The HMS Sirius is Coming!

Modellers Shipyard is proud to announce we have commissioned a model of the HMS Sirius to be built. The model is being built by Master Period Ship Modeller Leon Griffiths. The model is due for release late 2010. You can view the progressive completion of this model on the Modellers Shipyard blog were a build log is underway. With regular updates make sure to check back to watch this model progress from beginning to end. Check back for regular updates, Part 1 will be out in this next 2 weeks!

Sirius History

The HMS Sirius had a relative short career, playing a minor role in Britain’s withdrawal from America and a major role in British expansion into the Pacific. Originally a Baltic trading ship named the Berwick, she made several voyages to America before being recommissioned as the 20 – gun HMS Sirius, to escort the first fleet to Australia in 1787-88. The role accomplished the Sirius assumed the mantle of protector and provider to the infant colony until her loss in 1790,at Norfolk Island.

The Berwick was built in 1780-1781, at London’s Rotherhithe, then a shipbuilding village on the Thames. Originally built for the Baltic trade, the Berwick was purchased by the British navy prior to completion and fitted out as an armed storeship. After purchase by the navy the Berwick was taken to Deptford on 1 December to commence work. In the month of January 1782 she was coppered plated. The armed storeship Berwick sailed on 25 April 1782. These few years were a time of stress for the British government, facing defeat against her American offspring.

The Berwick was initially stationed at the Nore, off Sheerness at the mouth of the Thames. In 1782-1783 she twice visited Halifax harbour, Nova Scotia and New York before returning to Deptford for a refit on 25 October 1783. After her refit the Berwick sailed again on the 7 May 1784, firstly being sent to America and then onto the West Indies. The Berwick returned to Deptford on 5 February 1785, where she lay idle, effectively out of commission for much of the next twenty months.

On the 23 August 1786 orders arrived from the Admiralty to the Navy Board to prepare the Berwick to be employed on ‘foreign service’. Work began on the 6th September, commencing a comprehensive refitting of the Berwick. On the 12 October 1786 Admiral Howe wrote to the Navy Board requesting his Majesty’s storeship the Berwick, be registered on the list of the Royal Navy as a 6th Rate by the name of the Sirius.

The Sirius, captained by John Hunter, led the first fleet on their journey departing Great Britain on 13 May 1787. The First Fleet was made up of eleven vessels, two navy ships HMS Sirius and HMS Supply and nine privately owned, contracted transports, all under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip.

The First Fleet reached Tenerife in the Canary Islands on the 3 June, before moving onto a month long stopover in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the end of August. They arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa on October 13. They departed for the final leg of their journey on November 11 with the entire first fleet reaching Botany Bay between 18-20 January 1788 and Port Jackson on January 26. It took 184 days to complete the voyage at sea having travelled 15063 miles.

With most of the settlements concentration on the establishment of the colony the HMS Sirius remained ideal until September when Phillip made the decision to send her to Cape Town, South Africa for much needed supplies. Captain John Hunter set off east with the wind towards Cape Horn, seeking to travel through the dangerous passage of ice and storms through the roaring forties. They arrived safely at Cape Town leaving port for the return voyage in February 1789. It was towards the end of the return voyage the HMS Sirius was almost lost off the east coast of Tasmania, facing terrific storms which battered the vessels, it was so violent the figurehead was lost, with further damaged sustained. The Sirius limped into Port Jackson on 9 May 1789, with vital supplies for the colony.

After some much needed repairs the Sirius was once again prepared for sea. In February 1790 the shortage of supplies in the settlement had reached a critical stage. In an attempt to relieve pressure on the Port Jackson settlement, Governor Phillip determined on decisive action. He would send both the Sirius and the Supply to Norfolk Island to transport a number convicts and marines to the Island. The Sirius would later proceed to China to buy supplies.

After a stormy passage the Sirius made Norfolk Island the morning of 13 March, moving around to Cascade bay on the North east side of the Island where marines and convicts were landed. With the onset of bad weather the Sirius and Supply were driven out of sight of the Island. On the 19 March the gale moderated and the Sirius moved close to Phillip Island to unload supplies. Unfortunately the Sirius ran aground on the reef, with waves pushing her further onto the reef, there was little chance to refloat her. The hull of the Sirius withstood the powerful surf for a full two years before breaking up.

