Pirate sloop ~1/20 - renovation

[Artoor_K]

I've bought a large model of USS Independence sloop from 1775. The model (quite large 1/20 or sth) is well done but it's missing few details. I know that Independence was armed with 4-pound guns still I hadn't found any measurements or drawings of these. Anyone have any info about that? I've tried to use Artesania Latina model as a guide but no success.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Hi Artoor,

The following searches resulted in a few links that might be of interest to you:

4-Pounder Cannon

4-pounder naval cannon

4-Pounder Naval Gun

Model Ship World forum has a topic on 4-pounder and 6-pounder cannons that might help you. 

[Artoor_K]

Thanks :) I finally found a model in 1:72 which gave me an opportunity to calculate a length of barrel. Anyway, sides of my model are different from real "Independence" so I think that my model will be more pirate converted sloop than a Civil War ship :) Simply, I don't want to cut such beautiful made model, just to make it similar to real ship. It will be a present for my fiance and she likes to play "Sid Meier's Pirates" :)

[Artoor_K]

A I said, I've bought a large model of sloop from 1775 or sth. It's quite old, dirty and damaged by time. The rudder is missing, as long as anchor. Nothing that can't be repaired, I think. I bought it for a birthday gift for my fiancee so now I have a deadline, arrrr :) As I said , she loves to play "Sid Meier's Pirates" , so this one will be a pirate sloop.

Recently , I bought eight carriage guns . Then ,a few sviweling cannons will arrive and a lot of deck equipment.

Now it looks like on the pictures:



A lot of repainting and detailing but I hope I can do it well :)And of course , It have to be renamed :) Yarrrr!

[Diamondback]

Artoor, I remember that game... she already find the dirty trick that if you take out Henry Morgan as your very first move the game gets a LOT easier? LOL

For non-SMP players, the jump from your starting sloop to Morgan's heavy frigate is like trading a WWI biplane for an F-22. :)

[Artoor_K]

Artoor, I remember that game... she already find the dirty trick that if you take out Henry Morgan as your very first move the game gets a LOT easier? LOL

For non-SMP players, the jump from your starting sloop to Morgan's heavy frigate is like trading a WWI biplane for an F-22. :)

She is really good in SMP. I think she already finished this game on hard level :)

[Brian da Basher]

I'm really going to enjoy watching this one, Artoor!

Brian da Basher

[Artoor_K]

I'm really going to enjoy watching this one, Artoor!

Brian da Basher

I'm still waiting for cannons and anchors. With them I'll be able to continue this project at full speed:)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Artoor,

Here is a link to a wonderful song about sailing ships that should put you in the right mood for working on your yacht:

Crosby Stills & Nash - Southern Cross

Enjoy! 

[Artoor_K]

After a long recess...

Finally I have cannon barrels but they're still too small  I'm giving up with carriage cannons. I'll make 8 so called falconets out of them , then some equipment on deck and that's all.

The barrels:

[Old Wombat]

Many people have been seduced by the Hollywood/movie image of pirate ships & don't realise just how many of them were, actually, quite small & lightly armed - nor do they realise just how squalid & disease ridden the lives of pirates really were, with most of them living in worse conditions than they (often) had mutinied against.

I'll be interested to see how this build comes along, Artoor.

[jcf]

Late to the party, but here are some drawings of period British naval artillery from Chapelle's The American Sailing Navy.

Chapelle discusses in the text that the American guns were mostly based upon British originals, were primarily
cast iron and, like the British guns, could vary significantly depending on the foundry. Some French pattern guns
were also used. The gun drawing shows the standard British 'short guns' rather than the 'long guns' and carronades.

The drawings include the general rules for sizing the guns and the gun carriages, the dimensions of
the latter being based on the dimensions of the gun.

HTH.

[jcf]

Harold Hahn's chart for gun-sizing.


So in combination with Chapelle's drawing, using the 15 X caliber ratio for a 'short gun':
(3.053" X 15) + (3.053" X 2.25) = 45.795" + 6.86925" = 52.66425"/20 = 2.633215" OAL for a 1/20th 4 lbdr. 

So, based on real world variations in caliber to length ratio, anywhere from ~67 to 78+mm OAL would be 'accurate'. 

[Artoor_K]

jcf you're truly miracle worker :) These drawings gave me an idea how to mount falconets. THANKS A LOT ,MAN! 

[Buzzbomb]

that is great info on the guns.

Quite interested on how this build will evolve

[jcf]

You're welcome, glad it is of help.  :)

I look forward to seeing the finished sloop.

[Artoor_K]

Almost there :)
Falconets are all mounted:





This little thing  on the last photo is a Vallejo paint bottle :)

I hit upon an idea to mount LEGO cannons as a ship guns. Maybe I'll go this way :)

[Brian da Basher]

Those falconets look great! I'm having a lot of fun watching this beauty come together!

Brian da Basher

[Artoor_K]

Those falconets look great! I'm having a lot of fun watching this beauty come together!

Brian da Basher

Glad to know that :)

Little progress with anchors - it was possible to buy two of them. Sloop missed one but original anchors was nowhere near real one:

[Brian da Basher]

That's such an excellent detail which will definitely add to the realism!

Brian da Basher

[Artoor_K]

Finished...but my fiancee will do a better photos when she get her present :)

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Your restoration of the model came out looking very nice Artoor.  May it sail for many more years in a sea that is void of spider webs and dust bunnies.  :)

[Artoor_K]

That's all folks :)

[GTX_Admin]

Nice work.