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Thread: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

  1. #1

    Default Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Hey..

    just thought I'd post a link to some images of a British Ketch rigged mortar vessel 1804. Its been a while since I have done anything with it due to time restraints, but now I have re-started in earnest.

    Its my first 'plank on bulkhead' model, and has been very enjoyable to say the least.

    http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kennosen/MortarVessel02

    Its a pity that CA didnt put these in as per Admiralty plans, and facilitate port, coastal bombardment battles... ah well, maybe a mod will save us.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Nice.I plan to build as well,but here in Australia,they are very expensive.


    " facilitate port, coastal bombardment battles..." couldn't agree more!

  3. #3

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Quote Originally Posted by masliko View Post
    Nice.I plan to build as well,but here in Australia,they are very expensive.


    " facilitate port, coastal bombardment battles..." couldn't agree more!
    Regarding the cost in Australia, where have you looked? I looked long and hard for the most authentic company, and jotika were second to none.

    http://www.jotika-ltd.com/Pages/1024...lson_Front.htm

    some of them are indeed expensive, but when you look at the amount of enjoyment and entertainment you get from the build, it's not.

    They use admiralty plans, and so are very authentic, using walnut, limewood, to simulate what was used at the time, hemp for the rigging ect.

    Jotika have an australian distributor here

    http://www.miniaturesteammodels.com/category86_1.htm

    they list the mortar boat at 122.00 dollars.

    The coastal bombardment scenario, how great would that be ! Your army is outnumbered on the coast, and reinforcements turn up in the form of a frigate or bomb vessel to turn the tide..
    Last edited by kennosen; March 28, 2009 at 12:49 AM.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    So, as planned, I've spent some time in the dry dock. Got the main wale, upper rail onto the hull. Also the rowlock's, some detail to the mortar bay itself, and the companionway. Hand pumps are now assembled ready for a little paint. Also did some work on the bowsprit.
    Even managed to get a base coat of paint onto the main wale.

    follow the link below for images

    http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kennosen/MortarVessel02

  5. #5

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Ok.. been at the dry dock and managed to get some of the model done..

    Hand pump
    Bowsprit bitt belaying rack
    Main and mizzen channels
    Cleats
    Belaying pins
    Eyelets
    Mortar trunion brackets
    Chainplates
    Deadeye strops

    Go here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kennos...eat=directlink


  6. #6

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Looking good

  7. #7

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Nice work; I don't think many people realise how difficult they are when they start! I've basically had to learn woodwork from scratch.
    This is my third model, a few months ago. It's a model of a generic medium sized pirate ship of the 1710's-1720's; I need to do a little research before I can place it as an exact ship:

    On the ratlines at the moment, going to try and complete most of the stadning rigging before i put to yards and spars on.
    -Matt

  8. #8

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    I read the subject, and thought you were someone reproducing a real Mortar Ketch. I'm not sure if I'm more or less impressed with such a detailed model.

    I honestly find models like this harder to build than the real thing. They're just a little less heavy lifting, but far more annoying work.

  9. #9

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Quote Originally Posted by Talroth View Post
    I read the subject, and thought you were someone reproducing a real Mortar Ketch. I'm not sure if I'm more or less impressed with such a detailed model.

    I honestly find models like this harder to build than the real thing. They're just a little less heavy lifting, but far more annoying work.

    Sorry you are dissapointed Maybe I'll add the word 'model' to the thread title..

    Just how many and what type of rigged boats/ships have you built then ?

    @ Mikoyan... thats a great looking project you have there. Have you any more photo's ? Where did you get the kit from ? didnt the kit say what vessel it was based upon when you bought it ? As its the crew that defines a vessel and any ship used by a pirate makes 'it' a pirate ship.
    What others have you built ? I'd like to see those too if you have photo's.

  10. #10

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    The kit was ordered from this company:
    http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/...c_display.html
    It's the peregrine galley kit; I bought it as a base for a pirate ship, as it's about the right size, was built at the right time (1705) and has about the right amount of armament. It's undergone some slight modification; it will mainly be the rig which changes it. It wasn't entirely clear from the pics on the sight about the minor details such as gingerbread work; it was going to be Black Bart's Royal Fortune, but sadly it's too small and is lacking a few distinctive features.
    I've done a few others; i'll post them here tonight. I'm off to Portsmouth now, hopefull i'll get the chance to look at HMS Victory.
    -Matt

  11. #11

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Great mikoyan... look forward to the images. I grew up in pompey, and I know you are in for a real treat if you have not seen the Victory up close and personal before.

    Its quite an eye opener, and then some.

  12. #12

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    I grew up nearby, in Ryde; I remember at the tender age of 5 falling over the plaque that sais "here nelson fell".
    Heres my two other models; the second is a Portugese caravel, adapted from the Pinta kit, and the first, my first model, HM Schooner Ballahoo, built in the carribean in 1800. She's now been improved and pianted in Nelsonic Chequer.

    -Matt

  13. #13

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    HM Schooner Ballahoo ! That was almost my first kit choice, took me weeks to decide on the convulsion. Was the Ballahou a ' Caldercraft ' kit, part of the nelsons navy range ?

    I ask because I'm looking around for my next kit and am a bit loath to try another company as the quality of the jotika kit was outstanding. What is your opinion of the Kit you have done so far?

    thanks in advance for any info

  14. #14

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    it was, yes. Personally i'd shop around a bit; as long as you don't want every little bit cut for you, most of the italian kits/manufacturers are pretty good.
    -Matt

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    Oh crap I forgot about this at Lordz I need to go take a photo

  16. #16

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    sounds good, whats the point in the bomb ketch, i never found out?

  17. #17

    Default Re: Mortar Vessel I'm building.

    The point of a bomb vessel was to allow a navy to bombard a target ashore, such as a city or a fortress. The mortars on the bomb vessel outranged the long guns of the defenders by a healthy margin, they fired explosive shells which were a lot better at breaking stuff and killing people than regular cannonball were, and they were high-angle weapons which allowed the attacker to simply lob the shells over any defensive walls into the heart of the city or fortress.

    The primary downside of the bomb vessel was that the immense recoil of the mortars required a very, very, very sturdy hull construction which made the vessel heavy, slow and expensive. A consequence of the immensely heavy build was that bomb vessels generally had the seakeeping and sailing qualities of a sack of cement. In addition, mortars were not what you would call weapons of surgical accuracy, they could hit a city with relative ease, a fortress with some skill, and forget about hitting anything smaller except by blind luck.

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