while the carpenter made a new one. They were quite talented and resourceful.

 

Another possibility would be in the case of extensive battle or storm damage, where I am pretty sure that anything that might be found would be put to use. These repairs might have to last until proper repairs could be made in a port depending on how extensive they were. Thus the term "Jury Rigged."

 

No validation on this theory on my part just an opinion.

Edited January 28, 2022 by lmagna

[mtaylor]

4 hours ago, Pirate said:

I,m clumsy and drop things

Many of us are, myself included.   Note the sizes of the blocks and order some extras.  There's plenty of places that sell blocks.  Have a look at our advertisers on the front page.