Hello Keef, I too have been pondering the position, and indeed the type, of galley stove on Blandford. I think you are correct in placing the flues forward of the hot plates/kettles. Goodwin in AoS shows the stove to be made of brick but the design is that of a later type iron firehearth. When Blandford was built she would defiantly have had a brick stove as iron ones where not in service until 1730's. The stove that came with the kit (at least the one that came with mine,) is clearly meant to be an iron one. ` Blandford did get an iron stove in 1732 as stated by Goodwin from public record sources, so most likely true. However he then goes on to say that 'in later years the galley was placed under the forecastle'. On the upper deck under the forecastle would be the normal place for the stove of a small English MoW and this is where I would have liked to have placed it on my build, except there is no room.
So all this suggests to me that the stove, even after changed to iron, was always on the fore platform and in the orientation you have it. Also if I use the iron stove included I am building a post 1732 ship. Just as well, as the gun carriages that come with the kit are also of a design only developed in the 1730's and almost certainly a type never used on the Blandford, but that's another story.
Your build looks great and is an inspiration to me. Cheers JJ.
. l have a 750 ml tin and l estimate that giving the whole model 2 coats will use approx. 1/4 tin
