Young America by EdT - FINISHED - extreme clipper 1853

[Warhonour]

Your attention to detail is amazing. As a novice builder, you inspire me to really look into the how and why of the engineering of these great ships. I truly admire your work and dedication,thank you.

[druxey]

Beautiful metalwork as always, Ed!

[wyz]

I always feel like I'm given a gift each time I read one of your posts.  Thank you Santa Tosti.

 

Tom

[archjofo]

Perfect and impressive work ! I love to see this wonderful model grow to a perfect example of  such a model of an extreme clipper and bringing it to a perfect illusion,

thank`s for that Ed  !

Edited December 17, 2016 by archjofo

[michael mott]

Always a joy to look in to the next installment Ed I am always learning new tips about the various fittings and the sequencing of construction of these elements.

 

Michael

[Capt.Bob]

Hi Ed,

There appears to be a discrepancy between the spanker mast bracket show in the third photo and the drawing.  You have added a flange on the forward face of the bracket which does not appear on the drawing.  Am I mistaken?

 

Bob

[EdT]

Thank you, everyone for the comments and likes.  As always, I am most appreciative.

 

Bob, as always, you are correct.  I am very surprised that this is the first discrepancy to be noticed in drawings that often appear in the pictures.  Perhaps its a bad habit to work atop preliminary drawings, or any drawings for that matter, but these sheets are so expendable that I often work with them on the bench.  I might also add that I almost always work from unfinished versions of these.  I am probably up to more than a dozen revisions - at least - to the mast detail drawings.  The missing detail was added to the mizzen dwg after the photo - and the work.  If you look at the first picture in the last post you will see that the stool is missing.  There's no rigid sequence in this shipyard - especially when the construction is hard on the heels of the drafting - like now.  I appreciate your keeping an eye on me.

 

The fore top is just about complete.  I expect a couple posts on it before Christmas.

 

Cheers,

 

Ed

[EdT]

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 190 – Framing the Fore Top

 

It was nice to get back to some pure – well almost pure – woodworking on the tops.  There will be ironwork involved, but not in this post.  The first picture shows the first step, pinning the 9" x 9" crosstrees to the drawing.

 

 

Pins were placed in holes that are centered on the slots that will pass the deadeye straps for the topmast shrouds.  They are conveniently located to index the pieces.  In the next picture the 9" x 18" trestletrees have been mortised and fitted.

 

 

The port trestletree is being glued, held down by pin clamps.  The next picture shows the basic framework positioned on the hounds.

 

 

The spacing of the members provides just sufficient clearance to go over the masthead bands.  The top framing is temporarily wedged forward of the mast to check and adjust the level on the top face of the hounds.  The top is aft-heavy.  The next picture shows the rim being formed.

 

 

This was made in a two piece laminate to facilitate bending and minimize spring-back after the two dried pieces were glued.  The rim is shown on the drawing in the next picture.

 

 

The lap joints in the trees have been cut in this picture.  In the next picture the laps have been cut in the rim.

 

 

Indexing holes were drilled in the rim before the joinery was done.  Finally, the assembled framing.

 

 

Next, planking and triming out the top.

 

Ed

 

[druxey]

Beautifully done, Ed! The half-laps in particular are excellent.

[albert]

Very beautiful work Ed.

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Brilliant

[rwiederrich]

Wonderfully constructed Ed.  I too had noticed some minor discrepancies with the final product and the drawings...but assumed what you had described.  so much more goes into construction beyond what version of the drawing you are working to.  My drawings have several inaccuracies...I have to work over.  Besides......some these drawings are nearly only suggestive of what was typical...not what was actual.  Leaving much builders artistic license, for sure.

 

Crothers in his masting book mentions that mast builders of the time left limited documents for us to study over and the specific mast design used on our favorite clipper may not even be available.  Love the work....you're doing magnificent.

 

Rob 

[allanyed]

Hi Ed

 

Did you make the lap, then pre-assemble, then drill the holes so they are perfectly aligned.   I see the cut in the top of both the rim and the cross trees.  May I assume the rim is upside down for the photo?  

