These plans were prepared as background notes for the National Georgraphic and Oddessy (Ballard) teams to assist in familiarization with the wreck and propose various avenues for exploration. There is a certain amount of simplification (both historical and technical) due to time restrains or focus priorities. The drawings are supported by two booklets, the "Guide to Plans and Illustrations for RMS Lusitania" by Bill Sauder and Eric Sauder and a "Glossary of Terms" (Bill Sauder).
Generally the drawings are blackline on bond paper with hand tinting done by AD pens. The base drawings were generally taken from the 1907 Engineering Magazine General Arrangements for the ship, with corrections done with Rapidograph pen.
The set was damaged in a house flood in 2000, which accounts for much of the bleed through seen here.
Type 1 drawings: Originals rapidograph ink drawings on vellum, 24" x 36": image transfered to bond paper via blackline and colorized by hand using AD pens.
Type 2 drawings: Xerox copy on erasable vellum of 1907 Engineering Magazine "master" drawings, vellum modified in rapidograph ink to reflect changes made in ship from 1907 to 1915; image transfered to bond paper via blackline and colorized by hand using AD pens, supplimentary lettering in "HB" and "F" pencil. Self-adhesive appliques as needed for index marks (primarilly sheets 15 and 16).
Type 3 drawing: Similar to Type 1 drawing, showing a cross section of the ocean at the site of the sinking. A mobile profile of the Lusitania to scale provided to disprove the theory that the ship struck bottom before sinking (as advanced by Colin Simpson),
16 sheet on 24" x 36" blackline with
Original content: (C) 1993 Bill Sauder over a base drawing (C) 1907 Engineering Magazine.
Drafted by Bill Sauder in July of 1993 and in his possession continuously since that time.
Copyright © 2009 Bill Sauder