HMS Bounty (1787) Historical Model Ship by Old World Trading – Captain’s Line History of the HMS Bounty For the purpose of transporting native breadfruit trees from the South Pacific to the West Indies to be used as a staple for slaves, the British Royal Navy purchased the merchant ship Berthia from Messrs Wellbank, Sharp, and Brown in May 1787. The ship was re-fitted at Deptford Dock and officially designated Bounty. HMS Bounty set sail from Portsmouth on December 23, 1787 under the command of Lieutenant Bligh and arrived in Tahiti on October 26, 1788. The crew enjoyed five months on the paradise island before leaving on April 6, 1789 with over 1,000 breadfruit trees. On April 28 she was seized in a bloodless mutiny, led by Fletcher Christian. Bligh and nineteen of his followers were put on the 23-foot Bounty launch. The group attempted a landing on Tubuai but met an unfriendly reception, so they returned to Tahiti where they loaded hogs, goats, and 28 Tahitians. They made a second landing on Tubuai and befriended the chief and fifteen of his people, who left with them soon afterward. They landed a third time in Tahiti, where sixteen of the crew decided to stay. The mutineers then landed on Pitcairn Island in early 1790. They decided to burn the ship and remain on the island. Relations with the natives eventually turned for the worse. Eighteen years later the Nantucket Topaz visited Pitcairn to find just one of the orignial sailors surviving. The remaining mutineers that had settled on Tahiti were captured. Four of them drowned on the return to England when their captor, the Pandora, sank on a reef. The last ten mutineers were arrested and brought to England, where three of them were hanged. Lieutenant Bligh amazingly made his way on the small craft to Dutch East Timor, traveling 3,600 miles in 41 days with meager rations and in unsheltered waters, using only a sextant and a pocket watch. In an outstanding feat of navigation, he lost only one of his crew and lived to re-perform his original commission in 1792 on the HMS Providence. The magnificent tale of the Bounty has inspired many generations, and continues to be re-told today in literature and film. Craftsmanship · This model of the HMS Bounty is 100% handcrafted, put together piece by piece, similar to the construction of an actual ship. There are no model kits used here. The wood is cut from the trees. · The model is built plank on frame construction (hollow hulls) - ribs on the inside, piece by piece on the hull and deck. If you look closely, you can see the nails used to secure the strips of wood to the internal ribs. · You’ll appreciate the detail of the rigging, the stitching on the sails, and the fantastic craftsmanship. · The lines on the ship are working lines. They can be tightened and loosened. · This HMS Bounty comes with a solid wooden stand and a brass nameplate. · Included with the model is a copy of her history printed on antiqued paper along with a stand. This is displayed beside the ship. · Our model ships are imported from all over the world from master craftsmen who specialize in model boat building. · The HMS Bounty is carefully packaged with foam supports, double-boxed, and shipped with the utmost care. · No assembly required! A brief history of Merchant Ships Merchant ships are used to transport people, raw materials, and manufactured goods. Through the centuries of shipping, merchant vessels have taken on many different shapes and sizes. Merchant ships can include cargo ships, ocean liners, ferries, sailboats, and many other types. Famous merchant ships include the Cutty Sark, the Titanic, and the Wendur. Nations are reliant on merchant ships to transport valuable raw materials and for the exportation of goods. At the end of World War II the United States operated nearly half the world‘s oceangoing merchant marine, and Great Britain had another major share. Both nations‘ fleets declined in postwar years, however, Japan and Greece had become the largest oceangoing shippers by the end of the 20th Century. We have a fine display of merchant vessels in our fleet. We carry a full line of ocean liners, clipper ships, steamships, and houseboats. Alongside is a small sample of the merchant ships available in our line. Display Case Looking for a handsome way to display and protect your model ship? Consider a display case to accompany your order. We sell finely crafted display cases and can help you select one that will fit the HMS Bounty perfectly. See the “Display Cases” category for more information. Packaging and Shipping Our model ships normally ship within 2-3 business days. They are carefully packaged in crates or very strong boxes, supported with forms to insure their protection during shipping. They are mailed via Fed Ex Ground to further protect them and for expedient delivery. Instructions on how to unpackage the ship are found after opening the first box. HMS Bounty Model Ship
Dimensions:
Length: 28"
Height: 24.5"
Width: 11"