Paintings

Birch Canvas

The HMS Endeavour: A Reminder of Captain Cook's World Voyage

Models of the HMS Endeavour are popular with people who love British history and wish to display their patriotism and their love for ships in their offices or homes. Designed after considering every detail of the original ship and after thorough research about its specifications, these ship models are designed in various sizes. The HMS Endeavour models are hand crafted by master artisans and all efforts are made to replicate every original feature of the ship.

History of the HMS Endeavour
The HMS Endeavour, also known as the HM Bark Endeavour, was a British Royal Navy research vessel. The ship was purchased in 1768 for a scientific mission to the Pacific Ocean and to explore the seas of the unknown southern lands. Commanded by Lieutenant James Cook, this ship departed from Plymouth in August 1768.  Some major features of the HMS Endeavour's journey were:

• The ship reached Tahiti in time to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun.

• The ship ventured into largely uncharted oceans to the south and allowed its captain to claim the Pacific Islands of Huahine, Borabora and Rajatea for Great Britain.

• She was the first European vessel to reach New Zealand in September 1769, 127 years after Abel Tasman.

• It became the first seagoing vessel to reach the east coast of Australia in April 1770.

• It narrowly avoided disaster after running aground on the Great Barrier Reef and had to undergo substantial repairs.

• The ship resumed its westward journey on December 26, rounded the Cape of Good Hope in March 1771, and reached the English Port of Dover on July 12, after having been at sea for nearly three years.

• For three years, this ship carried Navy stores to the Falkland Islands.

Although the ship was sold into private hands in 1775, it briefly returned to naval service as troop transport during the American Revolutionary War and was scuttled in 1778. Although the ship's wreckage could not be located, some of its cannons and anchor are displayed at various maritime museums. A replica of the HMS Endeavour was launched in 1994, which is now berthed in the Australian National Maritime Museum.

HMS Endeavour Models: Features
Models of the HMS Endeavour are fully assembled and built from scratch. These models are prepared by using good quality wood, such as cherry, birch, maple and rosewood, for hull construction. The model incorporates various details, such as:

• Intricately carved embellishments, scroll work and stem window panes

• Planked deck with nail holes

• Lifeboats

• Cannonball racks, buckets, barrels and other items on decks

• Rudder chains, wooden ladders and planked steps

• Solid brass cannons, swivel guns and metal anchors

• Canvas sails that hold shape and do not wrinkle

HMS Endeavour models are also considered to be of general historical importance because of the contributions of Captain Cook. It was Captain Cook who first accurately charted a substantial part of the Australian coastline and fixed the continent in relation to known waters. Significant contributions were made by him to the knowledge of seamanship, navigation and geography. The models of this historic ship provide you a chance to display your love for British history and the contribution of this ship in discovering newer lands. These models are ideal for display in your homes and offices or as gift items.

About the Author

You too can choose a finely crafted ship model from the wide variety of models available at www.premiershipmodels.com. The company is a leading supplier of hand crafted ship models that are exact replicas of the original ships and designed with great care. The HMS Endeavour models are hand crafted by master artisans and all efforts are made to retain the original features of the ship.

Birch bark canoebuilding with no Birch bark....?

I live in a part of the world where the typical Birch Bark (papyfiera betullae) for birch bark Canoebuilding does not grow, and other birches do not suit for this purpose.Looking forward on building one with materials I can collect myself and respecting in general the native way of building, my following question.
What can be used ,even in non natural material, to build a canoe that looks, feels, ...., like a birch bark canoe but where the hull is not made out of birch bark.
Other barks like spruce,beech,.... or the existing birchbark painted polyester, kevlar,royalex,...modern canoes are not taken in consideration.
I wonder If anyone has some idea which material could be used that could or would replace birch bark and still offers a look close to the one of birch bark.
A possible substitute for spruce root lashing is welcome too.
Posted this question at home & ..., an answer arrived but canvas,pvc,. do not suit the purpose due their thin nature, Birchbark is 3-6mm ??

You could possibly use hemp twine instead of the spruce lashings? Or rawhide? Traditional kayaks were made from sealskins, so would some type of treated leather be an option for you? Birch bark canoes have been replaced by canvas canoes, even among native people, so that material seems to be the most likely substitute. It is quite a project - such a canoe will be a challenge to build. Best of luck with it.

"The Witness and The Seed" 17" x 33" Oil, Gold Leaf, and Crystal Minerals on Canvas on Birch, 2010

Tags: art, bed, canvas, loft, shoes

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 am and is filed under paintings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.