1/700 British 24-gun Porcupine Class Frigate HMS Pandora

HMS Pandora was a 24-gun Porcupine class frigate of the Royal Navy built at Deptford and launched on 17 May 1779. She was deployed in North America during the American War for Independence. She was laid up in ordinary after 1783. She is best known as the ship sent to search for the Bounty mutineers in 1790. She was wrecked on the outer Great Barrier Reef on 29 August 1791 during the return voyage. 

•  Length: 114 ft-7 in overall 
• Beam: 32 ft-3 in 
• Depth of Hold: 10 ft-3 in 
• Complement: 140-160 men and boys 

Armament:

• As-built:   Upper deck: 22 x 9 pounder long guns Quarterdeck: 2 x 6 pounders 
• By 1815: Upper deck: 14 x 9 pounder long guns and 8 x 18 pounder carronades Quarterdeck: 2 x 6 pounders 

 Inspiration paintings:

Figurehead inspiration

This is a 3D resin model from Henry Turner. It is beautifully detailed and quite delicate. While trying to drill or install rigging tie-off points, I had several breakouts that I had to come up with ways to repair. I also found that painting the thin rails with cyanoacrylate glue considerably strengthens them enough to hold rigging. Another challenge was creating the Iconic Pandora figurehead and getting it as right as I could at this scale. 

Note the brass loops for the mainmast stays. A breakout on the starboard side had to be repaired.

I just think this class had beautiful lines!

My mast stock arranged by size

I had to create a new page for my mast log since I had not built a ship of this size in this scale yet.

Masts cut and separated from bow to stern

Plastic bread clips make great fighting platforms

Sprit plate and platforms cut and drilled

Mast and top mast

T'gallant mast added

First mast stage complete

Trees added to complete the masts

Dry fitted

Cloth sails cut out

Masts cemented in place

Sails tinted and shaped

Spars cut and separated by mast

The process is to glue on the spars. When dry, tie them to the mast. Then tie on the sails

First half of the standing rigging is done. At this point I stop to make the ratlines and get them mounted before continuing the rigging.

Ratlines are on and the standing rigging is complete. The last steps are the running rigging and the flag.

Best I could do with the figurehead

Drat! While photographing Pandora I accidently knocked a 1/1200 West Indiaman to the floor. I don't believe it was much damaged until I stepped back to located it. I drug it under my shoe. She lost her bow sprit and foremast in the squall, but the rigging held it pretty much together. Hopefully the repairs won't be too costly.