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rwiederrich

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Everything posted by rwiederrich

  1. rwiederrich
    Thanks so very much Pat....I don't mean to sound self serving, but the majority of the fine detailed models presented these days are men of war...with all their armament details gloriously presented and all decked out in ornamental pageantry. A modelers delight....not to mention that of the viewer. EdT's exquisite example of construction elevated the interest of the commercial carrier. The clipper was the pinnacle of architectural design focusing on speed and robustness. Their rigging alone far surpassed what was commonly accepted...for part of that architectural design was in the harmony of her hull with the enormous amount of canvas that was being required to make the entire extreme concept a reality. Representatives such as Ed and myself(I can't speak for him, for clippers are all I build), have a great platform to exhibit the wonderfulness of clipper extremes. Rigging is probably the one best example most will defer to when describing the clipper, and EdT's example did not disappoint. So much so, that I myself am trying to depict such detail in my own example here with the Great Republic....which I feel is the most extreme example ever constructed. Well....I do hope to *stretch* out the last bit, by continually adding more detail as I focus on what is still required for completion. We still have a lot to do and when we finally round that corner and place her on her shelf....the boys and I will open up the saw pits, stoke the donkeys and turn our attention to the Glory of the Seas.....at least 2 more clippers will be finished here...Glory of the Seas and the Donald McKay. The way I see it, a clipper ship log will be here for some time to come. Rob
  2. rwiederrich
    Yeah....I had to scratch build the *McKay clan Highlander* for my scratch clipper Donald McKay. It was less then 3/4" Fun stuff for sure
  3. rwiederrich
    Mr Bluejacket......wonderful updates....I love the deck plan of the Red Jacket...with that massive aft cabin . You're doing a great job..she is looking so smart and clean. I love clippers, and yours is coming along so very nicely. Rob
  4. rwiederrich
    It's all subjective at this point...I think. In the big picture, I have about 10% left to complete....currently...I still have all the mizzen backstays and top stays(and their sails), lower topsail and crossjack sail... Oh and don't forget, all the braces... Not even any spanker mast work...which will include its shrouds, stays, backstays and 2 sails. Yeah... I'm right at the finish line...which will probably take 6 months to cross....if the creek don't rise. If I finish her up soon...there will be no clipper ships represented here on these pages...now that EdT's Young America has slid down her ways...…. Rob(That would be a bad thing)
  5. rwiederrich
    Thanks Grandpa..... As I proceed, I am always adding new details unrelated to the task at hand.... As I progress...I'm always finding something that needs to be added before something else...just to keep it easy.... Rob
  6. rwiederrich
    I also managed to make a short dozen of cleats for the braces to belay to...they're all about the parameter of the rail. Tiny little monsters. Rob
  7. rwiederrich
    I also finished up the starboard fairleads fixed to the shrouds....I'll work on the port side later this week.
  8. rwiederrich
    In this image if you look closely..identify the last lift on the port side...just inside the backstays.....you can follow it up a bit....THAT is the new line. Rob
  9. rwiederrich
    I ran the first of many lines..the royal lift and its purchase......even I have to study it for while to notice the extremely slight difference. Color is a good match. I finished up the port stunsail booms....I have several pics of that. Rob
  10. rwiederrich
    Went shopping for more rigging line and honestly...I've never been a real stickler for rope that followed a prototype of actual rope. My scale has always allowed me the freedom to use whatever color/style of rigging thread/string I had on hand or purchased for the modeling project. If I modeled in any scale larger I would be more discriminating. Concerning my GR build...I have been using out of stock spools of .005 cotton tan thread as the running lines for most of the standard control lines. However, I am running extremely low and so I went shopping and found several cotton threads to match.....the issue is, I cannot find the exact size as the original line (I acquired from several old late1950's productions of the Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark and Constitution and Marx's Sea Which kits). These older threads were very nice and fuzz free...non shimmering, stable products...and they have served me well for nearly 50 years. Anyway...the thread I ended up getting is near identical in shade, but is .004. I am hoping to mix this new thread into the build along with the remaining thread of the original stock. Most ships ran many sizes of line for the many needs on the ship....and since I am getting close to the end and the spanker mast is the last to install...things might work out well and the difference may not be noticed. When I begin-again the rigging of Gory of the Seas(after the GR)..I will use the new thread entirely. Rob
