Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

finally one a bit further a way for reference.  I will do the davits next...the starboard side will be with them seaward for a boat........fun fun fun.

Rob

more.

I'm going to take the liberty of offering a suggestion.  While you can still do it more-or-less conveniently, get rid of the plastic belaying pins.  Apart from being way out of scale, they won't stand the pull of even reasonably taut lines.

Brass replacements aren't exactly cheap, but they'll not only look better but be much, much stronger.  The smallest size offered by either Bluejacket or Model Expo will do the job.  (They'll still be a little too big, but the ends can be snipped off.)  Recent experience suggests that (though this surprised me a little) Model Expo's are marginally better.  On the other hand, I strongly recommend the britannia metal blocks, deadeyes, and other rigging gear from Bluejacket.  Again, not cheap but a huge improvement over what Revell has to offer.

We're thinking along the same lines.  I will be using britannia metal pins for the rigging that is significant.  Also I have lots of brass pins but I use those for my scratch built diorama scenes.  I'll be using metal deadeyes and blocks as well.  I figure once the pins are leaden with belayed rope..they will hardly be noticed in general.  Thanks for noticing and pointing that out...great suggestions...I had aready planned on those.  Thanks very much for the fine input.

Rob

A little work done today.  I built the port side davits..with their work being loading anchor chain.

Another view...the starboard davits will be working a boat that will be moored against the Cutties hull by a gang supported by the proper rigging. I will add rope coils to the davits.

Another view

I'm learning so much from this thread of pictures and group comments.  A question about the boats and davits:  Wouldn't there be some eyebolts on the bow and stern of the boats to which the davit lines would be attached?  And how in the world would a boat be swung past the davits, the spacing of which is narrower than the length of the boat?

I have this kit in my stash. Until now, I've looked at it as an old relic that would probably see the landfill once I kicked off--if I kept it that long. Now, I'm inspired to take another look.

MAddave,

The davit pivota 360 degrees and the crew pushes the boat past the davit then they swing the bow section outboard as well.

I understand the theory but given the length of the kit's boats and the spacing of the davits, nope.

They slack off the line at one end, allowing it to swing free. Then push that end of the boat between the davits and out at an angle. Then, when that end is through, they slack off the other end and push it through, allowing the davits to pivot around to face outboard. the boat is now hanging over the side of the ship. At least that is how I figure it.

One davit is partially swung out..then the boat is hauled as far to it as possible..then when it clears the other davit the boat is swung past and out as the second davit is swung out.  The boats are passed between the davits..then unloaded.  It is a weird process but it is how it is done.

Yeah, what he said.

Look at it Timothy and create a fine model that is built in diorama form........Fun approach.

Rob

While we are on the issue of davits..I found some very old images I took of the CS I scratch built back in 1973.  It sits between the CSS Kaursauge and the large revell model *Spanish Gallion.

Another view...these are all Britannia metal castings.

last one.  I gave the scratchbuilt CS away to my brother and he destroyed it...ha gave me the hulk...which is in my shop on a shelf...I carved the hull from a block of cedar and planked it with wooden stir sticks.

with the starboard aft davit extended over the side..I will depict the main boat in the water by the lowered gang....with rigging run out with blocks at water level

There are lots of davit configurations that can be modeled on the CS........note the location nof the davits in this picture of the CS in the 20's

Yes, the boars of that era will have a lifting eye in the bow & stern of the boats--these would be hidden under the boat cover.  Those eyes are inboard of the stem & stern of the boat--ideally, the sames spacing as the davits.

To use radial davits, you hoist the boat out of it's chocks.  Then both davits are pivoted until the boat either the boat rubs a davit, or either bow or stern clears.  A bit of padding is put between the davit and boat and it is heaved a bit as the davit is swung about  (there is a socket in the davit for a bar to better pivot it).  When one end of the boat is clear, the other davit is heaved around until the boat is entirely over the side hanging in its falls.  Which is also probably a good spot to note that Revell chose to show the davit "winches" turned 90º from a useful direction--which was likely a choice made as a limitation of the casting process).

This process requires 6-10 stout lads per boats, which is why radial davits were replaced with patent davits for lifeboats in maritime service.  

Please. please, do not leave the boat falls dangling over the side unless you are depicting either the immediate release or the collection of said boat.  It's not merely a bit of "modeler's license"--it's more of a faux pas on the level of depicting a modern jet fighter in flight with its canopy open.  The boat falls would be heaved in to at least deck level and lashed to the davits with marline

In all probability, the CS crew probably more regularly just used the tackle for hoisting things out of the holds, and just used a sling to pluck the jolly boat up and over the side.

When not in use, a boat would probably just be tied off from the stern by it's bow painter

I have loads of License........and depicted in this image taken by Capt Woodget from a distant location......the boat falls are quite evident and no boats are present...probably because the capt made use of it.   I will be depicting a boat next to my gang.  This scene is an excellent one to use as a model.

Rob

This link is froom another post on FSM  Lots of detail pictures of the Cutty Sark

maritimequest.com/.../cutty_sark_1869_page_1.htm

Yes.. that is a great resource Big Jake...I use that site often myself.  I love adding old B/W images of the CS to my personal collection.

Thanks for the link.

Rob

Moving along.....did a bit of work this morning, added the water cask, for fiferails and winch.

built the port/starboard water closet and locker.  I removed the cast waste pump and built another to replace it.

Rob

A bit more work on the forcastle.

And one looking aft.......wish I was a better modeler..my aging hands are trouble.

Now for the railing

Added the spars and forward boat skid

And some rope detail at the davits