Scratch Building the Portuguese Carrack in 1/700th Scale

[callen]

Apologies for the delay, gents. I've been refamiliarizing myself with the upload process here.


So, I had a really funny/interesting experience the other day. Going through my old carrack photos, I discovered a model I actually forgot that I had built! It's a weird feeling, gotta tell ya. Here is an old photo of it:

The next step was to see if I could find it, and this led to a whole safari through my old modeling stuff. Things I had forgotten I made, PE from my good friend Bruno that I had completely forgotten about. Anyway, here is the roundup of current materials.

This is a pic of all the unpainted/unbuilt resin carrack pieces remaining after my own projects as well as sales to other modelers. And yes...those are apparently elephants. I wasn't sure where they had come from or why I had made them, but apparently I had the idea of building an Arabian Dhow back in the day, and it involved elephants at some point. I may indeed continue with that project soon.

This one above is apparently a Venetian Galleass. I remember starting this, and I remember abandoning it, or setting it aside, seven or eight years ago, but I can't for the life of me remember why now, unless I was afraid of doing oars. At any rate, I looked it over, and I think it's perfectly suitable for work. I can't think of what I would do differently, so this is one I will be continuing with.

This project began as an English Galleon some years after the Resin Carrack adventure, but then I got excited about the Xebec-style warship. I think this sort of hull would serve as a basis for either a Xebec or a Galleon. I don't have a naval historian to swear to it, but a xebec hull seems to share most of the dimensional characteristics of a galleon gundeck and below from what I can see. I would welcome anyone more knowledgeable than me to refute this.

The idea of this model was the possibility of modeling a gundeck (or possibly two) below the weather deck, which would be great fun. Also, I hate drilling and shaping gunports in solid resin hulls. Notice the damage? This little model sat in my window sill for a number of years, waiting in its little case for me to pick it up again, and fixed to the wooden base with some double-sided tape (very useful stuff, that.) Anyway, that tape can increase adhesion over time, and when I finally went to remove and examine it�man! It was really stuck on there good. So, I gave it a good tug and�voila! It broke.

No big deal. I can raze and rebuild the bulwarks...but it made me realize what a deleterious effect sunlight (ultraviolet) has on styrene. Don't store your unpainted models in the window! For that matter, don't store your painted ones in the window either, if you can help it.

And then there's this little guy, the Cheops Barge (pyramid ship) in 700th scale. Looks a bit like a canoe now, but I'm hoping I can get it into shape in time for contest season. I don't think it will take too long.

So, these photos are of carrack/nao/galleon models I had actually started and then set aside. First, we have the Spanish Galleon based on the Bruno Hull,

(Hooray! I found it! ) a Venetian Carrack based on the Fatty Hull,

another Fatty based Carrack,

a Nao based on the Bruno hull, which I think I will model as Magellan's Victoria,

[callen]

two additional Portuguese carracks intended to accompany the Fora.

A Spanish Urca...

And a very basic nao without decks, basically a pure 'Bruno' hull.

And, finally the Flemish Carrack, which is at about 95%.

This one, as it is already mounted in its case I definitely did not forget about. I think I can finish it for Contest Season this year, where it should do well.

So, these are my little discoveries from my sailing ship modeling, some of which I had forgotten about. Altogether we have...how many? About a dozen builds in various states of completion. I consider all these projects live at this point, but I don't know how quickly I can finish them all. The problem with so many builds is getting burned out on little ships all based on the same hull. But I've been away for a while, and I'm feeling the fun of Carracks again. Certainly the Flemish Carrack goes first, and then the Cheops Barge, and then the Galleon and/or Victoria, I think. I'm not sure what the best process of sharing them would be, whether to just post everything here, or start a separate thread for each one. I don't want to hog the forum with too many builds...

[JIM BAUMANN]

as its 1/700...

maybe post some of them in the works in progress forum as well

viewforum.php?f=59

as many of your techniques have application to steel ships also...

Now then- there was a interstng and iuntsructiuve debate when I was building Mary Rode about havig the lateen sail spars to windward

which is also a though aplicable to your era of vessel( those that carry latten sails..)

