The Art of Age of Sail - Engineering History

Oyster 82 model - how fast can a sailboat look?

2011-12-26T12:30:00.005-05:00

Oyster 82' model close to finishing. Her hull is cherry planked over bulkheads, which was then epoxy resin coated. Upper structure is built from a combination of quality plywoods and walnut, as are the keel and rudder. The plywoods help prevent warping but also have the added benefit of 'seeing symmetry' while being shaped. Her main windows and hatches are transparent 'limo-black'.

Shown below is the model while being painted, the upper-structure in gloss white and the hull in blue. In the image below you can see the dual helm, mast and boom as they are being fitted to the model.

S.S. Newfoundland Project

2011-07-11T11:27:00.009-04:00

Our S.S. Newfoundland model commission is progressing to the finish line. The St. John's Newfoundland steam sealer has been pieced together from mere scraps of information, gaps have been filled in with information available on contemporary vessels. She's still missing her main railings, as are the wooden beams which hung from her sides to allow the crew to disembark and board the vessel en masse. Her steam windlass has just been completed, and image of the 2 inch wide scale version is shown directly below:

She was a two masted all-wooden vessel with a spanker sail at the stern and one or two jibs or head sails. Her sails will be furled on the model. Notice the two 'crowsnest' like lookout posts high on the masts. Her mid ship bridge from which the captain commanded is shown in greater detail below.

The image below shows the stern under construction, the wooden structure over the helm is to support all the stacked boats that are still to come. Notice also the small lookout platform right at the stern.

Museum Quality Ship Models?

2011-06-03T22:48:00.023-04:00

Every once in a while I spend a few hours visiting different ship model and model builder websites. Not to keep an eye on the competition, more out of pure interest and sometimes to get inspired. I find it important to follow my own path, to creatively go where I think I should go. Not simply mimic others, no matter how capable they may be. Sometimes I do learn a thing or two; new methods, materials and procedures to bring conceptual ideas to life. The day I cannot improve anymore is probably the day I'll quit. Luckily for me I'm far from perfect, so there's really nothing to worry about just quite yet. Just ask my wife or daughters.

There's a term that keeps showing up on oh so many websites that it had me wondering: Museum Quality. What does that really mean?

Could it mean: 'quality acceptable to a museum'? Maybe .... but wait .... I've been to many museums around the world and the models on display range from absolutely fabulous to simple folk-art at best. Some models are self evident of the builders skill and artistry, other models clearly indicate the lack of any skill or inspiration. I guess there's museum quality museums and non-museum quality museums?

Off I went to surely find a definition in a dictionary or an encyclopedia. To my surprise I didn't find a thing.

What I did find was information on museum quality displays, frames and lighting systems. Could it be that the term 'museum quality' is a descriptor of items used for displaying art, that, apart from being expensive, are of high quality? Paintings and other art objects do not usually carry a designation of museum quality. I've never heard anyone describe Venus de Milo as being of museum quality. Vincent van Gogh is not really known as a museum quality painter. Most, if not all of us will agree that painting is an art form. Ship model building however is also considered an art form.

If there's any logic applied to the above, then ship models should not be designated as museum quality but simply as art. It's the case around a model ship that could be of museum quality. What am I missing here?

As a final note, I'm not aware of any artist ever having been asked to create a museum quality painting. But I do remember a million dollar painting of a red stripe on a white canvas. Technically the stripe was very straight and also very red. However I don't think any museum is quite ready yet to buy a nicely tapered yellow stick from me for ... oh ... half a million or so. Mmmm ... maybe they would .... I'll have to look into that and maybe ... just maybe ... my next blog will be from my own little private island.

John Andela
The Art of Age of Sail.

H.M.S. Simoom Project

2011-05-25T19:20:00.009-04:00

We've finished our HMS Simoom model. She has been built as to how she must have looked like after 1852 when she was converted from a frigate to a troop transport. A full length upper deck was added, her guns were removed and her stern-gallery was 'doubled'.

She's been a project long in the works. Her hull is an epoxy-resin coated cherry-planked hull and her sail configuration is as per clients request. She has been built off the original drawings even though most of the drawings contain conflicting data as to many of the details. What had been intended as per her re-design was not necessarily what was realised in her final re-construction. Most, if not all, design engineers today will have similar stories to tell.

