Aurora BonHomme Richard

I don't remember the kit clearly; I haven't seen it in at least 30 years.  My recollection is that the basic hull shape and proportions were reasonable, though the detailing wasn't great - and the kit, like the others in that series, featured those abominable injection-molded plastic "sails" cast integrally with the yards.

What Aurora used for a source I have no idea.  There used to be a sort of standardized impression of what the Bonhomme Richard looked like; pictures and models that looked about like that kit turned up in quite a few books and at least one other plastic kit (the one from Pyro).  I suspect the Aurora people started with a model in some museum, and worked from there. 

Dr. Thomas Graham's book on the history of Aurora may have something to offer on this subject.  That book is high on my wish list; his volumes on Revell and Monogram are among my favorites.

If you're interested in what modern scholarship thinks the Bonhomme Richard looks like, you owe it to yourself to check out the reconstructed plans by Jean Boudriot.  And another reconstructed version is being described in a series of articles currently running in the Nautical Research Journal.

Some people think that speculative reconstructions of famous ships aren't legitimate model subjects.  (Howard I. Chapelle once wrote a famous article called "The Ship Model That Should Not Be Built."  He put the Bonhomme Richard close to the top of his list.)  I don't agree.  In my opinion the reconstruction of an historically important ship, in either model or full-size form, can be a fascinating, useful, and rewarding exercise.  (I also think it's incumbent upon the researcher or modeler to be absolutely up front about what the finished product is - that is, to identify it as "A Reconstruction" wherever possible.)  And if two researchers, using careful methods and consulting all the available historical sources, come up with different conclusions as to what a particular ship looked like - well, so much the better.

Wish I could help more.  Good luck.

What is the scale?

 

Professor Tilley,

Thank you for your response.  I have read the Chapelle article and have seen mention of Jean Boudriot's work as well, though I have never seen any of his books.  (are any translated?)  I am currently playing with the Heller Le Superbe in 1/500 for something different to do but have wondered if my Aurora BonHomme Richard could be built as something based in fact.  Perhaps, when I can finally get it out of storage I should take some photos and post them to see if anyone can suggest what it actually represents.

Again, thanks for taking the time.  The discussions on this board concerning sailing ship models are some of the more interesting and seem moreso for your input.

Bob Fuhrman

I do not know the scale (the kit is trapped in storage for a bit yet).  I believe it is kit #443.  The hull is probably about 20 inches or there abouts.  Sorry I cannot be more specific.

Bob Fuhrman

Jean Boudriot's works are some of the most fascinating and beautiful books available to the ship lover.  M. Boudriot is a master member of a dying breed:  the traditional draftsman.  His expertise in the history of French naval architecture during the sailing ship period is, if anything, surpassed by his skill as a draftsman.

All his books were originally published in French.  Some (not all, unfortunately) have been translated into English.  If I remember correctly, he did two works on the Bonhomme Richard.  One consists of a set of extremely detailed plans, packaged in a "book" that in fact takes the form of a box.  The other (and cheaper) is a more conventional book, titled John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard.  It's available in an English translation; it was distributed in the U.S. for a while by the Naval Institute Press, though it now seems to be out of print.  It contains copies (on a smaller scale) of the more important drawings in the set, along with contributions from several other folks - including the excellent water colorist William Gilkerson and Thomas Gillmer, longtime Professor of Naval Architecture at the Naval Academy.  I found one second-hand copy in the "used and out-of-print" section of the Barnes and Noble website.  Unfortunately all the Boudriot books have one other thing in common:  they're expensive.  Here's a link - but brace yourself for the price:  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/used/productMatches.asp?PEAN=9780870218927&z=y

If you live in the vicinity of a well-stocked library, or one that participates in the Inter-Library Loan service, it would be worth looking into the prospect of getting the book there.  It's a first-rate publication.

Thanks for the specific direction on Boudriot's work.  $131 is a little pricey but I'll see what inter-library loan can do for me up here in the Northland.  I've also heard about a 3 or 4 volume work of his on French ships which I can imagine would cost a small fortune.

I have several of Boudriot's books, and other than Ebay, the only place to get them at a reasonable price new is from France, at http://www.ancre.fr  I agree fully that Boudriot is without a doubt THE most detailed and expert source on French ship-building.  A number of his works have been translated into English, and all are available at the Ancre site (I am looking for a cheap edition of the Bonhomme Richard book myself!).  Even the ones in French are not too difficult to figure out, as it is all quite technical (which lends itself to English interpretation better than conversational French!).

....bump....

This might be the thread that stoney is looking for.

Thank you subfixer! Yes, this is the one I was thinking about sir. Thanks again.

Hello,

Not sure if this is the book you are looking for but used, in good shape, there are several copies at this site that start at $60.

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=3449231&author=Jean+Boudriot&qsort=p&matches=6&cm_sp=works*listing*buyused

I the like doesn't work, the site is Albris books - a good alternative for Amazon, sometimes the prices are better.

Good Luck!