Thank you for the nice comments Brad, I still have another couple of seats to add next to the round houses,
Best regards John,
Best regards John,
HMS Serapis - Scratch Build [COMPLETED BUILD]
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Test fit of the forward bulkhead. Question...About 2/3 of the models have the bulkhead planks horizontal & 1/3 vertical (as I have done). Seems the models built during the period had the planks vertical. Anyone have thought? I would think the studs would be vertical and the planks laid horizontal but I can also see the studs bolted into the deck, and the planks laid vertical.
Horizontal planking would have more supports with the vertical studs. It also would be more water tight with a combination of tongue and groove type of edging and caulked as with the hull. Vertical plank grooves would have water tightness problems in my mind. Rich
Rich...makes a lot of sense. I'll keep it as is, unless I don't like the look, once I put the roundhouses in. Some real thin horizontal planking would be an easy do. From what I can tell in this photo, it seems the bulkhead planking would be vertical. Most contemporary models with HD photos, they are clearly horizontal. The second photo is contemporary build and they are clearly horizontal.
For your model I really don't have any right or wrong . . . just do it the way that you think will look best and satisfy yourself. Rich
Also this bulkhead was a part of the protection against gunballs during an action - so like all hull timbers such n outer bulkhead is part of the wooden wall and should be planked horizontal like the normal hull planking.
The weakest part of a ships hull was every time the stern, with all the windows and galleries, although these windows were often additional covered with wooden lids.
But I think the bulkhead at the bow should be also horizontal planked
To check - click through the different planset reviews we have here - you will find drawings with the view towards such bulkheads -> all horizontal
The weakest part of a ships hull was every time the stern, with all the windows and galleries, although these windows were often additional covered with wooden lids.
But I think the bulkhead at the bow should be also horizontal planked
To check - click through the different planset reviews we have here - you will find drawings with the view towards such bulkheads -> all horizontal
Plans, Plansets, and Monographies
This Forum Discusses Plans, Plansets, Monographies
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Uwe and Rich...you've convinced me to go with the horizontal planking. I've added the roundhouses and door frames (photo below). Now I'll add some thin veneer horizontal planks. Thanks for the advice on going horizontal.
We will be looking forward to seeing the change. Rich
Chris/Uwe,
I took your advice and made the fwd bulkhead planks horizontal. I also resized the doors (they looked too wide) and got rid of the false frame and opted to go with actual doors. Below is a montage of the bulkhead replanked horizontally with the doors cut out, the door construction, and the doors test fit in the opening. Tomorrow, I'll place hinges on the doors...paint is drying right now. I'll post a picture when the completed bulkhead is test fit.
I took your advice and made the fwd bulkhead planks horizontal. I also resized the doors (they looked too wide) and got rid of the false frame and opted to go with actual doors. Below is a montage of the bulkhead replanked horizontally with the doors cut out, the door construction, and the doors test fit in the opening. Tomorrow, I'll place hinges on the doors...paint is drying right now. I'll post a picture when the completed bulkhead is test fit.
Very good decision - also to use veneer for the adjustments -> 
Thanks Chris and Uwe! Here is the bulkhead with doors and hinges being test fit. Now all that is left for the bulkhead is the top rail assembly.
Appreciate everyone's adivce, which is helping me up my modeling game immensely. Love this site!
input
Appreciate everyone's adivce, which is helping me up my modeling game immensely. Love this site!
input
The hinges look larger than I would have thought but I wasn't there so I cannot be critical. One interesting side bit about the "round houses" . . . my brother who has done very extensive research and exchanges of historical information on ships of war, particularly English and French of the Napoleonic ear wrote about "round houses" as being the heads provided by the foc'sl for the "before the mast" crewmen. The officers had their own aft and one reserved for the captain. Are these two on your ship those for the crew? We'll keep watching your progress. and incorporation of some very nice detailing. Rich (PT-2)
May I try to answer the question of @PT-2 .....
the able seamen had no closed seats of ease - they had to stay (and sit) outside in the weather
see the green arrows marking the seats of ease
The closed one´s like the round houses were reserved really only for officers and higher ranks.
BTW: The captain was often the only one, who had his toilet installed at the stern, next to his quarters in the quarter gallery. So he did not have to walk the long way to the bow
In addition often these ships had also pissoirs on the deck, installed at the hull planking - so called piss dales
collections.rmg.co.uk
usually the stand everywhere - often shown in contemporary paintings, also during battles and action
the able seamen had no closed seats of ease - they had to stay (and sit) outside in the weather
see the green arrows marking the seats of ease
The closed one´s like the round houses were reserved really only for officers and higher ranks.
BTW: The captain was often the only one, who had his toilet installed at the stern, next to his quarters in the quarter gallery. So he did not have to walk the long way to the bow
In addition often these ships had also pissoirs on the deck, installed at the hull planking - so called piss dales
Warship; Third rate; 60 guns | Royal Museums Greenwich
usually the stand everywhere - often shown in contemporary paintings, also during battles and action
Added the top-rail and covers for the roundhouses. Now I have to figure out the complex intersection with the mainrail curving to the bow, the top-rail, and the handrail on balusters above the top-rail. Lot's of complex angles!! Chris, the hinges do look a little wide and nail heads a bit large. It actually looks OK in place but I'll think about modifying them, after I get all in place. Got a good start on the bowsprit collar and supporting bollards today. Pics tomorrow, if I get it put together. 
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Test fit/pegged the Port Mainrail and test placed the bowsprit brace. Tomorrow, I'll fit/peg the Stbd Mainrail and then file/sand/chisel the forward bulkhead to fit and mate up with all the rails
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The rails can be very trying, there are not any straight lines at all, looking good,
Best regards John,
The complicated Main rail installation! Finally got them pegged to the forward bulkhead (see two attached pics). Now the detailed and challenging work of aligning the lower rails and braces begin. Next pic I will probably post is when I get the Main rails forward edge pegged to the back of the figurehead area. Then I anticipate a few days of banging my head against the wall trying to align the lower rails and their supports/braces. I will also be installing the forward rail above the roundhouses and their supports/bollards. The bowsprit brace is not permanently installed, just placed for perspective.
Starboard Main, middle and bottom rail installed. Most photos I see show grating that meshes even with the upper rail. As I put the rails in and examined the plans, it looks like the grating on HMS Serapis is laid on the lower rail. That is the only way, as I started placing the rails that makes any sense. It appears the middle and Top Rail were more like vertical rails and the grating was laid on the lower rails. Thought and feedback, based on the plan photo and my pegged in rails would be appreciated. Most photos of ships show the grating aligning with the top rail. Good news, there is plenty of room for the seats of ease, outside the roundhouses.
It looks like 
It looks like Put the top rail and bollards on the forward forecastle. Left picture shows my construction sequence: 1) Drill through the top rail, into the deck. 2&3) A peg is placed through the rail support, 4) The entire assembly is glued, including the bollard on top. Right picture show the completed rail (The rail does need another coat of dark walnut WATCO Oil and it will be complete. This takes time, but I believe it makes for a much stronger and durable rail.
