Just want to mention the latest Book Review of the Hendrik Busmann book "Sovereign of the Seas" Die Skulpturen Des Britischen Konigsschiffes von 1637, which was mentioned by BillOne very important reference that I obtained was a book by Hendrik Busmann called "Sovereign of the Seas" Die Skulpturen Des Britischen Konigsschiffes von 1637, published in 2002 by Convent, and Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum, Brenerhaven Germany. Busmann did his thesis on the sculptures on the Sovereign and produced this wonderful account in the process. It came complete with three inserts which include the view of the hull from port side from the Payne engraving, the Van de Velde sketch of the port side and the painting from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston of the starboard side which is attributed to Peter Pett.
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The book is written in German but does provide a wealth of information in photos with closeups of specific areas on the hull. It has proved to be a very important guide for my carving work and needed to be mentioned in this log.
More to follow...........
Thank you Eric, I shall remember those words of advice. I have used Bamboo before for small things. But I admit, never to plank a hull. I wonder given the property of Bamboo and the versatility of this wood. A hull covered in this wood, would be extremely durable and last for many, many years. Does heat and or wetting help in anyway these areas? I have read where some had issue with one side being rounded. I will follow your advice and try it. If too difficult too work with, I will replace w/something else. I still have stashed away quite a nice supply from Hobby Mill. Again thank you, please feel free to advice any time my friend.Hi Rick, I have purchased the SOS through DeAgostini. I should point out that the "timber "strips/planks are made from bamboo, each strip has the "knot" on it at various positions along the strip, the knot refers to the "join" section in the bamboo tube. Although bamboo is a lovely 'wood' to work with those knots to pose a problem particularly when a bend in the strip needs to be made over or very near one of them. The strip will break there also the strip will have a kink in it at that point.
My suggestion is that you sort out your strips as you get them, those with the knot near one end and those with it in the middle, etc. the reason, you will have to cut that knot off or out and those that are straight and those that are not. Now, those strips that are bent at the knot will come in useful where they can be placed at a curve on the hull, I will PM some pictures to you to give you an idea.
I've just noticed that I have contradicted myself in the two paragraphs (about the knots) my strips are tapered towards the bow and I have used the knot there on some strips the did break I either discarded the strip if broken through or used CA glue and a lot of sanding to cover the break.
I'm absolutely speechless, this is amazing, unbelievable, that's a work of a true artistHi Nigel,
Yes, that is the door that will go in the area you indicated on the main gun deck. There are indications of what this door might have looked like in the Van de Velde sketch, the Payne engraving and the Pett painting as shown in this photo from the Busman book on the Sovereign.
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In the Van de Velde sketch, the doorway is shown with decorative carving surrounding the frame and cannon ports on either side of the door. In the Payne engraving, the upper part of this doorway with decorative carving can just be seen and the rest of the doorway is obscured by the grating deck, the mast and some seamen. The Pett painting shows an arched decorative top and the detail is not clear below that.
Arthur Molle chose to depict this area differently as the following photo shows.
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As you remarked, he has a doorway with windows adjacent to it and the gun ports are shown at a level above the door. His detail in this area is really beautiful and no one can dispute the authenticity as we really do not know what the ship really looked like.
The Culver Model in Preble Hall in Annapolis shows the grating deck and a little of the door treatment.
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I will decide how ornate this area will be as I go along and can visualize what I would like it to look like.
PS I have all the Arthur Molle photos of the Sovereign if you want them Nigel.
More to follow............
Conmments and suggestions welcome.
Bill