 

Thanks once more for sharing.  Gorgeous stuff!

 

Allan

[EdT]

Again, thank you everyone.

 

Rob, its really not so much a question of inaccuracy as it is of drawing status, especially when the model work is catching up with the drawing availability as it is right now.  "Approved for Construction" drawings go through several phases from initial sketches to final as-built.  For example, on the mast drawings, when the final shape of the mast was "approved"  the drawing went into the shop for that work only, while drafting continued on the next phases - banding, hounds and bibbs, top structure, top details and rigging conections - with each going into the shop when ready for the particular work.  Construction sometimes initiates revisions.  If so, these get put on the drawing until the final complete "as-built" and checked revision is ready for the book.  Some, usually minor, errors will escape in the 100's of drawings.

 

As to what is known about mast and spar making on American 1850's merchant craft, it is true, as Crothers states in his book, that specific documentation is on American practice is scarce - and I am taking his word for it rather than retrace his exhaustive research steps.  However, there is little to indicate that basic American practice differed from British practice - pre-Steel through the 19th Century - until steel began to replace wood.  So, much of what is needed for modeling is well-founded and available.  I have Webb's original spar plan and a list published independently at the time that agrees with the plan.  Crothers relied on various sources for geometry - all in basic agreement - from Steel through Fincham's 1843 work.  The data is there, but wading through it takes time.  I spent an entire day last week confirming the way caps were made and fitted, and by the way, proving to myself that Crothers cap drawings were, in fact, quite correct.

 

One must also remember, that on these world-circling ships, spars were lost and replaced at ports and shipyard everywhere.

 

Hello, Allan.  Yes, the rim in the photo is upside down.  I started by laying out the holes on each initially oversized xtree by taking off the hole spacing on each xtree with dividers and transferring it to the centerline of each xtree timber.  The shape of the curved rim was transferred to the xtree assembly from the template.  The half-laps in the xtrees were then cut and the ends roughly trimmed.  The curved rim was fitted to the laps and through-drilled from the holes in the xtrees.  Half-laps were then cut in the rim.  Pins were used to align the pieces for gluing.  The process was made easy by using a laminated rim.  After drying the pieces against the template after boiling, they were glued using the template.  There was virtually zero springback as may be seen in the photo.

 

Cheers, everyone.  I will try to put out the second post on the tops this week.

 

Ed

[rwiederrich]

Ed..wonderful remark.  I appreciate the clarity and specificity.  I was wondering how you came about Webb's original spar plan for the YA?  I wasn't sure that Webb designed and installed his own spars as well.  Many builders simply contracted that aspect out based upon their requirements for their ships performance design.

 

I've had a bear recovering such information for some of my McKay builds.  It's as if all that information is now lost to time.  Apart from the generic.

 

Like you, I rely heavily upon Crothers research and deductive conclusions.

 

Again...thanks for all your time in responding.

 

Rob

[EdT]

Rob,  

 

Webb's papers are pretty extensive, usually with offsets, lines, sail plans and his notes.  I thought McKay's information was published in the 1880's.  I would check the bibliography in Crothers, American Built Clipper Ship.  I believe it is referenced there.  I have very limited info on McKay's ships.

 

Crothers book on mastmaking includes spar plans, #1 and #2 for Great Republic - as built and as rebuilt after the fire.

 

Ed

[rwiederrich]

Yes Crothers book does and that is one of my major sources indeed.

I will check again on McKay's bio information presented by Crothers.

 

Thanks.

 

Rob

[EdT]

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 191 – Decking the Fore Top

 

Just when I was having fun with wood, more ironwork was needed.  The first picture shows the addition of iron reinforcing for the rim in the area where the topmast shrouds will be positioned.

 

 

The iron in this case is .010" copper, snipped to the shape of the top, glued on with CA.  It was then trimmed to shape and polished, at least on the port side in the picture.

 

The next picture shows the frame temporarily wedged on to the hounds.

 

 

The iron rim caps have been drilled through the index points.  The wooden rim cap that will cover the plank ends is being glued on in this picture.  In the next picture, planking of the top is proceeding.

