HMS Gannet: Ship and Model

(Hardback)

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Description

HMS Gannet, beautifully restored today at Chatham Historic Dockyard, is a fine example of the small 'colonial schooners' that were built and deployed in the second half of the nineteenth century to police Britain's great empire and enforce the peace of Pax Britannica. Launched at Sheerness in 1878 with her white Mediterranean livery and elegant clipper bow, she was the epitome of the colonial gunboat. In this new book by the well-known ship modeller Will Mowll, the design and history of Gannet is outlined before the author takes the reader on a detailed photographic step-bystep exposition of the building of his 1/48 scale model of the ship. A particular feature of the model is the inclusion of the 2-cylinger compound steam engine with its three cylindrical boilers. Exquisitely detailed, with even the bunkered coal beautifully modelled, all the machinery is made visible by means of the removable deck. The author has therefore reconstructed a major feature of the ship which is no longer extant on the prototype at Chatham. All the information that a ship modeller might need is included here hull construction and the coppering of the ship's bottom, the making of the ship's steam propulsion systems, the decks and decking, armament, steering gear, mast and yards and rigging, and even the furniture in the wardroom. No part of the ship is left hidden. Inspiring with the sheer quality of his workmanship, the author has brought beautifully to life another of Britain's great museum ships. AUTHOR: William Mowll has been building large-scale ship models for more than thirty years. His interest is focussed on the iron ships of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and he has completed superb models of SS Great Britain, HMS Warrior, HMS Thunderer, Discovery and now HMS Gannet, the first two now on display where the prototypes are berthed. 285 illustrations

Reviews

This is a book full of great detail, clearly the result of much careful research and labour in making a fine model. The great pains that Mowll has gone to ensure authenticity are evident, and should encourage others to try their hand at modelling or, as in this reviewer's case, to try to get better at it. --Warship

Author Bio

William Mowll has been building large-scale ship models for more than thirty years. His interest is focussed on the iron ships of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and he has completed superb models of SS _Great Britain,_ HMS _Warrior_, HMS _Thunderer_,_Discovery_ and now HMS _Gannet_, the first too now on display where the prototypes are berthed.