HMS Pegasus by ECK - Amati/Victory Models - 1:64

[ECK]

Things a bit slow lately as my day job got a bit busy. The foremast is rigged with the yards now.

Although not specific in the plans, I tied the main yard as on other ships I have done form our favorite designer Chris. I have jealously been following the 2 Indy build. I hope to start in June. Should finish yards this month and rigging in May. Once the tedious shrouds get done the rest of the rigging goes quickly leaving the anchors and ships boat for last.

[ECK]

Work was busy but finally completes at the yards and rigged some parts of them.  It is out of order but it is easier to get at areas before the shrouds go in and the rigging does not interfere with putting in the shrouds.

 

[ECK]

You may notice I substituted pear blocks for more realism to the usual ones. After building Duchess and Sphinx from Vanguard,  I was spoiled and will likely always use them.  Driving me crazy watching the two Indy builds and not being able to start mine yet. I like to finish a project before starting a new one.

[ECK]

Lower shrouds done. My technique for ratlines is 2 hemostats and a 6 mm plank for spacing.

[RossR]

Love the use of the plank for spacing.   

[ECK]

Also good for tapping/straightening the lie up or down.

 

[allanyed]

Lovely construction Eck!   

Your model brings up a question for me.   Would the Pegasus have had copper sheathing?  She was launched in 1776 and lost in 1777.  According to Goodwin in The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War page 226 copper sheathing was tried on a couple ships in the 1760s with disastrous results so then shelved until the late 1770s and was not a general practice until 1782.   From The Fully Framed Model, Swan Class Sloops, Volume II, page 31, sheathing became a requirement for frigates in 1779, (two years after Pegasus sunk) and on all new ships starting in 1782.   Was Pegasus perhaps an exception??

Allan
 

[ECK]

Interesting. I coppered it as it was what the plan directed.  I was wondering as I did the Sphinx and Duchess from same period and their bottoms were painted. I guess we need to ask Chris Watton as he was the designer of the Pegasus kit.

[chris watton]

Always best when researching to look at more than one source for info.

 

For example, in Riff Winfield's 'British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792', it does state for Pegasus '

'First Cost - £8,688.5.10d including fitting and coppering'

 

It is very easy to to think that only one source is Gospel, I cannot allow myself to fall into that trap.

 

ETA - At the time, Amati wanted me to make sure this was different to Fly, so I researched what the differences may be, coppering was one of them. I personally think ships of this period look better with an off-white bottom, however.

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by chris watton

[allanyed]

14 hours ago, chris watton said:

Always best when researching to look at more than one source for info.

That is absolutely great advice.  In my modest library I only found two sources that  addressed the coppering, but as with so many things in our hobby, there is very often another source that contradicts the others.  It seems that there are very few absolutes in our hobby. 😀    Now it's time to go find a copy of British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792 to add to the library.  Thank you for that lead Chris, it is very much appreciated!

Allan

Edited May 9, 2023 by allanyed

[ECK]

Agree the white bottom looks good and certainly saves a lot of time and swearing when the plates fall off or do not cut correctly. I will still use the full copper plates when I do the Indy. I coppered the Agamemnon and it took quite awhile. Will be interesting when I put the two side by side in the future. Hope to finish Pegasus sometime in June.

[ECK]

Finally done with the shrouds so things should be only a few more weeks to complete.

 

[ECK]

1 week later standing rigging done. All stays in place. Running rigging this coming week

[ECK]

So finally finished today.

I think this coming weekend I will start the Indy project. Have been staring at the box since I got it at the end of Feb and following with interest the builds of Kevin and Glenn (hope your back is getting better so you can get back to your project)

[RossR]

Great job.  your ship looks great.

 

[Bram van Dam]

This looks absolutely gorgeous ECK. It's beautifully built. Thank you for sharing the build. 

[ECK]

Thanks for all the kind comments !