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rwiederrich

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Everything posted by rwiederrich

  1. Thanks Michael....I've spent years developing the right (from my point of view) look using paper. They still have a natural translucency, but are not unduly wrinkled or opaque. Plus they are easily and quickly made, with very little fuss. I back lit them to demonstrate the natural look of them. Rob
  2. Then when everything was right....I removed the mast...placed the mast boot...applied the glue, placed the fife rail then glued things into place. I purposefully did not glue the fife rail down at this time in case alignment issues arose. Now, I'll wait till things are good and solid before my next step. Do I begin the mainmast...or should I finish rigging the shrouds on the foremast...while everybody is removable..so I have plenty of room? I might just do that...pull out all the other masts and focus on the shrouds and finding homes for all the line. I'll need fairleads on the shrouds anyway before any lines find belay pins. Rob
  3. Enough of the Tom foolery. I finished up all the additions I am going to do to the foremast...so it was time to step the mast in place..first a test fit.
  4. I went a bit looney and set up the main course....just for fun. This isn't the actual main course..but it is a facsimile.
  5. I then built the lower topsail. I used a cake makingers flower forming ball tool to form the leading edge of my sails. I then added the buntlines
  6. Spent a little time this evening finishing up the lower topsail lift.
  7. Michael..your work is fantastic......Love the large scale. Makes use of the mill and lathe a bit easier. Rob
  8. The downhauls are a slightly heavier line then the rest of the running rigging. As I progress down the mast, I'll slightly increase the diameter of the line as heavier members are supported. The sail rigging(Bunt, clews) will remain the same. I began making the lower topsail...it and the main course will be made together. I think I only have the lower topsail lift left..before I'm finished and I can step the mast. Rob
  9. Thanks Popey. I decided to work each mast first..then step it. First time for me as well. but it seams to be working out for me. Here are some new images...I finished up the top sheet purchases and the upper topmast downhauls. Rob
  10. Riiight...I see them now... In Some pics they are more evident. Rob
  11. Hey...Ed.. I noticed you didn't include and downhauls on the upper topsail yard. Is this an oversight or did this feature not appear on the YA...which I believe was typical for all double topsail rigged ships Rob
  12. Yeah Pat, there are generally 22~24 buntlines, 4~6 halyards, 2~4 downhauls, 4~8 reef tackle and 10~12 clew lines...and that is just for sail control. Rob(It's all an organized spider web).
  13. Thinking this through....I've decided to make both the lower topsail and the main course...but not attach them at this time. My plan is to remove the main yard so as to facilitate the addition of the main shrouds and ratlines. I would have to swing the yard out of the way and if the lower topsail's sheets are fixed...the yard will not move. So its best to just leave them both off for now and follow the assembly steps I have outlined. One problem(and it was brought up in Ed's log), is that of arm fatigue when rigging the top yards(and sails in my instance). If memory serves me, I recall it was an issue with my last clipper. With fatigue comes mistakes and even damage. By following my method I believe I will keep most of the complex rigging down low and near the deck where I can rest my arms/hands on nearby bench work or sturdy fixtures. I will have to identify the location of belaying pins and drill all the holes for them in the weatherdeck rail before I step any masts. Which brings me to that very subject. Since the GR had no bulwarks nearly all of her sail and yard control rigging had to be belayed at the rail after it was purchased by one of six crab winches. I think I might employ 3 of these winches to purchase the main braces. A process not typically modeled on the average clipper. Thank you for the fine compliment and encouragement.. and thank you everyone for your likes. Rob
  14. I finished up the buntlines....later I'll address the upper topsails downhauls that afix to the yard band eye bolts. Some fine adjustments till I begin making the lower topsail. I think it is coming along nicely. Rob(thanks for all the likes)
  15. Magnificent Ed...just wonderful work. I too have been tackling the small extremely numerous lines of the upper most yards on my GR build. Your work inspires. Rob
  16. A few more. I still have the buntlines to finish installing and their blocks and tighten up the reef tackle. Rob
  17. Next I spent some time making the upper topsail. Cutting, banding and painting...and adding the reef points.
  18. Thank you Ron..very much...I'll look into it. Spent some time working on the GR made and installed the upper topsail..but first I had to finish the topgallant sheet downhauls.....here are a few images.
  19. This is the kind of information I'm talking about. Hints, techniques, and processes. I will get my hands on one...thanks. Rob
  20. Thanks everyone....over the years I've developed my technique...but it is always nice to couple that base knowledge with what others have created for themselves. I am always trying to improve or at least incorporate new techniques into my own. No one is an island...and this subject is evidence to that meme. Rob
  21. No...I'm saying she would not have set stuns'ls for the passage. She possessed 100 able seamen and 30 boys. Her massive yards and sails are why she had double winches for each mast and her patent steam engine to do all the heavy lifting. I can't imagine the weight of those massive yards and the sails that draped from them...and when they got wet....Ohhh boy. She must have been a sight. Rob
  22. Thank you very much Ron....your sails are impressive. The only real issue I am working out is the geometry of the clew and the sheet in relations to the lower sheave. The actual force of the wind full sail would cause the sheet and the angle of the clew to aim directly at the sheet sheave/block. With heavy pre-formed sails this angle is compromised. I am working on a solution. I would like to get the newsletter. Your technique's are worth knowing. Rob
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