Golden Hind by newbee - OcCre - 1/85 - improved version

[Louie da fly]

Well, you're getting there despite the trials and tribulations (what doesn't kill us makes us strong). Fortunately wood is a forgiving medium, and if all else fails, you can remove the faulty piece and make it again, as you've done here.

 

And now it's really starting to take shape and look like an actual ship. Keep up the good work.

 

Steven

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  It is fascinating to see your progress, and is much the same way I've gone about creating a framework to plank around.  The 'guest' of Drake from the Caribbean to the West coast of Mexico was the Portuguese navigator DaSilva, and his testimony to the authorities and the Inquisition concerning Drake's ship were consistent - noting much about the ship (including its 'French' design - ergo 'race built') and citing 14 guns available for broadsides (7 per side) plus 4 "at the bows", taken to mean the traditional 2 straight astern and two others (exact location not specified) ... perhaps either near the bows on the gun deck (angling forward) or in the forecastle under its weather deck.  There is room for interpretation here and the accounts make for interesting reading. 

 

  One thing that I've pondered is the prevalence of 'Captains walks' on repro GH ships and most model kits include them.  Perhaps the contemporary artwork (often of Spanish or Italian galleons) showing such walkways has influenced more modern painters and  builders to include them on the GH.  Yet there a number of contemporary depictions relevant to the specific time and place of the GH that do not have stern-surrounding walkways.  One shows the GH capturing the Caga Fuego (the formal Spanish name is longer, and the 'nickname' has spelling variations meaning something like 'firing poop').  The Spanish ship has a walkway, but not the English vessel.

 

Below are French galleons of the period - perhaps just before 'razee' (razored, ergo 'race') of the topmost level astern.

 

 

Below is a panorama of Drakes Caribbean fleet - and not a Captain's walk to be seen.

 

 

A detail from the above drawing:

 

Also:

 

 

 

  Then there is the 'Drake Cup' commissioned by Q. Elizabeth - the bowl made of a coconut given to her by Drake which she had engraved with an image of the GH being towed by native canoes in the East Indies, set in silver and with a silver top bearing a tiny 3D GH.  The GH was in sad shape when it limped home to England after the circumnavigation, but no doubt was re-habed and redecorated  (perhaps on the Deptford creek while a permanent mooring was built on the Thames) - and so models of the GH at any scale that are brightly painted with "ER" on the stern and depictions of a golden hind (and perhaps a 3D hind at the bow) are likely how the ship appeared docked on the Thames for the formal ceremonies with the Queen bestowing great honors on Drake aboard the GH.  I suppose that a walkway could possibly have been added after the fact - just for show - but the engraving on the cup and the model atop the lid do not have walkways.

 

 

  'Just food for thought (and I've thought about it myself).  The GH may be considered the first 'maritime museum' (of sorts) - intended to be preserved in perpetuity (the Queens stated intention).  Yet much of the masting, spars and usable materials (guns surely included) were removed not too long after the ceremonies on the Thames, as a wooden roof was said to have been built supported on mere poles.  Said roof was subject to rot, and there are accounts of various uses of the GH as she slowly deteriorated - requiring filling the mooring all round her with packed earth after a berm was built to enclose her.  Before a few pieces of usable wood were removed for making of furniture, what was left of the ship at the weather deck was knocked inside and the hull filled with soil ... a burial - perhaps for future marine archeologists? 

 

  Subsequent site usage likely disturbed much of what may have existed on the wreck above the water line, but molds of the hull may yet be preserved in the ground that could give the length, beam and lines of this historic ship ... 

 

 

 

[newbee]

Many thanks for your input guys. You are right Steven. wood is very forgiving. Much as I try to remain patient, there are times as well where you just have to start building. There are so many things I plan to change but they are mostly above deck level. The down side of this is that I've been planning on getting the shape of the hull as close as I can to the actual ship. 

As for your comments Snug It's such a shame that very little information of ships of this time exist anymore. Just items that you have included for example. Over the last 10 years I have scoured the internet on and off for these kind of details with no luck. Many thanks for these. I will try and follow them up.

As for this version of the Golden Hind, I watched her being built, launched and fitted out before she sailed from Appledore. As soon as I saw this Occre kit I knew I had to build it. However within a few weeks of starting her I noticed so many errors with the kit I ordered another so I could get the 2nd ship looking closer to the one I knew.

 

I was never convinced she was completely historically accurate but she's a real ship and has been around the globe like her namesake. Another advantage is that I can get to see her if I need. (Provided the ladders are in place next time) and there's no train strikes.

