HIGH HOPES, WILD MEN AND THE DEVIL’S JAW - Willem Barentsz Kolderstok 1:50

Hi Jack, apologies for the long time it took to reply. Yes, the windlass is a challenge - no doubt. Another thing to consider was that the front canopy may not only have housed part of one of the lifeboats, but it was also the place where the crew sheltered from wind and storm during the day and where the cooking was done. All these activities would certainly have added up to the argument that there was no place for the windlass underneath the canopy. Hans and I actually discussed the configuration on the D' Halve Maen (by the way that is the next @Kolderstok model that will be developed) , last night. However, if I were to veer from the historical facts that we do know about the Willem Barentsz all Dutch gods will descend upon me in a wrath the likes of which you have not seen!:)

I am very grateful and most humbled by all the participation and the high level discussions that take place here, so please keep it coming!
 
pingu57 said:
Heinrich, my friend, i have not participated in this dicussion, but i do believe that you are on the right track with the placement of your windlass.
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Thank you my friend. It is very difficult to say which is right and which is wrong, but we do know that there were two lifeboats; they were carried on deck and in that case, there is seemingly only one way to go! :)
 
Heinrich said:
Thank you my friend. It is very difficult to say which is right and which is wrong, but we do know that there were two lifeboats; they were carried on deck and in that case, there is seemingly only one way to go! :)
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Heinrich, the little ship looks very small in your hands, but if you imagined yourself in scale standing on the main deck behind the foremast or even under the canopy in front of the lifeboats and watching the crew use the windlass, what would you see.
 
Pathfinder65 said:
Heinrich, the little ship looks very small in your hands, but if you imagined yourself in scale standing on the main deck behind the foremast or even under the canopy in front of the lifeboats and watching the crew use the windlass, what would you see.
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Jan my dearest friend - I am not quite sure I know what you mean? Do you mean that the boats would obstruct the view?
 
Dear Friends

So no good talking about things - let's put it together and see what it looks like.

微信图片_20220405223724.jpg

I started by putting together the actual windlass (braadspil).

微信图片_20220404224149.jpg

Then I took some dry shellac and mixed it with the highest-content alcohol I could find (95%).

微信图片_20220404224206.jpg

Which then resulted in this solution.

微信图片_20220404224302.jpg

The windlass then received two coats of shellac,

微信图片_20220405223731.jpg

After which the wood became darker and - I think - created a "warmer" atmosphere.

微信图片_20220405223740.jpg

Now if you thought that space was at a premium, it gets worse. The whole assembly does not fit into the space behind the foremast. I sacrificed one piece of round wood, by cutting it to a length that would protrude slightly higher than the belaying rack so that I knew exactly where and how deep to file a groove into the belaying rack. Now all fits as it is supposed to.

And then this is what the whole assembly looks like dry-fitted.

微信图片_20220405223312.jpg

微信图片_20220405223326.jpg

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So this where I am tonight. You know me - I don't expect you to pull any punches. Let me hear what you REALLY think - I value your opinion and especially your criticism if any.

@Kolderstok Hans is this what it should look like?
@Ab Hoving Ab I need your opinion here in the only way that you give opinions - from the hip and straight! :)
 
Heinrich said:
Dear Friends

So no good talking about things - let's put it together and see what it looks like.

View attachment 300867

I started by putting together the actual windlass (braadspil).

View attachment 300868

Then I took some dry shellac and mixed it with the highest-content alcohol I could find (95%).

View attachment 300869

Which then resulted in this solution.

View attachment 300870

The windlass then received two coats of shellac,

View attachment 300871

After which the wood became darker and - I think - created a "warmer" atmosphere.

View attachment 300872

Now if you thought that space was at a premium, it gets worse. The whole assembly does not fit into the space behind the foremast. I sacrificed one piece of round wood, by cutting it to a length that would protrude slightly higher than the belaying rack so that I knew exactly where and how deep to file a groove into the belaying rack. Now all fits as it is supposed to.

And then this is what the whole assembly looks like dry-fitted.

View attachment 300873

View attachment 300874

View attachment 300875

So this where I am tonight. You know me - I don't expect you to pull any punches. Let me hear what you REALLY think - I value your opinion and especially your criticism if any.

@Kolderstok Hans is this what it should look like?
@Ab Hoving Ab I need your opinion here in the only way that you give opinions - from the hip and straight! :)
Click to expand...
Making your own shellac! Its a great, all-around finish. Looking very very good!
 
As I've come to expect of you; outstanding modeling!
Still, while I appreciate the fact that the two lifeboats are to be stored on deck, the windlass and the belaying rack are located in front of the fwd canopy and that there's a crowd underneath said canopy during the day, I'm convinced this given configuration is a nightmare to work with in real life,
Consider simultaneously maneuvering the large life boat from underneath the canopy and hoisting it, without causing too much damage... Another thing is the operation of the windlass, hardly any room there to do one's job. If the proposed configuration is correct, and I have little reason to believe otherwise, my appreciation of those old Dutch sailors sure went up a couple of notches.

PS Thanks for your thorough explanation on these configuration issues, I've come to truly enjoy them!
 
Hello Heinrich,
You asked my opinion, from the hip and straight, which I think indicates that you usually find my comments less than diplomatic. You are right. I do have some talents (like losing and forgetting important things, respectively my wedding ring and my wife's birthday) but indeed diplomacy is regrettably not my major quality.
As for the windlass on Barentsz's ship: there is something unusual here. There are not many details of the ship elaborated in De Veer's journal, but as a historical exception this part is actually mentioned. In the early days of the wintering on Novaja Zemlya some of the crew went from the newly built cabin to the ship to gather some left over supplies. They appeared not to be completely on their own. A big polar bear was already aboard and the men did not know any better than... 'hiding behind the windlass'.
Now this really is some sort of a clue for how that windlass must have been positioned aboard the ship. In my reconstruction I placed it right behind the stem post, Gerald opted for the -behind the forecastle- option.
I don't know which one is more probable.
I think your version is not really up to hauling up an anchor, and it seems hard to me to get the crew to do that without a capstan or a windlass.
Sorry, you will have to make your own decision. I wasn't there. Perhaps anyone else here has a good idea?

Ab
 
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