Home Forums Air and Sea Naval Navwar 40 Gun Swedish Frigate Venus

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #70812
    Avatar photoVolunteer
    Participant

    Venus was a Swedish frigate designed by Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. Launched at Karlskrona July 19, 1783, she sailed to Gothenburg where she was assigned to the local naval station, commanded by Adolf Ulrik Sheldon. Three years later she was under the command of Major Magnus Hansson and attached to the Gothenburg squadron. On June 1, 1789, Venus was patrolling just outside the Norwegian coast. Norway was ruled by Denmark and considered neutral. The day before, lookouts reported a Russian squadron of two ships of the line, two frigates and a cutter.

    Commander Hansson expected to be able to stay ahead of the Russians due to the ship’s excellent sailing qualities. Unfortunately the wind died off and stopped him from reaching the open sea. Cornered by the Russians, Venus took refuge in the fjord of Christiania (Oslo), expecting the protection of a neutral nation. The Russian ships followed, the cutter Merkuny starting the action. The larger ships positioned themselves to be able to fire along the length of Venus.

    Hansson had placed springs on his anchor cables and used them to good effect to train his guns on the Russians, damaging the first of the arriving adversaries. But when the line of battle ships were in place and began to fire, Hansson dropped his colors. According to testimony from the Danish/Norwegian pilot, commander Hansson immediately boarded the Russian flagship claiming the attack as a crime of war.

    The frigate was taken into the Russian navy and participated in the battle of Revel and in the battle of Vyborg Bay in 1790 under the command of British Admiral Roman Crown. She served in the Adriatic Sea between 1805 and 1807, and in the Agean Sea in 1807. She was sold to the Kingdom of Naples in Palermo to avoid capture by the British.

    Length: 128 ft.
    Beam: 32 ft.
    Draft: 10 ft.
    Compliment: 160
    Armament: 26 x 24 pounders long guns and 14 x 6 pounders

    Venus profile

    As you may notice, this Navwar model is the HMS Indefatigable 44 gun. I also have the Davco and Langton Indefatigable models. I chose the Davco version for the Indefatigable because it matched the Davco Agamemnon hull so closely. The Indefatigable was a cut down razeed 64 gun of the same class as the Agamemnon. In studying this Navwar hull, I realized there are only 40 guns/hatches, not the 44 of the Indefatigable. I decided to model the two Navwar Indefatigable models I have as Swedish 40 gun frigates. The photo is of one of the packs, base coats on the hull and the completed base. I throw away the rest of the pack.

    The masts are my usual scratch built.

    Making the ratline/shrouds.

    Sails and spars made and ready to mount.

    Mizzen mast done.

    Main course set with main stay sail.

    Main top and studding sail set. Note the beginning clew line wrapped around the mast.

    Clew lines attached to sail. This strengthens the attachment of the sail to the mast.

    Main top gallant sail set with the start of the clew line around the mast.

    Clew line tied off on the front of the mast.

    Foresail and stuns’l mounted.

    Fore top sail and stuns’l on.

    Finished and fully rigged.

    "Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing"
    Wernher von Braun

    #70840
    Avatar photoDarkest Star Games
    Participant

    Just freaking amazing.  I had no idea how much work you put into your models!

    "I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

    #70841
    Avatar photoMr. Average
    Participant

    That’s marvelous work! Really astounding!

    #70858
    Avatar photoRory McCreadie
    Participant

    Ahhhh! Vol,

    It is so nice to see your work. You are braver than me. I could not work on the rigging as you add sails. I would get myself into a big knotted mess!

    I also wish I had your insight in picking your model ships to make this wonderful ship.

    I will e-mail you later.

    Be safe

    Rory

    He who says he makes no mistakes, is making the biggest mistake of all. Or does bugger all. Rory

    #70998
    Avatar photoBrian Weathersby
    Participant

    Vol,

    Man, that’s nice!  You make even Navwar hulls look good.

    Like Rory, I owe you an email; will get in touch soon.

    BWW

    I'm lucky to be here
    With someone I like
    Who maketh my spirit to shine
    --Warren Zevon

    #71045
    Avatar photoAutodidact-O-Saurus
    Participant

    I’ve always been leery of using screening for ratlines and shrouds, but by adding that edging piece you’ve made it quite effective. Nice job! Hmmm… I might have to reconsider my prejudice!

    Self taught, persistently behind the times, never up to date. AKA ~ jeff
    More verbosity: http://petiteguerre.blogspot.com/

    #71775
    Avatar photoWilliam Minsinger
    Participant

    Amazing work on an obscure but cool ship!

    -Will

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.