johnsmachines

This is not a book review.

The 4 books listed in the title are so superb, that I feel humble just turning the pages and reading the text here and there. A similar reaction to when I bought Encyclopaedia Britannica 40 something years ago.

I found out about these books almost a year ago, and since then I have been searching for second hand copies because they are expensive. I remember spending similar amounts on medical text books, but found it hard to justify the cost of these sailing ship books for a hobby.

I read a review of the French version Vol1 by master ship modeller Olha Batchvarov… (https://youtu.be/D3Pd2IXN5Cs?si=JL7FphWLPe2K1asv) and my search intensified. I asked my local second hand book seller to let me know if he ever found a set, but no luck. I often searched Ebay but never saw anything in Australia, and sets in USA had asking prices up to $USD4500!! New sets from Ancre, France are touching $aud1000 plus postage (around $aud200), but recently an enquiry to them elicited a question “would I be interested in a second hand set?” Would I ever?! It was still pricey, but after thinking it over for a couple of weeks, and having sold some stuff I no longer needed, and getting agreement from SWMBO, I placed the order. I am guessing that Trump’s tariffs have inflated the crazy US prices.

The 10kg carton arrived several weeks later.

The books were actually new! Some still in their original sealed packaging. One volume showed some slight evidence of aging paper, and all volumes were slightly damaged which I guess is why they were categorized as second hand. The hard cover corners were crumpled. That would not have been acceptable in a brand new set, and I guess that caused them to be not sold as new by the book seller, Ancre(fr). I checked that they were the version in English.

I would have accepted the damage as part of second hand books, so I was not too perturbed in view of the price reduction. I am sure that the damage was old, because the books were well packaged in bubble wrap for the air freight to Australia.

At first the crumpled corners looked permanent, but then I decided to have a go at improving the situation. No before photos unfortunately.

I dampened the corners with a water soaked and wrung out cloth . Then, one at a time, clamped the corners with plastic encased wood working G cramps, and left them for a couple of hours. The crumples improved. And the squareness and stiffness of the corners is almost back to normal. There is no decolourisation apart from ageing effects. Not noticed (or mentioned) by colleagues to whom the books have been shown, with the dust-cover in place.

I do not intend to review these books. If you are interested, check the Batchvarov review mentioned above. I will just say that the books are a pleasure to handle. a pleasure to read the expert conversational writing, and illuminating to view the many perspective and plan drawings.

One other thing to mention, is that the books are about the full size, original 1780 ships. Although useful, even essential to modellers of 74 gun ships, extra plans for the modeller from Ancre (fr) are probably essential.

The author, Jean Boudriot, was a French architect, who had a passionate interest in French sailing ships. He wrote many books about the history and construction of sailing ships, but this set is considered his master work. He chose the 74 gun ship for this, because it was built at the peak of French naval ship building, when the French navy equaled the strength of the British navy, and when French designed and built warships were generally considered the best in the world, even by the British. That was around 1780. The British saw the value of the 74 gun ships, which were 3rd rates, because they sat in a “sweet spot” of gun power, speed and manoeuvrability, and both navies built large numbers of them. About 200 vessels of the type in each navy 1750-1800.

Boudriot’s architectural drawing skills are apparent in the profuse drawings, many in 3D perspective.

Volume 1 Hull Construction 166pp, 16 plates (fold out plans), 106 figures.

Volume 2 Fitting Out the Hull 220pp, 26 plates, 107 figures.

Volume 3 Sails, Rigging 289pp 13 plates, 134 figures.

Volume 4 Shiphandling 394pp 17 plates, 167 figures.

Expert ship modellers have used these books to produce magnificent models, but there are also opinions that prospective modellers (like me) should also purchase modellers plans from Ancre (fr) which are based on the Boudriot plans. Those modellers plans are available in 1:72 and 1:48 scale. I chose the 1:72 scale, in consideration of the final size of the ship and case.