Archive for April, 2009
HMS Bounty made famous as the scene of the Mutiny on the Bounty on 28 April 1789, was originally a three-masted cargo ship the Bethia. The Bethia was purchased by the British Admiralty in May of 1797 and then modified and commissioned as His Majesty's Armed Vessel the Bounty for a botanical mission to the Pacific Ocean.
She was a relatively small sailing ship at 215 tons, three-masted and full-rigged. After conversion for the breadfruit expedition, she was mounted with only four cannons, four pounders and ten swivel guns. She was very small in comparison to other three-mast Colliers used for similar expeditions.
The ship purchased by the Royal Navy for a single mission in support of an experiment. The plan was for her to sail to Tahiti, pick up breadfruit plants, and transport them to the West Indies in hopes that they would grow well there and become a cheap source of food for slaves. The Grand Experiment was proposed by Sir Joseph Banks, who recommended William Bligh as commander, and was promoted through a prize offered by the Royal Society of Arts.
The HMS Bounty was refitted in June 1787, at Deptford. The large cabin was converted to house the potted breadfruit plants, and gratings were fitted to her upper deck. Her complement was 46 officers and men.
Commanding Lieutenant William Bligh’s Description of the Ship Was:
"The Burthen of the Ship was nearly 215 Tons; Her extreme length on deck 90ft 10 in. & breadth from outside to outside of the bends 24ft 3 in. A Flush deck & a pretty Figure Head of a Woman in Riding Habit; She mounted 4 four pounders & 10 Swivels & her Complement was:
1. Lieut & Commander 2. Masters Mates 1. Gunners Mate
1. Master 2. Midshipmen 1. Carpenters Mate
1. Boatswain 1. Clerk 1. Sailmaker
1. Gunner 2. Qr. Masters 1. Armourer
1. Carpenter 1. Qr.Masr.Mate 1. Carpenters Crew
1. Surgeon 1. Boatswains Mate 1. Corporal
24 Able Seamen
Total. 45 One of which is a Widow's man. There was likewise a Botanist & his Assistant."
William Bligh was appointed Commanding Lieutenant of Bounty on 16 August 1787, at the age of 33, after a career that included a tour as sailing master of James Cook's Resolution during Cook's third and final voyage (1776-1779).
HMS Bounty makes a fine part of history to have in any one collection. We have located a few you may want to add.
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 Revell Model Kit HMS Bounty Ship 05713 GIFT SET  US $40.89
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 Revell Sailing Ships HMS Bounty Model Gift Set 05713 US $39.52
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 Hms Bounty 14 Wooden Tall Ship Model Boat NEW US $39.99
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HMS Sovereign of the Seas was ordered in August 1634 at the whim of Charles I of England, who desired a giant Great Ship to be built. The decision brought on a lot of opposition from the Brethren of Trinity House. They were eager to point out that "There is no port in the Kingdome that can harbor this ship".
The wild sea must be her port; her anchors and cables will keep hold her safety. So if either fail, the ship must perish, the King will lose his jewel, four or five hundred man must die, and maybe some great and noble peer.
The King overcame the objections with the help of John Pennington and beginning May 1635 she was built by Peter Pett. Built under the guidance of his father Phineas, the kings master shipwright. The HMS Sovereign of the Seas was launched at Woolwich Dockyard on Oct 13. 1637. Peter Pett later became a Commissioner of the Navy.
HMS Sovereign of the Seas the most extravagantly decorated warship of the Royal Navy. She was adorned from bow to stern with gilded carvings against black background by John and Mathias Christmas from a design of Anthony Van Dyke. All the money spent on her created a financial crisis for Charles I and contributed to the English Civil War.
The Sovereign of the Seas was not so much built because of tactical considerations, but as a deliberate attempt to bolster the reputation of the English crown. Her name was in itself a political statement as Charles tried to revive the perceived ancient right of the English kings to be recognized as the 'lords of the seas.'
A model of HMS Sovereign of the Seas would make a great addition to any ones collection. We have located a few that just might fit in your collection.
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 Sovereign of the Seas Excellent quality wooden tall ship model US $269.00
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 Sovereign of the Seas 20 Tall Model Ship Musuem US $129.99
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 Sovereign Of The Seas 19 Tall Model Ship Model Ship US $129.99
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French & English Prisoners Began Building Model Ships
During the Napoleonic wars French and English seamen who were taken prisoner were confined, sometimes for many years, and in their boredom sought relief by building ship models from scraps of wood and bone. Model ship building history evolved into something of an art form and the models were sold to the public which responded by supplying the prisoners with ivory so that the models would be more decorative. For the most part, the models had carved wooden hulls with rigging made from human hair, horsehair, silk, or whatever other fine material could be obtained. Bone or ivory would be used for masts, spars and as a thin veneer over the hull.
Britain's Naval Supremacy
Britain's naval supremacy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was of wide public interest in ships and models of the ships. Model ship building history also began with fairly crude models that were built as children's toys leading to the creation of the functional model ships, as opposed to decorative ship models. Britain most likely led the world in model ship sailing clubs. Starting around 1838 the Serpentine Sailing Society was started in Hyde Park. Shortly after followed by the first London Model Yacht Club in 1845. By the 1880s there were three model sailing clubs sharing the Kensington Gardens Round Pond alone.
Soleil Royal 44" wood model ship tall sailing boat | US $284.00 (6 Bids) End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 10:32:39 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
TALL SHIP MODEL LE SOLEIL ROYAL- NEW 28" LONG WOOD WARSHIP MODEL
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Soleil Royal Painted 34" - Wooden Model Ship New
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Le soleil royal high quality wooden model wood ship 40"
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Soleil Royal Medium Wooden Model Ship rosewood mahogany
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Soleil Royal Tall Ship Wooden Model Sailboat 28" Built Boat French Navy France
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Soleil Royal Wooden Tall Ship Model Sailboat 28" Boat
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