Novelist Seeking Deck Plans of French 40-Gun Frigate (Circa 1795-1805ish)

[dscarpenter]

Hi, I'm the author of a nautical fantasy series set in a world similar to ours in the late 18th/early 19th century. The first volume was published by Simon & Schuster earlier this year.
I like to include the deck plan of an important ship in the story in each book, and this time I'm not having much luck finding good historical plans upon which to base my ahistorical version.

I'm looking for some fairly accurate plans for a French 40-gun frigate, along the lines of the Pomone or Pallas class. I'd love to find something free, but I'm also fine with purchasing a set of plans or a book.

So, can anyone help a scribbler of yarns find a good art reference?

Thanks!

 

[Uwek]

French Late 18th early 19th century?

Than there would be the Le Egytienne a very good example - she was launched in Toulon in 1799 and captured by the british in 1801 and was on service until 1817

French Fifth Rate frigate 'L'Egyptienne' (1799)

French Fifth Rate frigate 'L'Egyptienne' (1799). Dates of service, name changes, previous and next incarnations, dimensions, armament, commanders, officers and crewmen, actions, battles, sources

threedecks.org

British Fifth Rate frigate 'Egyptienne' (1801)

British Fifth Rate frigate 'Egyptienne' (1801). Dates of service, name changes, previous and next incarnations, dimensions, armament, commanders, officers and crewmen, actions, battles, sources

threedecks.org

she is documented in a detailed monograph by Gerard Delacroix and published by ancre

L’INVENTION Four-masted privateer -1799 - Ancre

L'Invention Four-masted privateer 1799-1810. All the drawings necessary to make a fully-framed model NEW: 1/72 or 1/36 PLANS available.

ancre.fr

A detailed planset review you can find here

Planset review - L'EGYPTIENNE - french 24-prd frigate - 1799" in scale 1:48 by Gerard Delacroix

Planset Review: L'EGYPTIENNE 24-prd French frigate - 1799 in scale 1:48 by Gerard Delacroix alias our member @G. DELACROIX Brand new release, just some days ago published and already on my desk - many thanks to Gerard for the fast and safe postage. This very comprehensive and detailed...

shipsofscale.com

The deckplan



Some additional information about the Forte class

French frigate Égyptienne (1799) - later fifth-rate frigate HMS Egyptienne (1801 - 1817) - Forte class

This is what wikipedia tells us about the ship: Égyptienne was a French frigate launched at Toulon in 1799. Her first service was in Napoleon's Egyptian campaign of 1801, in which the British captured her at Alexandria. She famously carried the Rosetta Stone to Woolwich, and then the Admiralty...

shipsofscale.com

 

[Uwek]

another possibility would be the La Venus, a Hebe class frigate - 6 ships were built in this class

French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Vénus' (1782)

French Fifth Rate frigate 'La Vénus' (1782). Dates of service, name changes, previous and next incarnations, dimensions, armament, commanders, officers and crewmen, actions, battles, sources

threedecks.org

MONOGRAPHIE DE LA VENUS - Frégate de 18 - 1782 - Ancre

18-PDR FRIGATE LA VENUS BY ENGINEER J. N. SANE 1782 MONOGRAPH at 1:72 scale

ancre.fr

The planset review you can find here

Planset review - LA VENUS - 18-pdr frigate 1782" by J.Boudriot / H. Berti + "Structural Elements LA VENUS" by F. Fissore

Planset Review: LA VENUS - 18-pdr frigate 1782 by Jean Boudriot & Hubert Berti in scale 1:48 + Structural Elements LA VENUS by Franco Fissore in scale 1:48 with english translations by Francois Fougerat This monographie is available from ancre in different languages, which can be choosen...

shipsofscale.com

Some of the class were captured and surveyed by the british



The link to the NMM drawings you can find in the review

 

[Uwek]

I forgot
also the Egyptienne was draught by the british

Collection Results | Royal Museums Greenwich

Explore seafaring history, timekeeping and astronomy, fine art and the world's largest maritime library and archive collection. Start your search today.

www.rmg.co.uk

 

[dscarpenter]

Uwe, you've been a huge help! I'll take a look at the frigates you've suggested and use the lines of one or more of them to put together my fictional frigate, Revenant. I'm going to keep the 4-masted frigate in mind for a later book - maybe as a new command or a nefarious rival!

Thanks for your help, sir! It is very, very much appreciated! If you don't object, I'll mention you in the credits of my next book for your contribution to bringing Revenant to life!

Shawn.