Harold A. Underhill (1897–1965)

This book is about the building of a model of the Norwegian brigantine Leon, which ship Underhill constructs from a photograph. He does not fully trust the photograph though, but finds out that she must have had her yards inherited from another ship, as the sails are too narrow. Which is a strange idea, as taking over sails was much more common. This large Norwegian brigantine from the board of a famous naval architect, Colin Archer, he manages to finally present as something very close to a small British schooner. Modellers all over the world has built her as he directed, and has presented it to maritime museums as a Norwegian brigantine. The sad thing is that her plans are extant (in Larvik Maritime Museum), as is excellent pictures of her. Something that looks like her is indeed fully possible.
Still, with the number of "Leons" that have been built, the book must be said to have great qualities.… (more)