In support of other Adder logs on DDM, I have decided to try and recreate my build log that was lost recently in the MSW 2.0 hack. 😣

So here we go. The model is not finished and is patiently awaiting it's turn back on the bench, I think this will be after I have made some good progress on rigging my Caldercraft Bounty, another log I am trying to rebuild at the moment. I have got as far as the second planking and started a few other features like a cutter and some of the other little details, but I will get to them as I re-assemble this log in order.

I do want to highlight again the wonderful customer service of @Chris @ Vanguard Models as I re-start this log. Back on MSW 2.0 Chris was detailing his development of this kit, as he generously does on all his kits and shares the prototyping details and research he does so well. Well as many others do I was chipping in with comments in Chris's log and just happened to mention that my dear Admiral 💞 much preferred the name of Gunboat No.7 in the Acute Gunboat Class, that was called "Sparkler", thought nothing more of it. Then many weeks later when I ordered the kit from Chris is arrived with a bespoke nameplate for "Sparkler" 😲 😁 - what a wonderful personal touch!

So get get the ball rolling, here are some photos of the additional blocks and deadeyes & 18ft Cutter I got to go with the basic kit and that personalised nameplate.

The Ambition -

My hopes for this kit are to build it with sails. I've done this on two previous builds; Vanguard Models "Nisha" fishing boat and HM Cutter "Trial". Unfortunately the builds logs went into the ether along with MSW 2.0 and I don't have the time or inclination to re-build those logs as well, so they live on in the Gallery of DDM at least! 🙂

Nisha Gallery images

Trial Galley images

So I fancy taking sail making one step further and tackling a little Brig. Attached are a few sample historical pictures of what I'm aiming for, the Sparkler hove-to and lowering, or bringing on board a boat (the reason for the additional 18ft Cutter.) The third picture taken from Modelling the Brig of War "Irene" by E. W. Petrejus is full of life and in my minds eye at least, is what my kit will look like! 😅 - Btw. Petrejus's book "Irene" is one of my favourite references and I'm often thumbing through it.

I'll be watching this one closely 🙂

Oh sails would be spectacular.

Here is a challenge - can you model the sail being backed as shown in the picture?

You did such a splendid job on HMS Trial, that I know you can! 😉

Note to self: read the original post, as that’s the look you said you wanted! 🧐

4 hours ago, Dale-A said:

I'll be watching this one closely 🙂

4 hours ago, Craig M said:

Here is a challenge - can you model the sail being backed as shown in the picture?

You did such a splendid job on HMS Trial, that I know you can! 😉

Thank you Dale & Craig, I'll do my best!

Before going through the build log to where I have got to, here is a little background information on Sparkler that I have found on the web.

The bulk of this has come from the Kent history Forum, the link is below for full recognition of the source, but the website comes up as a security risk, so I wouldn't recommend trying it, based on the experience of MSW 2.0 and all that! Fortunately I have downloaded a copy before it went off-line a couple of years ago.

It is interesting that her disgraced commander Lieutenant Walker (see below) applied to the Admiralty to make alteration to his accommodation, to make it more spacious and no doubt more comfortable for himself; seeing his behaviour detailed below not out of character it would seem! This (deigned) request did lead to the only drawing of Sparkler I have come across from the Royal Museums of Greenwich; ZAZ5028. An interesting detail is that Sparkler had a little stove detailed in that plan - something I can add as a small detail to my build, as no doubt that stove have a flue! For general reference I have also added ZAZ4978, a general plan and view and cross sections of the Acute class generally. Finally a couple of maps showing the 1801 battle of Copenhagen, which Sparkler was in attendance, but did not participate; highlighted in the group of ships with HMS Jamaica south of the Middle Ground.

https://kenthistoryforum.com/index.php?topic=111.0

HM Gunboat No 7 - HMS Sparkler

HM Gunboat No.7 was ordered on 7th February 1797, her keel was laid at Deptford later that month and she was launched on 12th April. Immediately after her launch, she was taken to the Royal Dockyard at Deptford, where she was fitted with her guns, masts and rigging and her lower hull was coppered. This process was completed on 21st June and she commissioned into the Channel Fleet under Lieutenant Austin Ternan. The vessel was formally named HMS Sparkler on 7th August 1797. Lieutenant Ternan remained in command until he was replaced by Lieutenant William Walker in June 1798. Mr Walker's term in command of the vessel was to end in disgrace.

