Admiralty-style ship models were built by shipbuilders from the 15th to the 19th centuries. They served as a design aid for engineers, a simulator for those responsible for operating the vessel, and as a “show and tell” screen for those raising funds from investors.
An Admiralty model will have some unplanked parts that will expose the frame and internal and deck furniture. Usually masts, masts and some rigging are in place. The keel, stern post and bow are erected and the ribs are attached to the keel. This will then represent the general shape of the hull. Then some of the planks are applied to the ribbed frame. On some Admiralty ship models, the entire hull will be planked, while only part of the deck will be planked. On other models, one side of the hull will be left unplanked while the deck is planked. Another version will have the entire hull without planks while the deck is planked. An Admiralty style model could also be a cross section of the hull. This is where all the planks are placed; however, the model would only represent one part of the ship, such as the bow, midsection, or stern.
The advantage of building a model Admiralty ship for the model ship builder is that you can add details to better represent the purpose and era of the ship. Using the Bounty as an example, a representation can be made for the galley, gun room, carpentry shop, hold, captain’s quarters, etc. The Bounty’s botanical mission was to collect breadfruit plants so that some plants could be added, as well as an area that would have been used for the study of plants and animals discovered along its voyage. Before starting on the ship model, the builder should not only study the ship being represented, but also the era in which the ship was built. Shipbuilding changed from century to century. More realism could be added as ballast placed in the hold before cargo is added.
As an alternative to the standard plank-on-frame used by most model boat kits, the builder can convert the kit to a plank-on-frame or purchase one of the few plank-on-frame kits available. Exposed ribs can be shaped using the bulkhead pieces as templates. Add reinforcement to the ribs between decks by building joists. Some of the plank-on-frame kits that are available are US Fragate Confederacy, Bounty, US Essex, America, Victory, USS Constitution, and Santisimo Trinidad.
It is also possible to build a plank from scratch on a frame ship model. Make sure you have good quality drawings and are familiar with ship hull design.
If you build a plank on top of a frame model, you’ll probably get more satisfaction. The beauty of any ship model is the intricate detail. A ship model with planks on the frame allows you to provide detail not only on the upper deck but also on the lower decks.