Gunboat PHILADELPHIA 1776 by Chuck Seiler - Scale 1:48 - from Model Shipways plans

[Chuck Seiler]

Based on Model Shipways plans

Scale: 1/48  ¼”=1’

Circa:  August-October 1776

 

Caveat.  I start this build log with the understanding that I am better at building than I am at documenting…and I’m not all that good at building.  As such, there may be large gaps in coverage.  I actually started the model in the spring of 2013 so I would have a project to work on at the County Fair in June.  After the Fair, I worked in dribs and drabs until I decided (got strong armed by our Guildmaster) it would be great to enter into the Fair in 2014.  Some work got done without photographic documentation.  So now you know.

 

Background.  I have been interested in the colonial gunboat PHILADELPHIA for many years.  Having grown up in the Philadelphia area, I was interested in the Revolutionary War.  I knew of the battle of Valcour Island, but it was more of a ‘backwater (literally) engagement’ (needs work).   It is was more of a footnote to me than anything else.  I really became interested in the model and the battle when I saw the in-progress model of PHILADELPHIA by Dave Yotter (Ship Modelers Association/SDSMG).  He was building from scratch using the 20+ page set of plans from the Smithsonian.  He even cast his own guns.  Dave’s model is three times larger than mine will be.

 

When Model Expo announced they were coming out with a model of PHILADELPHIA, I knew I had to build it.  I saw that it was in 1/24 scale, which is a bit too large for my work/display area, so I decided to scratch build it in 1/48 scale (1/4”=1’).  I would have preferred to build in 3/16” scale, the scale I have used for colonial ships LEXINGTON and SULTANA, but it was a bit too small.  The ¼” scale is perfect, however, because it is the same as fellow SDSMG member Mike Lonnecker’s HMS FLY from the same era.  Hey Mike, my ship might be smaller than yours but my guns are bigger!!!!  Take that!!!

 

[Chuck Seiler]

 

Gunboat PHILADELPHIA sinking after the Battle of Valcour Island, October 11, 1776, from a painting by artist Ernie Hass (courtesy Lake Champlain Maritime Museum).  Things did not go well.

[Chuck Seiler]

Commentary on plans and references.  My primary source document was/were the Model Expo plans; six sheets.  I had them reduced from 1/24 to 1/48 at Kinkos, making several copies of the pages I knew I would have to cut up for templates, etc.

 

At first I was disappointed with the plans.  While it provided excellent detail in some areas in 3D and exploded view, it did not provide diagrams of the bulkheads so they could be easily made.  Since these plans were for a kit in which the bulkheads were already provided, NOT for scratch building, I should not be too harsh.  In general, the plans were/are VERY good. 

 

In addition to the ME plans, I acquired the following books for background and to fill in the holes regarding the ship/model/replica.

 

--Benedict Arnold's Navy by James Nelson.  This is an excellent book which goes into the history of events leading up to the battle, the construction of the fleet, the battle and it's aftermath.

--The Gunboat PHILADELPHIA and the Defense of Lake Champlain in 1776 by Philip K. Lundeberg

--The Gondola PHILADELPHIA and the Battle of Lake Champlain by John Bratton.  Provides info regarding the making of the replica gunboat.

[Chuck Seiler]

As early as mid 1775 it was understood that Lake Champlain was a key highway between British controlled Canada and lower New York. Fort Ticonderoga and defense of the lake were critical. After a failed attempt to take Quebec from the British and effort to lure the people of Canada into the war on the side of the Yanks, American forces retreated south on the lake. Defense of the lake was about to begin.

 

Major General Philip Schulyler (commander of the northern department) had already started a 'ship building' industry on the site of a captured sawmill in Skenesborough (now Whitehall, NY). The site was used to build cargo batueax to transport troops and supplies up to Canada. The mission was quickly changed to the building of warships.

 

Construction began in August 1776 at a slow pace. Carpenters, riggers were reluctant to leave their lucrative businesses on the coast. Finally lured by higher wages, and despite the heat, mosquitoes, black flies, and long days, these craftsmen completed eight 54-foot gondolas, including PHILADELPHIA, and four 72-foot galleys in just over two months. The hulls were fitted out at Fort Ticonderoga. Across the lake at Mount Independence, they were moored at the foot of a shoreside cliff; spars and guns were lowered from the top of the cliff into position on board.

