Museum complex

A model of a 120-gun ship of the line "Grand Duke Constantine»

Russia
2nd half of the XIX century
Sign at the stern: “KONSTANTINE”
Wood, fabric, thread, paint, glass, carpentry, sewing, binding of rigging
Scale: 1: 48. Overall height: 153 cm; overall length: 232 cm; width at middle rib: 38 cm; length at Gun deck: 135 cm
Receipt: from Sevastopol Section of Polytechnic Exhibition, 1890
Showcase 13

This model was received in 1890 from the Sevastopol Section of the Polytechnic exhibition. It should be attributed to “Admiralty models” type. It accurately replicates the design, structure and weaponry of the ship.
"Grand Duke Constantine" was a three-decker 120-gun line-of-battle ship. Laid in 1850. Launched in 1852. In service since 1853. In 1853–1855 participated in the Crimean (Eastern) war.
As part of the squadron of the Rear Admiral F.M.Novosilsky (1808–1892) “Grand Duke Constantine” participated in the battle of Sinope on November 18, 1853, which turned out to be the last major battle of sailing ships in the naval history. In this battle the ship received thirty breaches and all its masts were damaged.
In December of 1853 the "Grand Duke Constantine" was placed at the entrance to the South Bay of Sevastopol, and until April of 1854 it was a flagship of the Chief of Staff of the Black Fleet Vice-Admiral V.A.Kornilov (1806–1854). On August 28, 1855 she was sunk at the roadstead of Sevastopol when garrison abandoned the city.
This mockup belongs to the "Admiralty models" type which was supposed to accurately reflect the design, structure and weapons of the ship. This is a rig/spar Model with full set of sails and rigging. By type of rigging it is a three-masted sailing ship with mixed sails, combining square and fore-and-aft rig. The model is made in 1:48 scale (1/4 inch per foot of real size) a standard set by the British Admiralty for such models since the XVII century.

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The hull is wooden, assembled; battery through-decks; the above-water part is painted black with three white stripes along the gun decks; the underwater part is painted brown imitating copper plating. Gun ports with hinged shutters are cut along the battery decks. Three battery decks are: the Gun deck, the Middle deck and Upper deck. The upper battery deck is open as well as the quarterdeck and the poop deck aft of the ship. The stern is elliptical (R.Sepping’s system, improved by W.Simmonds). The rudder is flexibly connected to the sternpost. At the level of the Middle deck aft are the windows of the mess; at the level of the Upper deck are windows and balconies of the Admiral's and Captain's cabins. Between the eaves under the windows of the cabins is fixed the name of the ship: "KONSTANTINE". On the sides of the stern are two triangular extensions where were located officers’ bathrooms and toilets. Pilasters and cornices are painted with red ocher and are gilded. Windows are made of glass. The bow (latrine – nl. galjoen) is made in a single unit with the hull (introduced by R.Seppings).
Spar:
Foremast: lower foremast, fore topmast, fore topgallant mast.
The yards of the foremast: foreyard; fore topsail yard; fore topgallant yard; fore royal yard. Fore topsail studdingsail yardarm and fore topgallant studdingsail yardarm. Trysail mast with gaff.
Mainmast: lower mainmast, main topmast, main topgallant mast.
The yards of the mainmast: main yard; main topsail yard; main topgallant yard; main royal yard. Main topsail studdingsail yardarm and main topgallant studdingsail yardarm. Trysail mast with gaff.
Mizzen: lower mizzen mast, mizzen topmast, mizzen topgallant mast.
The yards of the mizzen mast: mizzen topsail yard; mizzen topgallant yard; mizzen royal yard; mizzen boom and mizzen gaff.
The masts are equipped with crosstrees and tops.
Bow: the bowsprit, jib-boom, flying jib-boom, sprit yard, dolphin striker.
Standing rigging: stays (forestays and backstays - partially lost and restored), shrouds (shrouds, futtock shrouds at tops and crosstrees), flemish horses.
Running rigging is partial or not fully preserved. The yards of fore and main masts are fitted with foot ropes and blocks (up to top gallant yards) and are partially fitted with braces and sheets. Running rigging of spanker is partially preserved.
Sails:
The Fore mast: the Foresail (1 reef buntline); the Fore Topsail (4 reef buntlines), the Fore Top Gallants Sail (1 reef buntline); the Fore Royal Sail.
The Mainmast: the Mainsail (1 reef buntline); the Main Topsail (3 reef buntlines); the Main Top Gallant Sail (1 reef buntline); the Main Royal Sail.
The Mizzen mast: the Mizzen Topsail (3 reef buntlines); the Mizzen Top Gallant Sail (1 reef buntline); the Mizzen Royal Sail; the spanker.
The Bow: the fore staysail; the inner jib; the flying jib.
Anchors: in bow four stem anchor (Admiralty Parker anchors with a wooden stock).
Flags: aft St.Andrew's flag on the spanker.
"Grand Duke Konstantin" was a 120-gun ship of the line*, “Twelve apostles” class. It was built in the Spassky Admiralty in Nikolaev by the ship maker captain S.I.Chernyavsky. Laid in 1850. Launched in 1852. In service since 1853. The last of the three ships of this class. The second of them – "Paris" was also built in the Spassky Admiralty and launched in 1849.
The first of the ships of this series – "Twelve Apostles" was laid at the Nikolaev shipyard in 1838 and launched in 1841. The design work was carried out in Nikolaev by the Chief of the corps of ship engineers Colonel D.I.Vorobyov. Construction was conducted by S.I.Chernyavsky under the supervision of Admiral M.P.Lazarev. Since M.P.Lazarev and S.I.Chernyavsky were supporters of the English system of shipbuilding, all the improvements used in the English shipyards in the first third of the XIX Century were used in this ship. As the main prototype was the selected “HMS Queen” of “New Caledonia” type, which in the progress of construction was rebuilt by surveyor of the Navy William Simmonds, who invented a new system of fastening hold – wooden diagonal set was almost completely replaced by iron. Also, W.Simmonds introduced a number of other improvements, including the elliptical shape of the stern, which significantly improved the technical characteristics of the vessel.
"For construction of the Twelve Apostles was required 353 cubic feet of oak timber, 100 cubic feet the pine timber, 1800 puds (pud is equal to 16 kilo grams) of nails, 4000 puds of copper and 14000 puds of iron, 300 pieces of iron brackets, 700 puds of walnut timber, 5300 pieces of copper sheathing, 180 puds of hemp oil, 120 puds of chalk, 30 puds of lard, 1200 puds of liquid tar, 400 puds dense tar. It required labor of 520 craftsmen-carpenters, sawmills, blacksmiths, joiners, cauldrons and workers of other specialties. Estimates for materials amounted to RUB 699777 30 kopeks". (Grebenshchikova G. A. “The battleship Twelve Apostles”. - M., 2016.)

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