Have a read thru--from here onwards ( the debate crosses a couple of pages

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=163736&start=60#p712155

I would be interested to hear what you think...

BTW--apropos wolding of spars;
( just a thought! )

I confronted that when I built Mary Rose--albeit in "giant" 1/400 scale...


as a firm believer that sometimes less is more... and the chaps of old 'wolded' (?is that a word?!)
their spars very neatly, more so than I entrusted my hands to do achieve in 1/400 without it looking clunky or overscale...

I used back decal strip and drybrushed horizontally

the regularity of the effect I think could translate into 1/700 as well-- and maybe save time and sanity!

Great to see you re-enthused!
JIM B

wolding on Mary Rose




and windward lateen spar sail setting

[callen]

So!

This is, gosh, very very overdue. I posted here last year fully intending to get back into the Carrack Scene and the beloved Flemish Willem Kraek, etc. And then....well... I got a little sidetracked.

The plan was to just spend a few weeks finishing up my Fujimi Ise in time for our annual local contest, and then get right back to the carracks!


In the event, the Ise detour took MONTHS...not weeks, and what's worse, I didn't get it done in time for contest, and at the last minute had to switch to another 'almost done' build, my Pit Road 41 Hood...

I have to tell you gents, this whole process of trying to finish the Ise and then having to switch at the last minute to the Hood... I was up almost all night the night before contest trying to get the rigging done. Absolutely exhausting. She did fairly well for me, even considering the rigging wasn't complete. 3rd in her category and 'most popular model' at the show. I could have finished her for the Nats if I'd really wanted to, but, honestly I was burned out.

And then, round about July, when I realized I wasn't going to attend the IPMS Nats this year...this happened...

And, a little later this...

And this...

And this...

And this...

AAAAAAND THIS...

And, if I'm honest... this too...

So... what in the world!?!?!?!



Let me explain... ummm...no, I don't have any excuse. I kinda went off on a tangent of a tangent of a tangent...that led to a tangent. Hey, that's the way it goes sometimes. So, what are we looking at?

The scratch-built Works In Progress you see above are, in order of their appearance:

1. A Phoenician Galley, circa 850 BC
2. The Khufu Sun Ship (Pyramid Boat, circa 2400 BC)
3. Santa Caterina do Monte Sinai
4. Henri Grace Adieu, Tudor Carrack
5. Greek Galley
6. The Mary Rose, Tudor Carrack
7. SS NYANZA, P&O 19th Century Paddle Steamer.

So... in my defense, three of these _Actually_ _Are_ _Carracks_. And one of them, the Santa Caterina _actually_ _is_ a Portuguese Carrack.



But, I have to admit, she is not on the front burner at this time. Actually, I'm dealing with a bit of Galley Fever at the moment. You can see my progress on the thread 'The Oared Vessel in 1/700th Scale' on this forum. I do hope to finish the Mary Rose in time for contest season as well.

As far as the status of these builds go...I'm going to restart the Nyanza, and I hope to get her done for Contest Season. The three galleys are a go, actually they're almost done. The Mary Rose is on the back burner, but she's still warm. I hope to finish her as well this year, for the Nats if not for the local contest. But the Caterina will probably not get done this year.

So... I have kept the faith in my fashion.

I will be blogging the Mary Rose build on this forum, but I can't honestly call her a Portuguese Carrack, so we'll have to document her on a different thread.

So! Just wanted to let you gents know what's going on. One must, on occasion, follow one's muse. Hope you all are well, and happy modeling!

[callen]

Now then- there was a interstng and iuntsructiuve debate when I was building Mary Rode about havig the lateen sail spars to windward

which is also a though aplicable to your era of vessel( those that carry latten sails..)

Have a read thru--from here onwards ( the debate crosses a couple of pages

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=163736&start=60#p712155

I would be interested to hear what you think...

BTW--apropos wolding of spars;
( just a thought! )

I confronted that when I built Mary Rose--albeit in "giant" 1/400 scale...


as a firm believer that sometimes less is more... and the chaps of old 'wolded' (?is that a word?!)
their spars very neatly, more so than I entrusted my hands to do achieve in 1/400 without it looking clunky or overscale...

