Cutty Sark by NenadM

[NenadM]

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Introduction

This log is intend to be personal track record of first "serious" attempt to scratch building of my very old Cutty Sark kit, started long ago and forgotten somewhere in house, mixed with some personal observations and notes

Edits notes and remarks will be inserted later, to show points what are dangerous place (for dummy as me) to bump in undesired situation caused by in-patience, an-experience and God¨s will

I am not a master, rather novice with too much ambition, but think in MSW there is enough room for all of us to share and learn, to keep a good time together

My long lasting journey in wonderful world of ship modeling started long long ago in, I think, usual way. As almost every kid I tried myself in some cheep plastic plane models, fast and furious, short life each ( they can not fly...) Then after a while in paper car models ( my own creation), made about 30 pieces, no one leave ( they can not drive). Then, in a high school I made some no-name (or forgoten name) plastic kit ships, also no one leave ( they can not stay above heater ...). Last one, "Stella" ( Heller) died and rest in peace during cleaning dust few years ago



This little Heller model on some way entered me door to "yellow brick road": Heller original colors in kit, by my opinion, were on such a type that model rather looks as toy, so I experimented with colors to catch color of wood, added extra details on deck and extra ropes ... joy in playing, and obviously first sign with arrow to entrance for something that on MSW is called "dark side"

And then, once upon a time ... very long ago during the study of law, I make my first step for modelling ships in wood.

I got done Columbus Santa Maria (If I remember well, also TEHNODIDAKTA Pula, but I am not so sure about manufacturer from this time distance) , made it, with a lot of improvisation, and with extra added ropes which to me it belongs ... but it looked nice for me. In that time I do not know nothing about real ship modelling, made it without necessary thinking, with half of brain, and in unnecessary hurry. Santa Maria got her way with my first wife more about 30 years ago.



Somewhere on that days, my twin brother made little and simple Heller`s Cutty Sark, and maybe that moment I fall in love with sail ships and their beauty



Then I finished law study, went in Army for one year, Navy in Pula, Croatia, former Yugoslavia ... and that was this ...

35 years ago only "Tehnodidakta" from Pula had made wooden models in kit. ( It was impossible for us mortals to order and pay kit from other country, even to know something more about ships, models, modeling techniques, tools and so). I was delighted with that discovery, and I bought wooden kit with plans and materials for "Cutty Sark". If I remember well, only few models were there ( Santa Maria, domestic ship "Jadran", some ships from old Dubrovnik, Bounty - not sure, and some domestic smaller historical models). And as every youth, wanting to be different and to choose the greatest of offered kits, a beautiful and extremely complex model with many sails and ropes, I bought it, knowing not in what I am just entering. To say again, I did not know absolutely nothing about Cutty Sark, and having no idea what serious modelling really is

To write about Cutty Sark is unnecessarily, there is so much written and published, sure on much better way I can do. Also, She is still alive in her Museum

I started working on model in 1984. and it kept me up until 1985-6, when I met friend with a really nice model of Cutty done, and I realized - or should I do it right, or it does not work anyway. And she went in deepest dark in my attic to collect dust and to cry silently in her dark corner

Then came usual things: got a steady job, got a wife, divorced, abandoned study for doctorate, and another wife, and two little children, start and finish building my house, become a attorney, etc etc etc... and, after "only" three very fast decades, finally the time has come to proceed, if I do not want to watch TV or read a book, or work, and there is no other homework to do. Children ( 22 and 24) are not children any more, and they need me only for money ( joke), they are adults now with their own life ( students finishing their study) ... and, suddenly, I find that appears a few hours in day exclusively concerned only for me. Amazing discovery

In meantime, trying to interest my son, we (I) made some simply plastic, I think Revell Pirate ship toy Jolly Roger. Failed attempt, made in less than a week, but I enjoy making it



The real trigger of my come back in wooden ship modeling was a appearance in Serbia of DeAgostini`s specialized periodical journal ( in 100 appearances) with successive parts of galleon, and I like it very much, but do not like many simplification of details which are important for me. Drawing boards on the deck with a graphite pen ? No, thanks. Waiting two weeks for single part ? No thanks. And then I remembered that I already have a plans of Cutty, the one of the nicest sail ship ever. Of course, the one with the most complicated rigging ...

For difference, now, after 30 years I finally have a working corner and a mini-workshop in heat-room near the garage (and not to forget, continuous war with my daughters Persian cat and long cat hair eveeeeeerywhere).

All rest wooden parts were 30 years old, and they have dried up and became largely and almost unusable. In fact, there are left only plans, some old strips and veneer, and some plastic / metal parts that I should see if I'll ever use them.

