Catalog of Radio-Controlled Square-Riggers (Windjammers)

Catalogue de voiliers radio-commandés à gréement carré

Katalog von RC-Rahseglern

Last updated Jan 26, 2010

Introduction

Square-Riggers comprise brigantines, brigs, barquentines, three- or four-masted barques (also called barks), and full-rigged ships. For the sake of controlling systems I include topsail schooners; if you are interested in pure fore and aft schooners (I understand!) check http://www.pittelli.com/schooner/links.html.

Propeller-driven radio-control boats may be fun to build but quickly become very boring to operate, unless you are heavily into boat races and you like to tweak the most power out of electric or gas-powered motors. Radio-control sailboats are more fun, but there again, most are plain sloops optimized for weekend racing on the local pond. I actually put together and sailed a two-channel Victoria sloop, which is a good pretext to sit by the water in a gentle breeze (see a YouTube clip). Owing to the complexity of both construction and operation, there are not many sailing models of squareriggers, but that is what makes them challenging, and actually closer to robots than toys. A step above this would be to build a "scaled replica".

I would like to build a typical three-masted barque. It would have four channels, one for fore, one for main, one for spanker (air rudder), and one for rudder. In my copious free time, I have not started yet, so I can only gawk at what others are doing. Please send me updates, details, or new links for the Catalogue.

