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Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad by Ocre - Build log

One side done. One side to go…
I found a workaround. I left those gunports that have the bulkheads behind them open.
I also left open the ones where the hull has too much curvature, and glued them last.

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I have also placed the baseboards against the walls.

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Your deck planking looks neatly done! At this small scale it is great that you are not using spikes or treenails.

I cannot find any information on this so a question maybe you can answer. Were the decks of Spanish ships flat unlike British ships which had various degrees of rounding depending on the deck and ship size, or is this a kit design mistake?

Thanks
Allan
 
Your deck planking looks neatly done! At this small scale it is great that you are not using spikes or treenails.

I cannot find any information on this so a question maybe you can answer. Were the decks of Spanish ships flat unlike British ships which had various degrees of rounding depending on the deck and ship size, or is this a kit design mistake?

Thanks
Allan

Hi Allan,
This is indeed a design flaw in the kit, or rather a deliberate simplification by OcCre.

In historical shipbuilding, the decks of Spanish ships of the line, just like British and French ships, absolutely had a distinct camber (transverse curvature from side to side) and a sheer.
In the 18th century (the Santísima Trinidad was built in Havana in 1769), Spanish shipbuilders—including the renowned designer Jorge Juan—followed highly advanced scientific principles. Deck curvature was essential for all large warships of that era for three crucial reasons:
  • Water drainage (Camber): Without the crown of the deck sloping towards the sides, (sea)water would pool on the decks. This would cause the wood to rot quickly and make the ship top-heavy. The water needed to run off to the sides and exit through the scuppers.
  • Structural strength: A slightly curved deck beam acts like an arch. It can support and distribute the immense weight of heavy bronze or iron cannons down into the hull much better than a perfectly straight, flat beam.
  • Longitudinal strength (Sheer): The sheer ensured that the bow and stern were higher, making the ship much more seaworthy in heavy seas.
 
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