Karteria by GeorgeKapas - 1/144 - Greek revolutionary paddle steamer

[GeorgeKapas]

Good evening all! So I have this idea to create a series of  1/144 scale models of greek 19th century ships (along with some other older types of vessels related to the history of Crete specifically). The brig "Ares" was the first of the project to finish. I'll start a thread for each one of them, with a goal to finish this collection in about 2027-2028. 

 

The steam ship Karteria (1826) is quite an important warship is the history of naval warfare in general. Not the first steam warship built, but the first ever too see combat. Under the effective command of Frank Abney Hastings she saw considerable action during the Greek war of independence, especially during the battle of Itea. Part of her engines actually still exist and are preserved in Salamis naval base, as they were converted into land machinery after she was decommisioned soon after independence.

 

Her proper shipyard plans are the "Brent" plans ( compared to other simpler drawings that exist)

Notice two things:

1) Yes, she is square. This will be hard to sell in the finished model, but that is no mistake, she had a square cross section. Many models dont replicate this very well because it does look wrong. I guess because her first boilers were box ones. Oh well. 

2) Her rig as shown in the plans was not the one she had in commision, since the square sails were used only for the voyage from UK to Greece. Being a steam ship that could operate against the wind, she was obviously converted to for and after rig. 

 

[GeorgeKapas]

This painting faithfully follows the brent plan and shows her original, propably temporary, rig, with her figurehead on the right.

 

 

This contermporary (1828) depiction of he is extremely interesting, showing her rig as it most probably was when in commision in greek waters, with a bonaventure mizzen added, and all masts converted to fore and aft, logically, as she was steaming often against or near the wind. 

[GeorgeKapas]

So here the brent plan, cleaned and with a rough layout of the rig as seen above. Obviously any suggestions are more than welcome 

[GeorgeKapas]

As for the hull: 

[Jim Lad]

 Looks like it will be an interesting build, Geirge.

 

John

[GeorgeKapas]

Thank you, in fact, I made this tiny 1/350 sideproject version of her for fun a few years ago and came out fair enough.

Edited Sunday at 07:58 AM by GeorgeKapas

[archjofo]

@GeorgeKapas

 

A beautiful model ship!