• 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.
  • PRE-ORDER SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR FIRST ISSUE WILL BE JAN/FEB 2026

SY Aurora (1876) by Swabbie - 1:80 scale - diorama

Swabbie

Swabbie

Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Messages
648
Points
343

Location
Australia
I am not aware of any detailed plans for this ship, except for the information provided below.
Aurora 1.jpg

Stem to stern (s-s) length is 50m (165'). A good scale for me is 1:80, making the s-s length 625mm.
Other than these plans, the rest of the ship's dimensions will have to be transposed from photographs.

This will be my first scratch build ship. It would be easier if I had more detailed plans and cross-sections.
However, I can avoid a lot of guesswork by not including the hull below the water line _ hence the diorama. Having the ship in water.
The idea came to me when I saw this small photo of the SY Aurora. I was instantly mesmerised by it. At first, not quite sure why. Then I realised the reflection of the ship in the water.
Aurora 2.jpg
Here is an ideal use for a mirror and a grey (cold) backdrop for a display case.

I am still working on the Hms Beagle, and later, the SS Endurance. However, the SY Aurora is invisibly tied to the Endurance. I could not build the Endurance without the Aurora.
Aurora 3.jpg

So, in saying this, this scratch build will more likely start much further down the track. But in the meantime, I will be adding bits of information to this thread in preparation for the actual build.
 
According to resources, the ship is built in Scotland, and they would have been using imperial measurements. So, instead of a 50m base, I am going to use the 165 feet (stem to stern) by 30 feet (beam) as the base measurement. 165' = 50292mm, and 30' = 9144mm

The plans I do have are slightly different from one another. I scaled both plans to 2500 px = 165 feet. In this case, the beam ought to be (2500px/165') x 30'=454.5 px. Both plans fall short, or in other words, both beams are too narrow. I am going to widen the beam to 455 px (114mm). So, the plan is to build a ship to 1:80 scale, or (165' x 12 x 25.4) / 80 = 628.65mm. Since the whole thing is an estimation, I will make it 630mm (stem to stern). The waterline to the stem deck is about 230px (58mm).

Hence, I need to carve a ship from a 630 x 144 x 58mm block/sandwich of wood.

Other deck items have different sizes. I have trouble understanding how plans of the late 19th century can be out of whack.
Anyway, I will do what I can without going overboard and drowning in my own confusion.

Aurora 5.jpg

Aurora 6.jpg
 
I made a slight change to the master plan in post #4. I found it easier to work on the pixel-to-mm ratio as 4px = 1mm. That is, the ship will be (deck size stem to stern) 625mm, and its breadth 113.75mm.
 
Over the last few days, I have been researching for more SY Aurora images.
I was surprised to see a few versions of the stern ornamentation. I think the main reason for the different appearances is due to the marine and weathering effects on the carving and painting. Anyway, I selected the best image to work from (shown below). It became my starting point for making scale measurements juxtaposed from photographs.
I ran out of room to put all the measurements, so a 'PART 2' will be coming soon.

PS. I learnt that it is better to log measurements as accurately as possible. Then produce items as best I can to parts of a mm. The end result always looks much better.

STERN PART 1.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top