I never learned how to use the photo capability of a phone. In fact I'm as far as a flip phone. Especially in Texas ships used in commercial work were converted to war vessels using such as bales of cotton. So, too, were some riverboats built for the trade. Eads gunboats come to mind as scratch built vessels used by Grant's army along the Mississippi.
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LUCZORAMA SHIPWRECK SCAVENGER HUNT GIVEAWAY. 4 Weeks of Fun • 1 Legendary Prize ((OcCre’s Fram Ship)) • Global Crew Welcome!
**VIEW THREAD HERE**
Very true. The experience of building and sailing (also paddling and rowing) even very small boats provides a sense of how things work. For example:
- Structural properties of wood
- How parts are properly fastened
- Practical physics of rigging (how things are attached, appropriate lead of a sheet, etc.)
- Ergonomics (how parts of a vessel are sized, shaped, and placed so that they are convenient for the crew to use)
- How waves and wind act on a boat and how design elements of the boat are influenced by these forces
Living in the foothills of appalachia near Charlotte There are plenty lakes around so I'lk do that.
James Ead's boats are an interesting subject as they have not been modeled all that often. I have seen a lot of photos of his boats, but no plans so far. If you have found any could you post them? I did a search in the US National Archives website but did not find any.
Allan
I came across Eads referencing the Mississippi Flood of 1926
I learned of Eads reading a book about the Great Miasissippi Flood of 1927. I hav
I've seen the pics and learned about Eads reading a bookabout the great Mississippi Floofd of 1927. I have no drawing source either. Doesn't men I stop looking.
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are we talking about this guy?
emergingcivilwar.com
www.inventionandtech.com
The Ironclad St. Louis at Lucas Bend, Missouri - Emerging Civil War
ECW welcomes back guest author Greg Wolk The first time two ironclad warships battled each other was on March 9, 1862, at Hampton Roads in Virginia. A different question altogether is this: When did a United States ironclad vessel first come under enemy fire?[1] James Buchanan Eads was the St...
emergingcivilwar.com
Eads and the Navy of the Mississippi | Invention & Technology Magazine
IN DECEMBER 1860, WITH SECESSION IMMINENT AND ARMED CONFLICT certain to follow, William Tecumseh Sherman, superintendent of the Louisiana Military Academy, warned a colleague: “You people speak so lightly of war. You don’t know what you are talking about. War is a terrible thing. … You mistake...
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For anyone interested in building one of Ead’s Turtles there are two build logs to be found on the MSW forum. A highly detailed large scale model has been built by the St Louis Ship Modelers Guild. A second well detailed but smaller scale model has been built by a guy named Brian whose last name I do not remember.
Both discuss sources for drawings and some problems with trying to reconcile differences with different versions. Long story short, instead of original builders’ plans both models are US National Park Service archeology from remains of the sunken USS Cairo, which is displayed at the Vicksburg Battlefield. Brian’s posts also include lots of pictures that he took of Cairo at the battlefield.
These gunboats were originally built by Eads for the US Army. They were later transferred to the navy. Built by a civilian engineer at a civilian boatyard, It’s possible that the few drawings used to build these craft were not saved.
Roger
Both discuss sources for drawings and some problems with trying to reconcile differences with different versions. Long story short, instead of original builders’ plans both models are US National Park Service archeology from remains of the sunken USS Cairo, which is displayed at the Vicksburg Battlefield. Brian’s posts also include lots of pictures that he took of Cairo at the battlefield.
These gunboats were originally built by Eads for the US Army. They were later transferred to the navy. Built by a civilian engineer at a civilian boatyard, It’s possible that the few drawings used to build these craft were not saved.
Roger
Of course, construction drawings are very valuable sources of information. But remember that they aren't necessarily fully accurate because of changes made during construction. Vessels are also modified over the course of their lifetimes. As modelers, we are left to consider whatever information is available and choose what is most appropriate. Fair winds!
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Although specially built for defending the rivers, these gunboats were basically Western Rivers steamboats with armored casemates. Boatbuilders had been building steamboats on these rivers since 1812.
Like other “backwoods” boat and ship builders these builders had developed their own building techniques, not understood today. This would make an interesting thesis for some nautical archeology student. Anyhow, it’s possible that these simple hard chined hulls were never lofted from formal design drawings.
