Anyone have pictures of their square rigger with lightning rods?

[Farmboy]

I'm looking for detail model shots of lightning rod(s) on a square rigger. The English navy officially adopted them in the 1840's so I've read, the Beagle had a lightning rod, and a number of ships well before 1840 had them, though I didn't find a start date but it's close enough for my 'could've been' ship. The rod has been described as a copper cable line from the top of the mainmast following the mast to the hull then to a metal plate to the outside of the hull. I've also seen a drawing of the line parallel to a back stay to the chain plates to the hull. Anybody model this or some other method?

 

[AllanKP69]

Never thought about this subject before, thanks for posting. You may find the following interesting, if not helpful

The Shocking Truth: Why the British Navy Refused a Proven Lightning Rod Solution

In the mid-18th century, Benjamin Franklin championed lightning rods, yet skepticism persisted. By the 19th century, William Snow Harris's innovative lightning rod for ships faced resistance from the British Navy despite its proven effectiveness. Why did it take decades for the Navy to adopt...

spectrum.ieee.org

I cannot find any models with this in any kind of detail, but there are at least the original eight drawings dated 1831 by William Harris that should be a help. Two of the eight are below to see if this would be helpful for you.
Allan

 

[Farmboy]

Thanks for the documenttion Allan. I'll spend some time going over it. Here's the simplest design I've found.

 

[Farmboy]

... and here's the one that seems to run parallel to a backstay

 

[Farmboy]

Incidentally, if this thread is in the wrong place please move it to it's proper locale. I am thinking of adding some form of this to my build so thought it best here.

 

[AllanKP69]

I'll spend some time going over it. Here's the simplest design I've found.

The other six drawings are on the RMG Collections site along with the two I posted above. For the years you mention, these should be good. A lot depends on the era of your model.

Collection Results | Royal Museums Greenwich

Find objects, archive records and library items relating to your search, and use the filters to narrow down your results.

www.rmg.co.uk

Allan

 

[johnlattanzio]

Farmboy: You said...

"...I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now. The Byrds."

I could not let that go uncorrected! That is a quote from "My Back Pages" by Bob Dylan. The Byrds covered it. They did not write it. Bob did.
Cheers!
John L (A Dylan obsessive)