On 24th June 1800, Mr William O'Kelly, Surgeon's Mate in HMS Sparkler, faced a Court Martial held aboard the 44 gun two-decker HMS Gladiator in Portsmouth. He had been reported by Lieutenant Walker for mutinous, riotous and disorderly behaviour, disobeying orders, striking the Clerk and pointing a pistol at the guards who came to arrest him. Found guilty by the Court Martial board, Mr O'Kelly was sentenced to spend two years in the Marshalsea Prison and to have all his pay deducted. This may or may not have been connected to what happened next.

On 2nd July 1800, Lieutenant Walker himself faced a Court Martial aboard HMS Gladiator. He was charged with False Muster, in that he answered muster for men who had deserted the vessel, claiming that they were ashore on leave. In addition, he had entered his son onto the ships books, rated at Able Seaman, claiming when challenged that the boy was ashore on an errand. He had ordered one of the vessel's company to go to the Receiving Ship and sign on as a volunteer in his son's name in order to claim the £5 bounty. His son was at the time, a year old. In addition to this, he was charged with False Accounting in that he shortened the fresh provisions for the vessel's company and drew the remainder ashore for his own use. He sent salt herrings to the vessel to be served without fresh vegetables which he had also kept for his own use ashore and drew provisions for fifty men, despite his vessel's company not being complete. Lieutenant Walker was found guilty of all charges by the Court Martial Board and was dishonourably dismissed from His Majesty's Service.

After Lieutenant Walker's Court Martial and disgrace, Lieutenant John Stevens was appointed to command HMS Sparkler. On 19th August 1800, HMS Sparkler was part of a force commanded by Mr John Wright, Master and Commander in the large gun-brig HMS Wolverine of 14 guns. Commander Wright's force had succeeded in forcing an enemy convoy to take shelter in the mouth of the River Vire, near Isigny-sur-Mer in modern-day Normandy. On the day in question, two large sloops were seen attempting to escape and make their way along the shore to the east. The three British gun-brigs, HMS Wolverine, HMS Sparkler and HMS Force of 12 guns gave chase and forced the two enemy vessels to run ashore at Grand Camp Bay, where they were under the cover of two powerful shore batteries. Undeterred, Commander Wright ordered a boat attack, with HMS Sparkler and HMS Force giving covering fire. Lieutenant Gregory of HMS Wolverine led the attack using HMS Wolverines boats and with a party of Royal Marines, boarded the largest of the two enemy vessels within 20 yards of the shore, under fire from three field pieces and the muskets of over two hundred French soldiers. Nevertheless, they managed to set the enemy vessel on fire and she exploded, wounding three of HMS Wolverine's men. The other sloop was too badly holed to be re-floated and there were no other casualties amongst the British force.

On Tuesday 9th September 1800, HMS Sparkler was operating off the Iles St Marcouf in company with the 24 gun, 9pdr armed post-ship HMS Champion, her sister-boat HMS Bouncer and the hired armed cutter Dolphin of 12 guns, when they drove ashore and destroyed two enemy sloops laden with cargoes of soda ash. Four days later, HMS Sparkler was under the orders of Commander Charles Papps Price in the small gun-brig HMS Badger when HMS Badger's boats captured the French privateer lugger La Victoire under cover of HMS Sparkler's guns off the Iles St Marcouf. HMS Sparkler suffered damage to her sails but no casualties.

