• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.

New on your bookshelf ..... show it here

Just found these two, more research than modeling.
20251117_182201.jpg 20251117_182320.jpg
I knew Geoffrey Footner, worked on his house a few times, great guy if you agreed with him, irascible coot if you didn't.
I looking forward to his view on how Fells Point saved the world, hope it's better than his Constellation book.

A fellow I make reenacting stuff for, boxes, tables, etc; gifted me this one...
20251117_182351.jpg

This popped up on ebay recently; a hard to find matched set for less than a used car.
20251117_182427.jpg
 
JerryTodd said:
Just found these two, more research than modeling.
View attachment 557723 View attachment 557724
I knew Geoffrey Footner, worked on his house a few times, great guy if you agreed with him, irascible coot if you didn't.
I looking forward to his view on how Fells Point saved the world, hope it's better than his Constellation book.

A fellow I make reenacting stuff for, boxes, tables, etc; gifted me this one...
View attachment 557725

This popped up on ebay recently; a hard to find matched set for less than a used car.
View attachment 557726
Click to expand...
I have Geoffrey Footner's book on the Constellation. :)
 
Rigging First-Rate Ships of the Royal Navy, circa 1805: Modeler's Rigging Handbook, Author: Thomas Gropp

I was pleased to receive a copy of the above titled book this afternoon via Amazon. The book is hardcover with no dust jacket, measures 11”x 8 1/2” and contains 260 pages of very well laid out, clear images.

I know there are a multitude of books on rigging, of which I own quite a few, but my initial impression is this book will provide additional and necessary information during the sometimes confusing rigging process. I have copied and attached the front and back covers, the preface and two random pages, which I feel provides sufficient information to pique a modellers interest.

(The cover photos appear to show wear but are actually part of the embedded colour format).

IMG_4038.jpeg

IMG_4039.jpeg

IMG_4040.jpeg

IMG_4041.jpeg

IMG_4042.jpeg
 
Corsair said:
I have Geoffrey Footner's book on the Constellation. :)
Click to expand...
I've had it for a few years now; Geoffrey's book is full of "evidence" that had been long refuted, some even proven as forgeries, all driven by his angry need for the ship to have been built in Fells Point, and his hatred of Howard Chapelle. You'll see none of the evidence that the ship was a different design, built from scratch in 1854, the yard logs, material lists, drawings, documentation of the frigate being broken-up a hundred yards or so away, or anything else that trips up his preconceived conclusion in this book.
When ever I saw him, I would never broach the subject of Constellation. Even on my website for my model, I originally didn't get into the debate, cause I knew he'd see it and call me up to berate my opinion; the boy could hold a grudge too. I didn't change the website till after he died. Any time I saw him though, we talked of Chesapeake bay craft, like Skipjacks, Bugeyes, and pilot boats; those were great conversations, and I'm looking forward to finally reading his work on that subject.
1763491477839.jpeg 20251117_182320.jpg

BTW: The Constellation book is on Amazon for $5 USD right now
 
Last edited:
Jerry, I read Footner’s Tidewater Triumph many years ago. I would be anxious to hear your opinion once you finish reading.

Roger
 
AllanKP69 said:
The jeers are secured to the yard on the wrong side of the blocks, so I would be wary.
Allan
Click to expand...

Sharp eyes! ;) I wasn't going to say anything, but since you mention it, as soon as I saw the Victory model on the cover of the book with white running rigging and deadeye lanyards, I was skeptical about this book's level of sophistication and accuracy. When I kept reading the lubberly generic use of the word "rope," it was like hitting a series of speed bumps. If you don't have a command of the nomenclature, odds aren't good you have a command of the subject matter. Nice CG illustrations, though. Given that the book is designed for kit builders who find themselves stymied by the rigging of period First Rates, specifically Victory, it's probably useful for the "novice who bit off more than they could chew" segment of the market. While I hesitate to "judge a book by its cover," in this instance I think I would consider money spent on a used copy of James Lees' The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860 a much better investment. (See: https://www.amazon.com/Masting-Rigging-English-Ships-1625-1860/dp/0870219480)

Parenthetically, the author's use of the word "rope," brought to mind the old sailor's trivia question, "How many ropes are there on a ship?"

Answer:

Man Rope: Set up on either side of a fixed boarding ladder on the hull of sailing ships to serve as a handhold.

Hand Rope: Synonym for "man rope" and "monkey rope."

Monkey Rope: Synonym for "man rope" and "hand rope."

Bell Rope: Lashed to the bell clapper on a ship.

Dip Rope: Used for dipping the anchor.

Buoy Rope: Used for mooring to a buoy.

Mooring Rope: Synonym for "bouy rope."

Bolt Rope: A rope attached to the edge of a sail.

Head Rope: The portion of the bolt rope sewn to the head of a square sail.

Luff Rope: The portion of the bolt rope sewn to the luff of a sail.

Leech Rope: The portion of the bolt rope sewn onto the leech of a sail.

Foot Rope: Slung under yards to provide standing support for crew handling sails.

Tow Rope: Used for towing ship's boats or other ships.

Top Rope and Heel Rope: Fastened to the top and heel of a fidded topmast respectively to control the mast aloft while setting or striking it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top