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WEST FRIESLAND 1674 - 1683 MAMOLI KIT

Joined
Sep 5, 2020
Messages
455
Points
323

New build in my ART's Model Dockyard
WEST FRIESLAND 1674 - 1683
DUTCH 80 GUN WARSHIP

Hull bulkheads fitted, gratings for the main deck built, now cutting the planks for the main deck before planking and securing with treenails.

History info :
According to Heinrich Winters book
Der Hollandische Zweidecker von 1660/1670
(The Dutch Two decker of 1660/1670)

I have taken this translation from page 11.
"The history of the model" as follows...

About the reason for donating the model and its later fate
Nothing reliable could be determined, nor could it be determined which one
Ship of the Dutch fleet is supposed to be depicted.
The Orange coat of arms
Decorative mirror that bears the motto of the Order of the Garter does not give any appearance conclusion about it. The museum's files don't even reveal when the model ended up in the museum. They only contain one lot
younger newspaper article, according to which it belonged to the Prince of Orange around 1665 was given as a gift during his visit to the fleet in Texel.
This raises the question of whether there was a ship with the same coat of arms or whether the coat of arms is only intended as a form of attention associated with the donation has been applied carefully. It must also be taken into account that the guns of the model
Brandenburg eagle with Kurhut. But these pipes can should not have been added later, because it is inconceivable that the thick, blunt bronze bolts of the overlays. Just tap the pipes firmly into the pipes through the gates.
The carriage cheeks could have been driven in, as was actually the case.
So this must have happened at an earlier stage of construction, i.e.
before the decks above the guns were laid. It's interesting in this context also that the items stored in the Berlin Armory but only from the time of Brandenburg's colonial efforts (after 1670).
The guns don't carry an eagle and a Kurhut, but rather the scepter
appears in color on a blue background. This indicates that the donation took place at a time when Friedrich Wilhelm I, although not yet Elector, but as Elector Prince was the future heir to this dignity,
i.e. before 1648. The model would then have to be set about 30 years earlier.
the. The ships at that time generally had a lower and slanting forward gallion. The news leading to these considerations have given rise to, but are too uncertain to be able to use the previously estimated.
The date of creation could already be brought forward now"

I have also been researching Dutch Warships in the age of sail by James Bender as follows...

Where on page 265 the "Westfriesland" ship is mentioned. This Ship was first mentioned in 1666 so one can assume it was built probably earlier although as others have pointed out the Dutch weren't great for keeping historical archives bk then. However according to this book and its sources the "Westfriesland" had 5 refits of Armament over a period of 17yrs thus being the same ship since at least 1666(photo below from book).

I have also researched the book "A Distant Storm" The Four days battle of 1666 by Frank L. Fox as follows...

The ship itself was heavily involved in "The Four days battle" and the battle on the "St James's day fight" under the command of L.A.(N) Jan Cornelisz Meppel in the "3rd Squadron commanded by L.A.(A) Cornelis Tromp.
I have enclosed photos again from this book for your pleasure...

My suggestion/assumption is that this kit is nearly 100% based on the ship "Westfriesland" the 80 guns being refitted at the later date between 1674-1683 where as in 1666/7 she carried 66/78 guns probably the latter regards to the documentation in this book.

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You are off to a good start, Rob! Happy New Year, and thanks for sharing your new project with us!
Thank you Jimmsky for your king words and Happy New year to you and your family my friend ⚓️⚓️
 
Back on the Dutch 80 gun Warship West Friesland 1674-1683

Testing the Tree nailing effect on what will be the main deck. If i decide to continue with this it will take just over 1000 toothpicks alone just for the main deck.
Using my Parkside Dremel to drill the 0.7mm holes for the tree nails.

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More Tree nailing on my WEST FRIESLAND 1674-1683 DUTCH 80 GUN WARSHIP....

You can see the previous Tree nailing I have done, once the deck is fully nailed a coat of oak stain/dye will fully highlight this as well as the planking.

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Apologies for not being on here recently more personal stuff to deal with at home so I had completely lost my mojo.

Bk on my West Friesland these last couple of days days just planked and tree nailed the prow deck as well as fitting the Reinforcements, just starting to add the poop deck structure... starting to get that mojo feel again after a long time so all is good so far..
Wishing Everyone the best of health and happy ship building!

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More progress on the WEST FRIESLAND the last couple of days only really and 1hr or so each time.
More Poop deck Reinforcements done.
The stern blocks have been made and fitted to the underneath of the stern.
The Main and Prow decks have been stained with oak dye!
Now on Sunday morning in the process of making the Gunports of which there is 5 pieces to 1 gunport having to be sanded and glued together so this will be a little time consuming as there is 26 in all.

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Some more progress on my West Friesland albeit small but in abundance!

Started Fairing the bulkheads fir the beginning of the Hull planking.
Finished and built the 26 dummy gunports, 1 of which i have fitted in the photos to show. Now in the progress also of building 30 open gunports of which there is 6 pieces to 1 gunport as shown in the photos! Very slow and delicate work but obviously the end product will be worth it!

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I haven't managed much progress on the FRIESLAND due to working hrs just about 3/4 the way through planking the main deck, maybe looking to tree nail these as well.

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That is beautiful decking!

I lost my Mamoli kit of the Friesland in a flood, then, before I could replace it, Mamoli suffered that fire. I was watching Dusek for years but quit. Now I see that the kit has finally been re-released. Therefore, I will follow along and dream of replacing it eventually. Until then . . .!
 
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