1750 64 gun ship

Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
37
Points
78

Location
Cardiff
A long time ago when the world was still new, I had a new wife and a large house that needed major renovation. (The house that is). It came complete with a large attic and with no TV as a distraction I needed to fill my down time with something other than house repairs and decorating and so claimed the attic as my own space.
I was a frustrated sailor. I'd wanted to go to sea at 16 but The Mother put a very firm stop to that. Now, with a lot of hindsight, it was the best thing she ever did for me, but needless to say I really didn't appreciate that at the time!!
I had always fancied myself as Horatio Hornblower so I decided to build a model sailing ship. My inspiration was a picture on the wall torn from a magazine I think, of HMS Captain. I decided to call her Cassandra.
I had few tools, lots of balsa wood, a new fangled electric jigsaw and no plans of the ship whatsoever. With no internet I scoured our local library for information to no avail. The maritime museum in Liverpool hadn't been invented so I made the plans and build up as I went along.
I had intended for it to be radio controlled but couldn't afford the kit so had to settle for a simple sailing model.
I was so proud at the local model show at our boating lake. On her first outing she sailed beautifully, more or less in a straight line! One obnoxious child had a plastic submarine with a motor in it. He deliberately aimed it at my ship with every intent of hitting her amidships. Just as a collision seemed inevitable and the child was beside himself with glee, she backed her topsails, came to a halt allowing the submarine to pass under her bows and promptly went ahead again turning the sub upside down. The child had a chilly paddle to retrieve his toy. Such karma!!
After a few more outings and a few more ships - HMS Erebus, a first world war monitor with 12" guns and radio control, an SS Grreat Britain paddle steamer with internal lights and a poor 1800 frigate that sank after hitting ice and then about 1980 I finally hit the big time. My boss bought a yacht. After many years I have finally ended up having all the sailing I ever want with my own bed to sleep in when I've had enough. Thanks mum!
I have owned a 43' gentleman's yacht, a motor ketch called Soleil d'Or. If you want to check her out she is on the British register of historic ships. Sadly she got too expensive and time consuming whilst I was busy running 3 passenger boats so she had to go. I still sail in a little tiny Westerly Warwick and am a Master Boatman and Yachtmaster. The best cure for sea sickness is to sit under an apple tree.
Back to Cassandra. I have treasured her. She has moved house with me numerous times, been investigated by cats, dogs and children and now we seem to have finally come to rest in South Wales. After all her travels she is in a bit of a state. Her rigging is worn out and fragile. Her main mast was broken and repaired twice by my father (not a model maker!). I was going to let her gently fall to pieces but having enjoyed myself so much with The Covid Ship I have decided to give her a make over.
Where to start??? I've taken the masts off. Easily done as she was designed to go in the back of the car without them. The decks are very sad so I am renewing them along with all the deck furniture. Just for starters!
I hope to post pictures - if I can find them and copy them - of how she was on the water. In the mean time here are a few of how she is right now.

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A progress report and special requests!
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The decking has started. I'm intending to leave the fore deck as it is, just as a reminder. Life is too short to make individual planks!

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The above shows the original attachment for the lower shrouds. I used the hooks to attach to a small turnbuckle. They could be simply be unhooked to demount the masts for transport.
The next picture shows the other end of the shrouds which are attached to a small eye on the mast with a bit of elastic to enable the unhooking process.
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Archive time. I have had to use thumb nails as the larger version is terribly blurred.

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This is my very first large model of a frigate taken from a book illustration. Circa 1974-5. She is down by the head as she was sinking having driven bow on into a sheet of ice that ripped the thin balsa hull like a knife. She was recovered but was beyond repair.
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Here is the current refurbishment under sail after the attack of the submarine as described above.

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circa 1979 - 81. Paddle steamer and WW1 monitor.
The trick with working models is to choose an obscure subject otherwise the local duck pond sages can be very critical about a hobby they know very little about. It is a big win when they scratch their heads and look puzzled.
 