PHILADELPHIA carried three carriage guns, one 12-pounder, and two 9-pounders, and eight swivel guns. She had a single mast with a square-rigged mainsail and topsail. Her crew of 44 was captained by 25-year-old Benjamin Rue, from Pennsylvania. With little experience in boat handling and none in naval combat, Rue's men typified the troops described to Major General Horatio Gates, as "a wretched motley crew".

 

This fledgling fleet spent the majority of their time that late summer and early fall of 1776 patrolling the lake in anticipation of the completion of the British fleet in Canada. Finally, on October 11, 1776, the British were carried southwards on a north wind. The American fleet was moored in a protected bay between Valcour Island and the New York shore in anticipation. The British did not enter the Valcour Island passage from the north, but instead ran south to the east of Valcour Island, which meant that to engage the Americans, the British would have to sail into the wind, putting them at a disadvantage.

 

Despite this initial advantage, the British fleet was much more powerful than the Americans. At the end of the 6-hour battle, the schooner Royal Savage had been captured and burned, and the gunboat PHILADELPHIA sunk. Other vessels sustained damage, and sixty men were killed or wounded. The British decided to wait until morning to finish off this rebel fleet, which proved to be a poor decision. During the night, the cunning Benedict Arnold led his fleet in an escape, rowing silently right under the noses of the British. The British gave chase. Within a week the entire American fleet had been sunk, scuttled or captured.

 

REPLICA GUNBOAT PHILADELPHIA PLIES LAKE CHAMPLAIN

[Chuck Seiler]

The PHILADELPHIA 's sinking was it's eventual salvation. Having sunk in cold, fresh water, the hull and ironwork was saved from major deterioration for 160 years. In 1935 Colonel F. Hagglund, an experienced salvage engineer from New York, located and raised the PHILADELPHIA. After Hagglund's death, Philadelphia was donated to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where she is on display to this day.

 

 

 

GUNBOAT PHILADELPHIA as it is today

 

I have no idea who these folks are, but it demonstrates proportion.

[AnobiumPunctatum]

I'll follow your log with great interest. I find this little boat very interesting. Thank's for the book hints. I hope that I can find some in Germany

[Chuck Seiler]

From John Fox from one of the other discussion groups:

 

"Check this out!

 

http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=47

 

Pan, zoom, top, bottom, P&S views of Philadelphia as she sits in the Smithsonian. There's a measuring tape you can use to find dimensions and spacing of chosen features, like beam and frame spacing.

 

Now that is truly a cool thing to view!"

 

It requires Internet Explorer 11 to view (which I don't have yet...but I see it in my Update queue to download).

[Chuck Seiler]

Ano,

 

I noticed you are building a 1:48 HMS FLY. It our County Fair, our of my Guild associates was building a 1:48 FLY as well. We would point out to the passers by that they were the same scale, same year but PHILADELHIA was much smaller but had larger guns.

[captainbob]

This looks interesting.  I'm pulling up a chair now.

 

Bob

[Chuck Seiler]

Howdy Cap'n Bob.

[Chuck Seiler]

Let's begin!!!

 

The model, like the gunboat itself, is pretty simple. Start off with a flat bottom and work your way up.

 

Using the Model Expo plans, I made two identical half bottoms and glued them to a center false keel. This was to provide me with a completely symmetrical hull. (yeah, so how did that work out?) The bulkhead locations were marked on the bottom to help line up the two pieces. As you can see from the photo date stamp, I started this project almost a year ago.

 

 

The two pieces were affixed to the false keel inside-side down. This allowed the wood to stick up and serve as a guide for bottom planking. Before planking the bottom, bulkhead locations were transferred to the inside side.

 

Once the bottom was planked, the whole shebang was sanded flat. I did this so the model would sit flat on the work surface. Eventually I will add the keel, which is only about 3 scale inches. It was more for structure than anything else and didn't contribute much to its sailing qualities. The PHILADELPHIA only sailed in one direction--directly downwind, but when you could, it was better than rowing.

