Redoutable 74 (1791)

My latest 1:1200 custom model is the French Téméraire-class 74-gun Redoutable (1791).

Here she is,  like most of my models, "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open, equipped with the following armament:

Lower gun-deck: 28 x 36 pounder long-guns

Upper gun-deck: 30 x 18-pounder long guns
Forecastle Quarter: 16 x 18-pounder long guns

                                 4 x 36 pounder guns carronades

On October 21st 1805 at Trafalgar,  Redoutable was commanded by capitaine de vaisseau, Jean-Jacques-Etenne Lucas. 

Under Captain Lucas' inspired and professional leadership, Redoutable fought valiantly losing 522 of a compliment of 643 when she finally struck to HMS Temeraire.

This Langton metal model was built  for me by Model J Ship. and again Julián has done an excellent job.

HMS Surprise (1796) 28-gun Unité -class frigate

My latest 1:1200 custom model is HMS Surprise. Not the frigate of "Master and Commander" fame exactly, but rather the historical 6th rate 28-gun Unité -class frigate of 1796. Here she is "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open. The French corvette l'Unité was captured in 1796 and taken into Royal Navy service and equipped with the following armament:

Gun-deck: 24 x 32 pounder caronades

Quarter and Fore-deck: 10 x 32 pounder carronades

2x 4-pounder guns as chasers

The model was made for me by Model J Ship. As usual, Julián has done an excellent job.

Battle of Bosworth: Death of King Richard III, 1485

I have decided to sell this 54mm vignette by Grenada. It is currently listed on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151384511909?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

This very rare set by Grenada of Russia features 2 mounted and 2 dismounted 54mm metal figures, designated P3208-P3209-P3210-P3211. The vignette shows the death of King Richard III in the closing moments of the Battle of Bosworth, 1485, during the Wars of the Roses.

The animation and painting of the figures is outstanding. 

This is Russian craftsmanship at its best. 

Herzog Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria von Österreich-Este

Gräf & Stift Bois de Boulogne phaeton 

On June 28 1914 at 10:45 am Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip whilst riding in the back of this car with his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg who was also killed.

The car is housed at the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, Vienna, where I took this photograph on July 4, 2009.

Within a few weeks, a chain of events would precipitate the commencement of the Great War, 1914-18.

In the words of British Foreign secretary Sir Edward Gray on August 3, 2014 "The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time". The British Empire entered the War at 23:00 GMT August 4, 2014.

Chaloupes, Chasse Marees and other small craft

The Jersey Maritime Museum features an interesting collection of small un-rated vessels from a Cutter down to a Peniche. Photography was very difficult in a darkened room through a glass case but I hope these unusual small boats will be of interest.