In early 1800, a sequence of events began which was to indirectly a major action which was to involve HMS Sparkler and her crew. It was also to lead, eventually to the opening of another front in the war. In time of war, the British had always insisted on the right to stop and search neutral ships at sea for contraband and war materials. The Dutch Navy had ceased to be an effective force after the Battle of Camperdown and the Vlieter Incident. As a result of this, Britain's erstwhile ally Russia had joined together with other, neutral northern nations to try to force the British to give up this right. On 25th July 1800, a small British squadron which included the 20 gun ship-sloop HMS Arrow and the 28 gun frigate HMS Nemesis encountered the large 40 gun Danish frigate Freya, which was escorting a convoy of six vessels through the English Channel, near the Goodwin Sands. In accordance with the age-old British tradition of stopping and searching neutral vessels, Captain Thomas Baker of HMS Nemesis hailed the Freya and informed the Danes of his intention to send a boat around each vessel in turn and conduct a brief search. The Danish captain, Captain Krabbe responded to the effect that the Freya would fire on the British boat if they attempted to board any of the vessels under his protection. The British duly put their boat into the water and the Danes duly carried out their threat. In the action which followed, the Freya was forced to surrender after having suffered 2 men killed and five wounded. The Danish convoy was escorted to the Downs and anchored there. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, the Commander-in-Chief at the Downs, Vice-Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge ordered that the Danish vessels be allowed to continue flying their own colours. This incident and another similar incident in the Mediterranean had threatened to open a major rift between Britain and denmark. It was vitally important for Britain to maintain good relations with neutral Denmark, since Denmark controlled the Kattegat, that narrow passage from the North Sea into the Baltic.

In order to pacify the Danes and to intimidate them in case Plan A, diplomacy, failed, the British sent Lord Whitworth, previously Ambassador to the Imperial Court in Russia and Britain's leading diplomat to Copenhagen to negotiate a settlement to the growing dispute before it erupted into an armed conflict. In order to reinforce Lord Whitworth's position, the British sent a squadron comprising four ships of the line, HMS Monarch (74), HMS Polyphemus (64), HMS Veteran (64) and HMS Ardent (64), three 50 gun ships, HMS Glatton, HMS Isis and HMS Romney plus the ex-Dutch 50 gun ships HMS Waakzamheid and HMS Martin, the bomb vessels HMS Sulphur, HMS Volcano, HMS Hecla and HMS Zebra and the gun-brigs HMS Swinger, HMS Boxer, HMS Furious, HMS Griper and HMS Haughty. The force was commanded by Vice-Admiral Archibald Dickson, who flew his command flag in HMS Monarch. On 29th August an agreement was reached whereby the British would pay for repairs to the Freya and the other Danish ships, that the right of the British to stop and search neutral vessels at sea would be discussed at another time and that Danish vessels would only sail in convoy in the Mediterranean for protection against Algerine corsairs. With the signing of the agreement, Dickson returned to Yarmouth with his force. That would have been the end of the matter had the pro-British Tzarina of Russia, Catherine II, not fallen ill and died. She was succeeded by her son Paul, who was a fan of Napoleon Bonaparte and was itching to find an excuse to start a war against the British. Tzar Paul took offence at the attack on the Freya and at the presence of a British squadron in the Baltic Sea. He ordered his army and navy to be mobilised for war and ordered that all British property in his dominions be seized. About 3 weeks afterward however, he changed his mind and on 22nd September, ordered that all seized British property be returned to its owners.

In the meantime, news reached Tzar Paul that the British had refused to hand Malta back to the Knights of St John after having driven the French from the islands back in 1797. This enraged the Tzar who had been promised control of the islands by the French. On 5th November, his order to seize all British shipping in Russian ports was reinstated. In the December, the Tzar proposed a confederation of Armed Neutrality which was to comprise Russia, Sweden and Denmark. If allowed to take form, this would mean the British could potentially face an additional opponent possessing a total of over 100 ships of the line as well as the combined fleets of Spain and France. The British decided to meet this new menace in kind and a fleet began to be assembled at Yarmouth, to be led by Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker with no less an officer than Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson as his second-in-command. In early March, HMS Sparkler joined this fleet and prepared to sail to Denmark. With Parker flying his command flag in HMS London (98) and Nelson flying his in HMS St. George (98) and accompanied by 18 more ships of the line, with 4 frigates plus sloops-of-war, bomb vessels and gun-brigs, the fleet departed Yarmouth on 12th March 1801. Parker had orders to neutralise the fortifications at Copenhagen and the Danish fleet should last minute negotiations fail. Parker's plan was that Nelson would lead the attack squadron, comprising of the shallower-draughted and smaller ships of the line, while Parker held back with the bigger ships. Nelson shifted his command flag to the 74 gun ship HMS Elephant.

