Dreadnought
21-09-2009, 13:41
The origins of this post are in the RN Signal Flags, Pennants and Pendants thread where the subject of Victory’s Trafalgar hoists were under discussion and then leading onto Trafalgar Day. I thought there might be some interest in a project I embarked upon a couple of years ago when trying to decide what the centre of attraction might be at the Stratford-upon-Avon Sea Cadets (TS Gurkha) annual Trafalgar Dinner. The proverbial chat over a beer led to a beer mat sketch idea of building part of HMS Victory ..!!
It was decided …. we will have a go! Myself, and the Chairman of TS Gurkha UMC, press ganged a couple of suitably skilled, though sceptical helping hands from the pub.
So what started as an ambitious thought now had to be turned into a design that could be built, and built in such a way so that it could easily be dismantled and re-built as easily as possible – a flat pack ship ..!
After studying original drawings of HMS Victory, and going to Portsmouth to take photographs of the real thing, I created some, concept and design sketches (some shown below). The concept sketches were then dimensioned to achieve an approximate 2/3 scale of the original, except that this was compromised in height and depth in order to preserve perspective and to still allow full scale human interaction. It was planned for it to be a 'stage' at the Dinner from which the evening's proceedings would be directed.
With no budget, a lot of time was initially spent searching for willing donors of materials. It was decided to minimise the range of build materials to make it easier to source, most of the component parts being manufactured from 2”x 1” softwood section and 3mm plywood, stapled and glued together. Some heavier timber sections were used for the poop deck support frame.
The cannon barrels were made, in sections, from 3mm plywood which were steamed and bent round a series of wooden formers, with 22mm chipboard rounds for the rings. The barrels bear the Royal Cipher which was painstakingly machined from thin ply and formed round the curve of the barrel.
Cannon carriage wheels (shown in one of the photos below having a coat of primer) were made from three thicknesses of chip board, cut out round on a bandsaw using a specially made jig to ensure they were perfectly circular.
The main outer section and central hub of ship’s wheel was made from circles cut from plywood spaced out on internal battens, with the outer rim made of plywood sections bent round the circumference. Spokes are made from staircase spindles.
The mast, made in sections, was again made from plywood steamed round chipboard formers. Lots of staples and glue, all then filled, sanded and painted. The yellow ochre paint on the ship was hand mixed to achieved the closest possible match.
The fire buckets were in in fact 14 inch plastic flower pots suitably painted black and gold and the Royal Cipher attached as a sticky label.
Construction took place over the period July to October 2007 in a barn just outside Stratford. Long nights and weekends … It had to be ready for October 27th - the day of the Dinner.
It was finished with one day to spare. Managing to scrounge a 3 ton lorry, and driver, it was a 6 am start on the day of the Dinner, some of the last minute paintwork not fully dry. Whilst confident of the re-erection, no risks could be taken of having a half built ship … no real idea how long it was going to take ... there are always unforeseen problems aren’t there! Eight inches clear of the Ballroom ceiling … I’m sure it wasn’t that tight when I measured it ..?? Well finally, as the hotel staff started laying the top table and sprigs in the afternoon, we were applying the finishing touches, hanging the flags and bunting, and looking forward to well earned liquid sustenance ..!! It was a hell of a dash to return home and squeeze into the DJ in time for pre-dinner drinks and the sound of ‘Roast Beef of Olde England’ announcing dinner … phew, that was hard work.
The attached local magazine article (pdf file) describes the Trafalgar Dinner itself at which Jeffery Dench (Dame Judi’s Brother) was one of the guests of honour. He recited a narrative from the deck of the Victory relating to moments during the Battle.
The photograph of the two suited gents on deck is one of myself (taller of the two) and the Chairman of TS Gurkha.
It was a busy Summer, but a very worthwhile and enjoyable evening that remains an ‘immortal memory’ to me.. It was a shame to dismantle the old girl the following day.
It was decided …. we will have a go! Myself, and the Chairman of TS Gurkha UMC, press ganged a couple of suitably skilled, though sceptical helping hands from the pub.
So what started as an ambitious thought now had to be turned into a design that could be built, and built in such a way so that it could easily be dismantled and re-built as easily as possible – a flat pack ship ..!
After studying original drawings of HMS Victory, and going to Portsmouth to take photographs of the real thing, I created some, concept and design sketches (some shown below). The concept sketches were then dimensioned to achieve an approximate 2/3 scale of the original, except that this was compromised in height and depth in order to preserve perspective and to still allow full scale human interaction. It was planned for it to be a 'stage' at the Dinner from which the evening's proceedings would be directed.
With no budget, a lot of time was initially spent searching for willing donors of materials. It was decided to minimise the range of build materials to make it easier to source, most of the component parts being manufactured from 2”x 1” softwood section and 3mm plywood, stapled and glued together. Some heavier timber sections were used for the poop deck support frame.
The cannon barrels were made, in sections, from 3mm plywood which were steamed and bent round a series of wooden formers, with 22mm chipboard rounds for the rings. The barrels bear the Royal Cipher which was painstakingly machined from thin ply and formed round the curve of the barrel.
Cannon carriage wheels (shown in one of the photos below having a coat of primer) were made from three thicknesses of chip board, cut out round on a bandsaw using a specially made jig to ensure they were perfectly circular.
The main outer section and central hub of ship’s wheel was made from circles cut from plywood spaced out on internal battens, with the outer rim made of plywood sections bent round the circumference. Spokes are made from staircase spindles.
The mast, made in sections, was again made from plywood steamed round chipboard formers. Lots of staples and glue, all then filled, sanded and painted. The yellow ochre paint on the ship was hand mixed to achieved the closest possible match.
The fire buckets were in in fact 14 inch plastic flower pots suitably painted black and gold and the Royal Cipher attached as a sticky label.
Construction took place over the period July to October 2007 in a barn just outside Stratford. Long nights and weekends … It had to be ready for October 27th - the day of the Dinner.
It was finished with one day to spare. Managing to scrounge a 3 ton lorry, and driver, it was a 6 am start on the day of the Dinner, some of the last minute paintwork not fully dry. Whilst confident of the re-erection, no risks could be taken of having a half built ship … no real idea how long it was going to take ... there are always unforeseen problems aren’t there! Eight inches clear of the Ballroom ceiling … I’m sure it wasn’t that tight when I measured it ..?? Well finally, as the hotel staff started laying the top table and sprigs in the afternoon, we were applying the finishing touches, hanging the flags and bunting, and looking forward to well earned liquid sustenance ..!! It was a hell of a dash to return home and squeeze into the DJ in time for pre-dinner drinks and the sound of ‘Roast Beef of Olde England’ announcing dinner … phew, that was hard work.
The attached local magazine article (pdf file) describes the Trafalgar Dinner itself at which Jeffery Dench (Dame Judi’s Brother) was one of the guests of honour. He recited a narrative from the deck of the Victory relating to moments during the Battle.
The photograph of the two suited gents on deck is one of myself (taller of the two) and the Chairman of TS Gurkha.
It was a busy Summer, but a very worthwhile and enjoyable evening that remains an ‘immortal memory’ to me.. It was a shame to dismantle the old girl the following day.