HMS 'Sharpshooter' (1846)

Scale: Unknown. A working sectional model depicting the proposed bow rudder for HMS 'Sharpshooter' (1846), a first class gun vessel. The body of the model has been carved from a solid piece of wood to which a small internal deck and deck beams have been attached. It has been painted a dark brown below a thin white waterline with black topsides. On the port side are a series of frames extending from the top of the rudder frame up towards the bulwarks. Three is also a natural varnished wooden fillet just above the rudder itself on which is inscribed "DS(?) 6861-62 Bow Rudder Commdr Warren's". The rudder and forefoot have been made in metal and are connected to a rod with a metal tiller bolted on at the top, allowing the rudder to be actually worked from side to side. Internally the hull is painted a dark green above the small sand coloured deck, to which the naturally varnished mahogany deck beams and beam shelf have been attached. There is a small hand written and largely illegible paper label glued to the deck, although some of which can be read in particular "Recd 14 Jan 1863". The whole model is fixed by screws to a naturally varnished mahogany support with figured ends. There is also an original metal display label on which is inscribed "Bow Rudder Method of fitting to H.M.S. Sharpshooter as proposed by Commdr Warren, 1852 No32 CL VIII DIV A". Even though there is some confusion over the dates of this model, it seems likely that it was made during the early 1860's prior to HMS 'Sharpshooter being re-engined in 1862-3.

Original size: 275 mm x 250 mm x 275 mm