[Chuck Seiler]

Next, I had to make and install the bulkheads. The plans had no good 2 dimensional diagram plan for bulkhead as some of the Model Expo plans do. Instead it had the 3D/from an angle diagrams. So I improvised. In the past I have build bulkheads using the line and sheer plan normally embedded on most plans. In this case, I would only make the sides and connect them using built up cross member pieces. As it turned out, all bulkheads except the forward 2 and aft 2 had the exact same curve. The only difference was height. Easy to make.

 

I installed cross supports at the bulkhead locations and eventually added the sides. Care was taken to ensure they did not tilt, thereby changing the curve. The bulkheads were made much wider than I would eventually need. This provided a more stable base for mounting and provided more meat for faring. This was particularly important in the bow and stern. Cross supports would eventually be built up to support decking.

 

 

Fore and aft cockpits have been planked. The "keel" is sticking up in aft cockpit (right).

 

Notice the Bailing Pit in aft cock pit (square dark colored wood). This was a cutout section that gave access to the bilge/bottom planking area in order to bail out water with a water scoop they had. Scoop to bucket-pour over the side. This might have been fine for day to day dewatering, but it failed when needed most. If you look at the picture of PHILADELPHIA sinking at the top of the thread, you will see it sinking by the bow as a result of (1) the hull being holed by a 24 shot in the bow and (2) the weight of the 12lb gun and related gear. They know it was a 24lb shot because it was still wedged in the hull when the wreck was brought up. It is also on display in the Smithsonian...wedged in the hull.

 

Solid basswood blocks placed for future use (to support pedestals).

Edited February 23, 2014 by Chuck Seiler

[Senior ole salt]

Thanks Chuck for the bit of history. Ti's a shame Arnold took the wrong path, he did a lot of good ( including being wounded) before turning on his country.

 

Good luck with the build. I'll be watching too.

 

S.os

[Chuck Seiler]

Ol' Salt,

 

Arnold was wounded twice. First time was during the failed assault on Quebec. The second was at Saratoga...same leg. After he had turned coat and was working for the British, he was a brigadier in the Carolinas. He allegedly asked a captured American officer what he thought his troops would do if they captured him (Arnold). The response was 'Bury his leg with military honors. Hang the rest of him from the nearest tree.

[Chuck Seiler]

 

The previous stage was late May 2013. I was on a building binge so that the model was ready for me to take to the County Fair.

 

By early June I had the upper three strakes of exterior planking installed, the center cross supports are all raised to the correct level (I thought) and the middle two planks on the center gundeck. If they look overly wide, they are. They are about two scale feet wide...but that is what the plans call for...because that is what the ship has. Deck planking is holly. Exterior and ceiling (interior) hull planking is boxwood.

 

I took some basswood the thickness I wanted my frames and ran them between the bulkheads, attached to the exterior planking. I would then sand the bulkheads down to the proper thickness...making them frames. There are a little over twice the number of frames on the real gunboat as I have. Here you see the bulkhead sanding process almost complete. The master shipwright surveys his work.

 

A look from a different angle. Note the cross supports forward have not been fully raised. I want to complete he ceiling planking before I do that.

 

A look at the sternpost. Note 'wings' used to help anchor planks

 

A look at the stem. No wings.

 

The beastie is starting to take shape.

[BRiddoch]

Looking good Chuck.  Bring it to Mike's next week.

 

   Bob R.

[Chuck Seiler]

Then what will I bring for the Wednesday meeting?

[Chuck Seiler]

It is almost at the end of the Fair....1 day to go. I have the interior planking done and stained. I did not go all the way down to the bottom with the interior planking because I wanted space to be able to work the exterior planking. The interior is stained with Minwax "Golden Pecan"

 

You see work on the middle deck planking progressing. On this model, this is the poop deck. I had the planking completed and I placed a prototype of the 9lb gun on it... "Poop" <I sez>. The muzzle did not clear the caprail. I had to add another layer of planking to make it work.

 

On the actual ship, the forward deck is the poop deck. When they loaded the 12 lb gun forward, "POOP!!!!!" it failed to clear the stem and caprail. They ended up having to cut away that portion of the caprail and a piece of the stem. Unless I tell you, you would never know I had an extra layer of planking. It is hard to miss the cut out stem.

