The Built-Up Ship Model
NZ$49.95
The Built-Up Ship Model
By Charles G. Davis
Historical Significance
Originally published by the Marine Research Society in 1933, The Built-Up Ship Model remains one of the most respected instructional texts in the field of traditional ship modeling. Charles G. Davis, a noted naval architect and maritime historian, wrote this volume to preserve the vanishing art of timber-framed construction. While many modeling guides focus on solid-hull or kit construction, Davis details the "built-up" method—the process of constructing a vessel frame-by-frame, exactly as it would have been built in a 1790s shipyard.
The book serves as a meticulous record of the construction of the U.S. Brig Lexington. It is revered not only for its technical clarity but for its deep reverence for the craft of the shipwright. For the collector and the serious modeler, this work is a bridge to the age of sail, providing an anatomical understanding of wooden hull integrity and the complex geometry of 18th-century naval architecture. It is an essential acquisition for any library dedicated to the preservation of traditional maritime skills.
Key Maritime Themes
Naval Architecture: Detailed analysis of frames, futtocks, and the structural "backbone" of wooden sailing vessels.
18th-Century Shipbuilding: Practical insights into the historical methods of the golden age of sail.
Timber Craftsmanship: Guidance on the selection, shaping, and joining of miniature hardwoods to mirror full-scale construction.
Rigging and Fitting: Scholarly descriptions of the functional hardware and standing rigging of a Revolutionary War-era brig.
Marine Research Society Standards: This work represents the high academic standards of the early 20th-century maritime preservation movement.
Geographic Relevance
While the primary subject is an American brig, the technical principles Davis outlines are the same ones used to construct the English and French vessels that first charted the New Zealand coastline. For the New Zealand maritime enthusiast, this book provides the necessary technical vocabulary to understand the structural makeup of the ships of Cook, de Surville, and Vancouver. It is a vital resource for members of the New Zealand ship modeling community seeking to create museum-grade replicas of early colonial exploration vessels.
Condition
Used hardback in very good condition with dust jacket. Published in 1982. 202 Pages.