Book review Rigging Period Fore-and-Aft-Craft" by Lennart Petersson

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In the world of ship modelling, arguably one of the more arduous tasks is rigging of the miniature replicas.
There are some old and new books available (see my other reviews), but there is nothing available like these books from Petersson,
and these books can be fastly very helpful especially for the modeler.

Rigging Period Fore-and-Aft-Craft
by Lennart Petersson

IMG_18811.jpg my copy
  • Hardcover: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Chatham Publishing (1 July 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1861762372
  • ISBN-13: 978-1861762375
  • Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 1.5 x 26.9 cm
or

11 (1).jpg
  • Paperback: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Seaforth Publishing (30 Jan. 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1848322186
  • ISBN-13: 978-1848322189
  • Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 1 x 26.2 cm

Synopsis

The rigging of period ship models is arguably the most complex task that any modeler has to accomplish; the intricacies can be daunting and visual references limited. The author's first book, Rigging Period Ship Models, was a triumph of clarity for those needing to decipher the complexities of the square rig and has now sold in multiple editions. This book does the same for fore-and-aft craft and deploys three typical eighteenth-century types - an English cutter, a three-masted French lugger, and an American schooner. Some 200 diagrams show clearly where each separate item of standing and running rigging is fitted, led and belayed. Whatever the requirements of the model maker, all the information is here.


Content

IMG_19261.jpg

Comment

This book is basically a mini-bible of the ins and outs to rigging three specific ships used widely within the eighteenth century fore-and-aft crafts;

the British Naval Cutter (based on model from Science Museum, close to cutter EXPEDITION, 1778)
the French Lugger (based on model with sails from National Maritime Museum, 1800) and
the American Schooner (based on model from Maritim Museum Karlskrona, schooner EXPERIMENT, 1808)

These ships were employed throughout the world both in the fair trades as well as in the illegal side of privateer shipping; pirating.

IMG_19271.jpgIMG_19281.jpg

IMG_19291.jpgIMG_19301.jpg

The author’s goal from writing this book was to give the reader and often the wanting ship modeler the tools to understanding the beautifully simple, but also complex art to the rigging of these smaller seagoing vessels. Essentially this book is broken down into three large chapters covering the Cutters, Luggers and Schooners mentioned before.

The book starts off with a brief introduction by the author which gives a little insight to his reason for writing the book and what he is writing about; the for-and-aft crafts.
Each of the chapters in this book is dedicated to one of three fore-and-aft ships. Each of these chapters begins with a brief description of the ships; background and design. Each of the chapter introductions are followed by an in depth general plan layout of the ships rendered in black and white line drawings form.

These line prints is meticulously drawn, clearly legible and labeling has been added to define what the reader/modeler is looking at. A complete listing of attachment points is given for each of the ships and where the rigs and riggings are applied. The drawings are highly detailed, showing knots used sizing and all of the fashioning and fastening points throughout. These drawing were comprised from several existing period ship models still in existence. These models themselves did not have sails attached but the author has placed sail plans for each of these ships in the book as well.
There are no tables or attachments with the dimensions of rigs and lines, so it is showing only the location and the way of the standing and running rigging.

IMG_19311.jpgIMG_19321.jpg

IMG_19331.jpgIMG_19341.jpg

Conclusion

Rigging – Period Fore and Aft Craft by Lennarth Petersson is an amazing look at the art of rigging of these smaller vessels. He does not claim to this book being the be-all-end-all when it comes to showing the rig and rigging placement on these ships. The drawings are intricately rendered and remarkably easy to follow and the supporting text attached to the drawings gives the reader the correct terminology for the areas highlighted. This book is an essential guide to rigging these beautiful ships as well as an indispensable reference for rigging used on all ships. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in eighteenth century shipping and for the avid period ship model shipwright. It is not a basic literatuire, but can fastly help the modeler to understand principles and follow thses information. The book is recommended for the beginner and advanced modeler to understand rigging and using these information for the modeling.

IMG_19351.jpgIMG_19361.jpg

IMG_19371.jpgIMG_19381.jpg
 
In the world of ship modelling, arguably one of the more arduous tasks is rigging of the miniature replicas.
There are some old and new books available (see my other reviews), but there is nothing available like these books from Petersson,
and these books can be fastly very helpful especially for the modeler.