  11. rwiederrich
    Wonderful accurate metal and soldering work... Rob
  12. rwiederrich
    Thanks Pat...I still have some tenderness in the arm... but It's fully functional....thank the Lord. I was going mad... being so debilitated. Yes...I am vary pleased with the progress, I've been making, and am excited for the next phase...which is the mizzen stays and their sails. (I'll add the port stunsail booms in there somewhere). Finishing up the fore braces, only draws me closer to the overall finish line...and compartmentalizes the build...which I have been doing to make it feel as if it's going by faster.(It's all psychological anyway). Again, thanks for your fine comments. Rob
  13. rwiederrich
    I made some stunsail booms for the main starboard side. Rob
  14. rwiederrich
    Just amazing metal work........ Rob
  15. rwiederrich
    And the customary overall progress image....man I've come far in several years of construction....not much long now before she will be finished. Well from a year long time line...not long means months to go....still. Thanks everyone for all the fine comments and likes....I appreciate it very much. Rob
  16. rwiederrich
    Well after some study ....I revisited my braces and I relocated the sail position and rerigged and things look much better. Yes there is some slight interference with the lower topsail brace but that is gonna have to be.....sail and line contact was not unheard of and will be my anomaly. Here are some new pics of the correction. Rob
  17. rwiederrich
    Yes..I considered that as a possible solution. However, the main courses tended to billow forward due to the lack of a lower yard to belay to with sheets...so the sail tended to fold back and protrude out in the middle. I may consider repositioning all the control lines and manipulating the sail back...but it still will be intruding into the braces path to some degree. Note the examples I'll work on it.
  18. rwiederrich
    Working my way through the maze..not to mention the interference of adding the lower topsail and main sail pennants and braces. As previously pointed out....the main sails would and are interfering with a clean run with the braces. I've done extensive study on the subject and can find no real way to avoid the issue. I am sure in real world applications the sails did in fact interfere with these ropes. It is completely unavoidable. Again, in real world scenarios, the sail would modify its position as the wind would force it, and when the sail was tacked it avoided the brace all together. It is at that exact position(where I chose to model), that the issue is evident. I suspect I will have to live with the issue, knowing it was an actual issue. Fully engaged canvas could be a real force to deal with and running rigging simply had to comply to the form or position it was forced into by the sails. However...chafing would have been an issue, I'm sure, if it was a regular prolonged occurrence. Here are some images...and I left these braces unsecure...just in case a solution presents itself at the last moment. Rob
  19. rwiederrich
    So you're saying the black caulking is black paper? Then cut strips similar to your planks and lay them between the planks...then sand it all even....that's brilliant and time consuming for sure...especially when adding end seams as well as length seams. Wonderfully done. Rob
  20. rwiederrich
    Well Dan... in this scale, tying clove hitches would have been extremely impractical as well as the door to insanity. I chose to pre-cut lengths of black string... dab a small drop of white glue on each shroud....then, with holding both ends of the black thread, I press the ratline against the glued shrouds...rolling slightly to incorporate the glue....then level and release to dry. I then cut off each remainder with a surgical scalpel and tweezer and touch up any shiny glue residue with black paint. I have an extremely gifted eye for both level and distance. Pretty easy for me....possibly not so much for others. Thanks for noticing and your fine comment. Rob
  21. rwiederrich
    I knew when I got the plans that this model needed the full Monty of sails to bring her true self alive. I had done paper sails before, never in this scale and in this number. But clippers are known for their massive amount of canvas and since she has a spanker mast(more sails), I was compelled. Thanks for the very fine comments and greetings Rob...… Maranatha.
  22. rwiederrich
    Some deck work and control work... The upper topsail braces are installed too....they are simple....not like the lower and main braces as they come along. I installed the purchases as the braces come down through the tops and run through a deck block and off to the winch. Rob
  23. rwiederrich
    Spent some time today working on the fore mast royal and topgallant braces and all the blocks and belay points.....here are some pics of the progress.
  24. rwiederrich
    Now that I am doing some braces and lots of blocks and belaying..the scale is becoming vary evident....tight, tight, tight spaces for sure. Rob
  25. rwiederrich
    Dan....thanks for the fine comments and for peaking in.....I appreciate it. Rob

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