Builder's Block Model (USNM 316628) of the Privateer 6«a/; ZJra^on (see p. 88). Made before 181 2 

 and the oldest half-model in the collection, it was shaped from a solid block of wood. To raise the deck level 

 and thus alter the depth, a thin plank, or lift, was added to the top. Lines were probably taken off with a lead 

 bar by the builder. (Smitlisonian photo 4j)6o8-m.) 



extreme bow and stern were drawn full size, but if 

 the keel was curved this was not a desirable method. 

 If the frames and ends of the hull were laid down, the 

 scrieve board would suffice. The frames were lifted 

 from the model drawing by scaling off in succession, 

 at each frame line, the half breadth of each lift, and 

 by then laying these off full size in the loft or on the 

 scrieve board at the corresponding location, the lift 

 lines, centerline, and profile having first been laid off, 

 of course. 



When all the half breadths of a frame had been 

 transferred to the full-size drawing, the frame shape 

 was swept in on the floor or platform by means of a 

 batten (tacked down) and a pencil or chalk. This 

 required a certain "eye," or skill, on the part of the 

 man making the full-size drawings, for often he had to 

 interpret the frame shape between measurement 

 points, so that the frames would fair when being 

 planked. Some yards having a large enough floor 

 space in the mould loft laid off vertical sections 



through the frame shapes (properly called "buttocks" 

 in the afterbody and "bow lines" in the forcbody, but 

 usually called buttocks only) and also added "di- 

 agonals" and faired these as long sweeping curv-es 

 running the length of the hull (see lines plans in this 

 catalog) to "prove" the frame shapes, that is to make 

 sure they were fair and could be planked. Some 

 models in the collection are so carefully made that 

 the lines can be lifted with great precision; others are 

 crudely made and much interpretation is required to 

 reproduce their lines, particularly at the forefoot and 

 at the stern post, where the model was not properly 

 faired to the half breadth of the rabbet or of the keel, 

 post, and stem. 



BLOCK MODELS 



The oldest form of half model is the block model, 

 made of a single block of wood shaped to represent 

 half the hull of the proposed ves.sel or boat. This style 



Hawk's Nest, or Crow's Nest, Half-Model, With Keel and Deadwood Form Shown. Mould-sections 

 were at alternate frames, and sheer and deck lines were indicated by the use of battens tacked to moulds. The 

 keel detail shown is unusual. One of the older forms of builder's half-models, this one, in the author's collec- 

 tion, is of the 3-masted Baltimore schooner F/jing Fish of about 1806. {Smithsonia?i photo 45607-c.) 



11 



