How many sails on the 'Soverign of the Seas'

BigOleBob

My 1/250 lindberg kid needs modification. 

I found http://www.thesovereignoftheseas.com/ a site which includes 1933 wood building instructions for the same ship. The number of spars (horizontal beams) that the sails attach to seem to indicate only 3 sails for the forward and main masts. Yet the model kit has 4. Ive seen some models online with 4 and some with 3.

Hi Bob,

the answer is both are correct.  The 4th sail up is called a "royal" , the 3rd up is the topgallant, 2nd up is the topsail.  If memory serves me correctly, the yard (or spar) for the royal was often hoisted before setting the sail, so the yard was not always attached to the mast.

I'm not sure I understand your second question though.

Cheers

J

   Perhaps, this picture might help you.

     Montani semper liberi !  Happy modeling to all and every one of you.

                         Crackers                  

cerberusjf,

I agree. Both are correct.

Bill Morrison

Indeed both topgallants AND toproyal yards were often taken down when not in use.

Also, looking at eigtheenth century and earlier ships for guidance of rigging of nineteenth century ships is not a good idea.  Rigging changed over the centuries.  And clippers in particular carried much more sail than even other ships in nineteenth century.  One of the big criticisms of the clippers is that they carried too much canvas for their hull size (and shape).  Some captains carried too much canvas in conditions they should not have, in hopes of a faster passage.  Sailing as crew under such captains was not conducive to a long life.

One of the traditions of display of model ships that is not completely accurate, but- as I say- is traditional, particularly on warships, is to display them without sails but put up all the yards and all the running rigging associated with those yards and sails.   Looks neat but, for instance, when in port, much of that tophamper stuff was taken down.

Indeed!  If you choose to display the ship without sails, check the references to determine proper placement of the yards.  I have seen so many builders display their ships with bare yards in the positions they would be in wearing a full suit of sails, which, of course, is incorrect.

Bill Morrison

Thank you everyone for your support.  With your information I've decided to keep the top sails. The model is full of innacuracies and I accept this as one of many. At first I was scared of atempting to do my own shrouds due to my drill having a tendency to melt the plastic then through friction melting larger holes. Then I realized I could simply notch the edges of those oversized chain plates and then glue a strip of plastic outside that once rigging was complete.  Though atempting such small ramheads seem impossible. I've contemplated ripping the individual ramheads from the plastic rigging and glueing them in proper place Then having the hand done shrouds above. The only thing similar to a 'block' i have at that scale are jewry 'seed beads' which can handle 2 threads going through the center but the outside is curved and smoothe. not idea for simulateing those elements. What do you guys suggest as the plastic shrouds are not even spaced properly for the cannons.

warshipguy

Indeed!  If you choose to display the ship without sails, check the references to determine proper placement of the yards.  I have seen so many builders display their ships with bare yards in the positions they would be in wearing a full suit of sails, which, of course, is incorrect.

Bill Morrison

Yes, that is the tradition I speak of. It has long been very common to display warships this way, also with gunports open.  Not scale, but sort of a tradition.