Dutch Flute by seafarermiami - FINISHED - scale apr. 1/250

[seafarermiami]

I went to work again 4 months at sea and had to find something to kill the time. Back in the building again I had the idea to build one of those round sterns fleute or fluyte seen the name in different spelling. And I had the hull of the boat of my Mayflower which was damaged and then striped from guns, boats and other deck items and sank as an artificial reef near the dock of my boat. The internet at sea is very slow so I almost did the ship but I have the pictures from the very beginning.

The interesting future in this build will be that it will be able to float and it will be cruising proudly in my sons fish tank.

 

So this I had at hand first the hull. It is a dugout but the keel was too tick and I had to file it to appropriate size. No plans whatsoever only a few pictures from this and other sites.

 

 

I had to extend the bow and the stern posts in order to build the upper decks. the original line of the board will be the lower deck of the ship.

 

[seafarermiami]

Extended stern post. After that I glued strips of ply  to imitate the timber of which the keell is made. Carved the bow figurine. The lion is carved out from the handle of a cheap brush.

Edited January 19, 2014 by seafarermiami

[DSiemens]

I love these small scale ships.  That lion looks fantastic!

[seafarermiami]

Preparing for the first sea trails. I coated it in heavy two components varnish the same I use for the big boat.

For my satisfaction it was floating without any list. This means that the hull is proportional and evenly dugout.

After added the "ballast stones" in this case lead shot to keep it stable in heavy storms. The ballast increases the metacentric height of the ship and this is what make the ship stable.

The new waterline will be on the edge of the freeboard because there will be the lower deck of the ship.

[Arjan68]

That's an interesting little build!

 

I am planning to scratch  build a fluyt myself and have already done a lot of research on this type of ship. Do you have any drawings of how your finished model will look ?

 

 

 

fleute or fluyte seen the name in different spelling.

 

The correct dutch spelling is a fluyt (or fluit in modern dutch)

[seafarermiami]

Thanks Arjan68

The pictures and drawing I am using for reference are from this site under scratch built research. Also whatever I found in internet. I am not trying to make any copy of them because I red somewhere that there are no plans of fluyt existing thou the vessel was widely used. Probably those small ships were trade mark of the ships wrights at the time the plans were in their heads and the decorations were as per owner demand. But I love the pictures on the sterns and can imagine how the owner was choosing the picture according to the name at some old dutch master painter workshop.

[Arjan68]

It's true that there are no original plans from a fluyt. In the 17th century the dutch built without plans. Most shipwrights built by eye and from the knowledge that was passed from generation to generation. So we have to do with the few remaining paintings, drawings and models.

 

Recently a lot of research has been done on the fluit by some dutch authorities (i.e. Ab Hoving and Cor Emke). They made some reconstructions and plans that should be very close to the original.

[seafarermiami]

Well I had to make some drawing too. In order to form the frames and the curvature of the decks. The lower deck serves as a base to make the further building. next is the tweendeck. It is the deck on which the guns are placed.

[seafarermiami]

The lower deck and the tweendeck are sealed watertight in order to provide buoyance even if the ship is listed on 90 degrees

[seafarermiami]

In this pictures is shown installing the boards and fenders. The fenders actually cover the gaps between the strips of ply. Also I draw the lines on the sides representing the timbers and nails. After varnishing they are barely visible but on this scale is good enough.

Edited January 22, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

Inserting the sides on the gun deck the guns and sea trail again to see if the draft is changed.

[DSiemens]

Those cannons are incredible!  I can't quiet make out whet they're made out of.  Tubing or wire insulation?  If you don't mind can you explain the process?

[seafarermiami]

The guns are made out from medical tube needles I have made even smaller as the swivel guns for other models. If you go in a medical store you can see what small sizes they have. The rings are from copper wire which I wrap around the tube once and cut the exes by a nail clippers. Then take it out from the tube and press it slightly to meet the ends even. After that I insert them back on the tube and glue them. But even just the spray paint is enough to keep them in position. The bigger diameter tube is used to form the back part of the gun. After that I glued them in position and pulled the smaller tube out so do not be obstruction during the further building of the model.

 

The picture below is of a swivel gun of a caraca

Edited January 24, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

Inserting the main deck. The cargo hatches are cut out and the coamings are inserted too. The coamings are made out from coffee stirrers. The gratings are from split broomsticks. I mean not the handle of the broom but the working part .After that they are clad in ply strips to imitate timbers and cover whatever uneven edges occurred. 

 

Then follow the framing for the upper sides and forecastle in which is included the big winch character for this type of vessels. It is actually supporting the aftermost deck beam on the forecastle. Three planks are glued very slightly to the hatchcoamings in order to serve as midshipframes. They will be removed afterwards. For the sides I use a cardboard templet which I draw pressing piece of cardboard to the side. If the ship is wright one is good enough for the both sides. After that I cut the sides out from mahogany ply using the templet. To bend them I dip them in rubbing alcohol.

Edited January 24, 2014 by seafarermiami

[DSiemens]

Great work!  She's looking great!  Thanks for the advice on the cannons.  That is very helpful.    

[seafarermiami]

You welcome.

 

Here the planks are removed and a framing of the gunwales is installed. Began construction of the rails. It is tricky task and in order to be build strong because there are belay pin planks attached to them and in the same time good looking I use  toothpicks and coffee stirrers again. I think it is visible how it is done.

[Arjan68]

It's starting to look very nice ! 

Because of the small scale you're working on I will not start about 'historical inaccuracies' 

[seafarermiami]

Yes the hull should be more narrow somewhat 4-5 to 1 this is just 3 to 1. I don't pretend for historical accuracy. This is just a toy which has as much details as I can input in this scale. Something like 3D picture.

Edited January 25, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

Working on the stern decorations. Again the Chinese brush went in use for the mermaids and some veneer for the rouse and the dolphins. I don't know but to me the mermaids look somewhat playboy models.

[DSiemens]

Very impressive carving.  

[seafarermiami]

Some carving are imitating spliced lines and knots. In this scale is easier to splice the colored treads and glue them as wood carving.

 

Began constructing the galleon.

 

 

Edited January 27, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

Some final touches to the stern (windows) and start filing up the deck with all the items and gears found there including some decoration heads as I have seen them on Batavia a ship of the same period. I had the idea to make the pump moving. But gave up. too many hour for that tiny part

Edited January 27, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

I had a computer problem and lost some of the pictures but those were still in the camera

[seafarermiami]

Working on the bowsprit.

Edited May 4, 2014 by seafarermiami

[seafarermiami]

Building fore and main mast

[DSiemens]

Very impressive.  I like that it's functional as well.  

[seafarermiami]

All masts ready. Rigging commenced.

[seafarermiami]

Sails

[seafarermiami]

Some parts had to be detached from the deck in order to tread the lines trough the rollers and then glued back again.

 

 

 

 

Home made needle for treading lines trough rollers

[seafarermiami]

Some progress. The lines that are hanging above foresail are for the rigging of the fore tops'l. It is easier to attach them first to the belaing pins and after the sail is placed to tie them from top.