"HMS San Josef" Topic

Hello again. I just finished work on GHQ's HMS San Josef, a 115 gun ship of Spanish origin, and wanted to share pictures. This was the famous prize of 'Nelson's Patent Bridge for Taking First Rates', referring to his capture of San Josef and San Nicolas at the Battle of St. Vincent when the two had run afoul of each other.

Interestingly, GHQ also offers a kit of the ship while in Spanish service (San Jose). The picture on their website is rather small, but it looks like two differences are that the Spanish version does not have beams in the waist or an entry port half way up the sides. I hadn't thought of it before – but man, it must be quite an ordeal to climb all the way up the side of a three-decker!

I prepared the hull for this one at the same time as I did that of USS Constellation, and as with that model I wish I had not raised the hull up quite so much – though the wish is not nearly strong enough to make me pull it off its base and renovate!

More pictures and a plagiarized account of the action here:

link

- James

James, that is beautiful! Richard

Very good work

Zowie! Do these kits come with ratlines?

Thanks Richard and KTravlos, glad you like it!

Big Red, the kits don't come with the ratlines, rigging or bases. The ratlines and base are from Langton, the former photo-etched brass and the latter resin.

Also, for some reason GHQ bowsprits don't come with the spritsail yard or dolphin striker (the two perpendicular pieces on the bowsprit) so you'll need some spare rods if you want to add those.

- James

-- Also, why did I describe San Josef as an unsymmetrical 115 gun ship? 112 I have read, elsewhere 114, but not 115…..

Holy C%$# James! This is getting depressing. I'm going to be embarassed to post anything I do anymore. Your paint job is perfect! Your rigging is perfect! How can any of us match this?

The only thing that will make me feel better is to point out a little mistake. Your anchor is wrong for the period. Anchor flukes were perpendicular to stock. Yours is parallel. link

Superbe model James!

Vol

You're too kind Vol, thank you for the praise. I've actually cheated a bit here with the photographs. I actually failed to keep the bowsprit straight with this model, which is always a difficulty for me with these GHQ kits. But I tried to select the photos where it was least apparent. I even added a couple extra lines of running rigging along the bowsprit, going up to the lifts for the spritsail yard, to help obscure the bend! That soft metal is just real tricky.

That's a great reference for anchors too, I'll have to play around with these ones I've got and see if I can get them into that shape – would be a nice touch i think.

I'm glad people like these models I'm doing, but it's definitely not the fastest way to prepare a fleet for gaming. I'm a long, long way off from being able to game large set piece battles…..

- James

That is a very stately looking SOL, you dun did gude!

BTW, what scale/size is it?

Thanks Andrew, glad you like it. The scale is 1:1200, and here is a shot for size comparison:

- James

James, have you considered scratch building a new bow sprit? I have done that with about half of the GHQ shipe I have.

Vol, I've thought about doing that sometimes, and it's only been sheer laziness that has held me back from giving it a try. What material do you use when you make your own? Do you use a single rod, or two overlapping ones? – james

James,

I use different size wire, overlap and wrap in a couple of places with black thread after I glue. This srengthens the joint and also adds to the look. I cut awy the sails from the GHQ bowsprit, clean them up, and then glue them to the foretopgallant and foretopmast stays. I'm looking forward to this holiday season when I get time to build some more.

Vol

BTW, what scale/size is it?

Then let me compliment you a bit more:

Your painting at that scale is borderline museum quality…honestly!