HMS SIRIUS By DaveRow - Scale 1:60 - POF - as she was fitted out for the "Flagship of the First Fleet" to Australia - 2nd wooden ship build

[DaveRow]

More progress from the Shipyard.

Since last post, more first layer planks have been added to the hull.

And some 3D items in the pipeline.

I've made a start on a few planks against the keel.

Also marked out the lines for the tapering of the planks(in groups of 6)

I'm using 6mm and 4mm wide planks.

4mm where the hull curves most, 6mm on the straighter sections.

 

I usually pin each plank onto a frame and use plastic clamps, in hope to get the planks butted up neatly.

This doesn't always work, especially where planks are curving a lot. Sandpaper time then...

  

Here we are transitioning from a run of 6mm to start of 4mm planks - stern port side.

Here we are transitioning from 4mm into 6mm planks - stern starboard side.

 

The next few pictures are some works in progress on creating 3D Models and Resin Printing.

I'm hopeful that with the right details and finishes, they will look presentable installed on the ship.  

Also been testing some paint on the 18 pound Carronade Cannon Base.

Come up pretty good I reckon. Bit more touch up to do underneath(for the beady eyed)

 

Same for the 18 pound Carronade Barrels.

 

And the 6 pound Cannon barrels.

 

Have also developed a 3D Model for a Capstan to print & paint.

And before someone asks, it does not turn - yet !!

See how it turns out. 

 

Well, always more planking to get on with. Dabble with 3D development whilst glue dries.

 

[Jim Lad]

You're really making good progress, Dave.

 

John

[BANYAN]

Those garboard planks went in well Dave, have any problems with them?

 

The 3D armament looks good.  I gather you have painted them, what colour/brand did you use?

 

Some great progress mate.  I ventured into my shed for the first time in months yesterday. Hoping to make a restart (yet again) this week.

 

cheers

 

Pat 

[mtbediz]

On 7/11/2025 at 10:29 AM, DaveRow said:

I've made a start on a few planks against the keel.

I hate to say it, but your garboard planks are unfortunately incorrect. They've climbed too high, which will cause plank congestion in the bow later. If you want to plank your ship correctly, remove the garboards now and remake them as shown in the photos. If your ship has a second layer planking, take this into consideration when making the second layer planking. Other than that, everything is going great so far.

 

Edited July 13 by mtbediz

[DaveRow]

On 7/13/2025 at 1:34 PM, mtbediz said:

I hate to say it, but your garboard planks are unfortunately incorrect. They've climbed too high, which will cause plank congestion in the bow later. If you want to plank your ship correctly, remove the garboards now and remake them as shown in the photos. If your ship has a second layer planking, take this into consideration when making the second layer planking. Other than that, everything is going great so far.

 

Your correct.

I've had a bit of a time to get the following bow planks onto the keel.

The 2nd layer, will be done differently as you have pointed out.

[DaveRow]

More progress from the Shipyard.

Slow progress on the 1st layer planking.

 

Another 3 planks added from the keel. All 6mm wide.

The first 4mm wide plank of 12 has been added, where they go over the curve section of the frame. 

As I had not kept the garboard plank shorter, the rest have swung further down.

But being 1st planks, I have learn't.

 

 

 

[DaveRow]

On 7/13/2025 at 1:34 PM, mtbediz said:

I hate to say it, but your garboard planks are unfortunately incorrect. They've climbed too high, which will cause plank congestion in the bow later. If you want to plank your ship correctly, remove the garboards now and remake them as shown in the photos. If your ship has a second layer planking, take this into consideration when making the second layer planking. Other than that, everything is going great so far.

 

I should point out.

The ship model in your pictures, has a finer entry bow.

The HMS Sirius is a Bluff Bow ship. Very similar to the "HMB Endeavour" I build a while ago.

I am trying to match the planking of the article below, which is the actual bluff bow "replica" of the Endeavour.

