"The Galley Washington - Langton Miniatures" Topic

Storyforu's recent post about the USS Repulse got me thinking about galleys in the Continental Navy.

In that thread I posted a picture that I incorrectly identified as the Washington galley built by Rhode Island in 1775. Actually she was the larger Washington galley built on Lake Champlain the following year. And fortunately Langton Miniatures offers a a pretty neat kit of that vessel.

She had a short bloody career in the Continental Navy, but after repairs saw continued service with the British, who apparently converted her into a brig. (Now there's a fun conversion if someone wants to try it out).

More pictures here:
link

I started with a new project for myself: Boxer Rebellion and I used the Miniatures from RedBox (I know, not so a good mould-quality)

link

Looks like The Bug fused this post with another, which is why it's crossposted to a huge array of boards.

That is a beautiful paint job that no living human will ever fully appreciate with the naked eye. Just… wow.

- Ix

PS: I see what you did there with the quarter.

TomPainter, your cat seems to like them. Truly that's all that really matters. Cats rules!

Looks like Tom and I are sharing this thread.

Tom, good luck with the new project, the Boxer Rebellion is one of those genres I keep hearing more and more about, but haven't seen a game of yet. Looks like it will be fun. But I try never to let my cat that close to my projects!

Yellow Admiral, thanks very much. Yes, she's a tiny one, and players probably won't get close enough to see it all. But I like knowing it's all there.

@ whitejamest

I'm sorry, but I don't know, why my "thread" now placed in your thread….

But your Work are really good :-)

The Bug seems to be tossing up mixed threads more often lately (it happened to me recently, where my preview of an upcoming convention game got commingled with a podcast announcement) or maybe it is a new, stronger mutation of the old Bug. Either way, you can choose to get stressed out about it, or just enjoy the juxtaposition of two unrelated but interesting things . . . sort of like sweet and sour, or caramel and sea salt.

Gorgeous work on the Langton Washington, James. She's one of the more interesting ships from a quite neglected corner of naval history. I've done her both "as built" and as a brig in British service.

Thanks very much Tom and Jeff, I appreciate it.

There's a great resource, a guide to building an extremely detailed model of the vessel here:

PDF link

This is one of the details I found most interesting:

"Guns were difficult to obtain for the squadron,
especially those of one caliber, making
Washington's armament a variety of several.
According to the captain's receipt she carried two
18-pounders, two 12's, two 9's, four 4's, and
several swivel guns. Additional research suggests
that she may have carried several 6-pounders as
well."

Now there's a nice logistical headache…

Great job again James. You are a master painter and you are getting very good at paint bristle rigging

Just thought Jame's galley should get a bump to the top because its s great job.

Thanks very much Vol, I'm flattered :)

I'm wondering how much of a niche vessel the Washington was, or if galleys of similar lines and construction would have been seen in other times and places. Anybody have any ideas on that?

Glad I could be a catalyst, Whitejamest.
Something I neglected to mention on the other thread, but note that the USS Champion sounds like an identical build to the USS Repulse.
link

James: I have never come across anything similar to the Washington and her two sisters in many years of enthusiastic perusing of naval prints, engravings and paintings. I suspect they are unique, as are, apparently, the armed "gundalows" also built on Champlain during the same campaign.

I would hesitate to call my view of the matter conclusive however; especially considering that, up until this past year, I had never even heard of a "gallivat" and now I have a whole squadron of them.

And I have never heard of a "gallivat" until just now Jeff. Going to have to look that up. I may have to build one. Anyone know where I could find deck and profile plans?

Looked up gallivat. Images brought up just about everything but a gallivat. Lateen, two masts, that's all I know. Found a 24 gun "grab" named Bombay that was cool!

Yes the gallivat was certainly new to me too.

I guess the British were not so taken with the Washington's design, after they captured her and copied down her lines, as to produce more of the type.

It's interesting to me that they took the trouble to convert her into a brig. I wonder how her performance was in that new incarnation.

The admiralty had a draught made of many captured vessels, more for a sense of completeness than out of admiration. They already had classes of ships that could do the work required of the Washington, only better. She may not have been a design for the ages but she and her sister ships served their purpose at the time, and the fact that she was created from almost nothing by a handful of Yankee shipbuilders and backwoodsmen in the midst of a howling wilderness is nothing short of amazing.

Converting her to a brig was probably a matter of convenience, since British crews would not be used to operating or maintaining a lateen-rigged vessel. She was slow and clumsy in her original incarnation; I can't imagine that re-rigging her would have improved on that very much.

Lovely tiny! The photo of the fleet to the set is impressive.

Amazing work! I love the seas, just beautiful…

Thanks very much guys.

Rob the sea bases are resin and metal pieces from Langton miniatures, just painted up and treated with a lot of gloss varnish, for what it's worth.