 

 

Planks are 6" x 2 ½" thick.  The 9" fairlead planks have been drilled and are being installed.  The next picture shows the top with all planking installed.

 

 

The holes in the rim have been converted to slots that will pass the deadeye straps.  Also, the two iron fid plates on which the topmast fid will rest have been installed.  Work on the fore mast cap has begun and is shown in the picture.

 

The next picture shows the top again placed on the hounds.

 

 

In the next picture the top has been trimmed out and the ironwork blackened. 

 

 

There are six eyebolts under the forward rim for the fore course bunt and leech lines.  The two on the top of the rim will be hooked to the tackles of the upper topsail sheets.  An interesting location for these.  Belaying points for the added upper topsails may have been difficult to find on the crowded deck rails.  The next picture shows the aft side.

 

 

The eyebolt just aft of the mast will secure the main topgallant stay.  There should be just sufficient space between this and the mast for the shroud collars.  The shackled eyebolt on the aft crosstree will anchor the standing lift on the spencer gaff.  There may need to be a bracket added forward of the topmast to secure an iron stay for the lower topsail yard that will be fixed at the cap.

 

Last post before the holidays.  All the best to everyone in this special season.

 

Ed

[Mahuna]

Great work, Ed.  The complexity of the mast top gives a great preview to the amount of rigging ahead of you - that will be a major project in itself!

 

One question - how did you convert the holes in the rim to slots?  Did you use a small round file?

 

Best wishes for the holidays.

[cog]

Lovely work as you seem always to present, Ed. A pitty, though, that much of the brass and copper so often is hidden under the blackening ... (sounds like a fantasy curse)

Edited December 21, 2016 by cog

[rwiederrich]

I, unlike yourself Ed, will have a fantastic example to follow......thanks.

 

Rob(Beautiful as usual)

[Amalio]

Very nice work.

[druxey]

Thanks for all the pleasant moments you've given me this year each time you've posted progress, Ed. The latest on the top is great: I had no idea that there were so many fairleads through one of these. Lovely, simply lovely work.

[michael mott]

Ed the work you are doing is not so much a piece of work, it is more a piece of fine art, beautifully executed.

 

Enjoy your rest, I look forward to the rest of the journey in the new year.

 

Michael

[EdT]

Thank you, again, everyone.  The generosity of the holiday season has definitely found its way into your comments and I am very grateful.

 

Frank, the holes for the deadeye straps are very small, too small for my smallest file.  To turn these into slots I used a jeweler's saw blade, being careful to cut on the down stroke only, so as not to peel off the CA-held copper.

 

Druxey, thank you for your most kind and encouraging words.  Your thanks gives me an opportunity to return the favor to thank you for your regular attention to so many postings on this site, for your generous and expert advice, and of course for the books that have changed the craft.  I'm sure I speak for many.

 

Regarding the fairleads, these ships carried a lot of sails and therefore a lot of lines.  I might add that there are three fairleads on almost every lower shroud as well.

 

Thank you, Micheal.  I am a great admirer of your work.  I must say that there is not much rest these days, only slowed progress as I try to make sense of 500-600 rigging lines and their effect on the current work.  A major time sink.  Spent all day yesterday reading patents, studying my two favorite photos and finally deciding how to support the lower topsail yards that dangle from iron brackets on the mast caps.

 

Again, Seasons Greetings to all.

 

Ed

[rwiederrich]

Ed

 

I appreciate your attentiveness toward the details that are missed by even the most discriminating viewer.

 

Plus, I believe the scale you selected lends itself to such details  I could only hope that if I were able to mimic simply half the detail you have addressed with your YA build...I feel I would have built a quality scale model myself. 

 

Visiting the Maritime museum in Virginia..it was evident the best detail was captured in enormous models over 6~10ft long.

 

You have been an inspiration.

 

Merry Christmas.