The Danish fleet consisted of 24 ships of the line, anchored off the fortifications of Copenhagen and Nelson and his force of 12 ships of the line were required to neutralise these before troops could be landed to assault the fortifications. In the morning of the 2nd April 1801, Nelson's force made its way slowly up the Skaw, but suffered losses when first, the 64 gun ship HMS Agamemnon, then the 74 gun ships HMS Bellona and HMS Russell ran aground. Battle was joined at 10:05 when the Danish shore batteries opened fire. For the first half an hour, the leading British ships, HMS Ardent, HMS Polyphemus, HMS Edgar (74), HMS Isis (50) and HMS Monarch bore the brunt of the fire from the Danish batteries both ashore and afloat. HMS Isis was the most severely damaged and had to be rescued by HMS Polyphemus.

View of the Battle of Copenhagen. HMS Sparkler is one of the vessels ready to support the ships of the line to the south of the Middle Ground:

It is a commonly believed myth that when Vice-Admiral Parker had the signal to discontinue the action hoisted, Nelson put a telescope to his blind eye and said "I really do not see the signal" and appeared to deliberately disobey his superior. That part is not disputed, Nelson really did do that. In fact, Nelson and Parker had already agreed that since his division would not be involved in the fighting, Parker would have a better overall view of what was going on than Nelson would. They agreed that when Parker felt that the Danes were beaten, he would signal Nelson to that effect, but as the commander of the strike force, Nelson would have the final say as to when to bring the action to a stop.

After about 11:30, the rest of Nelson's force, HMS Glatton (54), HMS Elephant, HMS Ganges (74), HMS Defiance (74) and the frigates joined in the action relieving the pressure. At 16:00, a ceasefire was negotiated. The Danes had suffered heavy losses. The Danish flagship had blown up, killing 250 men. In all, it is estimated that Danish losses were about 1800 men killed, captured or wounded. The British losses came to about 250 men. The Danish fleet had been beaten into submission and the day after the battle, the Danes surrendered.

HMS Sparkler did not become involved in the fighting in the Battle of Copenhagen and was one of the vessels ready to support the ships of the line to the south of the Middle Ground, so suffered no damage or casualties.

On 25th March 1802, the Treaty of Amiens was signed, bringing an end to the French Revolutionary War. At the time, the British Government felt that the war was truly over and that Europe and the rest of the world would be at peace for the foreseeable future. In September 1802 as part of the drawdown of the fleet, HMS Sparkler was sold.

Construction begins, this next few steps were done in October 2024 and the kit just flew together!

The frames slotted into place with ease and it was not until the end of adding most of the frames that dilute PVA glue was needed; indeed Chris recommends that in step 20 or so in the instructions.

One little ritual I did was to add a "Lucky Penny" into the hull, in a similar way coins were placed under the foot of masts in real vessels, an example of the practice in this news article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8p4yqen0go My coins was from the year of birth of one of my kids.

Plenty of fairing needed of the frames, especially around the bow, that is built like a Battleships! But nothing too onerous. One point with Adder compared to Trial was that I don't recall there being any guide marking on the frames to show where to fair to. however this is such a blunt bowed vessel maybe Chris thought it unnecessary.

Last step in this stage was adding the two 0.8mm ply bulwark patterns, Chris does make a point in the instructions to take care dry fitting these to make sure they both sit at the correct height; there are engraved guide line to help. To make this process easier I did soak the front end of these two bulwark patterns and clamped them in place to dry so the took on the approx. right curve, before proceeding to fix them with glue. Plenty of clamps needed!

Next up the first planking, thanks for looking in.

The lucky penny is a nice touch.

Good luck with the planking!

First planking (1)-

This involved a fair bit of bending at the bluff bow. I practiced some edge bending and pre-forming of planks in preparation for doing the second planking. I used a hobby plank bend for the more simple curves, but for the more extreme I used a travel iron and anything that came to hand to bend the planks a little at a time after wetting them. Top tip - don't use a steel rule for this! No matter how tempting the rounded end of the rule look s in getting as good curve, something mysterious happens to it -it gets hot! 😬 What a muppet to find that out the hard way... 😆

But trials, tribulations and burns later the planks did benefit from this extra effort to get them to lie flat on each bulkhead.

