Mycenaean War Galley by Woodrat - 1:48 - Shell first Plank on Frame

[woodrat]

This shows a method of producing pegged mortice and tenon edge joined planks. I cut a 1mm slot in the plank edge  and made some 1mm tenons. When assembled and pegged without glue the join was so strong I could not pull it apart or sheer it.

Dick

[Louie da fly]

Nice. I can see that the idea of having a separate mortice for each tenon is a little (i.e. VERY) impractical and that at this scale a single long slot does the job just as well.

 

As usual you try out things that nobody else would dream of taking on. Even the pegs fixing the tenons in place! 

 

Steven

[woodrat]

Its time the Woodrat chewed some wood. The following is a prototype keel/plank. I have imagined this hewn from a single trunk and shaped with adzes. The mast step is integral with the keel as is the stempost basis. I then imagined some bending of the keel using heat and some type of bending jig. The sternpost is not as you would imagine. I have decided to adapt some of the principles used in egyptian ships such as the Khufu barge and will sleeve on a hollow sternpost. At least that is the plan. Here'tis:

the scarf for the stern "post"

the stempost is narrowed from bottom to top and from aft forwards

next to play with the garboard strakes.

Cheers

Dick

[Louie da fly]

Ah, more of the Woodrat magic. It never fails to fascinate.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

These pics show the fittingof a strake using the pegged mortice and tenon technque. No glue is used. It is quite strong.

Dick

Edited February 10, 2023 by woodrat

[Louie da fly]

Nice work, Dick. That would have to be very precisely shaped and the mortises and tenons exactly placed for it all to work. Nicely done.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

On 2/10/2023 at 10:23 AM, Louie da fly said:

That would have to be very precisely shaped and the mortises and tenons exactly placed for it all to work

On the contrary the process is very basic and low tech. Cutting a continuous line in which to position the tenons is easy on a straight line or convex curve bbut not possible on concave edges. So these have to be cut individually. I tried burrs knives and even a high speed mill. None were satisfactory. I then realised that, in order to do these mortices in a rapid production line way, the ancient shipwrights must have had shortcuts. One thought is drilling a series of set depth holes and cleaning up with a chisel. I tried this and it works quite well and is quick. Next I will make a jig to do this reproducibly.

Dick

 

 

[Louie da fly]

Fascinating stuff, Dick. Real reconstructive archaeology at work.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

Thanks Steven. The next strake has a sigmoid scarf which were seen in ancient ships. I have used a simple jig to drill for the mortices.

and pegged

I think one more strake then do the turn of the bilge.

Dick

[druxey]

Actual mortice and tenons at scale! Very impressive, Dick.

[woodrat]

The hull is well underway. This the latest sheer plan of the vessel with figures for scale. Dick

 

[Louie da fly]

Starting to take shape, Dick. With these speculative models of ships about which so little is known, there's a huge amount of research and development needed before any chance of actually making sawdust. I'm following with great interest. Keep up the good work!

 

Steven

 

PS: Is that Beaker from the Muppets standing amidships? Sure looks like him . . .

[woodrat]

On 2/24/2023 at 10:24 AM, Louie da fly said:

Is that Beaker from the Muppets standing amidships? Sure looks like him . . .

No, but his hair is like the feather headdresses seen in depictions of mycenaean warriorsWachsmann after Morricone 1975

Cheers

Dick

[Louie da fly]

Yep. 

 

 

Steven

[woodrat]

The planking of the hull is complete except for the sheer plank and capping. I am debating how much internal framing is needed. I dont want the hull to be too heavy.

The stern section will be made separately as a module which will be slotted onto the hull in a similar way to the Khufu barge (I have a cunning plan!).

The plank joins internally will be sealed with ribbands  (and presumably some water excluding substance available in the Mediterranean (?resin or pitch)

Cheeers

Dick

[Louie da fly]

Looking really interesting, Dick. I'm pretty sure pitch was used. There were petroleum deposits in Asia Minor, which  it is thought were also used in the production of Greek Fire.

 

And though it's completely the wrong century, it reminds me that there was a Byzantine Emperor called Michael the Caulker. From Wikipedia (source of all Knowledge);

"Michael V Kalaphates (Greek: Μιχαήλ Καλαφάτης) was Byzantine emperor for four months in 1041–1042. He was the nephew and successor of Michael IV and the adoptive son of Michael IV's wife Empress Zoe. He was popularly called "the Caulker" (Kalaphates) in accordance with his father's original occupation."

 

Note how short a reign he had. It didn't end well . . .

 

Steven

[mtaylor]

20 hours ago, Louie da fly said:

And though it's completely the wrong century, it reminds me that there was a Byzantine Emperor called Michael the Caulker. From Wikipedia (source of all Knowledge);

"Michael V Kalaphates (Greek: Μιχαήλ Καλαφάτης) was Byzantine emperor for four months in 1041–1042. He was the nephew and successor of Michael IV and the adoptive son of Michael IV's wife Empress Zoe. He was popularly called "the Caulker" (Kalaphates) in accordance with his father's original occupation."

