DocBlake Posted March 29, 2014 Share #1 Posted March 29, 2014 When were skylights introduced on wooden sailing ships? I'm asking because I'm working on a model of the Armed Virginia Sloop of 1768. It's a typical vessel and not a particular historic ship. The cabin roof is a large boring space. I'd like to add a small skylight. Is it historically appropriate? Dave Quote Dave Click on images in posts to view them in full resolution! Click on the builds below and link to the log. Current Builds: -Gaff-Rigged Sloop, 1/4 Scale (3" = 1') -Chapman Water Hoy 1768 by DocBlake - Scratch Build - 1:48 scale -Hannah - 1:32 scale, Scratch-Built Plank-on-Frame Admiralty style -Generic Sharpie by DocBlake. 3/4" = 1' scale. NRG plans. -Fair American 1780 by DocBlake - Lauck Street Shipyard - 1/48 scale - POF -Independence 1775 by DocBlake - Artesania Latina - 5/16" scale -HMS Triton Cross Section by DocBlake - 1/24 scale Completed Builds: -Bomb Vessel Granado 1742 Cross Section - 1:32 Scale Scratch Build -British Capstan circa 1777 by DocBlake - FINISHED - 1:16 Scale -HMS Blandford - Cross Section - Scratch Build -1/32 Scale -17th Century Battle Station by DocBlake - HMS Mordaunt - 1:32 -17th Century Naval Cannon - 1:12 Scale -Royal Navy Ship of the Line Cross Section by DocBlake - (Mamoli's "Constitution") - 1:93 scale -Armed Virginia Sloop 1768, 1/48 scale. -Virginia Pilot Boat "Swift", 1805, 1/50 scale -18th Century Naval Battle Station, 1/24 scale -Armed Virginia Sloop 1768 "Patrick Henry", 1/32 scale, Lauck Street Shipyard, POF, Admiralty Style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jud Posted March 29, 2014 Share #2 Posted March 29, 2014 I would expect that skylights came into use early, even before the use of glass to pass light became popular. Even a hinged solid cover could be opened for lighting and ventilation before the days of glass skylights. Prisms were often placed in decks to pass and disperse light below decks and I would expect that, that practice to have begane soon after the manufacturing and forming of glass became common. jud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelpsutton2 Posted March 29, 2014 Share #3 Posted March 29, 2014 Good morning The armed virginia sloop was of a type generally known as a "Bermuda Sloop" Chapman has an example in his Architectura Navalis Mercatoria. There are any number of other contemporary illustrations form the period. None show any structures on the deck at all. The decks are rather steeply crowned and even the tillers are underneath. Most small ship designs would have been steered from a position with better visibility . I have a small bit of sailing experience, no real blue water" but the design makes me think it was designed to shed water and shield the helmsman if overtaken by a following sea. fnkershner and tasmanian 2 Quote Drown you may, but go you must and your reward shall be a man's pay or a hero's grave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocBlake Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted April 2, 2014 Thanks, all. I think it reasonable to include a small skylight on the cabin roof/poop deck for the AVS. Now I need to get to work designing and building it. Dave Quote Dave Click on images in posts to view them in full resolution! Click on the builds below and link to the log. Current Builds: -Gaff-Rigged Sloop, 1/4 Scale (3" = 1') -Chapman Water Hoy 1768 by DocBlake - Scratch Build - 1:48 scale -Hannah - 1:32 scale, Scratch-Built Plank-on-Frame Admiralty style -Generic Sharpie by DocBlake. 3/4" = 1' scale. NRG plans. -Fair American 1780 by DocBlake - Lauck Street Shipyard - 1/48 scale - POF -Independence 1775 by DocBlake - Artesania Latina - 5/16" scale -HMS Triton Cross Section by DocBlake - 1/24 scale Completed Builds: -Bomb Vessel Granado 1742 Cross Section - 1:32 Scale Scratch Build -British Capstan circa 1777 by DocBlake - FINISHED - 1:16 Scale -HMS Blandford - Cross Section - Scratch Build -1/32 Scale -17th Century Battle Station by DocBlake - HMS Mordaunt - 1:32 -17th Century Naval Cannon - 1:12 Scale -Royal Navy Ship of the Line Cross Section by DocBlake - (Mamoli's "Constitution") - 1:93 scale -Armed Virginia Sloop 1768, 1/48 scale. -Virginia Pilot Boat "Swift", 1805, 1/50 scale -18th Century Naval Battle Station, 1/24 scale -Armed Virginia Sloop 1768 "Patrick Henry", 1/32 scale, Lauck Street Shipyard, POF, Admiralty Style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeler12 Posted April 3, 2014 Share #5 Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) Thanks, all. I think it reasonable to include a small skylight on the cabin roof/poop deck for the AVS. Now I need to get to work designing and building it. Dave Now that is the fun part. It could be hexagonal, rectangular, but not round. It probably should have slanted 'glass' and even some brass rod to protect that. HMMMM. fun. I might add though that glass was not made very flat and probably only available in rectangles no bigger than 8 x 12 inches (more likely 6 x 8). Have a look at paintings by the 'master' of that era. Edited April 3, 2014 by Modeler12 Quote Jay Current build Cross Section USS Constitution http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10120-cross-section-forward-area-of-the-uss-constitution/ Finished USS Constitution: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/103-uss-constitution-by-modeler12/ 'A picture is worth a . . . . .' More is better . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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