First planking (2)-

I did also at this stage play with a new toy - some proportional dividers to measure out the widths of the plants at each bulkhead, I'd seen these used on other builds and though I'd give them a go, and I'm a sucker for getting nice gadgets that I rarely use! Overall if was "fun" to use them and measure out the widths, but honestly a strip of card for ticking off plank widths is just as good. But on the plus side I now have some proportional dividers, erm, somewhere....

Finally a few picture of the completed first planking.

Thanks for looking in. 👍

Well done with the planking. I think Adder rightly has a reputation for being challenging because of the bow. I found it impossible to induce a sharp curve and add sharp edge bending into the bargain, but you've shown the way.

A grand job on the planking.

I always think that is the hardest part. The second planking can use the first as a guide.

A cold beer is in order… for your fingers. Won’t heal them faster but you’ll feel better! 😁

"I use a soldering iron to bend wooden planks, but I’ve got a terrible habit of putting it near my face to see if it’s heated up. One time, I accidentally nipped my lip with it. Definitely need to watch out from now on! 😁

Ouch!

All, thanks for the likes and comments as I rebuild this log. It's great that the launch of DDM has fired me up a bit to get this build going again (and poor old Bounty), so by the time I've rebuilt the logs I stay sufficiently motivated to continue building once caught up!

The next stages that needed doing before starting the second planking, were to follow stages #30 to #43 of the instructions. This included adding the keel and prow, stern post and the lower stern pattern, these were glued in their final places and in the case of the lower stern pattern, sanded flush to the profile of the first planking. During this process I did use the upper stern pattern as a position guide for the stern post and lower stern pattern, before taking off again.

The next thing to do was to add/position the outer bulwark parts (46 & 47) the instructions suggest these can be glued now or temporarily clamped in position to allow the first row of second planking to be done, before the bulwark parts are taken off again. I chose to follow the latter suggestion as it meant the delicate detail of the bulwarks would be protected from my grubby paws and accidents with glue and/or paint etc.

Having seen it mentioned in other logs I have also decided to try out a new glue (to me) for adding the second planking instead of C-A. More PVA than super glue, but with a quicker "grab" time than PVA, more on that later.

Next up lining out the hull for second planking, thanks for looking in.

Good progress.

I used Titebond, II I think, for most of the Indy build. I found the grab time reasonably quick. For something faster I use Veloset which is rapid (for wood glue). That said my current bottle of Veloset is nearly finished and I was about to order a fresh bottle. I would be interested in how the Deluxe glue performs.

Are you using the Deluxe glue for the second planking? Does it debond with water and IPA?

19 minutes ago, Craig M said:

Are you using the Deluxe glue for the second planking? Does it debond with water and IPA?

Hi Craig yes I did use it for the second planking and was very happy with the results, think it is water based so could de-bond with water while fresh on, but once dry I think its stuck. It doesn't grab like C-A, so the planks had to held in place and that made the process slower, but no bad thing for me, as it stopped me rushing and making too many mistakes.

I'll look out for Veloset also. 👍

Ah you have already used the “new” glue. With so many logs being reconstructed I get confused on time lines. or maybe that’s just old age!

Veloset can be de-bonded using water or IPA. After all I just might make a mistake or two 😁 I bought it from a Wonderland Models in Edinburgh, but it is widely available.

Preparation for and start of the second planking.

From the previous post I had temporarily clamped the Bulwark pattern to the hull to work out where the second planking would start below that point. From that datum I then used strips of card to measure out the distances from under the bulwark pattern to the keel and then worked out the widths of planks needed to split the planking into three bands. This would help breakdown the planking into (for me at least) manageable stages to work on. Using my newly acquired proportional dividers, I set off to mark out the hull using flexible thin tape. From there on I used the dividers to mark the planks and taper them prior to bending and gluing to the hull. A few picture follow that are hopefully better than my gibberish, next post some progress pictures of the second planking.

Thanks all for the comments and likes. 😁

I remember this one...you did a very good planking job with that strange shaped bow 👍

4 hours ago, Ronald-V said:

I remember this one...you did a very good planking job with that strange shaped bow 👍

Thank you Ronald, yes the bow was a bit of a challenge!

Here are a series of pictures of the second planking. I got carried away initially just doing the planking and forgot to take any pictures!