Venetian Carrack or Cocha by woodrat - FINISHED - 1/64

[woodrat]

13 hours ago, Louie da fly said:

 

 

 is there a chance of a tutorial in the future for those of us who want to follow your lead?

 

Steven

I would not be so presumptuous. Compared to other methods on this site my sail is a little primitive. But the shape is close to what the contemporary illustrations show.

It is basically papier-mache using strips of calligraphy paper over the plaster-of-Paris mold shown earlier. White glue is the stiffener. Bolt-ropes are glued on.

 

Dick

[woodrat]

The bonnets were used to increase the area of the sail in this era They are unlaced from the mainsail as required. Reefing points are not seen in illustrations from this time although they are definitely seen in earlier mediaeval ships, particularly those from northern climes.The bonnets are now laced to the mainsail. I have applied a simple cross as in the Benincasa carrack shown previously. These need not be elaborate  and, indeed, need not be depicted at all.

Dick

[druxey]

Can't wait to see the sail and yard hoisted! The way the bonnets are attached look really good.

[JesseLee]

Wow, that turned out very good! I too am anxious to see how it looks on the yard.

 

Jesse

[woodrat]

Thanks Jesse and Druxey. I have some deck level work to do first and also the Jacob's ladder before I can hoist the sail.

Dick

[woodrat]

This is the making of the Jacob's Ladder. I can understand why it became replaced by ratlines. They must have been a horror to climb on a pitching, rolling ship with the ladder twisting and slapping back and forth. question: were the ladders secured to the mast to make them more safe?

 

 

 

 

Dick

[cog]

I presume it should be, else it would be thrashing around in heavy weather, injuring sailors working above deck ...

[woodrat]

I agree, Carl. But the parrels have to run freely up and down the mast. If the ladder is attached to the mast they could not do this.

[cog]

hoops or a sling round the mast ... no, that won't work either. Attached to the deck at least ... attached to a stay isn't very logical either ... was it fixed at the top, or pulled up with the sail ...

[cog]

Dick,

I've seen some modern versions of that equipment from hell, but none of them is fixed between top and bottom. It seems when you were forced to use it, it was sheer determination, and strength of grip to get up, down would be easy ... just let go

[druxey]

Hmm... Life was cheap in those days, I guess, but one could not replace mariners in mid-voyage! I've no firm evidence, but surely the lines must have been attached to bolts at deck level? In a gale, that length whipping around would endanger those on deck as well as gear aloft.

[woodrat]

All the good contemporary illustrations, especially Carpaccio, agree that the ladder was fixed to the maintop and to the deck (presumably by eyebolts, Druxey). So, it must be concluded there was no other tethering 

 

At least one illustration shows both Jacob's Ladder AND ratlines (or at least it looks like he's climbing ratlines, though you can't see them) Note the matelot perched on the mainyard.

Confusing, isn't it?

Dick

[cog]

We have to take their drawing prowes into account, Dick. Those ratlines might wll be you ladder ...

[goetzi73]

I wanted to post this earlier, but I was also affected by the problems with the site.

I found another picture of the jabob's ladder, which seems to be fixed on the deck and the maintop.

Perhaps it helps on your decision.

 

Götz

 

 

 

[druxey]

Yes, I visualized eyebolts in the deck and eyesplices and the bottom of the ladder, connected by lashings.

[cog]

"usually hanging off a ship's stern"

Not my favorite place to be ...

[woodrat]

On 14/07/2017 at 1:23 AM, goetzi73 said:

 

I found another picture of the jabob's ladder, which seems to be fixed on the deck and the maintop.

Götz

This seems to be a 19th century print of a small carrack. The ladder is well shown

On 14/07/2017 at 1:41 AM, bearegalleon said:

Free hanging ladders show up in a number of 16th c illustrations and on a number of 18th c models, usually hanging off a ship's stern.  Must have been interesting.  

 

On 14/07/2017 at 9:15 AM, bearegalleon said:

  What were they doing back there?  Odd way to access a ship.

I presume they had stern ladders to access boats.

[druxey]

Not odd. If you tied up in a ship's boat off the stern quarter (there was a swivel bolt under the aft part of the mizen chains), the boat would be towed aft of that. The ladders were a convenient way for sailors to come aboard. Only officers would come aboard via the entry steps on the side. Stern ladders (according to Steel) were of worn rope, with 'common treenail' treads.

[woodrat]

the aft view of the mainsail with rigging attached for furling the sail

 

 

Dick

[cog]

It does look the part, without the clutter around it, I would say it is the real thing. Very impressive Dick.

[druxey]

Looks very convincing, Dick! 

[woodrat]

thanks Carl and Druxey. Just wait till it's on the mast.

[JesseLee]

Looks real to me. I've never seen anyone do a sail like this before.

 

Jesse

[cog]

Getting the shivers ...? Not certain about your mast's strength ....

[woodrat]

19 hours ago, bearegalleon said:

   Would this be something documentable or suitable to the nave?

I cant recall seeing illustrations of navi from that time with stern ladders, plenty with side ladders. But I suppose anything is possible. With the very tall sterncastle it would be a long climb to the poop!

Dick

[Louie da fly]

That sail looks magnificent. I can't wait to see it in place.

 

Steven

[woodrat]

Thanks, Steven. The dromon is looking great!

 

Here are some pics of the the parrels and the flagstaff. I have decided not to fit a topsail as they probably did not appear until about 1460. Also, no-one is sure how they were rigged.

 

 

Cheers

Dick

Edited August 15, 2017 by woodrat

[druxey]

Stern ladders were introduced probably in the late 1600's to early 1700's. I've seen them on contemporary models.

[woodrat]

One of the more fiddly and interesting aspects of the rigging of this beast has been to work out how the parrels were applied to the mast. The excavated parrels from the Mary Rose were a great help in this regard. But I still had to work out a way of applying the parrels which I could understand and was consistent with the iconography. Firstly, in a large vessel such as this, three, four ar even more rows of parrels were needed. Secondly, any method of attaching them had to allow loosening and tightening of the parrels so that the position of the yard on the mast could be changed. In this regard, I recognise the wonderful work of Franco Gay ( The Ships of Christopher Columbus (Nuova Raccolta Colombiana, Vol. 7) by Franco Gay ) for his contributions . Thirdly, the parrel tightening needs to be done from deck level.

 

The concept is my own modification of Franco Gay's method and seems to work. Grommet is seized to the yard. Its purpose is to transmit the parrel ropes to the deck.

 

 

There are two ropes: one controls parrel rows 1 and 4 and the other  rows 2 and 3

Please note that the slots end up AGAINST the mast

The yard is now ready to be attached to the mast.

 

 

The starboard ropes are now passed around the yard. Note the parrels are loose.

 

All ropes are passed through the grommet

 

The parrels are tightened.

 

 

The time has come to hoist the mainsail.

Dick

 

[cog]

Now excitement levels are mounting, so is my expectation!