PrinceDeNeufchatel.pdf

Prince De Neufchatel

The War of 1812 began on

June 18 when America de-

clared war against England.

One of the reasons America

took this action was her

strong objection to England’s

insistence on impressing

American seaman into ser-

vice with the Royal Navy. At

the time, America’s “navy”

numbered only one half

dozen frigates and six or

eight sloops and brigs. Great

Britain’s world power fleet

numbered 1,000 sail. It was

no wonder that the over-con-

fident English viewed the

American upstarts with con-

temptuous indifference.

England’s astounding defeat,

however, was due in large

part to her relaxed training

attitude and a continuing re-

liance on her former cause for

victory: seamanship. Maneu-

vering and gunnery were

given little attention. But, the

American seaman, besides

being too young to be over-

confident, had grown excep-

tionally adept in those areas.

All their skills were acquired

by “hard knocks” received

while serving on commercial

(continued page 3)

Technical Characteristics

Scale: 3/16” = 1 ft. (1:64)

Height: 23”

Width: 5”

Length: 32-1/2”

Kit No. 2110

Instruction Manual

9th Century Privateer Hermaphrodite-Schooner

Prince De Neufchatel

1812-15

By Robert L. Evans

Model Shipways, Inc.

3850 N 29th Terrace • Hollywood, FL 33020

(continued from page 1)

aboard the hopelessly under-

manned brigantine. A desperate

battle ensued. The slaughter was

frightful. The British lost with 28

killed, 37 wounded and 10 taken

prisoner. American losses were 7

killed, 15 badly and 9 slightly

wounded, with only 9 men un-

touched! This incredible battle with

its miraculous outcome reflected

the highest honor on the American

captain and his crew.

ships that were drawn into petty

skirmishes with French frigates, the

Moors of Tripoli and the many pi-

rates or privateers that sailed the

waters looking for easy wealth.

And, while England rested on her

laurels, America’s resilient, intelli-

gent young men were being trained

to the maximum.

Credit for America’s success in

winning the War of 1812 belongs

in part to the many privateers who

signed on to do battle against the

might of England. According to

Falconer’s Dictionary of the Marine

(1768), “ Privateers are vessels of

war armed and equipped by partic-

ular merchants, and furnished with

commissions from the State to

cruise against and annoy the

enemy by taking, sinking, or burn-

ing their shipping.” The commis-

sion, authorized by a letter-of-mar-

que, empowered merchants to ap-

propriate to their own use whatev-

er prize (actual capture of a vessel)

they made, as well as receive mon-

etary allowance for each prisoner

taken.

After returning to Boston with her

prize, she was issued a new letter-

of-marque and sailed in December

of 1814 under the command of

Nicholas Millin. On the 26th, she

was spotted and chased by three

British frigates; Leander, Newcastle

and Acasta. Prince de Neufchatel

would have escaped, if not for the

fact that she lost spars by carrying

too much sail. The commodore of

the frigate squadron was so im-

pressed by the schooner’s speed

that rather than having her con-

demned in Halifax, he had her sent

to the Deptford Dockyard to be

surveyed. Her lines were taken, but

in handling, her back was broken

on the dock gate sill. This accident

prevented her from being taken

into Royal Navy service and she

was sold off.

While on the whole the privateers,

as irregular forces, were certainly

no match for the the British regular

cruisers, they inflicted enormous

damage on the foe. Among four of

the privateers that were most cred-

itable was the speedy brigantine

Prince de Neufchatel captained by

J. Ordronaux of New York. A su-

perbly built vessel of 310 tons, she

mounted 18 guns and originally

possessed a crew of 150 men.

One of the most notorious of the

American privateers during the

War of 1812, Prince de Neufchatel

was supposedly built by Christian

Bergh at New York in 1812-13 and

was named for Berthier, one of

Napoleon’s marshalls of the period.

One of the larger privateers. she

measured 107’ 6” at the waterline,

and possessed a speed equal to de-

sign speeds of clipper ships built 40

years later. Because she had a size

and shape that could attain high

speeds and hold more firepower,

her shape was given to a whole

fleet of opium clippers.

Her most awesome battle occurred

on October 11th just after having

made a very successful cruise. She

had on board 37 prisoners and

$300,000 in goods, but had manned

and sent in so many prizes that

only 40 of her crew remained. With

little warning, the crew found

themselves pursued by the British

frigate Endymion which, during a

calm, dispatched 5 boats containing

111 men. The Neufchatel opened fire

on the boats but they were soon

alongside, and the British clamored

Armament for the privateers was

usually sixteen 12-pounder car-

ronades and two long 18’s as chase

guns. All were carriage mounted to

allow more positioning freedom,

and to accommodate the higher

bulwarks found on the privateers.