1. The model squareriggers on water

A. Models built by individuals and by clubs

Phillip Artweger (CZ) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1110506
Brigantine HMS Larne is only one foot long, with 3 channels.
Larne tacking in tight corners; notice the Bentinck boom for the foresail.
Brig USS Somers, 1:51, on an Austrian lake (rcgroups)
Brigantine St Helena, 1:85, very small at 360g / 12.4oz length 10.2" beam 2.75" (rcgroups)
St Helena in 3D
Brian Clark (GB) http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Modellers/Brian/1ndex.htm
1840 brig has individually firing cannons, scale 1:24
Torpedo ballast holds 40 lb of lead; note the emergency propellers.
Brian is currently building a Susan Constant (see Details of Yard section)
Jean-Claude Cornaz (CH) http://cocatrez.net/Water/JeanClaudeCornaz/
3-masted ship Cutty Sark, the most complex RC square rigger sofar
Heinz Eller (D) http://www.minisail-classic.de/ controls the sails as the real one
Brig Godewind, photo by Ingo Obstfelder
Chris Gierszewski (USA) http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chrisgski/Default.htm has construction pictures, details on the talcum firing cannons, and sells plans of the Lady Love, a.k.a. Lady Washington.
Brig Lady Love firing a miniature cannon
Andreas Gondesen (D) http://www.home.foni.net/~agondesen/models.htm provides nice pictures, video clips, bracing details, and an overview of the maneuvers of square rig ships. Also sells scale rope cable.
4-masted barque Pamir
3-masted ship USS Constitution, scale 1:50
Dutch 3-masted ship Zeven Provincien, scale 1:50, photo by Hans Staal
Philip Goode (Majorca) http://www.adventureundersail.com/genesisofanewsquarerig.htm revived the Xebec rig!
Quarter-ton 3.5m 1:12.5 exact scale model of the Mainmast Barquentine Pelican
Haagse Modelboot Club (NL) http://www.hmbc.nl/nedpage.html adds to its contents regularly; search for "fotogalerijen". Unfortunately no details.
Brig Jennifer built by Willem Moonen, photo by André Ros
Andrew Halst (GB) [need info]
Viking ship using a rotating mast
Ian Hunt (AUS) http://www.scalesailing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ssa/gallery/inverness/c1-inverness.htm from the Scale Sailing Association
4-masted ship County of Inverness
3-masted New-Zealander clipper ship Timaru next to County of Inverness
Lorenz Kästner (D) http://members.aol.com/LorKaest2/Leopard_e.html is an incredible site providing documentaion and pictures of the HMS Leopard.
The spectacular 3-masted ship HMS Leopard sailing in the baltic sea.
The HMS Leopard with all stun-sails set.
Bernhard Lüsing (D) http://www.igminisail.de/mb/mb-07-02/mb-07-02.htm, also includes tugboat operations.
4-masted barque Passat, scale 1:50
Brooks Martin (USA) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=761962 on RCGroups; 10 pages, plus 8 pages in Part 1 (first link of Part 2) !
4-masted barque Pamir
Double topsail schooner Dos Amigos (1:40)
Fred Neuth (USA) http://www.cocatrez.net/Water/FredNewthShips/index.html
3-masted ship USS Constellation (model sank in 45 mph gale)
3-masted ship HMS Victory
Minisail.ch (CH) http://www.minisail.ch/de/ has pictures of radio-controlled squareriggers under the "Rahtakelung" picture. You need to click on word "Legende" to get a few details.
Norwegian 3-masted ship Drommen (ex Witch of the Wave) built by Willem Moonen, photo by Franz Amonn
Auxiliary 3-masted barque Pourquoi-Pas built by Les Amis Vieux Gréements, photo by Franz Amonn
Brigantine from the 1890s built by Felix Wehrli, scale 1:24, photo by Franz Amonn
Spanish brigantine Unicornio from 1892 built by Eduard Bannwart, scale 1:28, photo by Stefan Streit
Minisail-Classic (D) http://www.minisail-classic.de/ has pictures of radio-controlled squareriggers demonstrations and shows.
1-masted ship medieval cog from Danzig, no details.
Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team (GB) http://www.pmbdt.co.uk/ looks like a fun group building propeller-driven squareriggers and fighting them together. They also build models large enough for one human crew!
3-masted ship HMS Victory and its fleet becalmed on Canoe Lake.
Line of Battle, ready to "cross Tees".
Cannon fight with unidentified French 4th-rate (via Post Captain).
Peter Rogers (GB) http://homepages.rya-online.net/society-of-model-shipwrights/ , Secretary of the Society of Model Shipwrights
Brig Irene, with bracing detailed in Model Shipwright 83
Victor "Sanddragon99" (USA) YouTube clip; search for others under the same name.
3-masted ship Black Pearl with cannonball holes in its sails.
Mike Taylor (GB) http://www.scalesailing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ssa/gallery/falmouth/falmouth.htm
3-masted ship HMS Falmouth
Mark Tindall (GB) http://www.cocatrez.net/Water/MarkTindallShips/index.html
3-masted ship HMS Invincible, detailed im Model Shipwright 119 to 124
3-masted ship HMS Victory
Gerald Todd (USA) http://todd.mainecav.org/model/constellation/ is building a 1:36 scale USS Constellation, 63" tip-to-tip and a rigged length over 8 feet, 19 square feet of sails.
3-masted ship USS Constellation under construction (see Details below)
John Tom (Thailand) http://www.john-tom.com/RcShip/RCship.html, with plans and videos
Brigantine Edith Ann, with Foremast and its yards rotating as one
Neville Wade (GB) http://www.cocatrez.net/Water/NevilleWadeShips/index.html
3-masted barque Anne B (Penang)
3-masted ship Ann Louise (Joseph Conrad)
4-masted barquentine Catherine Louise (Mozart)
4-masted barque Judith Kate (Herzogin Cecilie)
Brig Elizabeth Ann (Fame)

