Model boats

More a hobby at the moment I am fascinated by the majesty and elegance of the old sailing men of war.

HMS Resolution

From a kit by Corel the model is a 1/50 scale of a British cutter-of-war at the beginning of the 18th century. This is one of the first models I completed. Although not entirely accurate an attractive model which has a special place for me.

HMS Diana (1794)

Currently under construction part of the Nelson’s navy range of kits by Caldercraft.

The heavy frigates of the late 18th and early 19th century for me represent the pinnacle of the development of the frigate. Built by Randall & Brent of Rotherhithe Diana was launched on the 3rd of March 1794. She was fitted out at the Royal Dockyards at Deptford which included masts, rigging, anchors, coppering of her bottom, ordnance and stores. She joined service on the 12th June 1974, with the total cost being £23,000.

Much of here active service was spent on patrol, convoy and blockade duties. In August 1795 with her sister ship Seahorse and the frigate Unicorn they captured the Dutch East Indiaman Cromhourt, another merchant ship and their escort.

On the 7th March 1815 Diana was sold the Dutch navy for £36,796.

Diana formed part of the Dutch squadron consisting of 6 frigates that combined with the British fleet under Sir Edward Pellow that took part in the bombardment of Algiers.
She was finally destroyed by fire while in dry dock in Wellemsoord on the 16th January 1839 after 45 years service.

The model depicts her after her first major refit at Portsmouth in June 1796 when she received solid quarter deck bulwarks, carronades and a dolphin striker.

I can’t say that I have had much time over the last couple of years to do much to HMS Diana. However I have nearly finished the second planking, cut the gun ports and painted the inside of the bulwarks. I have also started to assemble some the gun carriages. The most difficult part so far has been gluing the flint loch mechanism to the gun barrels.

I am very pleased with the fair line of the planking and with the gun ports which are uniform in size and also have a fair line. The deck planking was laid as individual planks and I used the felt tip method to simulate the caulking. There is some bleed into the wood but as this is the lower deck and will be mainly obscured I am not too worried. I will use a different method for the top deck.