So, I made up my mind, dig on mess of old things in attic of house, FIND Her, and a few months ago I started from the beginning, only with saved old blueprint sheets ( old misfit try of Cutty went in trash) with the big important difference that exists today „His Majesty the Internet“ and a millions of pictures of finished models and details of the models, which is of invaluable help. Not to forget , today in Serbia there are affordable many required tools like Dremel/Einhel tools, and so. A great help is the fact that "my" ship still exists reconstructed in Greenwich, and there are available many photos of her details for research

Edit on september 23.2013: At the begin of this month I find Campbell plans, and from that time my work goes mainly by them, and my dedication and way of looking to my work rapidly change from day to day

Beginning

And so ... my first brave steps toward swamp, with more braveness than a brain presence

I did not mention "swamp" accidentally. As time goes by, I decided to do some steps in building in my own way (?), not in way which is ordinary, and in sheets. (for example - making my own dead-eyes ( later - blocks ?) and, later - ropes, my way of planking, etc etc). What a confident fool ... but ... that is just me - whole life I discover hot water again and again ...

Later I discovered that sheets have mistakes and insufficient instructions, my hands and experience are mainly not precise as I want, patience ... what is that ? But they are much better than 30 years ago, and my imagination and improvisation still exist, and I learn every day

Really significant stage of my build is finding MSW, and here are first steps ...

First decision was that I do not want to pay somebody for laser cut. What then rest for me to do ? Using paper with photo copy of plans to transfer plan to plywood.



A "bit" of cutting and a "bit" of glue, and my way (?) to hold angle of 90⁰ and to assume required stiffness skeleton for further work . Later, when time to mount deck come, I found that ship's ribs are not well drawn in plan, or I did not cut and mount them properly. Not provide proper and sufficient longitudinal and transverse slope of the deck. Yes, it will be quite a job to fit it



There was a lot of my unexperience in this , very very very significant stage of building. In POB building (I discovered later) the crucial thing is right dimensions, position and angle of ribs. EVERYTHING later depends. Consequences can be, and in my build are - catastrophic. Months of lost time trying to correct mess, and all time re-examining myself - was it better to go from start. If that happen - to hell with everything, and start over without more thinking. If you do not do this - be sure that at moment you think that succed in correcting one part, another part will protrude out and jump right on your hand. And when fix this, third part will hit directly to your face. And when fix this, you discover that first corrected part is not good. Some kind of perpetuum mobil and never lasting process. You will spend months instead week or two to make keel and ribs again, this time with thinking and measuring. And as you are impatience full running to start planking on this messed bulkhead construction, as I was, be sure that you will have great enjoyment in unnecessary work

And there is stern from one piece (it was corrected later in proper angles) - not just one correction, smart learns from others' mistakes, and fool ...

In that stage, I have not idea how complex are curvatures of whole ship, and how much time I have to spend on it ... to lose them ... and to find them ... and to lose them again ... And, oh, what a self-confident ... Later I concluded that keel is little distorted, mainly by "my way" of assuming "right" angles, but there is no way to correct this ....



Deck mounted with many previous corrections of ribs to assume slope. This was big big big MISTAKE. Right order is : first planking hull, and after that - deck mounting. See posts #240 and connected future posts. If you want to follow lines on upper side of ribs that lead to longitudinal and latitudinal curvature of deck, do not this. Deck can not be from one single piece of veneer 1mm width, as I did. You can not twist it in proper way. There is no way to do it. I tried, and result is - months of trying to correct mess and find lose lines. You can not correct it at all never again. So, better is to plank with strip by strip. For consequences, see later post http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2501-cutty-sark-by-nenad-m-tehnodidakta-19711983-campbell-plans/page-42#entry156687

Holder for dead-eyes and wedges in one peace, not in four parts as in plan. It is much easier ( ha, ha ha !!!) way to follow the line from planes. Also mistake from same reason.I lose proper lines of hull, and this hang over my head all the time ... And holders must be redone completly



Whole deck planting with veneer, also not in original plan. In original kit was wooden plate 2mm with 1mm deep and 1 mm wide grooves carved full-length of plate. I mounted that on old Cutty. What a joke !

First two pictures represent deck from kit, then part of a sheet, and at last picture is my try

 

• Edit Martch 31. 2014 : Fore and Aft deck - third time re-planked, main deck - second time re-planked

 

Fool made dead-eyes rather than use plastic from kit ( For details - post #16). 66x designated only above deck. There will be so much more latter. Enormous work, and enormous lost time. Yes, I have to make them again in better way



And twisted rope handmade instead wire. More elegant an more real, as I thought - obviously on that time I had no right idea what all this will be to the end



Plastic dead-eye from kit at left, and self-made in center and right on picture



Preventive cover with light sadoline, and view from the future bow - Once again mistake, I had to remove all traces of sadoline



And then, when I join to MSW, was a time just start planking, planking, planking ... and to discover that ALL first moves on this chees table are just - wrong

[bhermann]

Welcome to MSW, Nenad.  Cutty Sark is on my list of "someday" models, so I will be watching your process with great interest.

