The French frigate L'Orient: Work in progress

[Capn Frank]

I don't recall ever seeing an image of a frigate from the period 1750-1815 with decorated sails.

Or maybe you guys have an example of such a ship?

I'm basing a lot of the design of L'Orient on the HMS Rose:

I agree about the decorated sails, I don't recall seeing many (if any) decorated sails on warships during that period.

Is it going to be a sister ship to the HMS Suprise (originally a french vessel) in Master and Commander?

[El Bucanero]

I agree about the decorated sails, I don't recall seeing many (if any) decorated sails on warships during that period.

Is it going to be a sister ship to the HMS Suprise (originally a french vessel) in Master and Commander?

Is the HMS Surprise originally a French ship? How do you know that? I can't remember someone mentioned that in the movie, also not on the second disc. I do know the Acheron is originally an American ship..

Edited August 12, 2007 by Mr Tiber

[Mister Phes]

I don't recall ever seeing an image of a frigate from the period 1750-1815 with decorated sails. Or maybe you guys have an example of such a ship? I'm basing a lot of the design of L'Orient on the HMS Rose.

Not that I recall, but I didn't realise you were aiming for historic accuracy when I initially asked if you were going to put insignia/emblems on your sails.

But as for flags... Which flags would you use for a ship like this?

[Bonaparte]

Is the HMS Surprise originally a French ship? How do you know that? I can't remember someone mentioned that in the movie, also not on the second disc. I do know the Acheron is originally a French ship, maybe you're confusing them?

Mr. P is correct!

The original name of the HMS Surprise was L'Unite.

Some details from wiki:

HMS Surprise (1794) was a sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Originally a French corvette armed with 24 9lb long guns named L'Unite, she was designed by M. Forfait and was built at Le Havre. Captured in 1796 by HMS Inconstant. L'Unite was converted by the British into a 28-gun sixth-rate, carrying 24 32lb carronades on her main deck, eight more of the same on her quarter deck and forecastle, as well as 4 6lb long guns as chasers.

HMS Surprise is also the ship chosen by author Patrick O'Brian as the ship that would provide Captain Lucky Jack Aubrey of the Aubrey-Maturin series to his step as a Captain, and eventually see him to raise his flag as an Admiral of the Royal Navy.

Not that I recall, but I didn't realise you were aiming for historic accuracy when I initially asked if you were going to put insignia/emblems on your sails.

But as for flags... Which flags would you use for a ship like this?

Good question. I guess it will be something like this:

[El Bucanero]

Mr. P is correct!

The original name of the HMS Surprise was L'Unite.

Some details from wiki:

HMS Surprise (1794) was a sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. Originally a French corvette armed with 24 9lb long guns named L'Unite, she was designed by M. Forfait and was built at Le Havre. Captured in 1796 by HMS Inconstant. L'Unite was converted by the British into a 28-gun sixth-rate, carrying 24 32lb carronades on her main deck, eight more of the same on her quarter deck and forecastle, as well as 4 6lb long guns as chasers.

HMS Surprise is also the ship chosen by author Patrick O'Brian as the ship that would provide Captain Lucky Jack Aubrey of the Aubrey-Maturin series to his step as a Captain, and eventually see him to raise his flag as an Admiral of the Royal Navy.

Very interesting...

Good question. I guess it will be something like this:

Are you going to use a very big flag like the Acheron has in Master and Commander?

[ZCerberus]

Pesky French... always drinking my Kool-Aid...

I suppose my ships are the right color to be French as well though, so maybe I need to watch myself and just become an honorary Frenchman... viva la France??

Anyhow, to the ship!!

Two things, I know you had posted in one of my threads about the mast extension pieces, but you needed to get some in a BL order... are you planning on increasing the masts height with that technique?

And secondly, I do highly recommend canvas. It doesn't require extra stiffening and can be dyed quite easily.

[Capn Frank]

...

Good question. I guess it will be something like this:

bonaparte,

I'm very suprised that you've chosen this type of flag for your vessel. :-D

What type of armament is this ship going to have? Is it going to be more like the L'Unite or the HMS Suprise or your own variation?

Is the HMS Surprise originally a French ship? How do you know that? I can't remember someone mentioned that in the movie, also not on the second disc. I do know the Acheron is originally a French ship, maybe you're confusing them?

I had gotten that information from The World of Jack Aubrey: Twelve-Pounders, Frigates, Cutlasses, and Insignia of His Majesty's Royal Navy by David Miller

The book was mentioned at the Great Reference Books Thread.

Edit:

Pesky French... always drinking my Kool-Aid...

I suppose my ships are the right color to be French as well though, so maybe I need to watch myself and just become an honorary Frenchman... viva la France??

...

Kool Aid? How are they drinking your kool aid :S

[Norrington]

Well, My guess would be they come up while he's not looking and take it and drink it...

[Mister Phes]

Good question. I guess it will be something like this:

What about this...

[ZCerberus]

What about this...

The Fluer de lis is a quality choice!

The French are always sneaking away with my Kool-Aid! I am not sure what that meant... I was just confronting the fact that my ships may be more French than British.

Anyhow, I was just saying maybe my ships would be closer color wise to French ships. I guess if they are robbed by pirates, and then reclaimed by other countries, then the color scheme would matter less.

Anyhow, these are LEGO Pirates, so maybe any ol' flag would work. I think you should go with the red, white and blue one if you want classic, and the Fluer de lis if you want pizazz!

