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- Joined
- Nov 24, 2025
- Messages
- 60
- Points
- 58
All excellent books, especially the Built Up Model one.
He recomends building up frames using tree nails in 1/48 or larger scale because it's more satisfying and less wasteful of wood.
I forgot about the scale limitation and went ahead duplicating the bow frame of the Model Shipways USS Constitution cross section model in 1/76 scale.
I'll be steaming 1/8" square basswood strips to put the proper crown in them for deck beams. I plan to have them resting on clamps and shelf strips.
I learned how to do all this from the Davis book.
He recomends building up frames using tree nails in 1/48 or larger scale because it's more satisfying and less wasteful of wood.
I forgot about the scale limitation and went ahead duplicating the bow frame of the Model Shipways USS Constitution cross section model in 1/76 scale.
I'll be steaming 1/8" square basswood strips to put the proper crown in them for deck beams. I plan to have them resting on clamps and shelf strips.
I learned how to do all this from the Davis book.
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- Joined
- Oct 2, 2025
- Messages
- 181
- Points
- 78
Davis' The Built-Up Ship Model is one of the foundation texts for a scratch POF builder.
It is no longer the preferred framing technique. When published it was pretty much the only reference for POF.
His framing method is a representation of WWI era wooden ship construction. All bends and room = space was rarely if ever used in the wooden sailing ship era. Iron and steel - engineers had taken over. Except for small local yards the old ways had been lost forgotten. Steel requires that every part be precisely defined by a plan. When Davis learned ship building it was a translation from steel techniques. His is not traditional wooden ship building.
The subject vessel is fiction. There are no definitive plans for Lexington and what Davis has named Lexington is a lose version of a RN brig from about 1800.
If your ambition is scratch POF you want a copy just for the background. If it is not, I do not think that it will help you.
It is no longer the preferred framing technique. When published it was pretty much the only reference for POF.
His framing method is a representation of WWI era wooden ship construction. All bends and room = space was rarely if ever used in the wooden sailing ship era. Iron and steel - engineers had taken over. Except for small local yards the old ways had been lost forgotten. Steel requires that every part be precisely defined by a plan. When Davis learned ship building it was a translation from steel techniques. His is not traditional wooden ship building.
The subject vessel is fiction. There are no definitive plans for Lexington and what Davis has named Lexington is a lose version of a RN brig from about 1800.
If your ambition is scratch POF you want a copy just for the background. If it is not, I do not think that it will help you.
What Jaager said. All of Davis' books contain valuable information, but are dated, reflecting the "state of the art" as of the time of their writing. While also older references, I would say the more valuable basic reference works are Harold Underhill's
Plank-On-Frame Models and Scale Masting and Rigging, Vol. 1: Scale Hull Construction
A slightly more specialized volume focused on masting and rigging ships of the approximate 1850 to 1920 era is Underhill's:
Masting and Rigging: The Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier
For Underhill's books see: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=harold+underhill&adgrpid=1340305245152425&hvadid=83769316484089&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=88716&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83769436931778:loc-190&hydadcr=22535_13494442&mcid=82861c17e6f73805b1652f18707fc5da&msclkid=773ffe54532a1e6fe0ce977af0cbf5cf&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_5c22dtpqad_p
Also, a very good comprehensive treatment of the subject, available in hardcover or paperback, is Gerald Wingrove's:
The Techniques of Ship Modeling
See: https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Ship-Modelling-Gerald-Wingrove/dp/B002K4SS6M
All of these books have been around for some time and there are many used copies online at very reasonable prices.
