Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Painting, Finishing and Care. => Topic started by: tonyH on August 17, 2006, 05:53:38 pm

Title: Victorian Uniforms
Post by: tonyH on August 17, 2006, 05:53:38 pm

Afternoon All,

Has anyone got a source of info on Late Victorian naval uniforms? Specifically 1880-1890ish.
I'm in the process of the usual Wermacht conversion and have got the basics sorted, but I'm having problems with the PO's, especially headwear.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Tony

Title: Re: Victorian Uniforms
Post by: ambernblu on August 17, 2006, 10:56:43 pm

... hi. Came across this if its any good... a bit vague though! Cheers, Brian

http://website.lineone.net/~d.bolton/Crew/navy1837-97.jpg

Title: Re: Victorian Uniforms
Post by: tonyH on August 18, 2006, 09:36:39 am

Thanks Brian, thats the sort of thing. It was all a period of change and the CPO at the back right confirms my first thoughts.

Tony

Title: Re: Victorian Uniforms
Post by: centaur on August 24, 2006, 07:30:47 am

Tony,

I think you'll find that at that time, POs were still in square rig with crossed hooks whereas chiefs wore fore and aft rig as shown in the picture.   Even in my day, (early 1960s), it was permissable for POs to wear square rig for a year immediately after rating up.   It was then mandatory for them to shift into fore and aft rig upon confirmation.

Charlie

Title: Re: Victorian Uniforms
Post by: tonyH on August 24, 2006, 10:23:53 am

Thanks for that Charlie.

I'm having to make certain assumptions, since the vessel was built for the Greek Navy, but all info I have is that they followed us in the main. Any contemporary photos I've seen, however, only show officers or ratings or, with the aid of a large magnifying glass, the whole crew.

I would have thought that, with a gunboat whose 11" gun was primarily used for shore bombardment, there would have been a greater ratio of Warrant Officers than normal in the crew and therefore on deck. Also, since the Ambrakia was built for sail (2 masts) as well as steam the crew numbers would have been higher, and more obvious, than for steam alone.

Tony