GE books

[Steve Jones]

All

Can anyone comment on the following books?
Is the Griffiths book a compilation of Dumpleton's work?
Which if either, do you think would go the most towards helping a model
builder?

BRUNEL'S SHIPS by Denis Griffiths (1999)

AND

BRUNEL'S THREE SHIPS by Bernard Dumpleton & Muriel Miller (Reprinted
1977)

Steve Jones
SMA....NRG

[Christian]

Hello Steve,

The book: Brunel's ships, by Griffiths, Lambret and Walker, Chatham 1999, is most definitely the recommended one -for the Great Eastern model builder - if I had to chose from both books mentioned to aid the model builder. Even though only about 18 pages are dedicated to the Great Eastern, the following plans from the three volume book "Modern System of Naval Architacture", John Scott Russell, London 1865 are included:
1)longitudinal section
2)Spar deck (main deck)
3)second deck
4)third deck
5)fourth deck containing above view of screw prop, rudder and paddle wheels with interior bracing.

Unfortunately these plans are not 100% accurate as they depict the GE as planned as opposed to as built. Be careful about the exact deck dimensions and funnel cross sections including steam pipes. And the most important, the indispensable lines and frames plan is missing. It is available at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

If I were asked which books to recommend for the Great Eastern model builder I would name: George S. Emmerson: "The Greatest Iron Ship". It has the most comprehensive history and contains rare detail such as the fact that the GE was launched with a two tone lower hull consisting of an upper copper stripe and the lower part of red lead paint. And of course: Patrick Beaver: "The Big Ship: Brunel's Great Eastern, a Pictorial History" This book contains 140+ photographs and is absolutely indispensable. Both are long out of print but it's well worth trying to obtain copies through Web searches.

May I please add that our upcoming Great Eastern Website is well underway but there is so much to do still. Maybe me and my friend, just like Brunel and Russell, simply underestimated the task. But just like the real GE finally sailed, our site will be up. Soon.

Hope this helps.

Christian

[Steve Jones]

Christian,

I know there are copies of Russell's Opus in various places on this
planet. I hope some day that someone will copy them and reproduce those
BEAUTIFUL plates for all to see again.

In the meantime I guess we will have to take what we can when we can get
it. At one point in time there was a (9) sheet set of drawings, both
partial "as builds and as designed". This set could be ordered through:
"The Mariners' Museum Research Library and Archives" in Newport News,
Virginia USA .

http://www.mariner.org

My last correspondence with them (5/9/97) brought the following reply:

" "The plans that you are interested in -- the set of 9 blueline plans of
the Great Eastern -- are no longer available for sale through our Museum
Shop.
The set of plans that are in the Archives are not available to be
copied. They are in dire need of conservation.
We do have other information concerning the great vessel.
I suggest that you contact the National Maritime Museum in the UK " "

I did not pursue any further contact with the Museum archivist.

So a request could be made to all who read these posts, if you have a
copy of Russell's Magnum,
will you make reproductions of the color plates available to the rest of
us??

PS.. I once tried, unsuccessfully, to buy this set of 3 in auction. Price
rose TOO prominent for my colonial wages.

Steve Jones
SMA.......NRG