To HMS Victory and beyond

[LE BOSCO]

Hi my friend !

you even know the menu served now, put everything to scale ,and fill the plates,the crew are hungry
your Vitory is worthy of inclusion in one of the largest museum
cheers
nicolas

[dafi]

And what does one do, if one has a bunch of hungry marines waiting for food and sitting in front of the gun room? Of course, one should take precautions.

Preparations include getting the equipment ready ...



... and the arms too ...







... and to dress the guards.



Ok I missed the epaulets ...

... but I shortened the tails according to the 1803 regulations. Just the officers had long tails, thanks to MSW for that detail!









Larger than life

And very important: place them in front of the gun room ...







... for that the Haute Vol�e can stay in peace and quiet. And the long tails of the to red men in the background clearly show: Yes, we are officers

Cheers, DAniel

[JIM BAUMANN]

very brilliant....


and very mad also!


Best wishes

JB

[dafi]

Thank you Jim!

Always your �umble servant!

XXXDAn

[dafi]

Slowly hunger was shifting the mood and there were some concerns about the two sentinels being able to handle their mates ...

... so back to plan B and deliver the goods in form of the earlier proposed 10 course dinner.

But small oupsy happened ...
... the meal was historical, but 107 years to young, I found hints it was from the 14. April 1912. So thinking about the side effects of this meal, the marines discussed and with an ice cold mood decided to opt for the normal stew. We should have a small look into the bucket, that would give us a hint, which day of the week is displayed in the small setup:

Sunday 1 pound pork, � pint peas?
Monday 1 pint oatmeal, 2 ounces butter?
Tuesday 2 pounds beef?
Wednesday � pint peas, 1 pint oatmeal, 2 ounces butter, 4 ounces cheese?
Thursday Same as Sunday
?Friday Same as Monday?
Saturday Same as Tuesday



An overview over our gay* party shows an increasingly raising mood, as the mess on the right is already served - with a lovingly elegant gesture the wooden spoon scratches out a blop of food out of the bucket and conveys it to the square plate with the metal dish *floush*
Also the mess on the left is starting to giggle in anticipation as their bucket full of delicious food is coming nearer and perhaps even can be guessed through the olphactorical chaos of the lower deck.





And dinner is served
Usually a mess consists of 4 to 8 man that shared cooking and eat together. One had the duty to bring the food to the Brody stove a deck above and take care that nobody stole food from it while being cooked. In case of the Victory there were about 160 messes.







NBext bucket with food for souls is drawing nearer.







Now that is party time! See some already took off their jackets and hung them up on the ceiling. But nobody dared to throw them over the gunz ...







One can see it simply is a tight and cosy place

XXXDAn

PS: The drawings of Bray�s album still show the pre-1803-uniforms.
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... hTerm=bray

* and gay here in its original meaning

[K494]

Great Marines!

Scott

[dafi]

... big danger ...

... enormous danger ...

... one of these days, I was in the bathroom and I found a new torture tool belonging to my wife: a Dermaroller!

Iron Maiden just inverted, spikes outside - how that could help the skin I will never understand.

But if you believe that that thing is dangerous, you are on the wrong track - the danger lies somewhere completely else!!!

I suddenly had a flash of inspiration and wanted to have a closer look at the thingy, and believe it or not, it crumbled into pieces just in front of my very eyes, I solemnly declare I did not touch it - I just looked ...



... but if it is already prepared for needing reassembly I thought that I could try out something.

So I took out the 1,5 mm thick pinky spacers and replaced them by 0,5 mm sheet. Used the old ones as template, so it went rather fast ...



... and reassembled the bit with only five spikewheels

And here it is the patented Dr. dafi Rivetroller��

Immediately tried it out on the copperplates to get an even and parallel surface-riveting ...



... which worked wonderfully as the roller had the right thickness for the row of plates ...



... and afterwards just gave the tighter riveting on the edges of the plates with the Riveter from RB .



The small vertical lines come from the nut on the back of the small riveter, me doofus did not pay attention to this small technical issue.

So if it takes some time to come back to you, it could be that I am trying to learn how to drink out of a sippy cup and also I do strongly believe that it will be difficult to type with broken my fingers ...

... as I am quite sure that it will come, the scream: "Daaaaaaaarrrling, have you seen my dermaroller?"

...

... and yes that is the true danger ...

...

XXXDAn

[LE BOSCO]

HI Dan

Great tips a good idea , always on the lookout,even in the bathroom
cheers
Nicolas

[dafi]

... doe, how to say ...



... I just looked - no touching involved ...

... but how did this happen ?!?

