"1/800 - 1/900 Base sizes, mast heights ?" Topic

Salutations, gentlefolk !

Downloaded the WarArtisan 64-gun SOL, printed out a couple, going to try building them. Have questions:

1 – Is there a standard 'base size' for this scale of ship models – width of 1 1/2" / 40mm / 50mm/2", length to fit or ?

2 – Is there a source for 'standard' mast and yard lengths for various rates ? (indeed, were there standard mast heights or was it just matter of available trees ?)

Thanks for your help with this.

Hi JAFD26, I'll leave it to others with the stats at hand to talk about mast heights for 64 gun ships. But as far as bases go, I've personally not encountered rules that specify base sizes for sailing ship models.

From my own perspective, the primary concern is just having a base that is long and wide enough to protect the model itself, as they are generally relatively fragile.

In general, base sizes are unspecified by rules. The best rule of thumb is to make sure the base is wider than the widest spars, longer than the fore/aft bits (esp. the bowsprit), and thick enough to handle the base instead of the model. Straight base edges are also an advantage for measurements, especially with rules that use templates (for turning, shooting angles, wind angles, etc.).

I prefer sailing ship bases to be only barely larger than the model to avoid interference with adjudiction of collisions, boarding, etc. In the sailing era, ships did still come into physical contact.

- Ix

You should be able to find the mast heights on-line. I have done so in the past but can't recall where from. They weren't just cut to length to suit the timber, the timber was chosen to meet the design requirements. Masts were usually raked slightly forwards.

I don't have any useful data about mast heights and sizes, but I find that everything looks about right if the height of the mainmast from the deck to the top of the topgallant mast (not including the royal) is roughly the same as the hull length. The royal should extend above that a bit.

Once you have that set, just make the foremast a tad shorter (at every joint), and the mizzen even shorter than that.

- Ix

1 – I just make bases that fit the individual model, as described by Ix, above.

2 – There were indeed specific spar dimensions for each class of ship, but there were variations over time, deriving from availability of replacements and the captain's preferences. There are recommended mast sizes in the instructions that come with the kit (page 8, if I recall correctly).

Salutations, again, gentlefolk,

Thanks very much to all of you who replied! Some notes:

1 – You can cut-n-paste with PDF tools to print the pieces for five hulls on one sheet of cover stock, saving paper. I hope Mr. Knudsen does not mind.

2 – Looked around Manhattan on Saturday for Bristol board, didn't find in size I wanted to carry home thru snowstorm. Pasted first 'spar deck' sections to repurposed beer coaster. That may have been a mistake, but at least now know thickness of cardboard needed.

3 – Have tentatively decided that SOLs will be mounted on 40mm wide bases, same as my 15mm ancients, to make cutting out bases easier.

4 – Considering making masts of brass wire, soldering parts together, still undecided.

5 – You may want to check out
Ship Model Builder's Assistant by Charles G. Davis
link

and
Merchant's and Mechanic's Assistant: Being a Collection of Rules and … by Isaac Ridler Butts
link
(this book can be downloaded as a PDF)