• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
  • PRE-ORDER SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR FIRST ISSUE WILL BE JAN/FEB 2026

Le Saint Philippe 1693 after Jean-Claude Lemineur (Ancre) in scale 1:48

dockattner said:
Progress has been slow because I am addicted to watching the Winter Olympics...

But we have also had some unseasonably warm weather this past week, so I took advantage of that by getting some work done in my garage (loud and messy tools are all relegated to the garage).

Here are the deck beams for the 2nd and 3rd decks along with the ledges for the second deck:

View attachment 578413

Before it warmed up, I also added the nails that hold the two layers of the gun port covers together:

View attachment 578411

View attachment 578412

I'll be keeping all the gun ports closed on this particular model.
Click to expand...
Besides the visit of some Olympic event sites, I also visited your site, Paul. Nice repetitive work with structured patterns.
Regards, Peter
 
Beautiful work as usual Paul! Always very crisp and precise.
On the topic of model building, as you know I love ships, airplanes and cars. However it is ships that require the most repetitive tasks. Sometimes the repetitive nature leads to boredom on my end, because I feel like I’m working at a factory! ROTF But I think if I focus on the end goal I can keep chipping away. But that is what typically makes me jump ship, pun intended, to another project for a reprieve. Although sometimes that reprieve turns into a vacation! ROTF
All that said, I also admire your perseverance to stay focused despite repetition. ;)
 
Dean62 said:
But I think if I focus on the end goal I can keep chipping away.
Click to expand...
A really great post, Dean. As I reflect on what you have said it occurs to me that I CANNOT focus on the end - it simply makes the build feel overwhelming. I almost have to forget the end and just work on the problem in front of me.
 
Dean62 said:
Sometimes the repetitive nature leads to boredom on my end, because I feel like I’m working at a factory!
Click to expand...
dockattner said:
As I reflect on what you have said it occurs to me that I CANNOT focus on the end - it simply makes the build feel overwhelming.
Click to expand...
Gentlemen, there is something very therapeutic to me when I consider your statements. I am not the only one who experiences these thoughts/feelings.
 
OlivierF said:
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
I completely agree on working on the detail in front of me… Most of the time. It has happened that not looking ahead causes challenges down the road. :mad:
Click to expand...
Oh yes, true words, Oliver. I was speaking more about the emotions of building rather than the act of building what is in front of me correctly.
 
Hi Paul,
I really enjoy seeing the difference between English ships and other nations's vessels. The lower port sills are flush with the inboard side of the frames on English ships so seeing them forming a shelf is new for me. It is almost like an alternative to having cleats/bumpers on the fore end of the carriages like those used on Blomefield carriages around 1800.

Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
Hi Paul,
I really enjoy seeing the difference between English ships and other nations's vessels. The lower port sills are flush with the inboard side of the frames on English ships so seeing them forming a shelf is new for me. It is almost like an alternative to having cleats/bumpers on the fore end of the carriages like those used on Blomefield carriages around 1800.

Allan
Click to expand...
I have also noticed this difference (along with many others I am confident you have observed as well). If I were to plank the inboard face of the hull then these would be less noticeable (flush with the planking - but not with the frames). I have seen this shelf on pretty much every period French ship model posted on the forums I frequent - but I am hardly an authority.

Thanks for bringing this up - perhaps others can provide some further guidance.
 
AllanKP69 said:
Hi Paul,
I really enjoy seeing the difference between English ships and other nations's vessels. The lower port sills are flush with the inboard side of the frames on English ships so seeing them forming a shelf is new for me. It is almost like an alternative to having cleats/bumpers on the fore end of the carriages like those used on Blomefield carriages around 1800.

Allan
Click to expand...
It seems likely that this internal port sill part was intended to help distribute stresses from the cannon carriage and recoil forces, as well as provide a solid edge for finishing trim. But this detail is not usually described explicitly in high-level ship design histories, and references to it tend to come from specialised construction notes and model ship building sources rather than mainstream naval history texts.
Main sequence maritime references on French sailing warship design (e.g., French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626–1786) cover gunport sizing and disposition, but do not specifically describe a unique French “bumper” on the interior sill as a named feature.

In construction sources (e.g., David Steel, 1805), an internal timber beam (“stop”) is mentioned below the port opening, giving strength and a defined sill, though it is not universally documented as a distinct feature.
French warship design references do not describe a uniquely French interior bumper on gunport sills, suggesting this detail may not have been highlighted in official dockyard practice documentation.

In my opinion, the lower portion of the sill should not be used or designed as a bumper, as doing so would inherently weaken the structural integrity of the gunport sill. Additionally, if you refer to the carriage design used by the Continental Navy (?}, you’ll see that the bumper is positioned at the front of the carriage itself, not integrated into the sill. However, there is a 'bumper' below the gunport attached and reinforced with metal plates.

1771516769260.png

or this

1771516948504.jpeg
 
Thanks Jimsky. Not too different than the English with the first orders coming out 30 September 1795. The breast ended preventer cleated carriages are later described by Congreves in 1811 and are shown in a later painting, Death of Nelson by Irish artist Daniel Maclise. As an aside, this painting is full of great information including women on board during Trafalgar which I never knew until recently and should be of interest to anyone building Victory.
Allan
1771520370186.png
 
AllanKP69 said:
Thanks Jimsky. Not too different than the English with the first orders coming out 30 September 1795. The breast ended preventer cleated carriages are later described by Congreves in 1811 and are shown in a later painting, Death of Nelson by Irish artist Daniel Maclise. As an aside, this painting is full of great information including women on board during Trafalgar which I never knew until recently and should be of interest to anyone building Victory.
Allan
Click to expand...
Yes, Alan, I agree. However, the schematic top (side) view appears to differ from the lower top view. I don’t see the “bumper” indicated there. Perhaps I’m simply misinterpreting the drawing.
 
Good morning Paul. It is always a pleasure to read your log. Just having the internal structures of this cross section will make for interesting viewing - no doubt. The fact that it is beautifully crafted more so.

Of course your philosophical meanderings are thought provoking and strike a cord in many of us I’m sure……well mostly ROTF.

Cheers Grant
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top