HMS Halifax 1768 by Arjan68 - 1:80 - POB - a 58 ft schooner

[Arjan68]

Hi all,

 

The HMS Halifax is my first scratch build project after many kits. I've chosen this ship because the original navy plans still exist and also because it is a nice looking ship. Harold Hahn has made a complete and detailed set of plans based on the original, so enough info should be available to build an authentic model

 

The Halifax was originally built as a merchant schooner in 1765. In 1768 she was purchased by the Royal Navy and converted into a 6-gun ship for coastal patrols against smugglers and the upcoming colonial unrest. During this conversion at the Portsmouth dockyard the detailed drawings were made.

 

I like small-scale models, so I've chosen a 1:80 scale. The model will be approx. 25cm from bow to stern. You may wonder why I have not chosen for a more standard scale like 1:96 or 1:87 (H0). The reason is a practical one: I don't have any sawing machines and  in 1:80 most sizes and dimensions are a multiple of 1mm, This means that I can use my extensive supply of kit wood 

 

The build was started last month, so there's already some progress. In the next post I will give an overview of the work so far.

 

Arjan

 

[Arjan68]

Here's a overview of the work that has already been done.

 

The keel and bulkheads were sawn from 3mm plywood (by hand with a fretsaw). The decks are made of 1mm plywood. I use high-quality birch plywood.

 

 

 

A dry-fit of the bulkheads. So far I'm satisfied with the result

 

 

A dry-fit with the decks.

 

 

[Arjan68]

The Halifax has six small 3-pounder guns on deck. On a 1:80 scale they will be very small, so I started work on one of the carriages to see if it is feasible.Well, it is   That's a 5 eurocent coin for reference

 

[mtaylor]

Interesting ship.  I'll follow along and learn. 

[Arjan68]

 

 

Interesting ship.  I'll follow along and learn.

 

Thanks Mark, At least you will learn from the mistakes that I will make during this build 

[mtaylor]

Arjan,

 

I take a more positive approach.. I try to learn from the successes and mistakes of others.  I'm still having a hard time learning from my own mistakes.

[Erebus and Terror]

Interesting ship and a great scale. Very nice work so far. Thanks for posting this - I'll follow along.

[Arjan68]

Not much progress since the last update. The frames or bulkheads are glued to the keel and I've made mast fittings to keep them aligned.

Here some pictures of a dry-fit with the masts and bowsprit. The decks are not yet glued.

 

I have placed reinforcements between some of the bulkheads because the deck is not continuous in those places. Without them, the hull would not have enough stiffness and could distort during the planking.

 

For reference: the main mast is 6mm diameter. The foremast and bowsprit are 5mm