Her paint-scheme has been taken from a contemporary painting of HMS Megaera, HMS Simoom's sister ship. Her lower quarter gallery was to be removed but ended up being incorporated into a double gallery as shown here. To make room on deck, her on-deck boats were moved onto davits along the outer side of the hull. She ended up with 2 x 25ft Life Boats, 6 x 30 ft Cutters and 2 x 38ft Troop Boats.

Simoom was assisted by a 350 hp steam driven screw which, according to all accounts and not totally unexpected, was really not all that useful. The engine was later replaced by a more powerful and reliable steam-engine. As with other ships of the time, the screw or propeller actually exits and enters above the waterline, undoubtedly adding to its ineffectiveness and causing terrible vibrations throughout the vessel.

Displaying HMS Simoom

2011-04-16T14:43:00.022-04:00

Our HMS Simoom project has been completed. The image below shows the model in her custom display case matching the clients display cabinet she rests on .

The case is a custom oak Hallen Display case with a solid oak top.

LED spot lighting has been added to the top of the display case and LED strips have been chosen to light the model from the bottom-front of the case. The lighting can be turned on or off with a single infra-red remote control. Additionally, the intensity and colour of the top and bottom lighting can be independently controlled by the remote. Preferred settings can be "remembered" and recalled. The images below show the display while still being tweaked for optimum conditions

You may be surprised to how much influence a subtle change to the color has on the overall display. The two images above and below illustrate this effect. The first image shows model and case being lit by white light. The second image shows the display being lit with a blue tint from above and shifting towards orange from below.

A little experimentation may just make all the difference.

More about ship model display.

In search of a Silver Cloud

2010-12-11T12:24:00.009-05:00

We're currently researching the mid to late 19th century vessel Silver Cloud.

There are very few pieces to the puzzle, the model below being the most important piece. Captained by John McLachlan she sailed the oceans anywhere from around 1850 to 1900, transporting coffee from Rio de Janeiro to the Cape, South Africa. The captain's daughter, born in 1882, recounted that as a little girl, she watched as the ship's cargo was being unloaded at the Cape docks after returning from Rio. She also recalled that the smell of coffee was so strong that it gave people nosebleeds when not wearing masks.

The vessel may have been referred to as a clipper, ship or even a bark, although the model clearly shows a ship-rigged vessel. If you have any information on her, we would love to hear from you.

A model built by the captain's son Jimmy and donated in 1960 to the Africana Museum in Johannesburg,

Made from concrete you say ... ?

2010-10-23T11:37:00.001-04:00

A book has come out about CGS Concretia, North America's first self-propelled concrete vessel. We're currenly looking into the mechanics of building an accurate model of Concretia as she must have appeared during WWI.

The author of Captains of Concrete, Sonny Moran, has been so kind to provide the following:

"Historically, concrete ships are vessels built of steel and ferro cement (reinforced concrete) instead of just steel or wood. Ferro cement is basically made by mixing cement and sand together, then applying it into a tapestry of wired-together re-bar and wire mesh to form a hull.

Concrete construction makes shipbuilding cheaper due to the availability of concrete, but a ship’s operation more costly. Concrete ships require a thick hull which allows less space for cargo.

Concrete ships actually worked, as demonstrated by the Concretia, but many sailors serving on ferro cement vessels referred to them as "floating tombstones" and did not like to serve on them.

The oldest known concrete ship was a dingy built by Joseph Louis Lambot in France in 1848.

In World War I, concrete shipbuilding really took hold as an industry. United States President Woodrow Wilson approved the Emergency Fleet Corporation program in April of 1918, which oversaw the construction of 24 concrete ships during The Great War. It’s important to note few concrete ships were completed in time to see wartime service though."

For more visit:
http://captainsofconcrete.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

19th Century Three-masted Steam Frigate HMS Simoom

2010-08-17T13:00:00.013-04:00

An Admiral Class model is currently being built for a Canadian client whose forefathers immigrated to Canada on the British troop-transport HMS Simoom.

