Help! HMS Surprise bow looks like a clipper ship

[PapaRonn]

I need some expert advise. As a Newby wood ship builder,I think I screwed up the bow on my HMS Surprise model.
It is starting tolook more like a clipper bow (pointy versus nicely rounded).
Is there a way to restore the correct roundness to the bow? If I remember correctly, it was described as "nicely bluff" in the movie.
I thought of slathering the area with wood filler and sanding the heck out of it, but are there better ways to do this?

 

[JacquesCousteau]

Is this a scratch build or a kit? In either case, there isn't really a way to change the hull shape without changing the bulkheads/framework. It's hard to tell from the photos posted, but in general terms, I don't think there's much of a problem here. Frigates usually had fairly sharp lines below the waterline, as they were intended to be fast. Above the waterline, it may be a little sharp, although again, it's hard to say from these camera angles.

You can see plan drawings for the actual HMS Surprise at the link below. As you can see, it's fairly sharp below the waterline, and more bluff above, although not nearly as much as something like the Endeavor. If accuracy is important to you, you might want to check your hull against the plans. If it doesn't look right, others may have other ideas, but I don't think there's much that can be done to reshape the bow without changing the underlying framework. Maybe adding another layer or two of planking at the bow and sanding to final shape? This would produce very thick sides, though.

Plan of HMS 'Surprise', 1796, lines and profile.

prints.rmg.co.uk

 

[AllanKP69]

It may be too late now, but for the future.... the planks were tapered in breadth with the widest portion at the dead flat and reduced to about 1/2 the breadth at the stem so each strake lays in the rabbet and did not come up short of it. Some tapered at the stern post and others flared out a bit wider, but again they all ended in the rabbet or the tuck of the lower counter. The wales tapered in thickness close to the bow as well so they could seat in the rabbet. The planking expansion below shows it better than words.

Keep in mind Surprise was a French capture, the corvette Unité, not a British ship, so the lines would not be the same as British ships. The below are the shapes at the various deck levels. The body plan and profile drawing will also help. These drawings were taken off the capture and dated July 1796 so should be accurate.
Allan

 

[PapaRonn]

Is this a scratch build or a kit? In either case, there isn't really a way to change the hull shape without changing the bulkheads/framework. It's hard to tell from the photos posted, but in general terms, I don't think there's much of a problem here. Frigates usually had fairly sharp lines below the waterline, as they were intended to be fast. Above the waterline, it may be a little sharp, although again, it's hard to say from these camera angles.

You can see plan drawings for the actual HMS Surprise at the link below. As you can see, it's fairly sharp below the waterline, and more bluff above, although not nearly as much as something like the Endeavor. If accuracy is important to you, you might want to check your hull against the plans. If it doesn't look right, others may have other ideas, but I don't think there's much that can be done to reshape the bow without changing the underlying framework. Maybe adding another layer or two of planking at the bow and sanding to final shape? This would produce very thick sides, though.

Plan of HMS 'Surprise', 1796, lines and profile.

prints.rmg.co.uk

This is the Mamoli kit-built HMS Surprise. I started it about 5 years ago, and just got back to it. Thank you for the info!

 

[PapaRonn]

It may be too late now, but for the future.... the planks were tapered in breadth with the widest portion at the dead flat and reduced to about 1/2 the breadth at the stem so each strake lays in the rabbet and did not come up short of it. Some tapered at the stern post and others flared out a bit wider, but again they all ended in the rabbet or the tuck of the lower counter. The wales tapered in thickness close to the bow as well so they could seat in the rabbet. The planking expansion below shows it better than words.

Keep in mind Surprise was a French capture, the corvette Unité, not a British ship, so the lines would not be the same as British ships. The below are the shapes at the various deck levels. The body plan and profile drawing will also help. These drawings were taken off the capture and dated July 1796 so should be accurate.
Allan
View attachment 590217

View attachment 590218

View attachment 590219

Thank you, Allan. I hope to.get this kit finished one of these days, looking halfway decent. The plans are great!
Ed

 

[Kutuzov]

Hi Ed. My first build was HMS Unicorn. I had a similar problem because Corel wanted me to scratch build the bow blocks, install either side of the prow and then smooth off before planking. I went too far. Ended up with a speed boat. So, like me I presume you have installed the first layer only of planking. What I did was to ladle on the hard setting filler from the local store and really overdid this. Waited several days, fashioned a curved piece of ply based on the plans, attached sandpaper and while carefully studying the charts sanded and sanded and made sure I didn’t go too far. In one spot I had to lay a piece of plank a couple of mm thick to address a slight trench I created. A final light sanding then I sealed it all with glue. Then proceeded with the second planking. Hope this helps Francis

 

[PapaRonn]

Hi Ed. My first build was HMS Unicorn. I had a similar problem because Corel wanted me to scratch build the bow blocks, install either side of the prow and then smooth off before planking. I went too far. Ended up with a speed boat. So, like me I presume you have installed the first layer only of planking. What I did was to ladle on the hard setting filler from the local store and really overdid this. Waited several days, fashioned a curved piece of ply based on the plans, attached sandpaper and while carefully studying the charts sanded and sanded and made sure I didn’t go too far. In one spot I had to lay a piece of plank a couple of mm thick to address a slight trench I created. A final light sanding then I sealed it all with glue. Then proceeded with the second planking. Hope this helps Francis

Hi Francis,
Thank you for your response to my dilemma. I have been contemplating the actions you did to correct my speed boat bow. This gives me a better idea of how to get my mistake fixed. I especially like the idea of making a sanding block to get the curve correct.
Hope everything worked out well for you.
Blessings,
Ed