Dear Warren, When working with the plans, do not use the photographs of the "copper-plated" model presented by Sir Charles Middleton to King George III. The fact is that this model represents a different class of ship, most similar to the Dublin class (also a Slade design), but does not match the plans of the Bellona class at all.
Funny timing. I just finished the download, one page at a time. I will spend the next few days studying it (the contract). You mentioned Elephant, She is a sister ship to Bellona. Do you have a contract for Elephant?
Iutar. Thank you. I have seen many photographs of that mode. You have several that are new to me and also answer one of the questions that came up while gathering details of the stem, stern and keel
warren
warren
Attached is a transcribed copy in pdf. Keep in mind Elephant was twenty years after Bellona so may not be applicable for some things. There is a contract for a 74 gun written in 1770 that may be more appropriate. https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-531385 I have not yet transcribed it but the hand writing is pretty clear. Sample pages below. There are a number of high resolution drawings of masts and yards for 74s on the Wiki Commons site that you may find helpful if you are going to rig her. NB: They are from about 1778 and 1780 so may be different for Bellona. Two examples follow:
Allan
1778
1779
Thank you allen. I downloaded the contract for Culloden yesterday. SJ Sone is using it as a reference for his build of Bellona. I have downloaded your transcribed contract and will compare it to the notes I made yesterday. I intend to import and scale the keel/stem/stern drawing I have and measure the major timbers. This will be a turning point for me as I feel like I finally have something to work with.
I'm not sure I understand the two attached images. I am unable to open them
warren
I'm not sure I understand the two attached images. I am unable to open them
warren
Sorry they did not open. They are examples of detailed drawings of masts for 74s. Drawings of masts and spars can be found starting on page 3 on the Wiki Commons site, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ship_plans_of_the_Royal_Museums_Greenwich
Allan
I had not seen those drawings. Thank yo
warren
warren
I wish they were high resolution but they are not bad. OF the 3000 drawings on that website, the fact that they have 800 RMG drawings in high resolution is a really good thing of all of us. Any low res drawings that are there that can be found at RMG as well and can be purchased in high resolution, but they are not cheap.
Allan
Allan
Allan
According to Wikipedia the Arrogant class was based upon the Bellona design with similar dimensions. I have compared the Stemson, Keel, False Keel, Stern Post, Inner Post, Stem Post and Apron dimensions in your Arrogant class contract, the 1770 Culloden contract and the Bombay Castle contract. They are "reasonably" similar dimensions.
I have a high resolution profile for the proposed Bellona / Dragon construction. It has some stern/keel/stem details. I have taken measurements of the details listed above and find many are the same. The stern post and the stem post differ by as much as 6 inches.
I also have a high resolution draught for the Bellona et. al. I can see the stern post and the stem post in addition to the associated rabbit.
At this point I am leaning to a keel layout using the Bellona draught for the "visible" dimensions of the stern post and the stem post. I think I can add to that the dimensions on the other drawing.
According to Wikipedia the Arrogant class was based upon the Bellona design with similar dimensions. I have compared the Stemson, Keel, False Keel, Stern Post, Inner Post, Stem Post and Apron dimensions in your Arrogant class contract, the 1770 Culloden contract and the Bombay Castle contract. They are "reasonably" similar dimensions.
I have a high resolution profile for the proposed Bellona / Dragon construction. It has some stern/keel/stem details. I have taken measurements of the details listed above and find many are the same. The stern post and the stem post differ by as much as 6 inches.
I also have a high resolution draught for the Bellona et. al. I can see the stern post and the stem post in addition to the associated rabbit.
At this point I am leaning to a keel layout using the Bellona draught for the "visible" dimensions of the stern post and the stem post. I think I can add to that the dimensions on the other drawing.