Link to the related website that has useful info: the Age of Nelson.

This forum is devoted to the Royal Navy during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793 - 1815).
And why not the other navies of the period?
To avoid spam, you must register to be able to post - it's free.

FAQ         Register         Profile         Search         Log in to check your private messages         Log in
Victory restoration
Post new topic   Reply to topic    www.ageofnelson.org Forum Index -> Age of Nelson
 
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
PMarione
Site Admin


Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 883

Post Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 11:38 pm    Post subject: Victory restoration Reply with quote

Quote:
Victory is, in my opinion, something of a scandal.

Breasthooks, knees, and other timbers have been made of laminated tropical hardwood, some of it sourced from places such as Indonesia with dubious environmental records.
The masts are from a vessel of 1870, and the mainmast is stepped through the hull into the dry dock below.
Much of the rigging and cordage aboard is incorrect, the blocks are incredibly crude reproductions and all of the cordage is polyester.
Externally, machine plane marks from ill adjusted modern machines is visible on the hull planking alongside traditionally axe and adze finished timbers.
Forward the recent bow renovation has been left with the metal fastenings protruding like rivets.

The information given by the guides is limited and often inaccurate, as
someone commented recently on this site, "rum, sodomy and the lash".
Things have somewhat improved under the current curator, but the Navy (it is still a commissioned warship) and the others who have been responsible for all this over the years have a lot to answer for.

One wonders what would have happened had it been a listed building...

Damien Sanders


We can think of the present Victory as the biggest Revell model in the world: scale 1:1.
Two or three years ago it was proposed by the curator to buy for £7000 of plastic sheep and pigs to put in the manger, so the kids would see what a sheep or a pig looks like.
The financing board answered that it would be far cheaper to rent such animals from a local farmer.

Sic transit...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
chasbaz



Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 38
Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada

Post Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm sorry to hear that the Victory is such a sham. At least the US Navy has done much better - the Constitution, built 1798 and still afloat. How many other ships of the period survive I wonder
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
PMarione
Site Admin


Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 883

Post Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The worst story I know is the story of the French Redoutable taken at Trafalgar.

It was kept in England till the 50s when the RN said that they can no more keep it and proposed that she was sent back to France.
The director of the "Musée de la Marine" (I have forgotten his name) who by tradition is a "peintre de la Marine", answered that they were not interested and that the RN could dispose of her as they pleased.
The ship was used as target practice in the Channel and sunk.

Today there are people diving on her to try to save some pieces. Crying or Very sad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    www.ageofnelson.org Forum Index -> Age of Nelson All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ   Search    Register   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in 

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

Nun