 

Note how short a reign he had. It didn't end well . . .

 

Steven

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown".  What's not said is that "for it will roll away quickly".

[woodrat]

The planking is complete although the caulking remains to be done. Note the construction at the after end which is in preparation for the stern module to be attached like a sleeve. Some reinforcement of the prow was necessary but this is not a true beak (which came later during the geometric period or Iron Age (maybe worth another model?).

Dick

Edited March 6, 2023 by woodrat

[Louie da fly]

Fascinating work, Dick, but I must admit I'm a bit lost with the addition at the prow. Doubtless further progress will clear that up for me.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

The frames and foothooks have been inserted. This gives resistance to twisting, The hull is surprisingly strong even without the frames.

This shows the histopede to which the mast is lashed

Dick

Edited March 11, 2023 by woodrat

[Louie da fly]

13 hours ago, woodrat said:

The hull is surprisingly strong even without the frames.

I never fail to be amazed at how strong model hulls are - even though the planking is to scale thickness.

 

Enjoying the ride.

 

Steven

[Louie da fly]

Hi Dick,

 

I just came across these articles, which may have some bearing on your build - https://medium.com/the-bronze-age/the-ships-of-the-sea-peoples-part-1-994249af5304 , https://medium.com/the-bronze-age/the-ships-of-the-sea-peoples-part-2-2bed75f8e05c

 

I realise these are just someone's interpretations of the original, but I hope they are of some use to you.

 

Steven

Edited March 19, 2023 by Louie da fly

[woodrat]

Thanks, Steven. I had seen most of these "reconstructions" before but did not want to become influenced by them. As it is, they have reconstructed single banked galleys whereas I wish to produce an idea of how a double banked galley could be built keeping iin mind the materials available in the Bronze age.

 

I have inserted the lower thwarts and made them integral with the vertical stanchions and the rowers' foot rests. I made a rough jig to ensure that all these Frames are uniform as they will be used to construct the upper rowing benches and central walkway

The thwarts and stachions are lashed together as metal nails would not have been used.

Note the ladder-like appearance produced by the vertical stanchions as seen in the pottery images from the time.

 

 

The next step is firstly to make the curved stern and then I will be able to start on the longitudinal "wales" to which the upper benches will be attached

Cheers

Dick

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  'Just LOVE how your hull is coming along !  There are some similarities to the Khufu barge, in that there are 'stringers' spaced on the interior, and the bottom is nearly flat - giving the craft greater stability (in NO ways canoe-like) yet able to move across shallow waters.

[woodrat]

10 hours ago, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

There are some similarities to the Khufu barge, in that there are 'stringers' spaced on the interior, and the bottom is nearly flat

Yes, its absurd to think that the mycenaeans were not aware of egyptian shipbuilding practices and used them. The method of attaching the stern module is also adapted from the Khufu barge. The flat bottom and beaching sled on the bow make bringing the boat ashore much safer.

Dick

[woodrat]

The stern module has been attached. It is my contention that these war galleys may have been required to be transported over land (see the Gurob ship cart) as was done later in classical times over the isthmus of Corinth. So it would have been advantageous to be able to dissassemble the craft partly. Hence the stern module is designed to slide into place and be held by sewn ropes as was the case with egyptian vessels. Also seen here is the through-beam in the stern upon which the steering oar bore. This also is fixed by ropes.

Cheers

Dick

Edited March 31, 2023 by woodrat

[Louie da fly]

That's a very interesting idea, Dick. I take it there's a fair bit of overlap between the stern module and the hull so the load at the joint isn't just on the sewing. Otherwise the stern section would be likely to flap around as the ship flexed in the sea.

 

Am I correct in thinking that those stringers between the planks are both for longitudinal strength and for caulking?

 

Steven

[woodrat]

Yes. You can see some projecting planks on the after part of the hull over which the stern sleeve slides. The sewn ropes are just to hold the stern on and allow disassembly (see Khufu royal barge).

The longitudinal internal stringers are for holding in the caulking .

Dick

[Louie da fly]

Thanks.

[woodrat]

I have added the upper bank to the galley. The foot rests can be seen. Note that there will be a cutout in the central deck to allow the mast to be disconnected from the histopede (the upright on the keel plank to which the mast is lashed and to be tilted down onto the crutch (histodoke). The yard could then be furled and stored. The more I think about it the more sense there is in an upper and a lower bank of rowers. It would mean there are two teams which could row in shifts . When a maximum effort is required, both teams could row. When storming a beach , the lower rowers could row onto the beach while the upper team gets into their armour and weapons and prepare to attack or repel boarders

Cheers

Dick