 

Your life story sounds familiar, so many things to get between a modeler and his build.  I'm glad you are able to find some time now to pick up on it.

 

Wow, that is a lot of deadeyes for setting up a single mast  - I forget how complex these beasts can be.  Enjoy the process and please share your progress!

 

Bob

[trippwj]

Welcome, Nenad!  Your Cutty Sark is coming along nicely!

[Sven]

A great start Nenad and a good idea to put in the deadeye chains before the bulwarks on the Cutty Sark! I love this ship and hope someday to make one. What scale is your model?

 

Matt

[tarbrush]

welcome to MSW Nenad! Cutty Sark is such a beautiful ship, definitely on my list to do one day. It looks like you are off to a good start and it like it might be quite a large model. What scale are you building to? I would love to build a really big model Cutty Sark. I will pull up a chair and watch.

 

[NenadM]

Tanks for nice wishes. Ill try to get the best from me. I dont know scale, because kit I bought 1983 was made 1973 and had ONLY nine sheets, some peaces of wood and some peaces made of plastic or metal. Dont forget that 1973 Yugoslavia was socialistic poor country. No instructions except for painting !!! But measuring on sheets are 1:1 with dimensions of ship approximately : 110 cm x 75 x 25. Tomorrow I shall get exact dimensions.Sorry for my bad English. Here is today progress, two hours of work

 

 

I have exact dinensions : 92 cm (including bowsprit x 55 cm x 24 cm , and it seems to be 1/96 scale (?). Quotation from Wikipedia:

General characteristics Class & type: Clipper Tonnage: 975 GRT^[1] Displacement: 2,100 tons (2,133.7 tonnes) at 20 ft (6.1 m) draught Length: Hull: 212 ft 5 in (64.74 m)

LOA: 280 ft (85.34 m) - with notice in link LOA - For sailing ships this may exclude the bowsprit and other fittings added to the hull.

 

 

and it means, as Hull + bowsprit = 85,34m, and on model = 92 cm - then scale is 1/92 ???

 

Who knows

 

 

EDIT at December 14th 2015 - important notice

 

As a payment for inexperience, almost three years after this stage, I discovered my old ( new) mistake about this method of planking. Even it enabled me to get nice surface easy to shape, when time comes to think about Her standing and way to fix standing on hull, problems appeared, caused with another mistakes (to much dedicated sanding thinned keel to 3mm) and softness of balsa. See post #2737

Edited December 16, 2015 by Nenad

[NenadM]

I must add some extra ribs to ensure right and smoth line of curvature. 

Edited October 7, 2013 by Nenad M

[NenadM]

And here is what I mean and why

Edited October 7, 2013 by Nenad M

[NenadM]

Next step

 

Edited March 30, 2014 by Nenad M

[mtaylor]

I'm just curious... why are you planking using very short strips?  Usual procedure is to use long strips covering several bulkheads.  It gives a fairer (smoother) run to the planking.

[NenadM]

Yes, I was wondering the same question. You will save on sandpapering if you have a continuous plank. 

 

 

I'm just curious... why are you planking using very short strips?  Usual procedure is to use long strips covering several bulkheads.  It gives a fairer (smoother) run to the planking.

 

With a tools I have, I do not see another way to distort and warp a long strips exactly on right place and on the way I want, Beside of that, in same start of working, I made first important decision - do I make a museum quality model, or do I make a model to enjoy making it to be a beautiful as much as it can be. I do not have skill level for museum model, and that is so

Edited October 7, 2013 by Nenad M

[mtaylor]

Good plan.  If you're interested, have a look here: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/forum/14-building-framing-planking-and-plating-a-ships-hull-and-deck/ at the first three posts (they are pinned).  This one here: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/353-planking-instructiontutorial-by-jack-nastyface/ might be of some help.  Maybe not on the Cutty but for your next one.

[Dognut]

Hi NenadM,

 

Thanks for posting this. Some years back I bought a Constructo Cutty Sark Kit, and after the first part of building and planking, I ran into a huge problem on the bow - mine looks like something on an ice-breaker rather than a clipper. And, like you, life got in the way.

 

I've been "lurking" on MSW for a while now, and a few days back I actually got as far as getting my poor model out from where it was hiding, and into the light (on my desk) so I can get up the courage to resume work.

