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

[Swabbie]

I am not aware of any detailed plans for this ship, except for the information provided below.


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.

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.


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.

 

[Swabbie]

Yesterday I received a book that has another plan drawing for the Aurora.


The book has a chapter (18) titled: The Ship's Story from Captain Davis's Narrative. It's all about the SY Aurora. I have not yet read it.

 

[Swabbie]

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.

 

[Swabbie]

I resized the deck width to 455 px. These are the master plans I will be using for building the ship. All the following scale conversions will be based on these plans.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Seen this one?

 

[Pepite 1/60]

 

[Pepite 1/60]

 

[Swabbie]

Seen this one?

"Billions of blue blistering barnacles in a thundering typhoon! Even the OcCre Aurora model is better looking than The Shooting Star."

 

[Pepite 1/60]

"Billions of blue blistering barnacles in a thundering typhoon! Even the OcCre Aurora model is better looking than The Shooting Star." View attachment 573392

View attachment 573393

Maybe better looking, but certainly less authentic .

 

[Swabbie]

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.

 

[Swabbie]

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.

 

[Swabbie]

STERN PART 2
The ornament, especially the crest, is slightly off-centre; more so than from the usual optical aberrations.

 

[Swabbie]

DECK MEASUREMENTS



For my 1mm= 4x plan. . . https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OOwLHzFPkg6h4SOSlOrZRsu-9JZbc1xb/view?usp=sharing

 

[Swabbie]

Comparing plans to a photograph.
According to the photograph, it seems that the rigging plays a role in how the mast leans.

 

[Swabbie]

 

[Swabbie]

THE PLANS ARE WRONG
Both available plans place the centre mast through the bridge floor. Many a build fell for this one, even The Model Shipyard builder.
The centre mast is between the bridge and the cabin's wall.


I noticed it when I saw the bridge railing go in front of the mast.


Then I saw it in other photos.

 

[Swabbie]

I decided to compare the drawing to the actual ship (photograph).
Not only are the masts in the wrong place, but the deck furniture is also somewhat out of whack.



I like the shape of the ship from the photograph. It is much better than the plan drawing.
So, I will base the model shape and deck furniture placements on what the photographs show. I will use the plan drawing as a guide to deck furniture sizes only.