HMS Discovery Model Ship

HMS Discovery was a full-rigged, Royal Navy survey ship, Captained by George Vancouver.

About the HMS Discovery wooden scale Model Ship

This model ship of the HMS Discovery was custom built from the following information:

• The original construction drawings.

About the construction of the HMS Discovery wooden scale Model Ship

• The hull is built using the Double Plank-on-Bulkhead construction method
• The bulkheads and keel are cut from marine grade pine plywood
• The first layer of planking is done plank by plank using Mahogany planks
• The second layer of planking is done using Mahogany Veneer strips
• The deck is made of Anagre, a light brown timber from the Amazon
• The hull is sheathed with real copper plates below the waterline
• The gunwale and stringers are made of American Walnut
• The fife rails and pin racks are made of American Walnut
• The deckhouses and gangways are made of Teak
• The masts and yards are made of Mahogany dowels
• The sails and ropes are made of linen
• The model is painted with acrylic paint
• The ornaments are cold cast in bronze and painted

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History of the HMS Discovery (1789)

The HMS Discovery was a full-rigged, Royal Navy survey ship, built by Randall, Gray & Brents of London in 1789. She had an armament of 20 guns and a standard crew complement of 100. HMS Discovery was best known as the lead ship in Captain George Vancouver’s explorations of the West Coast of North America in his famous 1791-1795 expedition.

On 1 April 1791 the HMS Discovery and HMS Chatham departed from Falmouth to explore the South Coast of Australia. Over the course of the next 4 years, Vancouver’s Discovery surveyed the North Pacific Ocean, wintering in Spanish California or Hawaii.

The Discovery’s mission was to exert British sovereignty over part of the Northwest Coast following the hand-over of the Spanish Fort San Miguel at Nootka Sound, although exploration in co-operation with the Spanish was an important secondary objective. Exploration work was successful as relations with the Spanish went well. Despite 4 years of dispatches with their governments, Vancouver and the Spanish Commandant Juan Quadra failed to formally conclude an agreement. Remarkable the Discovery only lost 6 sailors in accidents over these 5 years.

After 4 years at sea, Discovery was in great need of repair. She was laid up until 1798 when she was refitted as a bomb vessel and re-commissioned under Commander John Dick. As a bomb vessel Discovery had an armament of 1 x 13” mortar; 1 x 10” mortar; 8 x 24-pounder carronades & 2 x 6-pound guns.

In October 1800 Commander John Conn replaced Dick. HMS Discovery took part in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and was awarded a Naval General Service Medal. She was paid off in October that year and was laid up in ordinary in May 1802.

Re-commissioned in May 1803 – 1805

Discovery served as a hospital ship from 1807-1815.

In 1818 she was converted to a convict ship and served as such until 1831.

The HMS Discovery was broken up in 1834.

Member of The Nautical Research Guild

Learn more about HMS Discovery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Discovery_(1789)