A progress report and special requests!
View attachment 205177

View attachment 205178

View attachment 205179
The decking has started. I'm intending to leave the fore deck as it is, just as a reminder. Life is too short to make individual planks!

View attachment 205180
The above shows the original attachment for the lower shrouds. I used the hooks to attach to a small turnbuckle. They could be simply be unhooked to demount the masts for transport.
The next picture shows the other end of the shrouds which are attached to a small eye on the mast with a bit of elastic to enable the unhooking process.
View attachment 205181

Archive time. I have had to use thumb nails as the larger version is terribly blurred.

View attachment 205183
This is my very first large model of a frigate taken from a book illustration. Circa 1974-5. She is down by the head as she was sinking having driven bow on into a sheet of ice that ripped the thin balsa hull like a knife. She was recovered but was beyond repair.
View attachment 205185 View attachment 205186
Here is the current refurbishment under sail after the attack of the submarine as described above.

View attachment 205187 View attachment 205188 View attachment 205189
circa 1979 - 81. Paddle steamer and WW1 monitor.
The trick with working models is to choose an obscure subject otherwise the local duck pond sages can be very critical about a hobby they know very little about. It is a big win when they scratch their heads and look puzzled.
Thanks for posting these pics.
 
A long time ago when the world was still new, I had a new wife and a large house that needed major renovation. (The house that is). It came complete with a large attic and with no TV as a distraction I needed to fill my down time with something other than house repairs and decorating and so claimed the attic as my own space.
I was a frustrated sailor. I'd wanted to go to sea at 16 but The Mother put a very firm stop to that. Now, with a lot of hindsight, it was the best thing she ever did for me, but needless to say I really didn't appreciate that at the time!!
I had always fancied myself as Horatio Hornblower so I decided to build a model sailing ship. My inspiration was a picture on the wall torn from a magazine I think, of HMS Captain. I decided to call her Cassandra.
I had few tools, lots of balsa wood, a new fangled electric jigsaw and no plans of the ship whatsoever. With no internet I scoured our local library for information to no avail. The maritime museum in Liverpool hadn't been invented so I made the plans and build up as I went along.
I had intended for it to be radio controlled but couldn't afford the kit so had to settle for a simple sailing model.
I was so proud at the local model show at our boating lake. On her first outing she sailed beautifully, more or less in a straight line! One obnoxious child had a plastic submarine with a motor in it. He deliberately aimed it at my ship with every intent of hitting her amidships. Just as a collision seemed inevitable and the child was beside himself with glee, she backed her topsails, came to a halt allowing the submarine to pass under her bows and promptly went ahead again turning the sub upside down. The child had a chilly paddle to retrieve his toy. Such karma!!
After a few more outings and a few more ships - HMS Erebus, a first world war monitor with 12" guns and radio control, an SS Grreat Britain paddle steamer with internal lights and a poor 1800 frigate that sank after hitting ice and then about 1980 I finally hit the big time. My boss bought a yacht. After many years I have finally ended up having all the sailing I ever want with my own bed to sleep in when I've had enough. Thanks mum!
I have owned a 43' gentleman's yacht, a motor ketch called Soleil d'Or. If you want to check her out she is on the British register of historic ships. Sadly she got too expensive and time consuming whilst I was busy running 3 passenger boats so she had to go. I still sail in a little tiny Westerly Warwick and am a Master Boatman and Yachtmaster. The best cure for sea sickness is to sit under an apple tree.
Back to Cassandra. I have treasured her. She has moved house with me numerous times, been investigated by cats, dogs and children and now we seem to have finally come to rest in South Wales. After all her travels she is in a bit of a state. Her rigging is worn out and fragile. Her main mast was broken and repaired twice by my father (not a model maker!). I was going to let her gently fall to pieces but having enjoyed myself so much with The Covid Ship I have decided to give her a make over.
Where to start??? I've taken the masts off. Easily done as she was designed to go in the back of the car without them. The decks are very sad so I am renewing them along with all the deck furniture. Just for starters!
I hope to post pictures - if I can find them and copy them - of how she was on the water. In the mean time here are a few of how she is right now.
Hallo @yotty
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
Are you still working on this project? Would be interesting to see your progress
 
