I built this
model of the HMS Bounty
for no apparent reason back in the early nineties.
- It took 2-1/2 years
and was made from several bundles of sticks, a few rolls of string, and
16 sheets of blueprints.
- It's all wood; the
only metal is in the brass cannons and decorative window frames and
figures. No plastic.
- The hull and deck are composed of hundreds of individual planks, just like the
real ship.
- The planks on the model were warped with steam to fit the curves
of the hull.
- A third of the construction time was spent on the hull,
another third on the deck, and a third
on the rigging, in that order.
- Every line of the rigging
has a specific function, identical to that of the real ship.
- The black lines are the standard rigging, and support the
parts of the masts that don't move while the ship is operatiing.
They are coated with tar (black paint on the model) to protect
them from the elements.
- The lighter-colored lines are the running rigging,
constantly adjusted by the crew while sailing to turn the ship, catch
the wind, move cargo, etc.. They have to pass through
pulleys and wear out regularly, so they are not coated with tar.
- On the model, all the running rigging is coated with
beeswax to minimize the fuzzy appearance of the cotton thread.
This project taught me that seemingly impossible things can be done if
you just do them a little bit at a time.
It also taught me that I was insane and in dire need of a life. -- Karl |
