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HMS Terror

GV Division

GV Division

Joined
Dec 14, 2020
Messages
40
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Location
Wilmington, Delaware
Hello,

I am doing a model of the HMS Terror, I have two drawings from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich England and the book “HMS Terror” by Betts but neither answers some questions I have.

  • What material was used for the windlass, capstan and winches? The drawings I have do not have a “Material List” and I can’t find any mention of material in the book.
  • In the book by Betts it states the lower masts were painted white, a picture on page 195 and the picture by OCcre (attached) show black (iron?) bands around the masts, what is the purpose of the bands?
Thank you
 

Attachments

As far as my knowledge goes the purpose of these these iron bands is to reduce the risk of splitting. Before the 17th century rope was used to this end.
It is also possible (maybe even likely) that the masts of the Terror were build up of several pieces. In Dutch this is called a 'gekuipte mast' (I do not know the proper name in English), in which case the bands were necessary to hold the mast together like the hoops on a barrel.
The image below is from 'Masten, Blokken & Tuigage', the dutch edition of 'Il libro completo dell'attrezzatura navale' by Orazio Curti

Endeavour_B09.jpg
 
As correctly explained by @Hatteras the masts were built, maybe better constructed composite by putting together several elements - he is showing already several square sections - but also along the height of the mast, these parts were dovetailed -
Also the cross section changed over the complete height of the mast...

Take a look f.e. at these contemporary drawings showing the longitudinal and cross section of a mast and also the collars and wouldings


Mast.jpg

Mast, Main | Royal Museums Greenwich

www.rmg.co.uk www.rmg.co.uk

mast 2.jpg

Mast, Main | Royal Museums Greenwich

www.rmg.co.uk www.rmg.co.uk

mast 3.jpg

Mast, Main | Royal Museums Greenwich

www.rmg.co.uk www.rmg.co.uk

Intersting also the typical sections of the different ship classes

mast 4.jpg

Section of a made mast at gun deck level for a main and foremast for a ship of each class​

Scale: 1:12. A plan showing a section through the composite make up of a "made mast" at gun deck level for ships of 100, 90, 74, 64, 50, 44, 32, and 28 guns.

Signed by George White [Master Shipwright, Portsmouth Dockyard, 1779-1793], Thomas Pollard [Assistant to Master Shipwright, Portsmouth Dockyard, 1779-1782], William Rule [Assistant to Master Shipwright, Portsmouth Dockyard, 1782-1787], and Joseph Main [Unknown] .

Section of a made mast at gun deck level for a main and foremast for a ship of each class | Royal Museums Greenwich

www.rmg.co.uk www.rmg.co.uk



victory_rob_howell_11.jpg
victorymastsk.jpg

The foremast was shattered in the Battle of Trafalgar, and this piece was saved in the refit of 2006. This baltic pine mast was a composite design, you can see the different pieces of wood that were bound together to make the mast.

www.rct.uk

- Foremast section of HMS Victory

Section of the original wooden foremast from HMS Victory with a hole in the middle from a cannon ball during the Battle of Trafalgar. It is held together with three iron brackets, and has an iron horseshoe on the portside. It was originally gifted to William IV (when he was Duke of Clarence)...
www.rct.uk www.rct.uk

HMS Victory masts, Portsmouth, England

HMS Victory, masts
www.sailingtexas.com
 
and related to capstans etc. please take a look at this topic, where examples and contemporyr drawings were put together.
Usually these were build out of wood

Details of Fittings: Capstan, rudder, bitts, catheads, partners, gratings, hatchways, ladders etc.

In this topic we can collect drawings, information and details of all deck fittings Main jeer capstan of HMS Neptune (1797 - 98), a 98-gun Second Rate three-decker Scale 1:24. Plan showing sections and elevations for the main jeer capstan of 'Neptune' (1797), a 98-gun Second Rate...
shipsofscale.com
 
I never imagined the masts were made up of different sizes and different woods. Must have been about the availability of timber at the time. With all the shipbuilding and housing, it's a wonder any ships and houses were built. Very interesting to think about the lumber industry trying to keep up with it all.
 
I had no idea there was such a thing as a composite mast or "made mast" as it is called either until Uwek and others sent me all of this information. I viewed a "You Tube" video that stated that the iron bands had to be heated up to about 1500 degrees to be bent around the mast and then the when the iron cooled it contracted and held it all together. We are never too old to learn something new.
 
GV Division looking with interest your HMS Terror are you building it from a kit ? looking for my next model to build just finished HMS Victory regards Terence
 
Hi Terence,
No, I don't build from a kit, I just carve the hull from a piece of basswood and build all of the other parts from scratch the best I can. I buy drawings from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich so I can be as detailed as possible, I'm retired and do this to keep busy, my last ship was the "Endurance" I attached a picture. Please send a picture of your "Victory"
 

Attachments

GV Division said:
I had no idea there was such a thing as a composite mast or "made mast" as it is called either until Uwek and others sent me all of this information. I viewed a "You Tube" video that stated that the iron bands had to be heated up to about 1500 degrees to be bent around the mast and then the when the iron cooled it contracted and held it all together. We are never too old to learn something new.
Click to expand...

There is a video existing, I think from the HMS Victory, showing exactly this work, unfortunately I can not find this video in moment

But I found this one, maybe also interesting

 
Uwek,
"The Elements and Practice of Rigging And Seamanship," 1794, by David Steel has a section on installing Iron Hoops on masts, it's a bit confusing to me but I am a novice, I'm sure there are people on this site that may enjoy reading it. (See Attached)
Jim
 

Attachments

Your ships are amazing Terence, you have been doing this for 30 years? Was the "Clara" a kit also? I just started doing this about six years ago when I retired.
 
I found a video - not exactly which I had in mind, but it is showing this technique very good


Traditional craftsmanship: fitting the iron rings on the main mast​

Our crew is putting back 6 iron rings on the main mast. The rings are heated up to 800 degrees and are placed on the mast. Once the rings are in place they are cooled with water so that the metal shrinks and it will keep the pieces of the mast together!
 
Uwek said:
I found a video - not exactly which I had in mind, but it is showing this technique very good


Traditional craftsmanship: fitting the iron rings on the main mast​

Our crew is putting back 6 iron rings on the main mast. The rings are heated up to 800 degrees and are placed on the mast. Once the rings are in place they are cooled with water so that the metal shrinks and it will keep the pieces of the mast together!
Click to expand...
Thanks, that was a lot easier to understand how it is done then the post I sent from "The Elements and Practice of Rigging And Seamanship,"
 
I had read somewhere one reason for the built up mast is that with multiple sections combined they resisted damage from cannon blast better and if damaged, only one section had to be replaced which was easier to do than try to form a full mast section when not in ship yard.
 
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