 

So it's nice to have someone else to share the build with!

 

Best of luck with your build, I'll be following with interest. Thanks for getting my interest back!!

 

Cheers from a very cold Jo'burg

[NenadM]

Hi NenadM,

 

Thanks for posting this. Some years back I bought a Constructo Cutty Sark Kit, and after the first part of building and planking, I ran into a huge problem on the bow - mine looks like something on an ice-breaker rather than a clipper. And, like you, life got in the way.

 

I've been "lurking" on MSW for a while now, and a few days back I actually got as far as getting my poor model out from where it was hiding, and into the light (on my desk) so I can get up the courage to resume work.

 

So it's nice to have someone else to share the build with!

 

Best of luck with your build, I'll be following with interest. Thanks for getting my interest back!!

 

Cheers from a very cold Jo'burg

 

 

Dont give up. There are usualy surprising results if you apply some tips and tricks

Edited November 20, 2013 by Nenad M

[NenadM]

How to make dead-eye by your own, step-by-step. Use only hard wood (oak, ash, beech) , for instance - rest of parquet, and patience patience patience, and steady hand

Edit on October 04. 2013:    Now, when I have mounted bulwarks, I am not sure if it was good idea, they seems little bit larger than it could be. Pretty crowded around them, and they are not in line

Edited October 4, 2013 by Nenad M

[popeye the sailor]

looks like your having fun.......   this hobby is meant to be done slowly.......just do what you can,  when you can.   I've done a few old kits in my day.......my first one was 20 - 30 years old,  when I got it.  the wood was like sawing concrete...but I used it anyway.   good to have you aboard.......check out some of the tutorials they have here,  I believe you will find them useful.   I'll be keen to follow along! 

[NenadM]

Finally I go on. Not bad. Evidently it will be some corrections

 

 

Edit on October 04. 2013 :  "some" corrections ???? Rather - some months for corrections

Edited October 4, 2013 by Nenad M

[mtaylor]

You're having fun, I hope.  The ship is going well, but real life and work do seem to come first for many of us, myself included.   Looks good.  Keep up the good work.

[NenadM]

That will come out o.k with some sandpaper and wood filler.  I assume you are going over it with a second layer of planking.

 

Yes Brian, that is the plan exactly. Narrow veneer upside, copper brass or zinc foil downside. Just as on the Cutty sark in Greenwich. But there is so much to do until I rich that phase. Thx for your interest

[NenadM]

Little joke: "Almost" Cutty Sark in her "dry dock" in Belgrade ....  Finally, I resolved problem how not to damage sensitive small parts during planking. Styrofoam packaging for electric cooker has found a new use.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Nenad M

[NenadM]

And it seems to be OK... one day. Proud stern line

Edited March 28, 2014 by Nenad M

[popeye the sailor]

making some good progress Nenad.........keep going! 

[mtaylor]

I like it.  Cutty is starting to show her lines.

[NenadM]

Today progress. Next time, evidently, I`ll have some kind of provocation with narrow bow and its sharp lines. I like challenge

Edited March 28, 2014 by Nenad M

[NenadM]

The draft is unclear. Do you think that I understand it correctly?

[hopeful]

Hi and welcome to MSW.

 

Am enjoying your build of the Cutty Sark. Glad you are enjoying the build. You are making excellent progress. When you are finished with your model you will be amazed at how wonderful she looks. The rigging will make you dizzy.

 

I was in London last week and went to Greenwich to tour the Cutty Sark, the most beautiful of all the Clippers, so they say. When at sea in 1870, she was crewed by 27 men. An amazingly small number of men for such a large sailing craft. Even more amazing, after she was cut down losing her sky and stunsails, she was handled by a crew of 19 in 1880, wow! 

 

Wish you well as you move along.

 

Cheers,

 

"Standards set are standards met".

Edited June 19, 2013 by hopeful

[NenadM]

Pressure of work continues ...and continues ... seems not to be the regular weekend. Generaly, to be honest, this situation is not bad because at the end of June start two month period when courts do not work in Serbia, and I shall be full of work all the summer long, but .... I am also a living man with another needs and wishes except working

 

I am shamed. I stoled some time from myself ... and my Cutty start showing her elegant bow and powerfull side

 

And I am happy (even today) and can go to sleep

 

 

Edited March 19, 2014 by Nenad M

[popeye the sailor]

cheer up....you'll get there

[klimi]

Hello NenandM, I think that in your situation don´t care, if you have such free time to work, because I like your technique and good step one by one good fugured out.

 

Pavel

Edited June 21, 2013 by klimi

[NenadM]

Thx for support. I hope tomorrow evening to finish right side planking

Edited October 10, 2013 by Nenad M