Anyhow back to this build.

 

I've managed to complete the first course of planking with the exception of the fo'cstle. I am thinking of laying the forward section, where the arch for the fore chaser is, vertically with the arch cut out and then planking as normal from there to the aft bulkhead. Trying to shape this had been a nightmare as every face is angled. I had the basic shape but it was not wide enough. to fit between the strakes extending aft. I added 2.5 mm balsa sheet to each side and found it was now 1mm each side too wide to fit between the strakes. I thought about sanding it down but, in the end, opted to build up the edges with 0.6mm sycamore supplied as decking (unused apart from thickening and filling gaps) which now means I can run the planks in between here and the fore section. On the whole I am quite happy with the first planking though where there are more than 0.5mm differences between strakes I will add strips of 0.5mm sycamore so as not to have any planks sanded too thin.

 

[newbee]

The next stage will be continuing lightly sanding down the hull and planking the fo'cstle. in between sanding and filling I will need to make the doors so I can then plank the bulkheads. The poop deck also needs reshaped, and I am leaving the stern as it is for now, as I don't yet know if it needs to be extended or not. I will also need to decide whether to have the stern chaser gun ports curved or not. I know I should but this may be too complicated. I shall see.

[newbee]

After a shaky start this week, I've actually made good progress. when starting on the foc'stle and looking at photos again, I realised that the arches for the fore chasers were cut too far aft of where they needed to be. I decided to cut away some of the balsa blocks I had shaped and then sanded the inside of first frame to 3mm thick instead of 4mm. The first vertical rubbing strake will be 2mm wide and the edge of the gun port 2mm aft of this so as to be in a better position between the rubbing strakes. I then thought of planking the areas around the gun ports vertically but, after a few unsuccessful attempts of cutting the arches decided to run 2x 2mm x 10mm strips and  effectively have a rectangular hole in the lower strip and form the arch in the upper which was much easier to achieve. These have now been pinned and glued in place with the upper strakes. 

 

While these dry I have set about making the doors and frames. For these I cut 4 strips of Tanganyika  0.5mm x 5mm to a little more than the required height. I placed these on masking tape to hold them together and then cut out the inside of the arch from 0.5mm x 8mm Tanganyika . This was then glued onto the previous strips. I then used strips of the same for the sides of the door frames. These have now been stained with antique pine wood stain. The doors themselves are 0.5mm x 3mm walnut which have been stained with old oak stain. The inside of the door arches were not as wide as I thought they were so, as a result, I have 3x 3mm strips and one 1,5mm strip for the doors themselves. I will see how the look once they're dry and If I need to I can remake them tomorrow if needed. especially as I now know a relatively easy method for making them. The main thing now is that the hull is almost ready to be sanded though I will still need to build up the sides of the poop deck. from the half deck upwards. I am not looking forward to this having struggled to get it to where it is now. Added to tis is that the forward edge of the poop deck needs to be 2mm wider each side but tapering downwards to be flush with the half deck, but also, tapering back to the width of the stern as it is.

While planning for this I realised last night that, due to the location of the masts, both the half deck and poop deck are each 10mm too long. This means I will have 20mm between rubbing strakes whereas they should only be 15mm apart. I am not going to worry too much yet as  

tomorrow I may be getting a bench drill so if needed I may be able to move the mizzen mast forward. If not I may just need to compromise.   

[newbee]

At last I have returned with an update. It would have been sooner if my progress hadn't been so slow. This is partly due to re checking photos and trying to get the proportions right, and also from me wanting to start other phases of the build but realizing I need to build other things first. Anyway, I've checked my measurements and the masts are pretty much as I need them, which is a relief. It also looks like the rubbing strakes should be equidistant at the foc'stle and at the stern so they will be 20mm apart. I have made the doors and they just need to be shortened to fit the space between the decks. 

[newbee]

The poop deck is now the correct shape and is sloping at the same angle as the half deck bulkhead. I added 2 x 5mm strips to the sides between the half deck and poop deck and also pinned a strip of wood to the bulkheads to act as a guide for sanding. I marked the edges of these in black so it was easier to judge how far to sand down the sides. With this done I started on the fine sanding to finish the hull. 

[newbee]

I have also tried seeing what colour to stain the decks. I tested on the poop deck as this will be re planked. I only coated it with pine varnish but I'm not too happy with the colour yet.