 

Rob 

Edited December 23, 2016 by rwiederrich

[Landlocked123]

Hi Ed,

 

I wish you and your family a VERY, VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS

Edited December 23, 2016 by Landlocked123

[EdT]

Thanks, everyone for the comments and likes.  Thank you, John, for the Christmas greetings and your kind words.  We had a great Christmas - very busy and exhausting, but peace has begun to settle back in.  I am very glad to hear the YA posts have been useful to you.  

 

Ed

[EdT]

Young America - extreme clipper 1853
Part 192 – More on Tops

 

The holiday season is a time for reflection and I have been thinking about the work ahead on YA in the New Year and beyond.  One of the approaching tasks is to finish the dust case that was started in an earlier post.  This project always gets me thinking about the size of the model.  The first photo, showing the drawing of the enormous fore yard attached to the mast, is not nearly as scary as it is in real life, but gives some appreciation of the final model size.

 

 

The yard is 82' long (~14" actual), just 7' shorter than the entire lower mast from step to cap – and without studding sail booms.  Even with all my familiarity with the drafting, it was somewhat shocking. 

 

The height of the model is another issue.  The next picture was taken using a Christmas gift – a new tripod that can crank up to 7' in height.

 

 

This will be needed for the rigging photos.  A leg of the old tripod may be seen in the picture.  So much for reflections on model size.

 

Some questions arose on the fabrication of the tops after the last post.  The steps are many, so I will refrain from describing everything here, except to answer some questions.  In the first picture the distance between index holes is being measured so the crosstree can be drilled to match the index holes on the drawing.

 

 

The aft tree has already been drilled and pinned in place on the drawing.  With the crosstrees in place the trestletrees were marked and the mortises cut, one at a time.  In the next picture the forward tree has been removed to check the first mortises.

 

 

After the structure was assembled, the bending pattern used for the rim, was used to mark the inner line of the rim on the structure.

 

 

In the next picture the half-laps on the cross and trestle trees have been cut, the structure has been located using pins, the rim has been pinned in place, and a chisel is being used to mark the lines of the mortises to be cut in the rim.

 

 

After fitting the joints, the rim was glued to the trees and all the excess ends were trimmed back.  The iron rim plates were then attached as described earlier.

 

There was a question on the slotting of the rim to fit the deadeye straps.  The next picture shows this being done using a jewelers saw.

 

 

The holes are too small to be filed.  The saw works well.  It does take some contortions to fit the saw to the threaded blade and to reverse it so the cut is always downward on the plate.  This keeps it from peeling off.

 

There is a cap over the forward part of the rim, covering the plank ends and also the joint at the forward end of the trestletrees.  This was cut from a single piece of wood and is shown in the next picture being finish sanded.

 

 

In this picture some planking has been installed.  These were installed over the lubbers hole to ensure a straight line once the lubber hole sections were cut out.  The next picture shows the three tops planked.

 

 

The holes in the fairlead planks were drilled using the x-y table on the mill to set the spacing.   I spent quite a lot of time this week making sure there were sufficient holes in each top.  This required reviewing the entire running rigging list of roughly 400 lines.  Each hole is allocated to a specific line – generally buntlines, leech lines, clue lines, upper sail sheets and some jib lines.  Six yards on each mast add up.  The line numbers for the mizzen top may be seen in the lower right of the photo.  As a result of the review, I added holes at the forward end of each top.  The fore and main tops now have 40 holes each and the mizzen 34.  There are just a few spare open holes, none in the mizzen top.  I mention this because rigging design and checking is consuming a lot of my time, so the modeling progress these days is slow.

 

The drawing in the last picture shows additional features added to the cap, in this case the mizzen cap.  Drawing discrepancies in the pictures, actually revisions were mentioned earlier.  Note that blocks are shown on the cap.  These are shackled to the cross iron on the cap, so to avoid having to strap the blocks later to the soldered shackles on the installed cap, this will be done before fitting the iron to the cap – a complication in using soldered shackles that requires more rigging checks early in the work – in this case checks of the entire standing and running list.  All of this is a great mental exercise.

 

Happy New Year everyone.

 

Ed

 

[Jeronimo]

Hi Ed.

Happy New Year everyone.

Karl