Colonial Sloop Norfolk - Available Now

The Sloop Norfolk was built on Norfolk Island in 1798. The 25 ton sloop was constructed from Norfolk Island pine. Governor Hunter lent the Norfolk to Bass and Flinders with the task of proving the existence of a strait between the mainland and Van Diemen's Land (named Tasmania after 1856). Flinders and Bass were under orders to pass through the strait and return by the south of Van Diemen's Land.

Flinders, Captain, George Bass, and there eight crew departed Port Jackson on the 7 October 1798. They had been allowed twelve weeks for the voyage. In her they completed the first circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land.

They made many important discoveries on this voyage. On the north coast of Van Dieman's Land they spent time exploring Port Dalrymple, the future site of Launceston. On Christmas day they climbed Mount Wellington which now overlooks Hobart, Tasmania's capital. The Norfolk sailed back into Port Jackson on the 12 January, 1799. Governor Hunter, upon Flinders recommendation, named the newly discovered passage, Bass Strait.

Our model kit of the Sloop Norfolk is a double plank on bulkhead construction with laser cut plywood. The kit comes complete with all timber, rigging cord, and wooden and metal fittings. All parts and fittings are of the highest quality. It Includes a detailed instructions with photographs and diagrams, and construction plans.

We also have available a DVD on "The complete guide on: How to Build the Colonial Sloop Norfolk". Which provides the viewer with comprehensive narration and demonstration by Master Modeller Leon Griffiths as he builds the Sloop Norfolk. Leon takes the viewer through assembling and planking the hull, building the deck furniture and completing the standing and running rigging. Leon presents each step of its construction demonstrating his many model ship building tips and techniques.

Size: Length: 590mm Height: 450mm Width:130mm, Skill Level 2 and a scale of 1:36

The price of this wonderful model is $257

The Colonial Sloop Norfolk and the Complete guide on How to Build the Colonial Sloop Norfolk is available in a combo pack for $272

Place your order online or call our office to order this piece of Australian history!

Modeller of the Month - November 2009

Modeller of the Month - David and Caleb Becroft

Participating in creating models is a fun, interesting and rewarding hobby which is not limited to any age group. Any age or any skill level can enjoy constructing models of all shapes and sizes. Modelling encompasses innovation and an analytic way of thinking; as each modeller has unique techniques when constructing their models and this is a great way of gaining skills or refining existing ones. Modelling can begin at any age, laying the foundations for skills that can continue developing. David Becroft from New Zealand has encouraged his son Caleb, 5 to model since he was 2 years old.

David has always had an interest in ships, in his early twenties David would help repair yachts and canoes on a Christian campsite and spent time rebuilding damaged yachts in his backyard. Like father like son, Caleb has always loved boats from an early age, playing with them in the bath and play pool and he enjoys watching Pirates of the Carribbean an action packed film about the adventures of pirates. Caleb has also really enjoyed going on a school excursion to the Maritime Museum in New Zealand.

"For a school trip Caleb went to the Maritime Museum where some of our 'America's Cup' yachts are and loved going for a sail in an old ship!" David said of his son's growing interest in ships.

David recalls one of the first times that Caleb wanted to build a model, it wasn't a ship but an ambulance and so David ready to assist his young modeller found some pieces of wood and some milk bottles for wheels and Caleb painted the ambulance. Caleb has also made model cars, including a car with family photos in the windows.

"It's really something that Caleb loves doing and when I come home from work he is in the garage before the car has stopped and he wants to 'build something'." David said.

Caleb wants to create models so often that together with David the father and son duo made a smaller workbench with a vice. David believes that this has encouraged Caleb to build more models because it has made it easier for Caleb to help and so he doesn't have to just sit and watch.

Caleb and David travelled to Australia while on school holidays and visited the National Maritime Museum in Sydney and saw a modeller building a ship which really caught Caleb's interest. Very advanced for his age an inspired Caleb, with the help of Dad has built a scratch model of a ship, Caleb drew up the plans and David supplied the materials.

"The ship was not a copy of anything Caleb just drew out the deck and we cut it out and started from there. We often looked at pictures of ships and added whatever he wanted." David said.

David and Caleb have used some very innovative techniques and materials to create their model ship. The deck of the ship named the 'Jolly Caleb' (pictured) was made out of MFD as was the shape of the hull. David recalls that Caleb has an interest in the planking of the ship. The cannons and masts were created out of different sized dowel rods and the sails are made of copper foil, heated with a Bunsen burner from the school that David teaches at, to make it look old. Tooth picks were used for hand rails, the rudder and hull were MFD and ball bearings for cannon balls, all which have created a magnificent looking ship. Hopefully some useful ideas for other parents and grandparents to use with their young modellers.