 

Exterior planking takes shape. Planks are same size (scale wise) with the same buttjoints as the real ship. The upper three strakes are slightly different widths, but approximately 1/8" (6 scale inches). The lower 4 strakes are all 1 foots. except here narrowed. Interior planking is all 1/8 inch (6 inches).

[Chuck Seiler]

Not a whole lot got done between July and December. I took some pics in December and they came out blurry. They are the only ones I have, so.....

 

Forward gundeck in the process of planking. The 'slide' for the 12 pounder is in place. Note the large 2 foot wide planks here as well as the center deck.

 

A lengthwise shot showing all decks. Support stanchions for the center gundeck (heretofore called the POOP!!!!! deck) are taking shape. After most deck planking is narrower than other two decks...a mere foot and a half. Weapons lockers are marked out aft.

[Chuck Seiler]

Fast forward to 22 FEB 2014

 

[dgbot]

I have seen seceral Phili's at Manitowoc over the years I will enjoy your build.

David B

Edited March 1, 2014 by dgbot

[Chuck Seiler]

Thanks David. I hope you enjoy the progress.

[Chuck Seiler]

THAT LOOKS LIKE A MIGHTY FINE CARGO HAULIN' BATEAUX. ARE YOU SURE IT'S A GUNBOAT?

 

You have a keen eye my friend! the gunboats were pretty much designed after the bateaux used in the area. Allegedly, Arnold wanted the gunboats to be like the ones on the Delaware River but nobody had the plans and didn't have time to get them. He redesigned the boats because the shipwrights and carpenters available had been building bateaux for a year in order to ferry troops and supplies up and down Lake Champlain. It was more important to have hulls in the water than have masterpieces sometime in the future.

 

WOW!

 

Indeed.

[Chuck Seiler]

I forgot to mention in the previous pic that while the interior planking is stained with GOLDEN PECAN, the exterior is PECAN. It provides a dirtier brown finish, giving the rustic color I am working for. I will endeavor to get a good exterior shot.

 

Another lengthwise shot of the completed hull. Thole pins bitts and cleats are mounted.

 

A close up shot of the bow section. Shot rack with 12lb shot is mounted. Note nail heads in the deck planking. Iron nails were a lot easier than traditional tree-nails to make and use. They were not too concerned about them rusting away since they didn't anticipate the ship being around long. Ironically (IRON-ically...get it) the nails still exist..a bit corroded...in the actual ship. (See early picture) A lot of nails were used to keep the thing from coming apart every time they fired the guns.

 

Close up shot of the stern. The arms locker hold spare shot and a few drill bits. Holes in the caprail are for awning stations.

 

Next step....the cook stove.

[Chuck Seiler]

 

Here is a close-up pic of PHILLY's bow and the corroded nails. By tracing the nails you can also see where the frames are.

[dgbot]

Looking good Chuck

David B

[Chuck Seiler]

Your job, Mr. MacGyver, is to build this with match sticks and chewing gum.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Chuck Seiler

[Chuck Seiler]

MacGyver was unable to find matchsticks, so we used these. I was unable to find suitable bricks, so I made them from wood. (Having said that, 250 people will direct me to the bricks I needed.)

 

I remember having small scale individual bricks many years ago. I tried hobby stores, train scores and Google to find them. I was able to find adequate brickage from a fine company in UK at a reasonable price, but the shipping/associated cost were just too much.

 

I used padauk wood and stained holly.

 

Mr. Jefferson looks on, wondering if Mr. Franklin has that stove thing patented yet.

 

The hearth and first couple courses completed. This is where the cook stove sits on the PHILDELPHIA in the Smithsonian.

 

Here is where it sits on the plans.

 

The athwartship mast support is in place. What could POSSIBLY go wrong here???? Don't let the safety guys see this!!!!

 

I'm not sure why the PHILLY didn't burn to the waterline or explode long before the battle. This does not look like a very good place for a cook stove, but my readings indicate this IS where it was. They are able to see the charring on the underside of the mast support.

 

Maybe this thing will work on the 18th Century Longboat (same scale). What do you think????? Maybe I can sub-contract to Chuck P so he can provide an after market add on to the longboat kit.

[BRiddoch]

Looking good Chuck!

 

         Bob R.

[dgbot]

Nice paint job.  Nice and crisp.

David B