The Nautical Research Guild will celebrate its 60th anniversary in Chattanooga, TN, November 10 through 16, at the Convention Marriott Hotel. It will be our 35th annual conference and we invite all modelers, both NRG members and non-members, to join us in a learning experience at our 35th conference. A registration form is on these web pages. In addition to an all-day Symposium on Thursday Nov. 13 and another full day of how to do it brought to you by recognized experts on Saturday Nov. 15 we have made arrangements for tours of the interesting areas of the region on six days. We will follow the Saturday event with a cocktail hour and the annual banquet. In addition to the speakers we will have vendors room where you can find whatever it is you need to build and research models.

Tony Devroude, an Architectural Ornamentation Specialist who resides in Cannonville, Utah, will utilize speaking slots Thursday and Saturday. His subject matter will be Reconstructing the DOLPHIN ROYAL, a French First Rate of 1668 using the publications by Jean Boudriot and the contemporary drawing of the Van de Veldes of her sister ships constructed under the building program of 1663.

On Thursday we will review the CARVINGS and IMAGERY that Charles le Brun was commissioned to design for the new ships of the first building campaign of Louis XIV and see why so much money was lavished in their decoration. We will review the Master Sculptors hired to execute the designs, and see how their works can be traced to the Major Chateaux of France and even seen at Versailles. By studying the works of the masters, we can make these drawings of le Brun come alive again on our models as it would have been on the original ship. We will review the style of Carving of the French Sculptors and French Model Makers, and then see how to obtain such detail in carving our model today

Saturday's discussion will deal with the Dolphin Royal a French First Rate of 90-104 guns was one of the six First Rates built when Louis XIV ascended the throne in 1661. Our knowledge of this ship consists of her known dimensions, and the original Design Drawing of her Poupe and Quarter Gallerie as drawn by Charles Le Brun for presentation to the King. Other than that, no other information has been found. So with this information, drawings by Wm Van de Velde the Elder, and the Boudriot series books, ALBUM de COLBERT, and THE 3 DECKERS OF CHAVELIER de TOURVILLE, we will undertake reconstructing her as accurately as information allows. Once Preliminary Lines are established for the ship, a solid "Half-Hull" model will be made and all lines trued-up on her. Next we will take-off her corrected lines using Chappell's devise from "THE NATIONAL WATERCRAFT COLLECTION". From there we complete our sections with floor, futtocks, etc. for the building of our model.

In addition to Tony's presentation on Thursday's symposium we will feature NRG Chairman and proprietor of Warner Wood West, Lloyd Warner who will show us how to sharpen the tiny saw blades with which we work as well as some comments on wood. Don Preul, NRG Director and Curator of the Navel Academy ship model collection as well as being a professional modeler specializing in submarines will show us how to work with resin hull/submarines. Another NRG Director Don Dressel author a book on planking will show us tricks of that trade. NRG Director Kurt Van Dahm a Contributing Editor with Ships in Scale magazine and Badger Airbrush Company's Marine Hobby Consultant will teach us the fine art of casting small parts in resin. Richard "Doc" Williams from the North Shore Deadeyes of Chicago will discuss the making and operating a rope walk.

Added to Tony's presentation on Saturday's conference speakers we will have John Fryant, former NRG Director, and proprietor of Paddlewheels and Props a riverboat plans service, and an acknowledged expert on the subject, walking us through the construction of river boat models. The pre-lunch session will feature NRG Director Kurt Van Dahm who will show the fine points of taking reproducible photographs of ship models so that they can be reproduced in magazines etc. The average modeler does not do a good job on photographing his finished product. This session should help. After lunch David Antscherl, a professional modeler, will show us how to make small ship boats. He will be followed by Ralph Preston a world-renowned ship-in-bottle expert whose work can be found in all the major maritime museums revealing the tricks of that trade. The afternoon session will be completed by Dana Wegner, who among other duties is custodian of the U.S. Navy model collections. Dana will recount the history of the USS Chattanooga which should be of utmost interest to our members and the local attendees.

We are fortunate to have the Drs. Henry and Arnold Kriegstein as the after dinner speakers on Saturday evening. The brothers will show slides of some of their fantastic ship model collection that is the body of their new book "17th and 18th Century Ship Models". To refresh your memory look at the feature article on the subject in Volume 52 the fall of 2007 Nautical Research Journal.

We hope to see you, Member or Non-Member, in Chattanooga!

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