Roger
Like other “backwoods” boat and ship builders these builders had developed their own building techniques, not understood today. This would make an interesting thesis for some nautical archeology student. Anyhow, it’s possible that these simple hard chined hulls were never lofted from formal design drawings.
Roger
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ironclad gunboat CAIRO
I have notice models of cross sections of wooden sailing ship are basically all the same. you seen one you seen them all. With this in mind I though what if I could come up with something really different something that has not been done and would be challenging in design, in fabrication and in...
shipsofscale.com
I looked at some photos and drawing of the Ead boats and I think that it is more than possible, in fact it is likely that there were no drawings. All the designer/builder would need was the length, beam, height, and angle of the chine. He would knock one together quick. Fair winds!
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My last post requires an update/ correction. Two highly regarded Naval Architects were involved in the design of there gunboats:
John Lenthall: Lenthall was Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Construction and Repair. Aside from preliminary design work he subcontracted the design to Boston Naval Architect Samual Pook. (Father of the Clippers Ship Designer).
Lenthall’s papers are in Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute.
Samual Pook. I don’t know who holds Pook’s records if any exist.
Roger
John Lenthall: Lenthall was Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Construction and Repair. Aside from preliminary design work he subcontracted the design to Boston Naval Architect Samual Pook. (Father of the Clippers Ship Designer).
Lenthall’s papers are in Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute.
Samual Pook. I don’t know who holds Pook’s records if any exist.
Roger
YUP! That's the guy. Overshadowed by Erickson of Monitor fame.are we talking about this guy?
The Ironclad St. Louis at Lucas Bend, Missouri - Emerging Civil War
ECW welcomes back guest author Greg Wolk The first time two ironclad warships battled each other was on March 9, 1862, at Hampton Roads in Virginia. A different question altogether is this: When did a United States ironclad vessel first come under enemy fire?[1] James Buchanan Eads was the St...
Eads and the Navy of the Mississippi | Invention & Technology Magazine
IN DECEMBER 1860, WITH SECESSION IMMINENT AND ARMED CONFLICT certain to follow, William Tecumseh Sherman, superintendent of the Louisiana Military Academy, warned a colleague: “You people speak so lightly of war. You don’t know what you are talking about. War is a terrible thing. … You mistake...
I just wanted to add a few comments regarding the kits.
They often have some scale errors.
The ropes are of poor quality.
It's better to make one good plank than two bad ones.
The kits have many historical errors and simplifications.
Of course, scratch is a great challenge, but it's also very rewarding.
Greetings from Spain.
Javier R.
They often have some scale errors.
The ropes are of poor quality.
It's better to make one good plank than two bad ones.
The kits have many historical errors and simplifications.
Of course, scratch is a great challenge, but it's also very rewarding.
Greetings from Spain.
Javier R.
www.ancre.fr
The provide some great monographs and plans.They have a great set for the yard tender Rochfort. This also has an additional 2 books detailing the build process. Additionally there are a number of builds on the forum.
...but be warned !! ...once you start scratch building you will never look at a kit with the same eyes.
The provide some great monographs and plans.They have a great set for the yard tender Rochfort. This also has an additional 2 books detailing the build process. Additionally there are a number of builds on the forum.
...but be warned !! ...once you start scratch building you will never look at a kit with the same eyes.
I agree that a scratch build doesn't have to be plank on frame. I experimented with cutting my own frames and just couldn't do it. I don't have the power tools - scroll saw, CNC machine, etc.. My effort using a jewellers saw was a disaster- maybe shaky hands, maybe technique, maybe overall skill level. So I decided to build something that would be more in keeping with my inclination and ability. I built a Nile River flat-bottomed side wheeler c. 1880. using 2 1" pine boards sandwiched together as a hull. I only had old photos, as well as some film clips from the movie Khartoum. So I did as lot of experimenting - trying this and that, fitting pieces to see if they would work well, changing materials. It was quite enjoyable. Since I wasn't committed to 100% authenticity, I made changes in the design. In the end I was quite pleased with my effort. I have photos on this site at:
NILE STEAMBOAT "ABBAS", 1884, 1:32, SCRATCH BUILD
This is a model of the ABBAS, an 1880s era side-wheeler that features in the epic film Khartoum. The boat was used to ferry European and Egyptian citizens from Khartoum, which was encircled by Mahdist forces. My version is shorter than the original shown in the film, but is very close to the...
shipsofscale.com
Excellent points, each one. BTW, who produces scratch built plans?