[Bonaparte]

Are you going to use a very big flag like the Acheron has in Master and Commander?

I'm going to see the film again (maybe tonight) to take a better look at the Archeron.

But I'll try to make it as authentic as possible.

Two things, I know you had posted in one of my threads about the mast extension pieces, but you needed to get some in a BL order... are you planning on increasing the masts height with that technique?

And secondly, I do highly recommend canvas. It doesn't require extra stiffening and can be dyed quite easily.

When I order the plates for the deck I'll try to get some of those special pieces for extending the masts and do some experiments. I'm still not happy with the current masts.

The final sails would be preferable in canvas, but I'll make some initial ones in paper (also to experiment a bit).

What type of armament is this ship going to have? Is it going to be more like the L'Unite or the HMS Suprise or your own variation?

It will be more like the Archeron it think.

What about this...

Good Lord no, I would rather die than to put this flag on the ship :-D

This was the French royal standard until the French Revolution (followed by the Napoleonic period), when it was replaced by the tricolor of modern-day France.

[ZCerberus]

Good Lord no, I would rather die than to put this flag on the ship :-D

This was the French royal standard until the French Revolution (followed by the Napoleonic period), when it was replaced by the tricolor of modern-day France.

I still think it has pizazz!

But like I said, for the classic Napoleonic man such as your self, the red,white and blue tricolor all the way!

[El Bucanero]

Good Lord no, I would rather die than to put this flag on the ship :-D

This was the French royal standard until the French Revolution (followed by the Napoleonic period), when it was replaced by the tricolor of modern-day France.

Napoleon was (long time ago, verryy long) also my idol, so when I was playing AOE III, I always chose Napoleon. And I remember the French use the fleur de lis flag in that game...

[Dukesc]

You have an excellent ship. I really like how you kept the hull size to cannon ratio realistic. *y* *y* Some people seem to try to cram as much gun-power onto a ship as they can. I don

[Bonaparte]

Napoleon was (long time ago, verryy long) also my idol, so when I was playing AOE III, I always chose Napoleon. And I remember the French use the fleur de lis flag in that game...

Thats not very historically correct of AOE 3.

I might have that game... have to check it.

You have an excellent ship. I really like how you kept the hull size to cannon ratio realistic. *y* *y* Some people seem to try to cram as much gun-power onto a ship as they can. I don

[Imperator Viktor Napoleon]

I worship the Emperor too. Greatest man that ever lived.

What about this? I saw it once, so I made one.

[Bonaparte]

I worship the Emperor too. Greatest man that ever lived.

What about this? I saw it once, so I made one.

Wow, that's a nice flag Imperator. I might have seen it also in some painting of Napoleon.

I think I'll print it...

[Dukesc]

I had the same issue with having a short bowsprit when I was building the Xebec. All I did to legthen it was add this piece from the Star Wars B-Wing . Then I added a black lance to further lengthen it.

[Darthking623]

She is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y* *y*

[Berry Syedow]

Bonaparte, your ship looks very nice so far. I like how the bow has a bit of a curve to it. I noticed that the ship's sides slope out a bit. Is this a development inspired by Legeaux? I think I remember his ships being the first to do this, but I might be mistaken. Anyhow, I like it. I also agree that the cannon spacing is spot on. I look forward to your completed vessel!

By the way, is there any reason that the base-plate is upside down?

[Imperator Viktor Napoleon]

Wow, that's a nice flag Imperator. I might have seen it also in some painting of Napoleon.

I think I'll print it...

Glad you like.

Vive L'Empereur!!!!!

[Bonaparte]

Bonaparte, your ship looks very nice so far. I like how the bow has a bit of a curve to it. I noticed that the ship's sides slope out a bit. Is this a development inspired by Legeaux? I think I remember his ships being the first to do this, but I might be mistaken.

Thanks Berry!

The ship is inspired on most of the ships that are in the Index: MOC ships :-D . And it is inspired by the HMS Surprise/HMS Rose. Recently I have discovered some modeling sites where you can see much more details than on the normal ship pictures you can find with Google. A good example is this site.

Anyhow, I like it. I also agree that the cannon spacing is spot on. I look forward to your completed vessel!

I have almost finished the deck, but need to order some parts on bricklink that don't have the right color.

By the way, is there any reason that the base-plate is upside down?

You must mean the plate under the captains feet. No special reason for it being upside down :)

[Mister Phes]

Good Lord no, I would rather die than to put this flag on the ship :-D

This was the French royal standard until the French Revolution (followed by the Napoleonic period), when it was replaced by the tricolor of modern-day France.

That's why I suggested it! Baring in mind I'm stuck back in the the 17th and early 18th century. X-D

However, you haven't specified exactly the period in which the L

[El Bucanero]

However, you haven't specified exactly the period in which the L'Orient exists.

Mister Phes, Bonaparte said he uses the HMS Surprise as a base, and the HMS Surprise existed in the late 18th and early 19th century. Aside from that, Napoleon also lived in this period, so I guess it's a late 18th century ship. Am I right Mr Bonaparte?

[Bonaparte]

Mister Phes, Bonaparte said he uses the HMS Surprise as a base, and the HMS Surprise existed in the late 18th and early 19th century. Aside from that, Napoleon also lived in this period, so I guess it's a late 18th century ship. Am I right Mr Bonaparte?

Nothing to add. You're 100% correct Mr. Tiber!