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

[AnobiumPunctatum]

She is looking beautiful.

[AON]

The main wale jig-saw pieces are installed on the stbd side. I've one piece to add to the port side and then some sanding.

I think I've done an acceptable job of it for my very first ever (and likely last) time.

I found it very difficult, in fact impossible, to make the one side perfectly identical to the other. Human error.

The saving grace is you cannot look at both sides at the same time... except from the bow and stern, in which case they seem to match fairly well.

I did receive one personal message regarding the my bow: "The sheer should flatten out under the hawse holes as it heads to the bow rabbet."

I've looked into it quickly and found my measurements and layout for the underside of the main wale is correct. The width (up/down) expanded a wee bit in cutting out and shaping, and the top side was initially wet and pinched when clamped. The top sides on port and starboard match.

I need to go into it in more depth after I get the stern completed. Some adjustments are in order. I am certain there is accumulative error involved in the top side of the wales and the underside of the hawse holes.

Some slight of hand may be in order.

[AON]

I am presently installing the two strakes above the main wale, cutting my notches in the gun deck beams for the carlings, and trying to plan how much of the hull exterior I will leave exposed.... and the lights went on. Finally!

 

About two years ago I struggled to complete the counter timbers at the stern (posting #1512 on Feb 21 2023). Something didn't make sense and I just couldn't put my finger on it. I followed the detailed instructions I'd found in a reference book but the balcony seemed quite shallow. The quarter galleries had two doors on each side at the upper level. Why would they need two doorways into the one toilet facility?

 

I discovered that all my counter timbers above the quarterdeck elevation need to be cut off. The wall (bulkhead) is set back between the two doors making the balcony deeper (less shallow). You can see it in RED in this image below. I followed the wrong example. Sad thing is Garyshipwright had showed me the proper assembly in his posting #1422 of Oct 2022 and I couldn't see the "forest for the trees". Sorry about that!

 

I'm going to leave it for a bit yet but it will get cropped by the time I install the quarterdeck beams

 

I still don't see why the officers needed the separate access from the balcony to use the facility. Couldn't they just take a few extra steps?

 

There is always something new to learn.

[druxey]

Most likely to air out the toilet compartment?

[AON]

Silly but practical!

🤣

[mort stoll]

Could one have been solely for the Captain and the other for the officers? 

[AON]

I could belive one side was for the Captain and the other side for supernumaries but not necessarily a door inside vs. the other outside.

[bruce d]

Hmmm.

If I understand correctly, you are seeing a door to the toilet from the cabin and also a door to the same toilet from the balcony: correct?

Also, this was repeated on both left and right sides?

 

[AON]

Correct.