Instruction Manual - Nature Coast Hobby Shop

FIG. 56 FIG. 57
Rudder and fittings. “Rivets” are white glue dots
that were painted black when dry.
FIG. 58
Completed outfitted bow with carronades, forward bitts, bow grid and fore windlass.
Starboard main mast belaying pin rack. Breech
ropes can be seen on carronades.
18
into the opening as indicated. Rudder
hinges can be made from the 3/32” wide
brass strip. Form the tiller from the basswood
strip and mount it to the top of the
rudder post (see figure 55).
7. Belaying Pin Racks
& Channels
While not actually part of the deck furniture,
the belaying pin racks and channels
with their fittings can be mounted at this
time. The belaying pin racks lay inboard
beside each of the masts (see figure 58).
Mount them at the bottom edge of the inboard
rail overhang. Drill the belaying
pin holes after mounting the racks. Next,
position and mount the channels evenly
with the belaying pin racks on the outboard
rail overhang. Drill the openings in
the channels that will eventually accept
the deadeye/chain plate assemblies.
Glue the belaying pins into the racks.
Next, insert the deadeye assemblies
through the channels (see figure 59).
They will be pinned to the hull sides, but
have to be aligned with the mast tops
first. To simulate this, set false masts into
the deck and align the chain plates with
string attached to the proper height on
the false mast. The chain plates must then
be anchored with brass nails. Nail these
into the hull.
8. Gunport Lids
Because the hull is securely mounted for
safe handling, you can now introduce the
gunport lids without fear of breaking
them (see figure 59). The gunport lids
and frames are laser cut pieces with the
lids located juxtaposed inside the frames.
Paint the lids red or stain them. Next,
plank them horizontally with the outer
hull walnut strip material. Then remove
the loops from the tops of the brass
hinges and blacken them. Glue them to
the lids and paint the outside of the lids
black. (If you’re doing the “all natural
look” finish, black hinges only with the
natural wood is preferred.)
The aft two port lids may be positioned
closed, but the remainder forward should
be left open. Each opened lid is fitted into
the gunport against the top edge and
glued perpendicular to the hull surface.
(Opened gunport lids can be seen in figures
55 and 56.)
9. Bow
The stem is supported by two gussets.
These are made from 3/64” thick walnut
shaped to fit the stem and hull. Notice
how they curve upward toward the end
of the stem. Next, the catheads are made
from 5/32” (4 mm) square walnut stock.
They represent double blocks for the
ground tackle and should be drilled.
When at sea, the Prince de Neufchatel did
not mount a bow decoration, therefore,
the only trim is the stem framing which
is made of basswood strip stock. Paint it
yellow. Finally, the hawse pipes should
be set into holes drilled into the forward
bulwark. These will lead the anchor rope
back to the forward windlass and then
aft to the same openings in the deck beside
the forward end of the main hatch
(see figure 60).
10. Railing Bitts & Knightheads
These can be mounted now and the additional
eyebolts that will be required in
the rigging will be covered in the rigging
section (see figure 60).
11. Armament
All 16 carronades and 2 long gun assemblies
should be built, mounted and
rigged at this time (see figures 61, 62a,
62b, 62c, 62d and 62e). Carriages should
be either stained or painted red. The
Rigging Manual shows complete rigging
details. Kit supplies only provide eyebolts
and line for breech ropes. The eyebolts
should be inserted into drilled
holes 1/4” outside the edges of each
gunport. Additional rigging of the guns
will demonstrate the crowded condition
of the deck of this ship which was built
as a fighting machine.