Even with the replica build; "the Garboard strake has been allowed to creep up the stem, and if this had been kept a little lower they may not have needed as
many dropped planks." (This was noted by a member of the Replica board)

Most of my planking to date on my model, follows the natural lay of a plank over the frames. 

 

[mtbediz]

15 hours ago, DaveRow said:

I should point out.

The ship model in your pictures, has a finer entry bow.

The HMS Sirius is a Bluff Bow ship. Very similar to the "HMB Endeavour" I build a while ago.

I am trying to match the planking of the article below, which is the actual bluff bow "replica" of the Endeavour.

Even with the replica build; "the Garboard strake has been allowed to creep up the stem, and if this had been kept a little lower they may not have needed as
many dropped planks." (This was noted by a member of the Replica board)

Most of my planking to date on my model, follows the natural lay of a plank over the frames. 

 

I noticed this too. Your ship has a Bluff bow. Making the garboard shorter seems difficult. To create a planking pattern that matches the photo you've attached, you can apply a planking pattern similar to the one I've tried to draw on your photo in the second layer. To do this, you could end the planking from the bulwark down to the lower end of the wales, then work your way up from the keel. Sorry, I am not good at drawing on the computer but I think you can understand what I wanted to show.

Edited July 25 by mtbediz

[Dziadeczek]

IMHO garboard plank should end much shorter, approx. where the red arrow points. From there the rest of the planks should run more or less like the red lines show (do precise spiling there).

(You might have to install a stealer or two, if necessary).

Edited July 24 by Dziadeczek

[mtbediz]

10 hours ago, Dziadeczek said:

IMHO garboard plank should end much shorter, approx. where the red arrow points. From there the rest of the planks should run more or less like the red lines show (do precise spiling there).

(You might have to install a stealer or two, if necessary).

To plank completely correctly, spiling is required, particularly from the lower end of the wales to the keel. However, we don't know if the wood Dave will use for the second layer planking will allow for lateral bending.

Edited July 25 by mtbediz

[alpayed]

On 7/11/2025 at 5:29 PM, DaveRow said:

More progress from the Shipyard.

Since last post, more first layer planks have been added to the hull.

And some 3D items in the pipeline.

I've made a start on a few planks against the keel.

Also marked out the lines for the tapering of the planks(in groups of 6)

I'm using 6mm and 4mm wide planks.

4mm where the hull curves most, 6mm on the straighter sections.

 

I usually pin each plank onto a frame and use plastic clamps, in hope to get the planks butted up neatly.

This doesn't always work, especially where planks are curving a lot. Sandpaper time then...

  

Here we are transitioning from a run of 6mm to start of 4mm planks - stern port side.

Here we are transitioning from 4mm into 6mm planks - stern starboard side.

 

The next few pictures are some works in progress on creating 3D Models and Resin Printing.

I'm hopeful that with the right details and finishes, they will look presentable installed on the ship.  

Also been testing some paint on the 18 pound Carronade Cannon Base.

Come up pretty good I reckon. Bit more touch up to do underneath(for the beady eyed)

 

Same for the 18 pound Carronade Barrels.

 

And the 6 pound Cannon barrels.

 

Have also developed a 3D Model for a Capstan to print & paint.

And before someone asks, it does not turn - yet !!

See how it turns out. 

 

Well, always more planking to get on with. Dabble with 3D development whilst glue dries.

 

Hi Dave. Sirius had a capstan on both decks (same shaft). Unlike the capstan in my drawing. It probably had the pawls on the lower section. See pic. The pawls on your model need to be moved up so they drop into the ratchet more and probably on the lower section. I am not sure why the ratchet is not shown on the "Berwick" draught Note that they flip over 180deg to allow rotation in either direction.

Here also is G Rapers watercolour of Sirius. there is a lot of detail in it. Also a rigging plan that may be helpful.

Regards Allan.