Every bit of information helps. After my son's facial surgery(tumor under the r eye) it will be time to try my hand something simple to start with.
In many ways the question is like "should I take up golf or fishing?" It's up to you as far as what your interests and skills and objectives are. My feeling is FAFO (F around and find out).
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Drawings for Scratch Building:
Drawings available for scratch building cover a wide spectrum so let’s take things in order:
Ship model company drawings- Readily available. Some have been drawn by competent Naval Architects. On the other hand if the kit is inaccurate so is the drawing. Plus, every ship modeling project requires making assumptions. Whoever made these drawings made assumptions too. You just don’t know about them.
Ancre Monographs- I have a couple that I bought. They offer a neat package for building a model if you’re interested in the subject covered. Again, like the model company drawings, at least for the ones that I have, there is little discussion about details and assumptions made. Plus, while the two that I have provide drawings of lofted frame pieces, they do not include an actual lines drawing. This means that you’re locked into their system for building.
Howard Chapelle Drawings- Despite grumbling by some, Chapelle remains the pre-eminent qualified Naval Architect to have studied American watercraft and sailing vessels. Plus, his estate gave his work to the Smithsonian Institution so reasonably priced copies are available. Like the previous two categories Chapelle made assumptions too, which sadly, he did not document. He did, however, have a remarkable feel for his subject, so avoided the outlandish mistakes sometimes made by ship modeling companies. Chapelle’s drawings are not ship model drawings but a skilled modeLmaker can use them to produce an accurate ship model.
Museum Archival Material.- This is the ultimate scratch building resource. Although this includes drawings held by Royal Museums Greenwich, (UK) this is not my area of interest so I’ll leave this to others.
There is an amazing wealth of information held by National and some regional maritime museums. To name a few:
National Archives
Maine Maritime Museum
Herreshoff Museum
Mystic Seaport
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Mariners Museum
Bowling Green State University
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Wisconsin Maritime Museum
San Diego Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum (San Francisco)
Again, these are not modeling plans. They are drawings and other materials used to build real boats and ships. For example, for my current project no hull lines drawing appears to have survived. I was, however, able to find a table of offsets to be used to draw an accurate set of lines.
Roger
Drawings available for scratch building cover a wide spectrum so let’s take things in order:
Ship model company drawings- Readily available. Some have been drawn by competent Naval Architects. On the other hand if the kit is inaccurate so is the drawing. Plus, every ship modeling project requires making assumptions. Whoever made these drawings made assumptions too. You just don’t know about them.
Ancre Monographs- I have a couple that I bought. They offer a neat package for building a model if you’re interested in the subject covered. Again, like the model company drawings, at least for the ones that I have, there is little discussion about details and assumptions made. Plus, while the two that I have provide drawings of lofted frame pieces, they do not include an actual lines drawing. This means that you’re locked into their system for building.
Howard Chapelle Drawings- Despite grumbling by some, Chapelle remains the pre-eminent qualified Naval Architect to have studied American watercraft and sailing vessels. Plus, his estate gave his work to the Smithsonian Institution so reasonably priced copies are available. Like the previous two categories Chapelle made assumptions too, which sadly, he did not document. He did, however, have a remarkable feel for his subject, so avoided the outlandish mistakes sometimes made by ship modeling companies. Chapelle’s drawings are not ship model drawings but a skilled modeLmaker can use them to produce an accurate ship model.
Museum Archival Material.- This is the ultimate scratch building resource. Although this includes drawings held by Royal Museums Greenwich, (UK) this is not my area of interest so I’ll leave this to others.
There is an amazing wealth of information held by National and some regional maritime museums. To name a few:
National Archives
Maine Maritime Museum
Herreshoff Museum
Mystic Seaport
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Mariners Museum
Bowling Green State University
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Wisconsin Maritime Museum
San Diego Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum (San Francisco)
Again, these are not modeling plans. They are drawings and other materials used to build real boats and ships. For example, for my current project no hull lines drawing appears to have survived. I was, however, able to find a table of offsets to be used to draw an accurate set of lines.
Roger