| See also: Wolfram zu
Mondfeld " Historic Ship Models " |
A more efficient way of moving the tiller by a wheel came about in the
early 18th century. The tiller was moved by ropes. Each side led
through blocks and sheaves at the ship's sides and then through more
sheaves directly underneath the wheel barrel which might be one, two or
more decks overhead; Fig. F, or sometimes on the same deck.
19th century clipper ships and early steamers had a
similar arrangement except that the tiller was not taken through a hole
in the rudderhead, but instead fitted over the top of the rudder head
usually in a quadrant form. If the ship had a poop deck the quadrant,
etc. were underneath it but flush. Single decked ships usually covered
the quadrant and its gear with a portable monkey deck probably made up
of gratings in sections. Chains replaced the ropes gradually and with
the system the wheel could be placed much further away, say on a bridge
between paddle boxes amidships.
The common helm for sailing ships 18?0 onwards was to have
the wheel close to the rudder head on the poop deck and operate a short
yoke tiller on a worm gear. There are many ingenious types of
mechanical gear and Fig. G. was very common. It was covered by a teak
box with hinged lids and no bottom, something like a flattened
doghouse. The sides usually had caned panels with the name of the ship
on them, the whole supported on fancy turned legs.
Move now to the DECK to complete certain features, best
done before painting the hull.
Install the TIMBERHEADS, which are a certain (sometimes
alternate) number of ribs extending above the deck level and on which
the planking of the bulwarks is set. Warships planked over these on the
inside of the bulwarks (called ceiling or berthing, Fig. 35C & 35E)
but merchant ships usually did not bother, so these timbers were
exposed, Fig. 35B. Some of the high class clipper ships elaborated the
bulwark timbers by chamfering off the corners and adding a little
moulding work top and bottom. Cases were known of the timbers being
faced over with a half round brass sheet like a split tube which was
kept highly polished when in port. The spaces between the timberhead
stanchions, that is, the inside of the bulwark, were also elaborated
into fancy panel work either carved or painted with decorated borders
Fig. 35D.
The idea of painted panels was carried on well into the
present century on the large steel wind-jammers although in this type
the wooden timherheads had long since been replaced by iron stanchions.
If you do decide to decorate the panels, carry the same
style of decoration across the forward and after cross bulkheads at
each end of the waist.
Some of the earliest warships decorated the poop bulkheads
with intricate carving Fig. 35E, and even into the late 19th century
some clippers kept up elaborate carved work on this bulkhead too.
Up to the early 1800's the larger classes of wooden
warships (those with a poop and forecastle deck) had no forecastle
bulwarks hut instead a low gunwale above which the timberheads were
exposed as short stumpy posts used as bollards 3^G; there was a low
rail between these timberheads called a fife rail, because, they say, a
seaman would sit on it playing a fife when the crew were raising the
anchor. This rail was later pierced with holes for belaying pins. Later
sketches will show how this fife rail developed into a rail around each
mast, with the same name.
About 1810 the forecastle timberheads were increased in
height and planked over inside and out to form a regular bulwark, 35H,
the same fashion as the full length bulwarks on merchant ships and
flush decked naval ships. When the merchant ships like the clippers
introduced a raised forecastle deck they rarely had a bulwark hut
usually open rails or guard chains and stanchions. (British vessels
favoured iron stanchions and chains 34) American types usually carried
wooden stanchions with a capping rail.
COAMING BULKHEADS may be sheet planked, lines
to run vertically. This "planking" will smooth and square the bulkhead.
Note that often there was no bulkhead at the deck ends, as on frigates
and foc'sle decks of clipper ships where the deck sheltered the anchor
hauling gear.
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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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