Suddenly my sweet one found herself lying on the back ...

... and got the edges worked with the RB Riveter.







Then changed the dermaroller from large-gauge ...



... to narrow-gauge.



And here we go









And now something different - the difference ...



... the small irregularities in the bow do not bother me to much. From there do come the remains from the first picture, I replaced them by bigger plates.



Still refined the corners ...



... and fixed missing nails.



The false keel, first try with flattened 0,3 mm copper wire ...



... but this proved to complicated to assmble.



Then better simple copper foil







Then still enjoyed some unusual views ...



... and brought back my small one into her normal position ...



... and had a deep breath as no bigger casualties had happened.

Only the school table looks like was not glued



XXXDAn

[JIM BAUMANN]

breathtaking use of a strange female foot instrument of torture !

I hope your dear on agrees the loss of her tool was worth it!


excellent...

JB

[Bill Code]

amazing work on the copper sheathing.. Still want to purchase your PE no4 with the hammock stanchions... Do you take pay pal ?

[ModelMonkey]

Brilliant! I especially like how you made the fasteners for the false keel. I have never seen that modeled before. Well done!

[dafi]

Hurry up - hurry up !!!



The starter is already getting impatient ...

XXXDAn

[dafi]

SILENCE!!!

[dafi]

EXERCISE of the great guns.

1st. Silence.
2d. Cast loose your guns.
3d. Level your guns.
4th.Take out your tompions.
5th. Run out your guns.
6th. Prime.
7th. Point your guns.
8th. Fire.

" The man who takes care of the powder is to place himself on the opposite side of the deck from that where we engage, except when fighting both sides at once, when he is to be amid-ships. He is not to suffer any other man to take a cartridge from him, but he who is appointed to serve the gun with that article, either in time of a real engagement, or at exercise.
" Lanthorns are not to be brought to quarters in the night, until the midshipman gives his orders for so doing to the person he charges with that article. Every thing being in it's place, and not the least lumber in the way of the guns, the exercise begins with,

1st. Silence.
At this word every one is to observe a silent attention to the officers.

2d. Cast loose your guns.
" The muzzle lashing is to be taken off from the guns, and (being coiled up in a small compass) is to be made fast to the eye-bolt above the port. The lashing-tackles at the same time to be cast loose, and the middle of the breeching seized to the thimble of the pomillion. The spunge to be taken down, and, with the crow, handspec, &c. laid upon the deck by the gun.
"N.B. When prepared for engaging an enemy, the seizing within the clinch of the breeching is to be cut, that the gun may come sufficiently within-board for loading, and that the force of the recoil may be more spent before it acts upon the breeching.

3d. Level your guns.
" The breech of your metal is to be raised so as to admit the foot of the bed's being placed upon the axle-tree of the carriage, with the quoin upon the bed, both their ends being even one with the other.
" N. B. When levelled for firing, the bed is to be lashed to the bolt which supports the inner end of it, that it may not be thrown out of it's place by the violence of the gun's motion, when hot with frequent discharges. See fig. 17, plate VII.

4th. Take out your tompions.
"The tompion is to be taken out of the gun's mouth, and left hanging by it's laniard.

5th. Run out your guns.
" With the tackles hooked to the upper-bolts of the carriage, the gun is to be bowsed out as close as possible, without the assistance of crows or handspecs; taking care at the same time to keep the breeching clear of the trucks, by hawling it through the rings; it is then to be bent so as to run clear when the gun is fired. When the gun is out, the tackle-falls are to be laid along-side the carriages in neat fakes, that when the gun, by recoiling, overhauls them, they may not be subject to get foul, as they would if in a common coil.

6th. Prime.
"If the cartridge is to be pierced with the priming wire, and the vent filled with powder, the pan also is to be filled; and the flat space, having a score through it at the end of the pan, is to be covered, and this part of the priming is to be bruised with the round part of the horn. The apron is to be laid over, and the horn hung up out of danger from the flash of the priming.