Rigging Period Fore-and-Aft-Craft
by Lennart Petersson

View attachment 39227 my copy
  • Hardcover: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Chatham Publishing (1 July 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1861762372
  • ISBN-13: 978-1861762375
  • Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 1.5 x 26.9 cm
or

View attachment 39228
  • Paperback: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Seaforth Publishing (30 Jan. 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1848322186
  • ISBN-13: 978-1848322189
  • Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 1 x 26.2 cm

Synopsis

The rigging of period ship models is arguably the most complex task that any modeler has to accomplish; the intricacies can be daunting and visual references limited. The author's first book, Rigging Period Ship Models, was a triumph of clarity for those needing to decipher the complexities of the square rig and has now sold in multiple editions. This book does the same for fore-and-aft craft and deploys three typical eighteenth-century types - an English cutter, a three-masted French lugger, and an American schooner. Some 200 diagrams show clearly where each separate item of standing and running rigging is fitted, led and belayed. Whatever the requirements of the model maker, all the information is here.


Content

View attachment 39230

Comment

This book is basically a mini-bible of the ins and outs to rigging three specific ships used widely within the eighteenth century fore-and-aft crafts;

the British Naval Cutter (based on model from Science Museum, close to cutter EXPEDITION, 1778)
the French Lugger (based on model with sails from National Maritime Museum, 1800) and
the American Schooner (based on model from Maritim Museum Karlskrona, schooner EXPERIMENT, 1808)

These ships were employed throughout the world both in the fair trades as well as in the illegal side of privateer shipping; pirating.

View attachment 39231View attachment 39232

View attachment 39233View attachment 39234

The author’s goal from writing this book was to give the reader and often the wanting ship modeler the tools to understanding the beautifully simple, but also complex art to the rigging of these smaller seagoing vessels. Essentially this book is broken down into three large chapters covering the Cutters, Luggers and Schooners mentioned before.

The book starts off with a brief introduction by the author which gives a little insight to his reason for writing the book and what he is writing about; the for-and-aft crafts.
Each of the chapters in this book is dedicated to one of three fore-and-aft ships. Each of these chapters begins with a brief description of the ships; background and design. Each of the chapter introductions are followed by an in depth general plan layout of the ships rendered in black and white line drawings form.

Queste linee di stampa sono disegnate meticolosamente, chiaramente leggibili ed è stata aggiunta un'etichetta per definire ciò che il lettore/modellista sta guardando. Viene fornito un elenco completo dei punti di attacco per ciascuna delle navi e dove vengono applicati i rig e le manovre. I disegni sono molto dettagliati e mostrano i nodi utilizzati per il dimensionamento e tutti i punti di modellatura e fissaggio in tutto. Questi disegni erano costituiti da diversi modelli di navi d'epoca esistenti ancora esistenti. Questi modelli stessi non avevano vele attaccate, ma l'autore ha inserito anche i piani velici per ciascuna di queste navi nel libro.
Non ci sono tavoli o accessori con le dimensioni di rig e linee, quindi mostra solo la posizione e il percorso del sartiame in piedi e in corsa.

View attachment 39235View attachment 39236

View attachment 39237View attachment 39238

Conclusione

Rigging - Period Fore and Aft Craft di Lennarth Petersson è uno sguardo sorprendente all'arte del sartiame di queste navi più piccole. Non pretende che questo libro sia l'ideale quando si tratta di mostrare il rig e il posizionamento del sartiame su queste navi. I disegni sono resi in modo complesso e straordinariamente facili da seguire e il testo di supporto allegato ai disegni fornisce al lettore la terminologia corretta per le aree evidenziate. Questo libro è una guida essenziale per il sartiame di queste bellissime navi, nonché un riferimento indispensabile per il sartiame utilizzato su tutte le navi. Consiglio vivamente questo libro a chiunque sia interessato alla navigazione del diciottesimo secolo e agli avidi modellisti di navi d'epoca. Non è una letteratura di base, ma può aiutare rapidamente il modellatore a comprendere i principi e seguire queste informazioni.

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View attachment 39241View attachment 39242
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Buon pomeriggio , anche questo è consigliabile per tutte le manovre dei bastimenti inglesi
Good afternoon, this is also advisable for all maneuvers of the English ships
 
View attachment 285650
Buon pomeriggio , anche questo è consigliabile per tutte le manovre dei bastimenti inglesi
Good afternoon, this is also advisable for all maneuvers of the English ships
This we have also here in a book review
 
Questo lo abbiamo anche qui in una recensione di un libro
Scusami non conoscevo della presenza altrimenti non lo postavo
 
Scusami non conoscevo della presenza altrimenti non lo postavo
No No - no excuse necessary
It is a good hint to another valuable book - therefore I added the link to the Book review we have here
It is good to inform modelers about alternatives and additional resources
 
Lee's Is One of the essential bibles in use at the USNA museum workshop.
I completely agree with your words about the book by James Lees

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, 1625-1860


The Lavery, the Goodwin and also this book - these three books are essential to understand english ship construction in this period
 
Be careful with the drawings in the book. If you compare the position of the bowsprit with the original drawings you will see that it is drawn on the starbord and not on the port side of the ship. Ihave the first edition. Perhaps it has changed in the second.
 
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