At the beginning of the post I mentioned about sanding the false keel to a point. I now see this as being a mistake. Although the instruction photo shows this was done I have discovered that I should have only sanded no more than 1mm each side as, this should be planked separately with the 2nd planking. Now that the hull is sanded I wanted to start on the 2nd planking. However, before I can start on this, I need to plank the bulkheads and fit the doors. I have also looked at building up the beak and sprit deck. Looking again at yet more photos, I found that the part below the sprit deck on the cutwater with 2 holes is way too far aft. I decided to try removing it carefully with the knowledge it may not work. It didn't so I have made a replacement. The top of this still needs to be sanded into more of a curve But I am pretty happy with how it has turned out. The holes don't look great but they will be redone with the 2nd planking. I also decided to see how the shape and length of the hull compares to my 1st ship.

[newbee]

The "A" frame I am using for the bow will not be used but it gives me the basic dimensions of what I need to build. My only concern with the beak is, that it will be pretty delicate so, I think I will need to build it up along with the 2nd planking. This now means I need to work on the stern and in particular the rebuilding and shaping of the gallery. I am getting pretty frustrated with having to work out how and when things need to be built and also not being able to concentrate on one section at a time due to everything having an effect on everything else. I realised, a while ago, also that the planks below the 2x4mm wale are wider than the upper hull planks. I have decided to plank these with 4mm strips rather than the 3mm strips I was planning to use. In the meantime I will build up the bulkheads ready for starting the 2nd planking and then work out the stern afterwards. Here are a few pictures of what I am hoping to achieve. ( apart from the ships wheel) Although I am trying to build her as she actually looks, I am also trying to have her looking as she might have done in 1580ish. 

[newbee]

After a few nights I finished the cut water. I sanded the top into more of a curve. and also constructed the frame for the sprit deck, after a couple of attempts. I next attempted to build up the frame work for the sides of the beak with the intention of planking it prior to fitting. I soon realised this wouldn't work and so concentrated on just building the frame. The idea now is that I have the base done and ready to fit onto the cutwater, the beakhead, where the figurehead will go, and the cross beams protruding a little from the frame so I can run a 0.5X4mm strip along the edge with notches for it to drop onto the beams to make the structure a little stronger. 

Again though. due to the beak still being quite fragile, I still can't start the 2nd planking. Instead, I now need to think about getting the stern completed    

[newbee]

Starting on the stern, the first thing I discovered was, the stern gallery deck is too low down. Although it looked ok at the beginning of the build. This in turn means that the stern chaser gun ports are also too low as well as the tiller opening between them. This now means I am unable to have the gun ports open, however, I am not too disappointed as I can correctly shape the stern and have the curve below the gallery. The stern post and rudder will now also need to be 5mm longer. I am hoping they will still look ok in the end. I measured where the stern gallery needs to be. I pinned a strip of 2mmX4mm wood along each side and then ran another strip linking them across the stern. This gave me the guide to cut away the section of the hull to the correct height. I then pinned a strip of wood below the bottom edge of the gallery deck and another where the wale will be, I hope. It's possible I may have to adjust it's position but I'm hoping not to. It will depend on how it looks. I have cut and sanded a strip of balsa block to fit between the strips with, a strip of 2X4mm wood which will be replaced with mahogany and will have the supports attached to hold the deck above. This section will be double planked with 0.5 mm strip apart from the gun ports, which, will be built into the spaces afterwards to keep the curve.  

[newbee]

Of course this still needs to be finally sanded but I now have the basic shape. I now need to progress to the the upper portion to the poop deck. Once I am happy with that I need to work on the stern piece of the keel. I will also finish the bulkhead planking Which I have had to restart.

[newbee]

Apologies for the delay in getting back to this build log. I needed to take a break for a few weeks to hopefully approach the build with a clear mind and fresh eyes. I thought after I went to a model show last weekend I would get back to work on her. However, on Saturday I aquired this and until now have spent time figuring out what needs to be done to get her ship shape so to speak. From a distance she doesn't look too bad however, there is a lot to do. I have started another build log on this but won't be updating it until I'm much further into this post. Otherwise it will never get finished. I will be back with an update on the Golden Hind by Sunday I hope. 

Edited September 7, 2023 by newbee

[newbee]

I apologise for the delay in adding to this post. The main reason for needing the break from the build was being stuck planking the forward bulkhead and the bulkhead aft of the main deck. Several attempts later and I still haven't achieved what I want. I had decided that I need to build them up off the build and then glue them in the right position afterwards. I will keep trying and once I am happy with these I will finnish off the stern and begin the 2nd planking. I am disappointed with my progress as, on the 1st attempt I was fairly happy with the results but not so concerned about having the correct numbet or positioning of the planks. Aiming to have this figured out ovet the weekend and will post photos of the progress then.