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Mondfeld " Historic Ship Models " |
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GUNPORTS in warships were
built into the
side of the ship. The sheerline of the gunports was parallel to the
deckline so
that each gun barrel was the same relative height to each porthole. Fig. 12.
The vertical edges of the
ports were nearly always truly plumb to timbers or ribs which were
square to the waterline. There were occasional variations when the
timbers were not square to the waterlines but to the keel. This can be
ignored unless one has definite evidence.
On the solid hulls the gunports can be cut out
with a small chisel and cleaned up if necessary with a small square
file.
First lay out on the hull the upper line on which
the ports lie. Fig. 12. Consulting the plan, mark off on this line the
upper left hand corner of each gunport. Carefully draw a vertical line
down from this point, which will be the left frame of the port, Fig.
13A.
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With a chisel no wider than the port's edge punch in the four edges and
carefully chip out the square centre, Fig. 13B. Avoid prying as you
will thus round off the edges.
An alternative method is to mark the centre of each
gunport, drill a hole fitting within the square siz;e of the port and
then square the hole with a small chisel or a square rectangular file,
if in the waist bulwarks Fig. 13C.
A few variations in the design of gunport lids are
shown. Usually there was a stop to prevent the lid jamming. The lid had
slightly tapered sides. Lids near the waterline were closed and caulked
watertight internally in heavy weather, and during such times in large
vessels a small hinged shutter or plug on the lid itself was opened for
ventilation.
Small vessels such as brigs, corvettes
and sloops often had rowports between the gunports for long oar sweeps
when becalmed.
On the thick wales which were partly cut by the ports, the lids were
made with the wale thickness to match up and present an even appearance
when closed, but this was not done with mouldings.
Often the gunports on the quarter deck
had no port lids as they were so high above the waterline. Cutters and
schooners also frequently omitted the lids from the bulwark gunports.
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Contents
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Model
scale
Ship lines
The hull, woodworking
Holes in the hull
Gun ports
Decks, laying of
Rails and channels
Wales
Stern and galleries
Head and its rails
Figurehead
Rudder
Steering gear
Deck furniture
Windlass
Capstan
Hatches
Skylights
Hammock nettings
Painting the model, colors
Waterline
Rigging:
 The spars
Tops,
crosstrees, cheeks
Mast,
boom, gaff, yards
Lower
and upper yards,
halliards
The
double topsail
Lifts,
footropes, sheets, braces, clew garnets
Yard
bands
Making the spars
Ironwork
Bowsprit, dolphin striker,
the doublings
Top, construction
Shrouds, deadeyes, lanyards
Books & Tools,
recommendations
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