HMS Bellerophon 1786 by AON – scale 1:64 – 74-gun 3rd Rate Man of War - Arrogant-Class

[AON]

Druxey

I have one reference that states 14 feet long, and yet another reads 20 feet.

The contract doesn't mention a length.

Where does 24 feet come from?

I have one reference that shows a single hook (simpler so I was going with that) but steels shows double hooks, as does the image of the Bellona.

I have a feeling my scrap bin is about to grow bigger.

If I have to lay it out again, at 24 foot length, and I've already practiced with one hook, I might as well dive in and do the double hook.

 

Oh, and I tried to search the RMG web site and search 'planking expansion' for examples.

This is what I got...

Alan

[druxey]

Huh? I just put in the same search and got 28 hits. See:

 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/search/Planking expansion#!cbrowse

 

Try the link.

 

The 24' 0" figure was from Goodwin, which I take to be average. This might vary slightly, depending on frame spacing, of course. That would dictate actual lengths.

[Pirate adam]

There is a good planking diagram for a 74 if you search for Berwick 1775.  I look at the Arrogant and Elizabeth drawings a lot, as I am looking at Edgar 1779 as a possible one-day "ultimate model".

Adam

[SketchupModeller]

Also potentially of interest, albeit not directly related to 74's, is a handwritten phrase added into the contracts for five 5th rate frigates from the 1780's (the 38's Phaeton 1782 and Melampus 1785, and the 36's Perseverance 1781, Leda 1783, and Phoenix 1783) to the effect of "No pieces of wale, thickstuff, clamp, or spirketting to be less than 32' in length between the fore and aft shifts."

 

Reviewing the drawing of Berwick 1775 referenced above, I count roughly 5.5 full pieces from end to end (in the 3rd strake in the main wale). As a very rough estimate of the length of each piece, I divided the length on the gun deck (168' 6") by the number of pieces, for 30' 6" for each full piece.

 

Taken together, this suggests that pieces of the heavier strakes would be longer than the 24' minimum specified for the plank of the bottom.

 

 

[AON]

Brandon, does the contract state the other dimensions for the pieces?

If so I'd like to compare them.

 

Druxey and Adam, I'm checking them out now. Thanks.

[AON]

The Berwick stem main wales length ratios are somewhat similar to what I had but they show a hook in the shortest piece... no straight runs.

The Berwick stern shows the bottom most piece being quite long.

 

Queen Charlotte stem are longer straighter runs, and the stern bottom most piece is short.

 

Could they be more opposite?

 

The double hook shape is growing on me. The longer pieces translate to fewer to make and possibly fewer errors(?).

The straight runs at the stem and stern help with fitting and are a cleaner finish at both ends.

 

above - Berwick stem

above - Berwick stern

above - QC stem

above - QC stern

 

Back to the drawing board... I mean computer program!

Edited 2 hours ago by AON

[druxey]

Lots of variations on the theme! Pick yours....

[Thukydides]

Just chiming in to note that this is all a very interesting discussion.

 

I think in cases like this where there are probably several different options you could go with, it is always best to go with what you think will look best / are confident you can achieve to a high enough standard.

 

If you don’t have a preference between the two my gut would be to go with somthing similar to the Berwick plans. It is closer to your time period and is roughly the same size of ship. Things did change a bunch from 1775 to 1810.