7th. Point your guns.
At this command the gun is, in the first place, to be elevated to the heighth of the object, by means of the side-sights; and then the person pointing is to direct his fire by the upper-sight, having a crow on one side and a handspec on the other, to heave the gun by his direction till he catches the object.
" N. B. The men who heave the gun for pointing are to stand between the ship's side and their crows or handspecs, to escape the injury they might otherwise receive from their being struck against them, or splintered by a shot; and the man who attends the captain with a match is to bring it at the word, " Point your guns," and kneeling upon one knee opposite the train-truck of the carriage, and at such a distance as to be able to touch the priming, is to turn his head from the gun, and keep blowing gently upon the lighted match to keep it clear from ashes. And as the missing of an enemy in action, by neglect or want of coolness, is most inexcusable, it is particularly recommended to have the people thoroughly instructed in pointing well, and taught to know the ill consequences of not taking proper means to hit their mark; wherefore they should be made to elevate their guns to the utmost nicety, and then to point with the same exactness and having caught the object through the upper-sight, at the word,

8th. Fire.
" The match is instantly to be put to the bruised part of the priming; and when the gun is discharged the vent is to be closed, in order to smother any spark of fire that may remain in the chamber of the gun; and the man who spunges is immediately to place himself by the muzzle of the gun in readiness, when, at the next word,

9th. Spunge your gun.
"The spunge is to be rammed down to the bottom of the chamber, and then twisted round, to extinguish effectually any remains of fire; and when drawn out, to be struck against the out-side of the muzzle, to shake off any sparks or scraps of the cartridge that may have come out with it; and next it's end is to be shifted ready for loading; and while this is doing, the man appointed to provide a cartridge is to go to the box, and by the time the spunge is out of the gun, he is to have it ready; and at the word,

10th. Load with cartridge.
The cartridge (with the bottom end first, seam-downwards, and a wad after it) is to be put into the gun, and thrust a little way within the mouth, when the rammer is to be entered; the cartridge is then to be forcibly rammed down, and the captain at the same time is to keep his priming-wire in the vent, and, feeling the cartridge, is to give the word home, when the rammer is to be drawn, and not before. While this is doing, the man appointed to provide a shot is to provide one (or two, according to the order at that time) ready at the muzzle, with a wad like-wise, and when the rammer is drawn, at the word,

11th. Shot your guns.
"The shot and wad upon it are to be put into the gun, and thrust a little way down, when the rammer is to be entered as before. The shot and wad are to be rammed down to the cartridge, and there have a couple of forcible strokes, when the rammer is to be drawn, and laid out of the way of the guns and tackles, if the exercise or action is continued; but if it is over, the spunge is to be secured in the place it is at all times kept in.

13th. Put in your tompions.
"The tompions to be put into the muzzle of the cannon.

14th. House your guns.
"The seizing is to be put on again upon the clinched end of the breeching, leaving it no slacker than to admit of the guns being housed with ease. The quoin is to be taken from under the breech of the gun, and the bed, still resting upon the bolt, within the carriage, thrust under, till the foot of it falls off the axle-tree, leaving it to rest upon the end which projects out from the foot. The metal is to be set down upon this. The gun is to be placed exactly square, and the muzzle is to be close to the wood, in it's proper place for passing the muzzle lashings. See CANNON, and fig. 19, plate VII.

14th. Secure your guns.
"The muzzle lashings must first be made secure, and then with one tackle (having all it's parts equally taught with the breeching) the gun is to be lashed. The other tackle is to be bowsed taught, and by itself made fast, that it may be ready to cast off for lashing a second breeching.
"N.B. Care must be taken to hook the first tackle to the upper bolt of the carriage, that it may not otherwise obstruct the reeving of the second breeching, and to give the greater length to the end part of the fall.
No pains must be spared in bowsing the lashing very taught, that the gun may have the least play that is possible, as their being loose may be productive of very dangerous consequences.


EXERCISE to EYES of a ship

"The quoin, crow, and handspec, are to be put under the gun, the powder-horn hung up in it's place, &c.
"Being engaged at any time when there is a large swell, a rough sea, or in squally weather, &c. as the ship may be liable to be suddenly much heeled, the port-tackle fall is ro be kept clear, and (whenever the working of the gun will admit of it) the man charged with that office is to keep it in his hand; at the same time the muzzle lashing is to be kept fast to the ring of the port, and being hauled taught, is to be fastened to the eye-bolt over the port-hole, so as to be out of the gun's way in firing, in order to haul it in at any time of danger.
"This precaution is not to be omitted, when engaging to the windward, any more than when to the leeward, those situations being very subject to alter at too short a warning.
"A train-tackle is always to be made use of with the lee-guns, and the man stationed to attend it is to be very careful in preventing the gun's running out at an improper time."
EXERCISE may also be applied with propriety to the forming our fleets into orders of sailing, lines of battle, &c. an art which the French have termed evolutions, or tactiques. In this sense exercise may be defined, the execution of the movements which the different orders and dispositions of fleets occasionally require, and which the several ships are directed to perform by means of signals.

It is interesting that about 1800 there was no official standardised instruction for the gun handling, this was just to be introduced years later. This usual sequence was described by Falconer.