Plank-On-Frame Models and Scale Masting and Rigging, Vol. 1: Scale Hull Construction
Plank-on-Frame Models and Scale Masting and Rigging, Vol. 2
A slightly more specialized volume focused on masting and rigging ships of the approximate 1850 to 1920 era is Underhill's:
Masting and Rigging: The Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier
For Underhill's books see: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=harold+underhill&adgrpid=1340305245152425&hvadid=83769316484089&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=88716&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83769436931778:loc-190&hydadcr=22535_13494442&mcid=82861c17e6f73805b1652f18707fc5da&msclkid=773ffe54532a1e6fe0ce977af0cbf5cf&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_5c22dtpqad_p
Also, a very good comprehensive treatment of the subject, available in hardcover or paperback, is Gerald Wingrove's:
The Techniques of Ship Modeling
See: https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Ship-Modelling-Gerald-Wingrove/dp/B002K4SS6M
All of these books have been around for some time and there are many used copies online at very reasonable prices.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2025
- Messages
- 181
- Points
- 78
Another aspect of Underhill:
He is about the only author who focused on iron, steel, and composite sail between ~1860 to ~ 1914. His plans library at Brown, Son and Ferguson has more than a few plans for vessels of this era.
I have not visited recently but I remember The Mariner's Museum - Newportnews VA - had on display builders' or shipping company models of numerous steel vessels from the same era as Underhill's. Some were very strange - failed experiments and starting points that were later evolved to more standard designs. I have never seen a book covering this and I am not sure about any plans - given that these were engineered vessels they probably exist in various libraries and archives. It seems to be a wide open field for an enterprising author. An author will to produce a book with an almost zero audience. Sounds like just the thing for a TAMU grad student who is will to do way more than necessary for a thesis or dissertation.
For a while Model Shipwright provided plans for some of these strange and obscure vessels. Simplified to the basics -
He is about the only author who focused on iron, steel, and composite sail between ~1860 to ~ 1914. His plans library at Brown, Son and Ferguson has more than a few plans for vessels of this era.
I have not visited recently but I remember The Mariner's Museum - Newportnews VA - had on display builders' or shipping company models of numerous steel vessels from the same era as Underhill's. Some were very strange - failed experiments and starting points that were later evolved to more standard designs. I have never seen a book covering this and I am not sure about any plans - given that these were engineered vessels they probably exist in various libraries and archives. It seems to be a wide open field for an enterprising author. An author will to produce a book with an almost zero audience. Sounds like just the thing for a TAMU grad student who is will to do way more than necessary for a thesis or dissertation.
For a while Model Shipwright provided plans for some of these strange and obscure vessels. Simplified to the basics -
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2024
- Messages
- 1,519
- Points
- 438
Davis’s Built Up Ship Model book inspired many aspiring modelers to attempt to build POF models; myself included. Unfortunately he is short on describing a practical way to align the frames. Harold Hahn took Davis’ ideas one (giant) step further with his “upside down jig”. It wasn’t until Hahn posted his ideas in the mid 1970’s issues of the Nautical Research Journal that I was able to successfully build a Plank on Frame model.
Davis’ book supposedly walks the reader through the building of the American Revolutionary War Brig Lexington. Knowledgeable readers have pointed out that the plans in the book would build the much later British Cruizer Class vessel. No drawings are known to exist of Lexington.
For anyone wanting to try building a POF model, I would instead either buy one of Hahn’s two books; The Colonial Schooner or Ship Models of the American Revolution or purchase a copy of one of his NRJ articles from the Guild’s office.
Re; Dean’s Post #6
I have one of Underhill’s books: his Masting and Rigging. He includes a list of his plans for many later Nineteenth Century sailing ships; iron, steel, and wood.
Roger
Davis’ book supposedly walks the reader through the building of the American Revolutionary War Brig Lexington. Knowledgeable readers have pointed out that the plans in the book would build the much later British Cruizer Class vessel. No drawings are known to exist of Lexington.
For anyone wanting to try building a POF model, I would instead either buy one of Hahn’s two books; The Colonial Schooner or Ship Models of the American Revolution or purchase a copy of one of his NRJ articles from the Guild’s office.
Re; Dean’s Post #6
I have one of Underhill’s books: his Masting and Rigging. He includes a list of his plans for many later Nineteenth Century sailing ships; iron, steel, and wood.
Roger