Thanks for further replies.
PLANS
Yes, the National Maritime Museum does charge an astonishing amount (usually ?100 +) and I find it sad that so many (over a million) plans have fallen into their hands.? ? ? There are other sources, however:
Merseyside Maritime Museum, Birkenhead Town Hall (For Cammell Laird plans), The Mitchell Library (Glasgow), The Business Archives, University of Glasgow).? ? You can get their addresses & contacts details on the web.? ?I have found all the latter very helpful and more reasonably priced than NMM.
I use plans from various technical journals such as:
THE MOTOR SHIP -? SHIPBUILDING & SHIPPING RECORD - SHIPBUILDER - SHIPBUILDER & MARINE ENGINE BUILDER - THE SHIPPING WORLD -? SCHIFF UND HAFEN (German).? ? ?These journals contain numerous plans, often fold-out.? ? They all began in the early years of the 20th Century and THE MOTOR SHIP & SHIPPING WORLD are still running today.? ? I have my own collection of these journals, gathered over the years.? ? ? ? The Science Museum, London has a lot of them and I know that they could produce copies of plans for a very reasonable fee, but when I last spoke to them (over a year ago), the continuation of this service was under review.
Another useful source is from the books of David R MacGregor, whose publications hold a large number of sailing ship plans.? ? The books are still in print, so you can borrow them from local libraries.? ? Waine Research Publications also produces books such as BRITISH OCEAN TRAMPS Vols I & II as well as STEAM COASTERS etc, also full of good plans.
Hope this is of help
?