B. Models available commercially

GPI Models (GB) OUT OF BUSINESS displays out-of-water pictures of 3-masted ships Constitution, Victory (big!), and Wasa, 3-masted barque Belem, and 1-masted Viking longship, but few details.
3-masted ship Cutty Sark
Graupner (D) YouTube clip shows the effect of a powerful motor and propeller, and NO sail control whatsoever, on a 1:45 scale barque. This is a big disappointment from such a classic company, especially for more than 1000 Euros. Maybe a reader is up for tempting a conversion to sail?
3-masted barque Alexander von Humboldt has only 2-channel control, motor & rudder!
Steel, Chapman & Hutchinson Ltd (USA) http://www.modelsailingships.com manufactures impressive large-scale large-size squarerigger kits, and has video clips.
- Cruiser class, 1797, 1:24
  Cruiser-class brig Grasshopper, builder unknown.
  Syren (1803) on the open ocean, built and substantially modified by Dan Lewandowski.
  Video clip of Syren firing her guns one after the other (mpeg, RC Groups).
- Surprise (Unité), 1794, 1:24
  The 3-masted ship HMS Surprise being launched; the size of the model makes it very scale-like.
  HMS Surprise braced-up and underway; beautiful sight.
- Prince de Neufchâtel, 1813, 1:24
  http://www.princedeneufchatel.com/ topsail schooner Prince de Neufchâtel is also kitted by SCH.

2. Details of yard and sail controlling systems

Phillip Artweger (CZ) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1110506
Underdeck yards and jib control on HMS Larne.
Larne abovedeck staysail and mainsail control.
USS Somers through-deck control of main yard
Cross-bracing of yards on Somers (rcgroups)

St Helena was gouged from a Constructo solid hull kit (photobucket)
Brian Clark (GB) http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Modellers/Brian/Susan_Constant%20.htm Susan Constant (in construction)
Yards are controlled with a rod rotating +/- 90 degrees within the masts.
Base of the masts; the square peg ending prevents the mast itself from rotating.
Demultiplied stopless servos provide ample torque.
Jean-Claude Cornaz (CH) http://cocatrez.net/Water/JeanClaudeCornaz/
There are many control lines going through the deck (http://www.minisail-classic.de/).
Radio-control panel of the Cutty Sark, unbelievable (http://www.minisail-classic.de/).
Inside the Cutty Sark radio-control box are actually two transmitters! (http://www.minisail-classic.de/)
Lorenz Kästner (D) http://members.aol.com/LorKaest2/Leopard_e.html The deck and masting is removable as a whole to access the yard bracing mechanism.
Underview of the waterproof deck, with perfect access for tweaking.
The 5-channel bracing mechanism of the Leopard.
Bernhard Lüsing (D) http://www.igminisail.de/mb/mb-07-02/mb-07-02.htm
Hinged deck of 4-masted barque Passat
Brooks Martin (USA) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=761962 also contains information on the nested jibs
Bracing servos of the Pamir
Servos for fore and main topsails of Dos Amigos

Steel, Chapman & Hutchinson Ltd (USA) Here is a series of pictures and captions courtesy of Philip Roberts for HMS Surprise. They starts at the mainyard and go down to end at the servo arm. The main and mizzen lower yards are controlled by the same servo.

The amidships area of the mainyard showing the yard support - the bent brass "hook" and the eye in the aft face of the yard that goes over this, held in place to rotate freely by the 2 collars.

The lead of the brace back from the eye in the yard through the brace guide. This is a delrin bar fastened on the aft side of the mast with a sheave in either end. Nowadays the ends of this brace guide are positioned further aft by means of dog legs in the bar to ensure 45° yard movement each side under all conditions.

The braces come out the aft end of the brace guide (ends hidden in the shrouds (no futtock shrouds on this model)) and converge through an eye on the aft side of the mast.

The braces reach the deck and go through polypro tubes which act as fairleads (to blocks on either side of the mast below deck) and water seals. Please ignore the wavy hatch grating! The prototype ships get no cosmetic attention!

Looking through the mechanical hatch here into the space beneath the deck: the top of a 2:1 geared servo showing the starboard half of the servo arm (delrin) the many-holed adjuster plates screwed to the top of the arm (the inside one is the mizen brace, the outside one the main brace) with the braces tied to them leading aft to a block attached to the masts below decks which allow the braces to turn 90° and penetrate the deck through the polypro tubes.