A long time ago when the world was still new, I had a new wife and a large house that needed major renovation. (The house that is). It came complete with a large attic and with no TV as a distraction I needed to fill my down time with something other than house repairs and decorating and so claimed the attic as my own space.
I was a frustrated sailor. I'd wanted to go to sea at 16 but The Mother put a very firm stop to that. Now, with a lot of hindsight, it was the best thing she ever did for me, but needless to say I really didn't appreciate that at the time!!
I had always fancied myself as Horatio Hornblower so I decided to build a model sailing ship. My inspiration was a picture on the wall torn from a magazine I think, of HMS Captain. I decided to call her Cassandra.
Hallo @yotty
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
 
A long time ago when the world was still new, I had a new wife and a large house that needed major renovation. (The house that is). It came complete with a large attic and with no TV as a distraction I needed to fill my down time with something other than house repairs and decorating and so claimed the attic as my own space.
I was a frustrated sailor. I'd wanted to go to sea at 16 but The Mother put a very firm stop to that. Now, with a lot of hindsight, it was the best thing she ever did for me, but needless to say I really didn't appreciate that at the time!!
I had always fancied myself as Horatio Hornblower so I decided to build a model sailing ship. My inspiration was a picture on the wall torn from a magazine I think, of HMS Captain. I decided to call her Cassandra.
I had few tools, lots of balsa wood, a new fangled electric jigsaw and no plans of the ship whatsoever. With no internet I scoured our local library for information to no avail. The maritime museum in Liverpool hadn't been invented so I made the plans and build up as I went along.
I had intended for it to be radio controlled but couldn't afford the kit so had to settle for a simple sailing model.
I was so proud at the local model show at our boating lake. On her first outing she sailed beautifully, more or less in a straight line! One obnoxious child had a plastic submarine with a motor in it. He deliberately aimed it at my ship with every intent of hitting her amidships. Just as a collision seemed inevitable and the child was beside himself with glee, she backed her topsails, came to a halt allowing the submarine to pass under her bows and promptly went ahead again turning the sub upside down. The child had a chilly paddle to retrieve his toy. Such karma!!
After a few more outings and a few more ships - HMS Erebus, a first world war monitor with 12" guns and radio control, an SS Grreat Britain paddle steamer with internal lights and a poor 1800 frigate that sank after hitting ice and then about 1980 I finally hit the big time. My boss bought a yacht. After many years I have finally ended up having all the sailing I ever want with my own bed to sleep in when I've had enough. Thanks mum!
I have owned a 43' gentleman's yacht, a motor ketch called Soleil d'Or. If you want to check her out she is on the British register of historic ships. Sadly she got too expensive and time consuming whilst I was busy running 3 passenger boats so she had to go. I still sail in a little tiny Westerly Warwick and am a Master Boatman and Yachtmaster. The best cure for sea sickness is to sit under an apple tree.
Back to Cassandra. I have treasured her. She has moved house with me numerous times, been investigated by cats, dogs and children and now we seem to have finally come to rest in South Wales. After all her travels she is in a bit of a state. Her rigging is worn out and fragile. Her main mast was broken and repaired twice by my father (not a model maker!). I was going to let her gently fall to pieces but having enjoyed myself so much with The Covid Ship I have decided to give her a make over.
Where to start??? I've taken the masts off. Easily done as she was designed to go in the back of the car without them. The decks are very sad so I am renewing them along with all the deck furniture. Just for starters!
I hope to post pictures - if I can find them and copy them - of how she was on the water. In the mean time here are a few of how she is right now.

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You are not restoring a model, you are restoring an inspiring dream.
 
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