Allan

[DaveRow]

17 hours ago, alpayed said:

Hi Dave. Sirius had a capstan on both decks (same shaft). Unlike the capstan in my drawing. It probably had the pawls on the lower section. See pic. The pawls on your model need to be moved up so they drop into the ratchet more and probably on the lower section. I am not sure why the ratchet is not shown on the "Berwick" draught Note that they flip over 180deg to allow rotation in either direction.

Here also is G Rapers watercolour of Sirius. there is a lot of detail in it. Also a rigging plan that may be helpful.

Regards Allan.

Allan

Excellent.

I did see the capstan was a double one.

I see now, the pawls are not shown on the "Berwick" draft.

I might just take the pawls off the 3D Capstan I made. possibly too much detail anyway.

Thanks for adding the rigging plan - I have similar >> below

[DaveRow]

More progress from the Shipyard - Thursday 7th August 2025.

A bit of a push over last week to get all the 1st layer planks onto the hull has been reached.

I spent a few hours fairing(sanding) the planks today.

I did carry the upper planks too far down the side.
However, for the first layer it's been a good refresher on planking before the 2nd layer of planks.

I'm pretty happy with the outcome so far.

Port Bow

Port Stern_Side

Port Stern

Starboard Bow

Starboard Stern_Side

Starboard side

 

I'll be marking out the Wales & thickstuff's, Sheer Strake, and the Channels next 

 

 

 

[BANYAN]

Nice progress Dave, coming on well.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[DaveRow]

Update from the Shipyard - Thursday 14th August 2025.

The shipwrights(🤔) needed a break from hull planking.

We decided to move onto the aft sides, top strake, boarded side rails with gun ports.

From the RMG Draft of the Sirius(previous Berwick); not much detail on the side rails other than the height.

Reviewing a number of colour paintings and the Sirius model in the Australian Powerhouse Museum(PM), I adoption the boarded side rails with 3 x Gunports per side.

For me it makes sense the Sirius had solid side rails at the back for protection during the long arduous journey to the other side of the world.

  

I filled in between the "Long Top Timbers" with balsa wood to provide a solid base to glue the outer side rail boards onto. 

I made a jig to hold the bottom & 2 sides of the Gun Ports to make sure all are the same.

Finished Gun Port, ready for the outer boards to go on.

 

 

[shipaholic]

Great work so far Dave.

It was interesting to see in that watercolour that Allan posted a while ago, you can see that the bulwarks look open with netting and stowed hammocks on top, and the waist bulwark is also open with the hammocks.

Yet both the plans show closed bulwarks aft of the mainmast. I wonder which is correct, maybe just a change made before the voyage to Australia

Cheers

Steve

[DaveRow]

14 hours ago, shipaholic said:

Great work so far Dave.

It was interesting to see in that watercolour that Allan posted a while ago, you can see that the bulwarks look open with netting and stowed hammocks on top, and the waist bulwark is also open with the hammocks.

Yet both the plans show closed bulwarks aft of the mainmast. I wonder which is correct, maybe just a change made before the voyage to Australia

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for looking in on the progress.

Watercolours, paintings, sketches !!  

I have several pictures/paintings of the Sirius. All "historical" representations I assume. Between them have 3 versions of bulwarks/rails.  

 

It's similar for "how many guns did she carry on board".

By all references in the books I've read to date, All her "Berwick" guns were removed during the 1786 refit "Her commission stated that the Sirius 'would' be armed with four 6-pounder carriage guns, six 18-pounder carronades & eight swivel guns", a very light armament. "Then on 31 October orders were given to obtain: 10 more 6-pounders to be put on board....". But it was unsure how many actually made it on board as "with respect to the guns, camp equipment, tents etc that were ordered from the Tower,...he[Phillip] had not specified and quantity, therefore I cannot judge what room may remain[on the First Fleet ships]  

 

Bulwarks or Rails ! 

So back to the rear.

I pondered for some time what to do back there.

I wondered if I was on board for that arduous journey, most of the time out in open waters, what would I prefer on either side whist on watch back on the aft deck area !

However, I wasn't, but went for the Bulwarks anyhow.