Mark Tindall (GB) http://www.cocatrez.net/Water/MarkTindallShips/index.html HMS Invincible
Independent control of yards and sheets of mizzen and main masts.
Detail of the two servos under the deck.
Gerald Todd (USA) http://todd.mainecav.org/model/constellation/ uses spring-loaded braces and sail servos
The theory to control the yard braces, using a spring to keep lines taut.
How braces are camouflaged crossing the deck, behind their belaying pins.
Active braces overlaid on the sail plan.
Four channels control (1) foremast and (2) main & mizzen Masts, (3) headsails and (4) drivers/spanker.
Winding drums; old CDs.
Braces running inside the hull through plain eyes, looking aft
John Tom (Thailand) http://www.john-tom.com/RcShip/RCship.html, Brigantine Edith Ann. The Foremast is mounted on two precision sealed bearings, one at the bottom of the hull and the other mounted to the underside of the deck to allow the Foremast to rotate freely. The Mainmast (which is fore and aft rigged) is controlled by a high-torque servo modified to work as a winch by replacing the servo potentiometer with three 2.8 kOhm resistors (or disconnecting the potentiometer on JR servos).
Push rods connect the Foremast directly to a high-torque Servo (9kg/cm) and the servo speed and travel is reduced from the transmitter (JR PCM9 x2).
Neville Wade (GB) http://www.cocatrez.net/Water/NevilleWadeShips/index.html
2 servos to control 3 sets of yards
Yard motion control detail

3. How to sail a model square-rigger

From all references, it appears that independent control of the foremast is very important. The real 5-masted ship Preussen lost bowsprit and foremast in a collision with a steamer, with hull and all other four masts intact, but became a total loss because of the inability to change course.

Andreas Gondesen (D) describes the wearing and tacking sequences for a 3-masted ship.
Neville Wade (GB) has written a whole article and published it in Marine Modelling International (2008).
Peter Davis (NL) has written a great computer simulation of a 3-masted ship (HMS Surprise), or also of a 19th century brig, running on Microsoft Windows. Go to http://home.wxs.nl/~pdavis/index.htm, download the 120 KB zip file, unzip it, run Surprise.exe, and here you are having to give bracing and reefing orders, and headings to the helmsman. Learn fast, as your are heading for some rocks!
Surprise screenshot

Bibliography

Douglas J. Boyle (1932-1933) "On the rigging and sailing of model windjammers", The Model Yachtsman and Marine Model Magazine, posted by the US Vintage Yacht Model Group http://www.swcp.com/usvmyg/squarerig/sq1.htm exposes in a now quaint language that you do not even need radio-control to sail a windjammer successfully.
4-masted barque Cicely Fairfax
Phillip Vaughan Williams (1999) "Radio Controlled Scale Sailing Models", Upton-upon-Severn:Traplet Publications Ltd, ISBN 1-900371-20-0, is the only book that has significant information on the subject of the radio-control of yards and booms of square-riggers.
Front cover.

Back to Jan Cocatre-Zilgien's homepage

	The amidships area of the mainyard showing the yard support - the bent brass "hook" and the eye in the aft face of the yard that goes over this, held in place to rotate freely by the 2 collars.
	The lead of the brace back from the eye in the yard through the brace guide. This is a delrin bar fastened on the aft side of the mast with a sheave in either end. Nowadays the ends of this brace guide are positioned further aft by means of dog legs in the bar to ensure 45° yard movement each side under all conditions.
	The braces come out the aft end of the brace guide (ends hidden in the shrouds (no futtock shrouds on this model)) and converge through an eye on the aft side of the mast.
	The braces reach the deck and go through polypro tubes which act as fairleads (to blocks on either side of the mast below deck) and water seals. Please ignore the wavy hatch grating! The prototype ships get no cosmetic attention!
	Looking through the mechanical hatch here into the space beneath the deck: the top of a 2:1 geared servo showing the starboard half of the servo arm (delrin) the many-holed adjuster plates screwed to the top of the arm (the inside one is the mizen brace, the outside one the main brace) with the braces tied to them leading aft to a block attached to the masts below decks which allow the braces to turn 90° and penetrate the deck through the polypro tubes.