Louis XVs Navy

[Sir Edward Pellew]

So, I am not sure if this would be the Correct place to post this but here we go.

I am currently working on replicating the main types of fighting ships built by France from 1720-1810. I have started with Royal Louis of 1743, there wasn't much information on her nor could I find any plans, only dimensions and a few bow and stern plans by Caffieri seen below.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

The Next stage was to base the hull on something, being about 197ft on her gundeck she would've been the largest ship in the world at her launch unfortunately she burned and it never came to pass, however there is a model of the Sans Peril made in 1757, her Dimensions seem to be a close fit, and her gunport layout also seem to agree with the 1743 Royal Louis more than the 1759 one. For this reason I chose to base my 1743 Royal Louis on the Sans Peril model of 1757. Seen below.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

So with a stern plan, a model, and dimensions, I could set to work. Here were my results. The Completed model of Royal Louis 1743, I also sourced plans from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for plans of Terrible 1739, Temeraire 1748, for help with the layout of the interior. For the rigging and sail pattern I used plans from the L'Fluron model kit and La' Renommee kit.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

The next ship, Tonnant 1743, 80 guns. I had always wanted to build, being the beginning of modern two decked fighting ship she always fasnated me. So again plans were needed. I knew of a model in I believe paris so I hunted for images of it and I came up with these.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

The while on this website I learned of a book by Parick Viliars Le Louis de Marine XV, and a box of 45 plans, which I promptly ordered, after about 2 weeks I received them, in it was the Tonnant 1743 plan, showen below, in top of this I also found some stern quarter and head rail plans for her also showen below, aswell as a black and white drawing, and some dimensions from Three decks.org I now had enough for a build.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

The Completed model of Tonnant 1743 shown here. I also Sourced the same plans of Terrible and Temeraire for the interiors of this model aswell.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

With Tonnant Completed, the next day I started on Soleil Royal 1749, at 193 ft on the gundeck and 51ft on the beam this ship is comparable with the Tonnant class of the late 1780-90s and 24lbs guns on her upper gundeck this thing was a beast. Looking through Danish archives, i found two plans, showen below. Mixing them now with the deck plans of Temeraire 1748 and Courageux 1753, I could make a nice model and fairly accurate.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

And two days later, adapting my 80 gun rigging from tonnant onto Soleil Royal, I was able to complete Soleil Royal 1749. I am not sure if the yellow I used on the hull is completely accurate, but I've seen the color used on some models and model kits, so I figured what the hell it looks nice. I couldn't find any stern carvings drawing by Caffieri like seen for the Tonnant so I went with my gut, and made what I feel to be as close as I could get.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

Well, now you guys are up to speed with the Completed builds so far, now let's have a look at what's currently building. After the completion of Soleil Royal I turned the the 1720s looking at early 74s.
Mainly Sceptre 1720, and Neptune 1723, from 1720-1739 the French seems to build 74s in two sizes, most 161 ft on the gundeck but a few at 164 ft on the gundeck, so I chose to represent the two sizes in Sceptre at 161 ft, and Neptune at 164 ft. Here are some plans I have been using. From various books.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

The inboard profile above is said to be that of Dauphin Royal 1738, but doesn't seem to agree with the plan, perhaps it's another of the early 74s, Pre Terrible 1739.

 

[Sir Edward Pellew]

So here are some Pictures of the Progress on 74s Sceptre 1720(brown), and Neptune 1723(orange), again as with soleil I'm a not sure if the colors are accurate. But the range of colors to used in this game are limited so I use what I have.