One of the challenges that David and Caleb have experienced while modelling has been trying to keep the materials to scale. Building all the parts is trial and error until the pair constructs a piece that fits. David said that Caleb wonders why they make so many cannons, sails and anchors. David and Caleb with their shared passion of ships and building have found an excellent past time to enjoy with each other. David enjoys modelling because of the fun that he and Caleb have together.

"I enjoy model building mainly because of the fun that the two of us have together and that there are so many smaller things that you make separately for the bigger job." David said.

Model building with a young enthusiast can be a great experience and together building as well as the finished product can be enjoyed. David's advice to fellow modellers is that for the parents to realise that it is better for the kids to have a go and if it's the child's idea that has to be allowed and that teaches young modellers that if mistakes are made they can learn how to fix them.

David and Caleb plan on making the Titanic for their next model because Caleb loves the film.

Modeller of the Month - October 2009

Modeller of the Month - Peter Law

Like many of the modellers who become the subject of Modeller of the Month, modelling is a hobby or an obsession focused on once the modeller has become a retiree. Call it a statistical pattern evolving if you will but from the findings it can be concluded that 99.9% of modellers believe they are able to pursue the creation of model ships when they retire.

The trouble is, you see, that most of the modeller's have created very large Lists of Things to Do for Retirement. These lists start off with one or two projects, such as work on the garden and build the Endeavour ship from scratch.

On commencing retirement however the 'list' is so long that it has become an insurmountable task to possibly complete every item on the 'list'. Modeller for this month, Peter, had a list of goals he too wanted to complete involving three main topics.

"Prior to my retirement at age 70 I promised myself that I would pursue three things that had eluded me all my childhood and working life. Learn how to use a computer, study astronomy and try my hand at modelling." Peter said.

Technology has made a large contribution to Peter's model building because in the technological age we live in it happens that gigabytes of information about model ships are available on the internet. Peter killed two birds with the one stone, over used cliché permitting, studied astronomy through an on-line course which also taught him computer skills. Peter's modelling interest is sailing ships and he researched modelling clubs specifically building sailing ships on the internet. From Googling model sailing ship building Peter found the Canberra Model Shipwrights Society and how to begin his first model.

"A short on-line astronomy course with a University kick-started my computer skills which led to my searching the internet for modelling clubs that had sailing ships as their particular interest. I found the Canberra Model Shipwrights Society web site and was blown away with the photos of the member's contributions to their annual expos." Peter said.

The first model that Peter created was the Port Jackson Schooner, a very good kit for a beginning modeller as it has a low difficultly level. Peter said that he really enjoyed bringing the Port Jackson into miniature life and although this model may not be perfect these are the mistakes that one learns from.

"The Port Jackson with its companionway doors on the back instead of the front, not very well-fitted rudder and other imperfections takes pride of place on my desk." Peter said.

The second model that Peter created was the HM Cutter Mermaid. Peter said that the companion DVD to the Mermaid kit was very helpful.

"The Mermaid, with the help of Modellers Shipyard and Leon Griffith's DVD, is giving me a much better result and enormous satisfaction." Peter said.

The next model that Peter is looking forward to completing is the Astrolabe and the HMS Beagle. As model building is all about learning and improving Peter has provided some useful tips for fellow modellers, which reads as follows: As an absolute beginner I don't have many technique tips to offer my fellow novices. But I can offer a few bits of advice:

1. Get the Leon Griffiths DVDs. The guidance and tips are top shelf.

2. Before you decide an aspect of your model is finished, take it out into the sunlight and look at it from every angle. The sunlight highlights imperfections that are not noticeable indoors. You then have the opportunity to correct them before your nit-picking, supercilious, self-promoting so-called best friends and family have a field day deflating your ego.

Hopefully Peter's advice will be helpful to other modeller's, novices and advanced alike. Peter has only begun to achieve the goals that he set for himself in retirement. While he has begun exploring each of these goals there is much more learning before him but the main thing that he is enjoying himself.

"I'm still very much the novice at all three activities but each day brings so much enjoyment as new worlds open up that this is, no doubt, a wonderful time of my life." Peter said.