"Bonhomme Richard" gun carriages

The "BHR" was launched in 1765 and given a rebuild in 1772. The French crown became the sole owner in February 1779. Preparing Her as a warship began in March and lasted until May. The conversion was done by the French with input by John Paul Jones.

John, living on the beautiful St. Clair River

Wasn't the BHR converted from a merchantman?  Few of them were coppered in that era- it was expensive at first.  Seems to me the Americans would not be floating in dough, so I think it unlikely they would copper her when they converted her.  I guess I do not know much of the history of that ship- did the French do the conversion, or did the Americans buy the ship and convert it?

My rational says the same although all the drawings, in Jean Boudriot's  BR book, show plank lines and he doesn't mention anything about Her being coppered.

It's not likely that the BR was coppered - but not impossible either. The French and British navies were in the process of adopting the copper-sheathed hull at the time of the American Revolution. British warships got coppered as they came into ports with drydock facilities for refits. I don't know what policy the French had, but it doesn't seem impossible that they might have coppered the BR when they were converting her into a warship.

Well, there is always sandpaper.  And you  don't have to get it looking too smooth.  Before coppering, bottoms were protected with "stuff."  This was a somewhat thick, gooey mixture, applied with brushes or trowels, and should not look like a spraygun finish.

Thank You Don. Looks like red it will be.

FYI: What I'm attempting to do is converting Heller's "Le Superbe" into the "Bonhomme Richard".

Using Jean Boudriot's reference material, I see that I will have to eliminate the copper bottom. I hope you, or any of the more experienced plastic modelers on this site, might have some suggestions on removing the plates. If not I may have to consider a waterline display. I look forward to any advice that comes.

Warmest regards,

Johnef

I have never seen much reference material on the BHR, but normal practice was to paint the gun carriages red, usually with a red oxide paint.