I used back decal strip and drybrushed horizontally

the regularity of the effect I think could translate into 1/700 as well-- and maybe save time and sanity!

Great to see you re-enthused!
JIM B

wolding on Mary Rose




and windward lateen spar sail setting

Jim, I meant to comment on this much sooner. I went through your whole build thread with great interest. Fantastic work, mate!



I must confess I am not a sailor, and not an expert on the 16th Century Lateen Sail. I learned a lot reading your thread. As for the finished results, I think it's an excellent build. I don't know if I have a definite opinion about the use of the Lateen. I would say if you have contemporary illustrations that back up the way you've posed the sails, you're probably good. So much about these ships is unknown, so much is arguable, and so much is probably open to variations. I'd be willing to bet that not everyone used these sails the same way all the time.

As for your suggestions regarding modeling the mast woldings...I will _NEVER_ wrap thread around masts again.

Too much work. No, the decal option is a much better way to go.

Ok. That's all I have for now. Hope everyone is well.

[callen]

BTW, Jim, how do you get your pics so huge? My pics are limited to 1200 pixels horizontal, and they come out looking rather dinky. Let me know how you're able to post such large pics when you get a chance.

Cheers!

[Timmy C]

Jim's photos *are* 1200px wide - you can see this if you open them in a separate tab. He uses the off-board hosting method in conjunction with the [img] tags to make them show up as 1200px automatically. Meanwhile, if you use the board's hosting method, you can still upload 1200px wide, but you have to click the preview image first.

[callen]

Jim's photos *are* 1200px wide - you can see this if you open them in a separate tab. He uses the off-board hosting method in conjunction with the [img] tags to make them show up as 1200px automatically. Meanwhile, if you use the board's hosting method, you can still upload 1200px wide, but you have to click the preview image first.

Hey Tim!


Thanks for the info. That clears things up for me.

[maxim]

Great collections of old ship types, e.g. the Phoenician and Greek galley!

Are these full hull models? And if yes, why?

I am asking because my only attempt to scratch built a galley failed, because the hull is midships as waterline model so low that it was not stable (it bended).

[callen]

Great collections of old ship types, e.g. the Phoenician and Greek galley!

Are these full hull models? And if yes, why?

I am asking because my only attempt to scratch built a galley failed, because the hull is midships as waterline model so low that it was not stable (it bended).

Well, the old gang is getting back together. Great to hear from you, Maxim!


Since you brought up your galley build, I'd be very interested to see your efforts. Feel free to share them here on this thread, if you would like to. As for why I chose full-hull, there is one overriding reason, and then some further aesthetic considerations.

The overriding reason is simple: figures! One can't model a galley and then mount it in a seaway without populating it with figures. For a typical 700th Scale DD or BB build, one might rationalize 'the crew is below decks or inside, etc.' But, well, we've got all these oars, and someone has to be pulling them. Otherwise it's a ghost ship.

So, my first concern is that all of those figures crammed together on the benches would look a little junky, lacking in symmetry and uniformity. Secondly, that's a lot of figures! The Phoenician would require 32 rowers alone, and the Argo 44.

Whereas if I build them full hull, I can mount them on finials in the traditional fashion and not have to worry about figures.

The second reason has to do with why I would model a ship waterline to begin with, and that is aesthetic. I build waterline models because that is what the eye is used to seeing when it looks at a ship. A large ship out of the water is a slightly surreal object. We're not used to objects that large being so smooth and lacking in detail. And the red color only adds to the surreality of the ship out of water.

But these kinds of ships were frequently drawn out of the water. Galleys, particularly from this era, were designed to be able to be dragged up on shore at the end of a day's sailing. Also they are quite shallow draft, so the remainder of the hull does not look as surreal as, say the lower hull of an aircraft carrier.

To be honest, Galleys are such shallow-draught vessels that even if I was planning a seagoing dio or harbor dio (and I am, actually) I would build them full-hull. It just makes sense to do so. It's not that hard and it gives you more options. I suspect, based on your comments, it might also make your models sturdier.

Anyway, that's my reasons. Thanks for the question and good to hear from you again!

CheerS!