HELP! Plan To Build Scaled Down HMS Leopard

Hi All,

Am planing to build a scaled down version of a tall ship "LIKE" the British Navy HMS Leopard at a width of about 12 feet to launch and sail on a lake, not the ocean. However, I really need a source for plans or blueprints for such a ship which I can scale down.

I am retired and plan on several years to build this smaller version ship and at the same time, place modern emanates inside her. Also plan to place an engine and screws in her in case of loss of wind, a power plant for lighting and so on. In ascents, this will be an old time ship exterior with a new luxury boat interior.

Have wanted to build something like this sense I was in my mid 20's, but like everything else, kept putting it off to a later point in time. It would be great to set sail in this scaled down ship on a lake and watch the faces of other luxury boat owners as I sail by.

Thanks for any assistance others in this group could provide.

Hello Art58mo, welcome to the forum That sounds like a wonderful plan.

I've seen a photo of the ship and it is real grandeur With the sails and everything it simply looks beautiful.


My first advise would be to see to get the specifications of this ship and then start desizing them comparatively to fit the size you require.

Thanks Jeffie,

I have looked everywhere for copies of the original design plans for the HMS Leopard, but have only found ship "MODEL" plans for the HMS Leopard. I wrote that model company and they told me I could actually build the real thing from their model plans.

Though this may be possible, I still would feel better is I could locate the full scale plans for the HMS Leopard or similar ship. If going from the HMS Leopard plans, I plan to redesign the captains quarters or tail end of the ships upper part, add only one row of fake cannons to the main deck, not like the real ship which has main deck cannons and lower deck cannons. Though the smaller version of this ship will "LOOK" much like the original real thing, I plan on installing a below deck engine with twin propellers as well as a power plant and holding tanks. Yah! I know, the original ship did not have a walk in shower and toilet. HA! HA! HA!

Art

Post edited by: Art58mo, at: 2008/04/28 19:04

Awww that's tough. Couldn't it be an idea to contact a national marine museum or something and ask them if they know where the original design plans for the HMS Leopard can be found? Perhaps this one?
click here please

It does sound to me like an enormous project you are going to undertake though, wow...

here is a russian website w/ some plans of a lot of boats. mostly instructions for models but the hms leopard link has some actual plans of the ship. luck. http://shipmodeling.uw.hu/
note maybe its a hungarian website...

you might want to contact british royal naval muesum.london england.

the leopard was not a british ship she was a captured french ship I think. so know you have TO RESEARCH french naval muesum.

also the hunley was not the first navy sub. U.S.S alligator was a french built sub by a french navy designer for french navy they did not excepted so he sold it to the northern army during civil war and was first in the water.thats a fact.she was lost under toe going south in high seas. to inter battle with the monitor iron clade.

what i am trying to say you need to do more research.some british war vessels were also spanish captured by the royal navy.

so ships name under one navy is not always country
of orgin.in 1880s cruded methods of wood working it took many years to build a combat vessel.so if you captured a ship in tack.you simple renamed it under your flag.you can build a fleet pretty fast that way also back then the kings money was also a consern.

both are on the web.

so with this little brain storm of info i hope this helps.

Just curious here, but how's the project going ?

It sounds like your best option might be to go to a nav arch or designer and commission a plan. I've had a couple done to date and it cost between 1500 and 2K for each one. In my case the boats each cost around 12G to build and sold for 20, so it wasn't that big of a cost in the scheme of things.

For a proposal like yours, I would definitely suggest getting a set of plans drawn up. If you try and use an existing design, the rig you want will give it a lot of weight aloft and windage without producing as much power as the rig that the boat was designed around.

I've seen a few plans around the net for small, single-hand topsail schooners that are vaguely reminiscent of the old east coast oyster boats. Would that suit your plans or are you set on a square rigger ?