Many thanks Martocticvs and Kurusu!
I think I will provide Victory with some mock windows indeed...
Meanwhile, now that the hulls are constructed, it was time to define the composition:
The masts, sails, boats etc. are only mock-ups. They were quickly and crudely fashioned from simple plastic rod and tube, tissue paper, and insulation foam. Their only purpose is to provide the correct dimensions and volumes for defining the overall composition.
To give you a better idea of what I have in mind:
Number 1 is a bunch of wreckage with some sailors clinging to it. A boat is in the process of rescuing them:
Number 2 is another boat rowing towards other sailors in the water:
Number 3 is just a detail at the hull: some sailors climbing on a loose anchor, or maybe trying to fasten it again?:
Number 4 is more wreckage:
Number 5 are boats towed by the two men o’ war. One of them will be badly damaged and half submersed.
Number 6 will be small water columns from round shot hitting the water. These will carry more visual weight when finished, as there will also be white circular ripples in the water where shot has landed a moment earlier.
So, the main focal point will obviously be the two ships slogging it out.
In the foreground, there will be wreckage, sailors in the water, and boats trying to rescue them.
In the background, there will be shot falling that has been fired by Santissima Trinidad.
The men on Victory will be firing the guns in both directions: to starboard to Redoutable in the diorama and to port to Santissima Trinidad outside of the diorama. But the marines and sailors will fire their muskets etc. only towards Redoutable.
The men on Redoutable will only fire towards Victory, also with the big guns.
Captain Lucas’ wrote in his report:
… it proved difficult to board her because of the motion of the two vessels, and the height of the Victory’s upper tier and battery. On that I gave the order to cut the supports of the main-yard so that it might serve as a bridge.
I have to say I was very tempted to place the lower yard of Redoutable down on the two hulls. This would be a great visual link between both ships and a fantastic focal point with French climbing over Victory, more getting ready behind them on Redoutable, and British on the other side trying to repel them.
But Lucas then wrote:
At that moment, ( ), the three-decker Téméraire, ( ), came down, full sail, on our starboard side. We were immediately under the full fire of her artillery, discharged almost with muzzles touching.
And from that moment, the situation on Redoutable went downhill very fast…
So unfortunately (for me
), it looks like time didn’t allow the main yard to actually be cut loose and lowered.
But in between these passages, Lucas also wrote:
At the same time Midshipman Yon and four seamen sprang on board the Victory by means of her anchor.
So, 5 French did succeed in crossing over to Victory, using one of her anchors as a bridge.
So this I can use with the same purpose as the yard!
The anchor can be in this position, with several men on it and large groups of men on the ships at both ends:
That should make for a perfect main focal point on the ships.
Another (smaller) one will be on the quarterdeck of Victory, where Nelson is supported by his men to be carried down.
Some views from every side of the composition:
I wanted to define the composition at this stage not only for the fun of it, but also because it will help a lot in planning the rest of the build.
Now I can see which masts and spars will be damaged where, and I can build them as such (as opposed to building them complete and then ‘damaging’ them). I also know now how much masts and spars to make for wreckage in the sea, and it allowed me to determine how many boats and which types I will need to build.
Later, this mock-up will also allow me to plan the location and poses of the crew, guns and wreckage on the ships, and the battle damage to the hulls.
So if anyone sees anything that can be improved on (like the set of the sails, … ), please let me know! This is the stage where I can still change things easily…
Cheers,
Marijn