HMS Simoom was an iron hulled auxiliary (350 horse power steam engine) screw Frigate. Simoom was named after a hot, dry desert sandstorm and launched on the 24th of May 1849. She was converted to a troopship in 1852 as stated in The Weekly Dispatch, 26 January 1851; 'the new steam frigate HMS Simoom, if she be found, on trial, to be fit for similar service, is to be also fitted as a troop steamer, to carry 1,000 men'.

She is currently being detailed and scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010.

More images can be found here.

Reconstructing the S.S. Newfoundland of 1872

2010-07-01T23:44:00.022-04:00

We've started the design for the wooden steam screw driven brigantine Newfoundland. Relatively little information remains for this vessel which was seized by the United States in 1898 as a blockade runner on Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Later, while registered to St. John's Newfoundland, she was involved in the annual spring seal hunt. In March 1914, she departed St. John's for this annual hunt, setting in motion the tragic events she would become most infamous for. Thanks to being stuck in the ice and a number of communication and judgment errors, 77 crew members died while being stranded on the ice for 53 hours during a blizzard in what's known as the Newfoundland sealing disaster of 1914.

Shown here are both the SS Bellaventure, which was involved in the search and rescue, and the SS Newfoundland of which the unfortunate sealers originated.

Playing the role of a Maritime Archaeologist, the scarce information about the wooden sealer Newfoundland is slowly being pieced together and a 3D CAD model is currently on the way. This 3D model has been planned for completion by early September.

For those wanting to know more about the Great Newfoundland Seal Hunt, the ships and the men who bravely conquered the elements, I highly recommend the 1931 movie The Viking. This 'talkie' may be in black and white, however she has been fully restored to DVD. The Viking shows a lot of interesting and authentic footage, not to even mention the drama of having 26 lives lost in the making of the movie due to an explosion on board.

Model Restoration.

2010-05-20T13:12:00.004-04:00

We've completed the restoration and repair of a circa 1922 model based on Joshua Humphreys’ designs for the first six ships built for the US Navy.

The model was in severe disrepair and had to be completely disassembled. The use of iron nails in her original construction had cracked the wood in several locations and moisture had also gotten into the model.

Some parts such as a several cannons, the rudder and sails were missing from the model. The hull is made from a solid wooden block, and some materials used for the tops and decorations still have me guessing as to what they could possibly be made of.

The image below shows the completed repair and restoration. Care was taken to use as many of the original parts as possible and to make new parts match the original parts. Battle sail configuration was chosen and a new set of sails and rigging was created. The deck had quite some moisture damage and was cleaned, refinished and re-planked.

To prevent the model from decay, dust and moisture, a custom Douglas fir display case from Hallen Display Cases was assembled and finished in red oak. Low voltage LED spot lighting was also added to the case.

The model has grown on me tremendously. She may not be the most accurate model out there, but I think she has a lot of charm and character and makes a wonderfully warm and interesting display.

Modern Yacht Models

2010-04-09T11:54:00.011-04:00

As an example of what is possible with a fully custom yacht model, the Johnson 75 based 'FedEx' model shown below was specifically created for a special occasion.

She carries loot in the form of gold bars on her fly deck, flies the 'Ole Miss' flag and is painted in the familiar purple and orange.

The Johnson 75 was introduced as a luxury cruiser in 2007/2008. Models of the very successfull Johnson 87 and the majectic Johnson 103 can also be found on our website. Most were built for yacht owners while they were waiting for the real yachts to be built and delivered, some were built for boatshows and yacht brokers.

HMS Diana Model - project finished

2009-11-16T12:14:00.005-05:00

Shown below is the completed HMS Diana model. Her paint-scheme as per client's request and she carries no sails. Notice the studding booms on her yards.

She can be created with sails if preferred. The model shown here is also rather large and can be created to a smaller scale, or to any scale for that matter.

Figurehead, bow and trailboard detail. Care has been taken to create as much of a 'natural' look as possible. I often use contemporary paintings as a reference in creating the overall look of a model. Sometimes it's all I have to go by, sometimes it's a combination of sources. To be entirely honest, it's very much the historic 'detective' work that appeals to me.

Stern gallery of HMS Diana.

