We always seem to build model ships with the gunports open and the guns run out. Why? That must have been a very rare state for a real ship to be in - the safest most seamanlike state is for the ports to be shut and watertight.
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Guns - why?
- Thread starter jimmystratos
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Yes you are absolutely correct.
I guess 99% of the warship models are showing the status "Ready for action", which was only 1°% of the time
I think this could have two reasons:
1) The modelers are thinking, that this situation is more attractive than with closed lids and secured guns
and
2) A lot of modelers do not know, how such a securred gun would look like (tackles etc.) - most publications are showing guns "ready" but the normal situation
French guns
This would be a typical situation
I guess 99% of the warship models are showing the status "Ready for action", which was only 1°% of the time
I think this could have two reasons:
1) The modelers are thinking, that this situation is more attractive than with closed lids and secured guns
and
2) A lot of modelers do not know, how such a securred gun would look like (tackles etc.) - most publications are showing guns "ready" but the normal situation
French guns
This would be a typical situation
Also rope ends are often made in a mere decorative Flemish flake/coiI which I think was also a rare state. I guess it is for the same reason as when you visit a photographer to have him/her taking some pictures of you or your kids you do not wear a camping / jogging suit. You want to look nice an tidy when you are displayed on grandma's shelve so you dress up in something else than your everyday camping/jogging suit 
If you buy some warrior figurines on the internet I think 999 out of 1000 has their sword or another weapon in a hand. Also a rare state IRL
If you buy some warrior figurines on the internet I think 999 out of 1000 has their sword or another weapon in a hand. Also a rare state IRL
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model ship building is a category of artistic composition, a genre.
Model builders tend to take a lot of artistic license when building a model ship. Realism takes a back seat to looks and construction of the subject.
This is why you see stark white decks, there are no white decks in real ships, nor do you see little dots all over a real deck. Builders take time and effort to add caulking to a deck but it is rare to see caulking between the hull planking on a model.
At one time i was talking to a kit designer and he said for a kit to sell it need to have guns, merchant ships, work boats, fishing boats etc. do not sell as much as war ships. If you notice the kits on the marked there is a large % of them with guns.
as Uwek said
I guess 99% of the warship models are showing the status "Ready for action", which was only 1°% of the time
i do not know the exact ratio but i think most model ship builders are men and men tend toward action, war, power, guns and weapons. a model of a fishing boat with someone sitting on deck in shorts and flip flops holding a fishing rod is not what we think of when building a model ship., not very macho but with weapons ready it shows ready for war and destruction.
Model builders tend to take a lot of artistic license when building a model ship. Realism takes a back seat to looks and construction of the subject.
This is why you see stark white decks, there are no white decks in real ships, nor do you see little dots all over a real deck. Builders take time and effort to add caulking to a deck but it is rare to see caulking between the hull planking on a model.
At one time i was talking to a kit designer and he said for a kit to sell it need to have guns, merchant ships, work boats, fishing boats etc. do not sell as much as war ships. If you notice the kits on the marked there is a large % of them with guns.
as Uwek said
I guess 99% of the warship models are showing the status "Ready for action", which was only 1°% of the time
i do not know the exact ratio but i think most model ship builders are men and men tend toward action, war, power, guns and weapons. a model of a fishing boat with someone sitting on deck in shorts and flip flops holding a fishing rod is not what we think of when building a model ship., not very macho but with weapons ready it shows ready for war and destruction.
It's a hobby, and cannons make the hobby fun.
I have modeled war ships with the lower deck gun ports closed. Then the cannons on the open main deck are rigged up for the show. So closed gun ports are OK, indeed.
Given the cost of a kit such as Victory I cannot imagine many people building it with the the lower two gun decks not having the cannon run out.
Some ship kits offer the option of deployed or furled sails or perhaps none at all.
Perhaps manufacturers could offer reduced price versions of two r three deck ships to be built with closed ports and fewer cannon.
In naval engagements involving just two ships I assume only the guns on one side would be run out. A compromise build?
Absolutely correct analysis. Good question. The answer is simply, 'people like to look at the guns'.
So it's our inner club-weilding neanderthal!
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you could say that !
kind of like pirates we all know they were bad guys but there is something that attracts us to them maybe the free spirit, maybe the push against the authorities, maybe because we all dislike being told what to do
models with cannons ready to fire show of force not that we will use force but if need be, so be it.
maybe a DNA thing little girls have doll houses with tiny tea parties boys build forts armed with sticks and stones.
Yes guns make the ship look more what some imagine a war ship should look like. As for models not being interesting without guns I disagree. Having built at least 2 models without guns and one actually being a fishing boat and the other a yacht To me there is beauty in the form and style of model not just looking at guns. There are other models out there that have beauty in their own lines ,take the Titanic for instance or its sister ships. So guns are expected to be seen on a warship and are what makes them an interesting style of of ship. All ships of all types have their own inherent beauty whether they have guns or not. It is in the skill of the modeler that shows or high lights the beauty of the ship not just the presence of guns
In the case of my model kit (Mantua's Astrolabe) it was used as a cargo ship and Antarctic exploration - I doubt that it carried a complement of 14 cannon during those periods of it's life.
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i built the Alvin Clark it was just a lake schooner hauling lumber. Later it became a "pirate" ship and in the dead of night steal lumber cargo from one port and sell it at a different port. No guns needed just stealth and a daring crew.
i agree there are some very interesting ships out there and some really interesting builds like a steam tug boat with a 3d printed steam engine
i agree there are some very interesting ships out there and some really interesting builds like a steam tug boat with a 3d printed steam engine
Well that has solved my problem of the gunports and the shroud deadeyes, I've decided that the ones where the two interfere will be closed and the gun stored. I have already done that with the aftmost port, so I'll move a pair of guns. More of a challenge now the masts and rigging are on, but it's a neat solution, and it's my model so there!
I have built three models with sails omitted but guns run out.
Can I defend this incongruous situation by claiming that my ships are in port practising the gun drill
that gave the Royal Navy an edge in many engagements?
(I'm not sure how I square that with catted anchors though)