Construction Stages and Table of Contents

Brief History

Cover, pg 3

Credits

Pg 2

Before You Begin

Pg 5

How to Work With the Plans and Parts

Pg 6

Sail Option (Read before beginning construction)

Pg 6

What You’ll Need to Start Construction

Pg 6

Painting & Staining the Model

Pg 7

Stage A: Building the Hull Assembly

Pg 8

1. Bulkhead & False Keel Preparation

Pg 8

2. Frame Assembly

Pg 8

3. Deck Plate Mounting

Pg 8

4. Bow and Stern Blocks

Pg 9

5. Bulkhead Edge Chamfering

Pg 9

6. Bulwark Plate Fitting & Mounting

Pg 9

7. Transom

Pg 10

8. Inner Bulwark Preparation

Pg 11

Stage B: Surfacing the Hull Assembly

Pg 12

1. Lower Hull Under-planking

Pg 12

2. Applying Filler to the Under-planking

Pg 12

3. Inboard Bulwarks

Pg 13

4. Outer Final Planking

Pg 13

5. Planking the Inner Bulwarks

Pg 13

6. Outboard Final Planking

Pg 13

7. Stern Final Planking

Pg 13

8. Lower Hull Final Planking

Pg 14

9. Creating Batten Lines on the Lower Hull

Pg 14

Pg 15

10. Plank Tapering For the Hull

11. Deck Final Planking

12. The Cap Rail

Stage C: Mounting the Hull

Pg 16

1. Mounting Board with Two Pedestals

Pg 16

2. Launching Ways

Pg 16

Stage D: Deck Furniture

Pg 16

1. Bowsprit & Bitts

Pg 17

2. Forward Companionway

Pg 17

3. Windlass Bitts (Fore & Main)

Pg 17

4. Hatches (Galley, Main & Aft)

Pg 17

5. Main Cabin

Pg 17

6. Rudder, Mast Openings, Pump Assemblies

Pg 17

7. Belaying Pin Racks & Channels

Pg 18

8. Gunport Lids

Pg 18

9. Bow

Pg 18

10. Railing Bitts & Knightheads

11. Armament

Stage E: Mast & Spar Construction

Pg 20

1. Assembling the Masts

Pg 20

2. Spars & Booms

Pg 20

3. Fittings

Pg 20

4. Bowsprit Assembly

Pg 21

5. Mounting Spars & Booms

Pg 21

6. Mounting the Masts & Bowsprit

Pg 21

Stage F: Standing Rigging

Pg 22

1. Bowsprit Rigging

Pg 22

2. Fore-stays

Pg 22

3. Shrouds

Pg 23

4. Back-stays

Pg 23

5. Lifts

Pg 23

Stage G: Running Rigging

Pg 24

1. Jib Sails

Pg 24

2. Stay-Sails

Pg 25

3. Gaffs

Pg 25

4. Driver Boom

Pg 25

5. Spars

Pg 25

6. Ground Tackle

Pg 26

7. Flag Halyard

Pg 26

8. Ship’s Boat

Pg 26

Key to Rigging Plan

Pg 29

Bibliography

Pg 30

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Great attention has been given to compil-

ing these instructions so the less experi-

enced modeler will have a more com-

plete understanding of the design intent

of the prefabricated parts and fittings in

the kit. Alternately, the more experienced

modeler will find that parts provisions

are flexible enough to allow application

of individual building techniques and se-

quences other than those suggested in

this manual.

An attempt has been made in the kit de-

sign to provide materials which lessen

the time and skill required to produce the

finished model. Laser cut parts are used

extensively, particularly for the bul-

warks. This will allow a more accurate

placement of the gun and oar ports. The

laser cut false keel and bulwarks also

give a more accurate shape to the hull.

These prefabricated parts do not, how-

ever, eliminate the individual fitting and

adjustments that must be made during

construction, due to variances in manu-

facturing tolerances and the modeler’s

care in construction.

For those familiar with Model Shipway’s

kit of the Fair American, you’ll find con-

struction of this kit to be somewhat simi-

lar. The topsail schooner rig will be less

involved, but size will present more diffi-

culty. The hull shape, however, lends it-

self to ease of planking. Anyone who

builds this Baltimore Clipper should find

it a satisfying step toward more involved

modeling experiences.

Those of you wanting to expand the de-

tails of your model will find all of the re-

quired additional specifications in the

publications listed in the Bibliography.

Happy modeling!

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