Since there has recently been some interest expressed by members of the SMA and others concerning the Euromodel of the HMS FALMOUTH at 1:75 scale, an article concerning this ship is now attempted. As shown, however, one has to be careful as to exactly which FALMOUTH one is talking about, since there are several of these ships in British history.

The one we are specifically concerned with is really the East Indiaman FALMOUTH of 1752 which was built for the East India Company in 1752 with an overall length of about 125 feet and beam of about 34 feet. She was typical of the medium size ships the East India Company had built in the middle of the eighteenth century. She had a very close external resemblance to a warship in sail plan and rigging, with the most up-to-date reef-points to her topsails – no money was spared by the East India Company on her ships or her crews. The East India Company crews were treated very well in many respects, and the ships were run with naval lines of discipline, which was really necessary since they had to defend themselves against all types of enemies and pirates. She was powerful enough to defend herself and could even fight in a fleet action if necessary. She was more lightly armed than a regular naval vessel as well as being more lightly built, but she did carry twenty-two 18-pound cannon on her upper deck and six more on her lower deck. She was, however, primarily a cargo vessel which was the main purpose of her construction. FALMOUTH’S waist was completely decked over with planking at both sides, the grating being amidships. The internal aspects of the upper deck and gun-deck was similar to a warship, with fine cabins beneath the poop for the senior officers , small cabins for junior officers just forward of the captains space, etc. Below the gun-deck the similarity to a warship stopped completely, as the lower space was a huge hold. This FALMOUTH was a 499 toner in service between 1752 to 1764 and completed 5 voyages for the East India Company during this time. She was lost on her sixth voyage, wrecked in 1766.

The second vessel, HMS FLAMOUTH, a British 4th rate 50 gun ship, was built at Woolwich Dockyard in 1708. A little bit of history concerning this ship has been obtained from the internet. In 1708 Captain Riddle was appointed in February and ordered to New England and then returned in May of 1709. According to the Admiralty office, on May 24th, 1709, Her majesty’s ship FALMOUTH of 50 guns, Captain Walter Riddle, in her passage from New England, with some ships loaded with masts, and others under her convoy, was, on the 18th of this month, attacked by a French ship of war of 60 guns, about twenty-four leagues from Scilly; and captain Riddle perceiving that the enemy did intend to board him, he filled his head-sails, and laid her on board under her bowsprit directly athwart her hawse, and raked her for and aft with her cannon. The enemy continued in this posture about an hour and a half, during which time he entered many men, but they were repulsed; however the number of men on board her being much greater than those in the FALMOUTH, it occasioned various turns; but at length he thought fit to retire, having first cut all the lanyards of FALMOUTH’S fore and mizzen shrouds, believing it might prevent her following to rescue the convoy, which the enemy stood after. Notwithstanding which, the captain did with such diligence follow him, as enabled him to preserve them and to bring them into Plymouth. In this action FALMOUTH had 13 men killed and 56 wounded; the captain himself received a wound in his right leg, and several other hurts; and the second lieutenant, and Mr. Lawrence, one of the volunteers, were shot through the body. FALMOUTH had on board her 20,000 pounds of New England money at the time of the engagement. In 1710 FALMOUTH accompanied Capt. George Martin in DRAGON on a successful attack against the French settlement of Port Royal in Nova Scotia, then called Arcadia.
In 1712 FALMOUTH was based off the coast of Guinea where Capt. Riddle and Capt. Mabbot of the MARY GALLEY had a spirited engagement with two French ships which managed to effect their escape. This HMS FALMOUTH was broken up in 1747. I know of no plans that are in existence of this ship. Perhaps some more research could be done by one of our intrepid members of the SMA concerning this second ship.

Back to the FALMOUTH of our interest, the Euromodel kit, it is rather expensive at $599.99 (Model Expo) but sometimes goes on sale. John Simmons, an SMA member, is building this model and so far has nothing but praise for it. It is plank-on-bulkhead construction with the usual limewood, walnut and mahogany wood, fittings of brass, cast metal (might want to try and carve these out of wood), and pre-finished hard wood. All masts and spars are supplied, along with silk-screened flags, cotton rigging line, eight cannon (on deck) and 28 dummy cannon through gunports. There are good blue-print sized plans provided, but no written instructions. This is NOT a beginners kit model. Members of the SMA are anxiously awaiting John’s completion of the model – it should be a beauty. What makes a fine ship model?