To get a feeling what happens in this moments, I made a small display, which shows three different stages.



On the left the gun is aiming, the middle one loading and the right one just prior the shot before the tackles are put in flakes onto the deck.

7th. Point your guns.
Here we see the adjustment of the height of the gun by the handspikes. Here we can easily see the sense of the steps on the side of the carriage, it serves the handspikes as a stable support. The gun captain is giving the instructions, while the second gun captain with the blue head is ready to reposition the coin. Falconer mentions that first the height is adjusted, then the direction. The other men are busy to keep the gun steady.



8th. Fire.
Here the moment before the shot. The crew are still steadying the gun with on the tackles, these tackles are to be laid in flakes onto the deck prior the shot and then the men to retreat to a more safe area amidships. Nice detail to be seen on the Master and Commander Bonus DVD: The two men with the handspikes on the hull at both sides of the gun, ready to jump and to jam the wheels after the shot for the gun not to run back out immediately after the recoil, as the tackles are not manned jet again.



9th. Spunge your gun.
Here the loader is sponging the barrel. One nicely to be seen the exposed position and how far the sponge points outwards. Left is the cartride ready, right the wad. Also left the shot and right the second wad. The gun captain is closing the vent with his thump as described by Falconer.



See also the tools right on the deck, the sponge, rammer, worm and the pot with water for the sponge.

XXXDAn

[109]

Fantastic modeling! ! chapeau.

[dafi]

Thank you Bernd, very appreciated!

And for that the gang looks lifelike comes some ink and a nice wash. See the before and after pictures - let there be life













XXXDAn

[JIM BAUMANN]

very good very mad...

in 1/700 and 1/350 figures I often use a sharp pencil for eyes, creases and an belts ...

I find it can give it a sharper demarcation than a paintbrush...

regards

Jim Baumann

[dafi]

Thank you Jim, tried it out, but at my scale I do not manage to get the pencil into their eyes as the details are too fine and too deep. There you have the advantage of less detail and flatter faces

But here finally some news:

After I did not manage to do much due to dailies work, I decided to get some auxiliaries workers for the ship yard ...

... they were described as very dedicated ...

... I immediately made them do some trial work ...



... but what did he do there?!?

XXXDAn

[dafi]

At least this little yellow something gave me the opportunity to finish off the show off of the gun crews

Charging





For orientation positions by the clock (seen from the top):

06 o`clock gun captain, covering the vent hole with a leather thump protector, for that while sponging the barrel no ashes or embers are pushed into the vent hole from the inside by the pressure
12 o`clock sponging the barrel
11 o`clock the cartridge is passed
01 o`clock afterwards the wad
10 o`clock the bullet is handed
09, 08, 07 und 03, 04, 05 o`clock the crew holds tight the tackles
6:30 o`clock the inhaul tackle is secured
03 o`clock second row the sponges, rammers, bars and crowbars are handled

aiming







06 o`clock the gun captain is directing by hand signs
11 und 01 o`clock leveling the horizontal elevation by the bars
10, 09, 08, 07 und 02, 03, 04, 05 o`clock the crew holds tight the tackles
6:30 o`clock the second gun captain holds ready the lead apron to protect the vent
6:30 o`clock second row the inhaul tackle is secured
03 o`clock second row the sponges, rammers, bars and crowbars are handled
(and almost the eye of the black sailor is pierced by the worm ...)

prior the shot







06 o`clock gun captain has to bow down a lot to aim properly
11 und 01 o`clock two crew membres crouch against the hull, ready to jump after the shot to jam the wheels of the carriage in the backward position, as in that moment the tackles are laying still on deck not being manned, to avoid the gun to run out again
10, 09, 08, 07 und 02, 03, 04, 05 o`clock the crew holds tight the tackles, correcting the side orientation - if necessary helped by the gents with the bars. Just prior the shot they put down the tackle onto the deck without disturbing the recoil of the gun and gather in the center line of the ship
02 o`clock second row the sponge is already waiting for after the shot
03 o`clock second row the sponges, rammers, bars and crowbars are handled

As the sea is calsm, the gun port tackle is not manned - in rough seas one man has to secure it to be able to close it fast in emergencies.

Supplies

Also some other had to be done. The cartridges were to be transported by a chain of people from the magazine up the companionway to the decks and ...



... hurry-hurry-hurry, from there distributed towards the guns. By the regulations this was not to be done by the boys for safety reasons. Their duty was much more to clear loose powder with a wet mop. Was this the origin for the powder monkey?



And one crew member was to servey the lint stocks, necessary in case one of the flintlocks does not work.



XXXDAn