Wooden Tall Ship, Scratch Build, Early 1800's..

[10thumbs]

Hi guys,

Every once and a while I'll have a look on this forum too.  I'm an old ship freak, been building them for more than 40 yrs.

Here a few pics of my last finished wooden ship, a scratch build from 6 yrs. ago.  It's a Hermaphrodite Brig, yep, you read it right!  The tackle is a bit different than a schooner Brig, because the foremast has only yard arms, the 2nd mast has a schooner rig.  These were fast merchant ships that needed lesser crew members than other types of this class.

The ship model is 30" long overall and is rigged for a longer stay in harbor.  The yards are lowered, as the sails have been stored away.  The hull is doubled planked with the outer planking a mahogany copy called sapelli.  This wood has a nice grain and is easy to cut accurately.  I stained the wood so that it fits on the antique English pyramid mahogany Commode it sits upon.

This model is entirely scratch built, I used partially the Artesania Latina model "Le Hussard" as a reference to proportions, the said model is not one of my favorites though by any means.  I like the scale,   1:50.  This is a real nice size to work on, the model is hefty and has a size that allows mega detailing if wished, or a bit more moderate as is my choice always.  For instance, lots of guys like to have the ropes all wound up and hanging down to the deck all coiled up.  This is of course good looking, but a pita to clean.  I tie them off at the railing or wherever, and cut the ends off.  Once every couple of years I'll give the ships a good shower.   The wood withstands, the extra rope hanging around doesn't.  This is just my opinion.  The rigging does function by the way.  If I add sails I could lower and raise them at will.  Exception being, I cut the ends off.  See above text.

The 1st pic is older, the others are just a couple of years old.

The ship sits up on a shelf above my present bench and along the wall.  There is a whole fleet of ships on these shelves, I thought I'd like to show one of them.  I like old sailing vessels, it's an absolutely satisfying hobby and I can highly recommend going in this direction if you have time and enjoy researching and are a friend of Naval History.  Our country was born and succeeded because of ships like these.

Michael

 

[JollySipper]

Wow! That's impressive.............!

[redneckrigger]

That is a superb piece! Wish my eyes and fumble fingers were capable of such work! Thanks for sharing it!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Beautiful model. I'm in love with wooden ships and boats (as well as many other things) and your scratchbuilding here is first rate..

I've been working on and off on a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack for years, probably my favorite working boat next to the Grand Banks Schooners. I have an antique (older than I am) solid-hull wooden model of the original Bluenose, actually built in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia by someone who'd worked on the original, and supposedly her hull is carved from a piece of scrap from the real Bluenose I keel.

Thanks for putting up these shots of your fine looking ship. She's a sweetheart for sure, and an inspiration to get back to building with wood.

[Dave Van]

VERY nice work......I have dabbled in wooden ships. I like them.....but take so much time!!!  

I recently bought a Artesania Latina Galleon kit. It was sealed and about 60% off list....so I had to have it.

Now to get the time.

Again nice work....hope mine looks like that someday. 

 

[peteski]

I built my share of plastic models of sailing ships but never a wooden one.   Wow!

[Sixties Sam]

Wow! That's impressive.............!

I agree! Very nice work - amazing rigging detail! Superb model!

Sam

[10thumbs]

Thanks guys, I'm really touched by your comments, I wasn't expecting much notice over here in this obscure area.  Wooden model ships are my 1st love in the modeling world.  I was apprehensive about showing.  These models mean an awful lot to me and I was afraid someone would knock something and I'd have to pull out my knives and have a brawl.

You know, while sitting at a bench for more than a year with each model, life around you goes on and things happen around you during a project.  Since these vessels have been around me on my walls for more than 40 years, lots has happened.  Good and bad, sad and happy.  That's life, and these old friends have been with me the daily.

I don't think I'm up to finishing another of my favorites, as Bill mentioned, a boat from the Chesapeake Bay.  Probably the main shipping area of American maritime culture.  The Baltimore Clipper is one that is a very important vessel in our history.  Sleek and fast, and very sharp looking, a real beauty and one of a kind.

Tom, I don't feel up to it anymore either!  Maybe when I'm fully retired, but then again I can't imagine being only at home.  I have to still go to my shop or go nuts.

Bill, that sounds like quite a rare piece, those NE Schooners are a dream, a beautiful design.

Dave, good luck and fair weather for your project.  Artesania Latina have nice kits, I'd of grabbed one at 60% too.  Luckily, I have only one un-built kit up in the attic.

Peteski and Sam, thanks for the nice comments guys.  Very much appreciated!

TJ,  good luck with your fine ship, you'll be enjoying it for a long time, so get those lines attached and be proud.

Thanks all, Michael

 

[landman]

Beautiful workmanship. Nice finishing. Love it.

[10thumbs]

Thanks Pat for the kind words.

[philo426]

Cant beat the look of mahogany planks!The ship reminds me of the Arresania Lwtina Swift I built some time ago.My Billings boats Ersatzia has the mahogany look.

[sjordan2]

I would love to see outside photos in a realistic environment.

[10thumbs]

Hi Skip, I could take a few pics of the ship outside, but not sure what you mean about the realistic environment.

[sjordan2]

Hi Skip, I could take a few pics of the ship outside, but not sure what you mean about the realistic environment.

Just outdoor lighting, maybe with a sky background.

[GTJUNIOR]

I too have dabbled with the sail ships. Built the airfix HMS Victory when I was 14 for a history assignment. I remember that it was a very intensive build, but very rewarding. I was very proud of that build. Unfortunately it met with an untimely death when it fell of the display shelf and broke into hundreds of pieces. Your model is beautifully built and has all the signs of being very carefully put together. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[10thumbs]

OK Skip, I get it now.  No problem, as soon as the weather is nice enough, decent lighting.  I think it's a good idea anyway to update the ship pics, also of the others.  I have no digital pics of them.  I'll come back here and update, thanks for the idea.

Hi Tony, what a shame about the mishap with the Victory, a magnificent vessel.  I had a neighbor that built that ship from a wooden kit in a large scale and it was huge.  Very intricate.  Most of mine have suffered too, mostly small blemishes and a part here and there gas gotten loose.  Nothing serious though.  Many moves have made their mark.  Amazing too, when my wife even goes near them, dusting the shelf for instance, something always happens.  Only remedy has been to keep the area clean myself, then tell her the area is clean.  Thanks for looking.