Merchant vessel

[Mudpuppy]

So I have been thinking for several years of making a merchant vessel.. something would be natural to include in a port scene. My spare hull parts are mostly old BSB hulls or the now new bounty hulls. However, making a smaller ship from these seems a bit squat and reminds me of the Caribean Clipper type... not a good picture.

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions starting off?

My thought is perhaps a single or dual mast. No cannons right now. A low deck with storage space (a la BSB style) and rather than a defined cabin, a gently-sloping quarterdeck over the top of the pre-fab hull space.

I envision rigging looking similar to the Renegade Runner. I might have to manufacture sails for this...

[Ye Olde Republic]

Not much of a suggestion for you but maybe you can take a cue from me here. I'm making kind of an updated version of the little ship from the Imperial Trading Post using the boat pieces from Jabba's Sailbarge. Single masted, low poop deck and no forecastle. I think it'll be something like a brig crossed with a schooner?

[Mudpuppy]

Grr... I should have checked earlier...

Do you have a picture of this yet? Or an in-progress shot? It sounds really interesting!

[Ye Olde Republic]

Sorry, I've been kind of away for a while. I don't have any pics yet, in fact, I have a lot of things that I should take pics of but my camera battery won't take a charge anymore. I should go buy a new one but I keep forgetting or putting it off.

[gormadoc1]

Perhaps you could use the design of the renegade runner, except you could extend the hull in the middle and build a sort of captains cabin at the back and still with that bit of room underneath for barrels and treasure. Although if you put the extra middle peice in then you should put another plate across so that more barrels can go underneath. I hope I have not been to confusing but I think it would work.

Also this is my first post.

[Captain Ironheart]

An idea for a sail plan. Try building a Barque: three masts or more, square rigged on all except the aftmost mast. Lower-speed, especially downwind, but requiring fewer sailors than a ship. A classic slow-cargo ship.

My other idea would be a Polacre: a three master, carrying a square-rigged foremast, followed by two lateen sails. Would be visually interteresting. Was thinking of doing one of these myself...