"Another try, Sailing Ship Waterlines" Topic

Okay, we all know that coppering of ship's bottoms began in the late XVIII century. The coppering of course was meant to cut down on hull damage caused by various boring worms as well as to cut down on the growth of sea grasses and weeds and barnacles. But did the coppering extend above the waterline? Here's a picture of Constitution and while she certainly isn't full provisioned, which would make her ride lower in the water I still wonder if we should be painting a thin line of copper at the waterline of 1/1200th scale and larger ships.

theminiaturespage.com

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At 1/1200, how thin would that line be?

How about looking at all the quality paintings of the Victory. Those artists are often naval experts in this sort of matter. Maybe even e mail them. Interesting question

martin

Depends on the wind and sailing attitude. The ships rolled with the wind, so some copper would probably be visible on the windward side. But, how much? I never bothered with my 1/1200 scale ships and no one ever commented on it.

Inside my facebook album you can see the effect of the weaves on the waterline on the USS Constitution.
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As say Cold Steel, it depends on the wind and sailing attitude.

I have never seen copper showing above the waterline on any contemporary Age of Sail artwork. A pretty dramatic heel would be necessary to expose the copper.

There are some good images available of Constitution in drydock, showing her copper (a dull light green-grey hue)

B

One of my books (I think Adkins' Trafalgar Companion) says that the British extended their copper 16 inches above the waterline. All that Boudriot's The Seventy-Four Gun Ship (vol. 3)says is,"a few inches above the waterline."

Either way, it works out to about 1/4 millimeter in 1/1200 scale.
EDIT: So yeah, I do paint a small bit of copper on my 1/1200 scale ships, but now that you made me think about this and look up some sources, I probably shouldn't.
BWW

Not sure that she is showing copper in the photo you posted. Looks like antifouling paint to me. As Blutarski noted the copper would not keep it's bright metallic hue for long in the water.

+1 on checking out the official website. There is a drydock blog documenting the reconstruction process.

Not sure that she is showing copper in the photo you posted. Looks like antifouling paint to me. As Blutarski noted the copper would not keep it's bright metallic hue for long in the water.

It's definitely copper, I've seen it in person, again though she is lacking a few tons of powder, provisions, water, and shot. Now the weathered copper, that light green/gray color would definitely be apparent on copper underwater and I kind of assume that on active duty and copper above the waterline would probably take on a similar patina (when I said painted copper I misspoke, I meant the greenish patina similar to the patina on The Statue of Liberty or seen on the barrels of brass guns left in the weather).

What I am trying to do is to make a small dio of Old Ironsides engaging HMS Java. I am striving for a high degree of accuracy, for example I have replaced the Dolphin Striker on her Bowsprit with the twin dolphin striker that (of her class) only Constitution carried. I'm even going to use a French Frigate for Java since she was a French prize. So I guess that when I get close to actually putting the pieces in place I'll decide whether I need to show any coppering.

One point to keep in mind is that a ship has more than one waterline: there is a design waterline and also a load waterline when stowed for service (which itself will vary according to the amount of stowage).

Brian Lavery (The 74 Gun Ship Bellona � Anatomy of the Ship) comments � "In general the strakes of sheathing (i.e. – coppering) followed the line of the planking, but of course it stopped at the load waterline."

B

Brian Lavery (The 74 Gun Ship Bellona � Anatomy of the Ship) comments � "In general the strakes of sheathing (i.e. � coppering) followed the line of the planking, but of course it stopped at the load waterline."

And of course a ship on active service would rarely be in a fully loaded condition as her crew consumed stores and water.

"a ship on active service would rarely be in a fully loaded condition as her crew consumed stores and water."

True, Jowady. But provisions typically represented a considerable portion of the stowed weight aboard a warship (as much as 25pct) with drinking water, beer/wine accounting for the large majority thereof – which was usually considerably greater than the weight of the ship's own ballast. In order to preserve stability and sailing qualities (highly dependent upon proper trim), I believe that such things were carefully monitored and managed as provisions were consumed.

B

I believe that such things were carefully monitored and managed as provisions were consumed.

Undoubtedly, sailing a big ship (or even a small one) was a study in counterbalancing forces. As stores were consumed the hold would be reorganized, some ships sailed better when down slightly by the stern. others slightly better down a little at the head. You didn't want your ship crank but you also didn't want her too stiff. When Constitution was being chased in 1812 she pumped several tons of water over the side to reduce her draft and increase her speed. but the common factor in reduction of stores is to raise the ship in the water and to reduce her draft.