Float Your Boat! - by Dr. Mark Denny

2009-09-26T12:09:00.001-04:00

Float Your Boat!: The Evolution and Science of Sailing is a hardcover edition for anyone wanting to know more about the history and science of sailing without getting bogged down with too much detail.

The book is easy reading, while the author displays a wonderful sense of humor and has struck the perfect balance between technical and historical information. From the 'landlubber' to the experienced sailor, Float Your Boat is of tremendous
interest and a valuable addition to any nautical library.

Float Your Boat is published by the John Hopkins Univerity Press and available on Amazon.

* The Art of Age of Sail recieves no incentives for mentioning or promoting "Float Your Boat!", we just love the book.

Walking the plank - fact or fiction?

2009-09-21T23:33:00.008-04:00

On a regular basis I receive questions on my website about "Walking the Plank", a supposed pirate habit to ceremoniously march prisoners and captives into the sea along a plank extended from the side of a pirate ship. The unfortunate 'plank-walkers' would surely have drowned quickly if they were bound or weighed down. A few lucky swimmers who were not finished off by sharks would have had to live out their miserable lives on a deserted island.

Aaah ... The romance of it all.

Some of the most frequent questions I am asked are in regards to the length of the plank, the location of the plank, how the plank was fixed to the deck or how the plank was extended from the side of the ship. Often people are building their own pirate ship model and they want to get the details right. This is a good thing, this is the way it's supposed to be, is it not?

I would love to explain that the plank was about 10 feet long and that she was permanently mounted at the beam on the starboard side but I shouldn't. It seems that Hollywood has again altered our perception of history; swashbuckling brigands capturing maidens and forcing opponents down the plank at the point of a saber or blunderbuss. This makes for wonderful drama and great story telling but it is all just that, it's Hollywood.

No credible evidence of the practice of walking the plank has ever been found in historical records or documents. Even the practical use of a plank to get rid of someone seems somewhat silly. Common sense must surely prevail. Victims could simply be killed by throwing them overboard, a practice that is frequently documented in history.

The best answer I can give is that most likely none of it ever happened and a pirate ship with a walking-plank probably never really existed either. But then again maybe... just maybe...

Displaying a Fine Ship Model

2009-09-12T17:27:00.003-04:00

The traditional way to protect and display a model ship is under glass. A display case can be of the wood framed variety as made by Hallen Display Cases or brass framed such as available from Clear View Designs . As a third option, relatively 'newer' acrylic covers can be utilized. The one-piece acrylic cover depicted below is very close to the maximum size recommended (about 40" in length). Glass cases can go much larger.

Real glass is more durable and less susceptible to heat and sunlight, however the lesser weight and the clean, clear edges of an acrylic case have its own advantages. With good care, such as cleaning with a soft cloth, not paper towel, the acrylic will last for many years. Optically acrylic is very similar to glass.

Even though a case will keep your model dust and dirt free, lighting can really bring a display to life. In-display-case lighting should be of the low-voltage or LED variety. Any lighting system producing less heat is preferable and even crucial to the lifespan of both model and display case. As an added benefit the 'color-temperature' of low-voltage lighting systems can often be changed or selected. To have multiple light sources (2-8) is always preferred over having a single point of light.

If there is enough space, external lighting from above and slightly in front can be used to make a model ship the center of attention, even in the most prestigious of settings. Avoid using fluorescent lighting as it will usually make for a dull and flat display.

* The Art of Age of Sail recieves no incentives for mentioning or promoting the display case manufacturers mentioned, we simply like their products.

British Frigate HMS Diana

2009-08-31T22:09:00.005-04:00

Our custom HMS Diana model is slated to be completely finished next month. For more images of the work in progress: HMS Diana progress.

The model has coppering applied to the 'below the waterline" hull, intended to extend a ship's life-span significantly by preventing damage caused by shipworm, and to prevent the build-up of weed and barnacles resulting in slower sailing speeds.

New Classic Sailboat Model - C&C 40

2009-08-29T21:19:00.009-04:00

Custom C&C 40 fixed keel sloop model - Endeavor III - built from photographs supplied by owner and whatever drawing fragments could be pieced together from information received from the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.

Close up of stern shown below, showing a few more details such as railings, screw propeller, Newfoundland flag and winches.

More images of the C&C 40 model.