Single-Masted Sloop - Langton Miniatures 1:1200

Langton Miniatures' 1:1200 Great Lakes line of models includes some fascinating small vessels, representing some of the wide variety of craft that plied those waters in the War of 1812. Here is one of those models, a single-masted sloop. In form it looks like a miniature cutter, but in power it is not much more than a large gunboat, mounting 2 guns on pivots.

Sails and ratlines are photo etched brass from Langton. Rigging is with nylon paintbrush bristles. Sea base is a metal piece from Langton.

Here the pivot guns are seen to good effect, along with the fact that the deck is not flush, but seems to be covered over with rowers' benches.

To give a sense of size, here the sloop is seen between two schooners. On the left, the 10 gun schooner from Langton's Great Lakes line. On the right, the larger 10 gun schooner from the normal Napoleonic Naval line.

10 Gun Schooner - 1:1200 Langton Miniatures

Here is yet another model of a ten gun schooner, though a larger one than the last. This is from Langton Miniatures' regular Napoleonic line of 1:1200 model ships, as opposed to the Great Lakes line - the members of the latter being rather smaller in size. See the last photo for a size comparison shot.

Schooners of every type were very common ships in the period, and vessels such as this one could have been seen anywhere the navies of the European powers sailed. With their fore-and-aft rig they would not have made as much speed as a square rigger in certain wind orientations, but they could sail faster closer to the wind, and required less crew.

To tweak this model to my liking I've sanded down the hull a lot to make it sit lower in the water, built masts and bowsprit from brass rods, and rigged with nylon paintbrush bristles. Ratlines and sea base are Langton products too.

To compare sizes, here the model is seen in between Langton's 10 gun Great Lakes schooner in the front (a very small ship indeed) and GHQ's 32 gun frigate HMS Cleopatra behind.