OK,
Here are the reference drawings used:
From Chapelle:
On-line somewhere from a couple or more sources, 1803 appears to be accurate:
Now, I'll be using the following to reflect additional changes, it's been dated to 1817.
The sail outfit appears to match or largely match descriptions dating prior to 1812.
NOTE: I've reduced the scans quite a bit from the raw size I use.
I'm using paint descriptions and modifications made to the ship based on research done by a gent that was working on a major submission to the Nautical Research Journal and book. I tend to trust those guys research (hard-cores). There are surviving documents listing refits and also changes made by captains down to damned near the month. I've about a dozen other sources, books, on-line....I look for high levels of scholarship, expertise, and a basically great pedigree.
Drawing methodology on this one isn't quite as anal as I would follow for railroad restoration docs I do...nowhere near the level actually. That's all AutoCAD stuff down to small decimal fractions of inches...precision work.
On this one it was simply to reduce the source images to within 1 pixel of scale size. Import into Corel Draw, trace away.
With a pixel being 1/2 scale foot, I'll not quibble, the level of precision isn't worth it. Also, scanned or photocopied original images including the digitized versions are frequently stretched either vertically or horizontally. Next, I'll do the basic vector based linework in Corel Draw for layer control, superb linework control, etc. Lastly, I export it to MS Paint so I can see how the pixel art will actually look, make corrections, etc.
If anyone does dimensional checks and finds errors, I'll gladly fix the drawings, I've not had time for that Q/C this time around (work gets in the way).
I broke out my old Anatomy of the Ship: HMS Diana. It has useable rigging for a couple areas that are bugging me (primarily lines to control sail shape). I also found some very interesting bits regarding the ship's inventory of sails. There ARE a number of sails available in the late 1790's that were thought to have NOT existed until the 1800's (and as late as the 1860's).
Cool stuff! And a HUGE thanks for the complements!!!!!
CraigH