MOC: Privateer Oliver Cromwell

[ejred]

HMS Enterprize seemed lonely, so I decided to construct a little playmate, the privateer Oliver Cromwell from Boston:

Enterprize spent most of the US Revolutionary War patrolling the coasts and hunting for privateers, so this seemed like a good foil. The design I came up with is based on the model plans for "HMS Mediator" (a 1740s British coastal patrol cutter) which are widely available on the web, with an assist from the book Armed Virginia Sloop of 1768. I was also visually inspired by the USS Providence, of which there is a replica ship (currently in need of major repairs, sadly).

It's a 10-gun topsail-cutter rigged ship, roughly in the style of a Bermuda cutter. A very simple and straightforward ship, although with beautiful rakish lines.There were a number of Continental 10-gun privateer cutters to choose from historically, and I thought Oliver Cromwell had the most interesting name.

From tip-to-tip the Oliver Cromwell is 37 inches long, 27 inches high and 13 inches wide. But a whole lot of that is bowsprit. As you can see it is vastly smaller than Enterprise (probably about 1/7 the tonnage and broadside weight). But it does pack on a lot of sail for its size!

I hope you like it.

Click for full album on Flickr

Edited September 7, 2016 by ejred

[Staslegomaster]

You seem to be a heroic history fan just as I am. I like projects dedicated to historic jubilees and with a story behind them. That's a super detailed creation needing patience and good skills. Try to upload it in LEGO ideas.

[ejred]

You seem to be a heroic history fan just as I am. I like projects dedicated to historic jubilees and with a story behind them. That's a super detailed creation needing patience and good skills. Try to upload it in LEGO ideas.

Thanks! Yes, my personal LEGO interest and motivation takes me in the direction of realistic historical stuff (ships most of all). Probably betrays a lack of imagination :)

Speaking of historical events, one of the most well documented events in the record of HMS Enterprize was an attack by Spanish fireships off Gibraltar in 1780. Enterprize was on watch, spotted the ships coming in, raised the alarm, and dispatched her crew to board and steer one of them away. I worked up a small mod of the Oliver Cromwell to show that incident. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures next week

Edited September 8, 2016 by ejred

[Staslegomaster]

Thanks! Yes, my personal LEGO interest and motivation takes me in the direction of realistic historical stuff (ships most of all). Probably betrays a lack of imagination :)

Speaking of historical events, one of the most well documented events in the record of HMS Enterprize was an attack by Spanish fireships off Gibraltar in 1780. Enterprize was on watch, spotted the ships coming in, raised the alarm, and dispatched her crew to board and steer one of them away. I worked up a small mod of the Oliver Cromwell to show that incident. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures next week

Yes, I know this historic event and I will be glad to see your new creation. You like ships please support my Grey Skull Fregate in LEGO ideas. And the most impressive gun for me is Sweden Royal flagship WASA. I saw its replica at LEGO exhibition in London perhapd in 2007.

[Captain Green Hair]

Brilliant ship, it looks every bit the part. Especially the tilted mast, long bowsprit and correct booms and gaffels make this stand out!

[PaddyBricksplitter]

Wow, amazing.

Some really great ships appearing recently.

[Tezclatipoca]

Excellent ! Just excellent !

I like the attention you put on sails and rigging.

The hull of course is great too.

Well, as I already said, excellent ship !

[ejred]

Here are the modifications to make the Oliver Cromwell into a fireship. The year is 1780 and the Spanish are raiding the British base at Gibraltar. Luckily HMS Enterprize is on patrol and ready to respond. Now that the ship is alight, the Spanish crew is trying to get off, but heavy seas are making it difficult.

Spanish Fireship

Spanish Fireship

Spanish Fireship

Spanish Fireship vs. HMS Enterprize

I designed the center section of the deck to be removable so I could put in the flame sections. There are several light bricks inside, which is nice but hard to tell in the pictures...

This is what I think I will display at BrickCon 2016 in Seattle at the end of the month

I hope you like it!

[Captain Braunsfeld]

This is sooooooooooooo perfect. I wish I could do sails and rigging like that.

Just great!