HM Armed Cutter Sherbourne, 1763 – Vanguard

The Kit

PLEASE NOTE: We have included 8 x 3-Pounders and 12 x Half-Pounder Swivel guns, but if you prefer historical accuracy, you should fit only 6 x 3-Pounder carriage guns and 8 x Half-Pounder Swivel guns. We have also gone to extra lengths to ensure that the rigging of this model will be as easy as possible for the novice, in step by step illustrations.

Scale – 1:64
Length Overall – 512mm
Hull length – 284mm
Height Overall – 484mm
Width Overall – 202mm

Kit includes:

• Laser cut and engraved parts in MDF and pear wood.
• Laser etched and cut lime wood deck with treenail detail
• 2 sheets of photo etched brass
• High resolution 3D-printed parts.
• Double planked hull in limewood for first planking and pear wood for second planking.
• Walnut dowel for masting.
• Multiple sizes of both black and natural rigging thread along with all necessary blocks and deadeyes
• Comprehensive, full colour instruction manual, along with NINETEEN plan sheets which include all masting and rigging drawings. The rigging drawings are designed to allow the novice to successfully complete a rigged ship.
• Features laser-engraved treenails on both inner and outer bulwarks

History of the HM Armed Cutter Sherbourne 1763

HM cutter was a 6-gun cutter of the Royal Navy. She served in the English Channel for her entire career, operating against smugglers. She was sold in 1784. Sherbourne was built at Woolwich Dockyard under the supervision of Master Shipwright Joseph Harris, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade, and was launched on 3 December 1763, having cost £1,581.8.9d to build and fit.

Sherbourne was commissioned under Lieutenant John Cartwright, later to become a prominent parliamentary reformer, and was assigned to support the work of the Board of Customs by operating against smugglers in the English Channel. Cartwright commanded Sherborne from 7 December 1763 to 14 May 1766. His area of responsibility was the South Coast of England, including Dorsetshire and Devon. His brother George, when at loose ends, went with him in Sherborne on a cruise out of Plymouth to chase smugglers.

Lieutenant Christopher Raper succeeded Cartwright in 1766 as Sherbourne’s commander for the next three years. Between 1769 and 1777 the cutter was commanded successively by Lieutenants Stephen Rains, Thomas Rayment and Thomas Gaborian, all the while remaining based in the Channel. Her final commanders were Lieutenant Arthur Twyman, from September 1777 until May 1778, and then Lieutenant Arthur Hayne until September 1779. She was then laid up.

In 1783 Sherbourne participated in William Tracey’s unsuccessful attempt to raise HMS Royal George, which had sunk in Spithead in 1782. Although the dockyard rated Sherbourne as unfit for service, Tracey conducted some repairs and she was of some use.

She was finally sold at Portsmouth on 1 July 1784.

Tons burthen – 85
Length – 54 ft 6 in (16.6 m)
Beam – 19 ft (5.8 m)
Complement – 30
Armament – 6 x 3-pounder guns + 8 swivel guns