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rwiederrich

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  1. rwiederrich
    Fantastic....!
  2. rwiederrich
    Thanks......I will probably be building several copies of the Western Shore...one by way of using a heavily modified hull of an existing CS hull and then later after I am given permission from the owner of the plans...a plank on bulkhead version. As some may know from previous builds of mine..I like to use inexpensive 1/96 polystyrene hulls and then modify them as much as possible to the correct dimensions. Saves time. This will be tricky.....however, since only carpenter drawings are all that remain of her hull. Her deck fixtures and fittings are not unlike that of the McKay, Glory of the Seas, and her forecastle is not unlike that of the Flying fish. Asa Simpsen simply went aboard vessels at anchor and took measurements and ideas, from what I gather. Rob
  3. rwiederrich
    Yes...I considered a larger scale...but I do need to stay within some limits. I still have to build the Sea Witch....and the Great Republic...... 6 clippers. Rob
  4. rwiederrich
    Further study reveals that the Western Shore had a simple(whaler) tiller style steering gear...unlike the mechanical designs of clippers a decade earlier and since. Here are some examples of the wheel and tiller rigging the Western Shore emulated. Asa Simpson wanted his ships as modern as possible..but sturdy and sometimes the simpler the design the better. He never insured his vessels since he owned and operated them for his own particulars.....and when they wrecked that was it. Rob
  5. rwiederrich
    Yes, and I just ordered 5 books this last week....... Rob
  6. rwiederrich
    Thanks for responding.....I'm looking forward to your technique when you come to making the lower masts. By the way.....most outstanding Log....I will be getting the book too when it is finally in print
  7. rwiederrich
    Some art work of the Western Shore.
  8. rwiederrich
    It's funny, but as I go through my notes on the Western Shore...a Particular incident comes to mind and was possibly a good reason why Asa Simpson built the Shore. In a newspaper interview Asa gives a detailed account of ‘why’ he built the ‘shore’ and it all centered around an east coast Captain leaning over the handrail of his ‘clipper’ ship (could have been a Mckay or Webb ship?) shouting to one of Asa’s captains in command of one of their Barkentines, “nice yacht”!That friendly insult along with what must have been constant chiding at their many dinner parties, inspired Asa to ‘prove’ his west coast yards could indeed built a true clipper ship (there’s a whole bunch more to the east coast skepticism, a whole bunch of which centers around using Oregon Cedars and Fir, rather then east coast hardwoods to build premium ships). Great American know-how and a streak of competitiveness.... Great story. The discovery of this vessel and its record breaking runs...will forever change the history books according to clipper design and history. Rob
  9. rwiederrich
    Ed..not sure you mentioned this earlier, but did the YA have single stick masts or composite masts? From her images it appears they were not composite...but I could be wrong. Rob
  10. rwiederrich
    Sorry Steve...just got done talking to Priske and after his cross country move he will tackle his book and hopefully the plans will become available. Interesting note concerning the Western Shore...Concerning her overall look, as model shipwrights (Well anyone for that matter) need to keep in mind this ship was an aberration, being built on ways and by shipwrights who only built Schooners and Barkentines. The Simpson’s down in San Francisco designed the ship after ‘looking’ over all the clippers at anchor in the bay, and then ‘commanded’ the fellows at coos bay to built it (it was really out of their league). The ship was so large compared to all previous (and subsequent) builds, that she ‘stuck’ to the ways on launching (and needed a tug boat to yank her off the ways). She was then towed down to San Francisco without masts as the builders in coos bay were not qualified to rig a square rigger (they had never built one). Things like the ship steering gear was designed from an 1850’s whaling ship block and tackle used at the time, whereas in the 1870’s ‘all’ ships used ‘gear’ steering, and the like. One side note...her deck plan was not unlike that of Donald McKay's Glory of the Seas.....so building her will be even more so of an enjoyment. I think I will reverse engineer my first build from Steve Priske's own builds. I hope you too begin your build of her soon and maybe we can share techniques and ideas. What *connection* do you have? More then family? Rob
  11. rwiederrich
    That is correct Patrick. I would like to make her a bit larger...but space has become a premium..since I already display 3 large clipper models...not to mention the plethora of smaller scale ships. I still have the Great Republic to make in the future as well....so things are tight. Rob
  12. rwiederrich
    Among many other things..I plan on building the clipper ship Western Shore. She has a most wonderful and exciting...not to mention short history. She was the only clipper to have been built on the West coast of the US...in Coos Bay Oregon over 20 years after the last clipper was built on the East coast. She set world speed records and holds the fastest time from Portland Oregon to Liverpool England to this day of 97 days. She was involved in a high stakes bet race between the clippers, *Three Brothers, and the *British King*. they all left SanFransisco the same day and both the Three Brothers and the British King consumed over 150 days passage, while the Western Shore passed them both and moored at the Liverpool docks in 104 days. Built for Asa Simpson in Coos Bay/North Bend Yards by John Kruse...the Western Shore will be a grand addition to my Donald McKay collection. One note....the WS was sporting 6 yards per mast and the main mast yards were the same size as the fore and both main and for masts were the same height. This calculation was probably the reason she was known as the fastest clipper ever built...beating clippers easily that were 20 years her junior. A couple photos(Paintings)..were as there are no actual photographs of the ship. Steve Priske in his soon to be published book will provide the hull and line drawings. Scale will be decided at a later date...but I will probably stay close to 1/96...for special reasons.
  13. rwiederrich
    Ed...I agree with your segmentation......from Crothers description...Lady Liberty kinda straddles the demarcation line between the stem and siding(tough place to separate a woman). As you did..it looks easier to place her entirety against the hull side then against the stem....Same with the eagle. Never the less...your magicsculpt work is outstanding. Being a wax worker..I did a similar work using wax carved in place to make my carvings..then lightly covered with an epoxy glaze to seal. That way I can easily follow the hull contours. Very impressive work Ed...... Impressive. Makes the model snap alive. Rob
  14. rwiederrich
  15. rwiederrich
    No wonder the efforts were extreme to prevent hogging on these extreme clippers. There is so little for and aft material to be buoyant in the water. The ends were suspended by the amidships. Fantastic Job for sure. I'm finally getting to rigging the yards for my *Glory of the Seas*.....following your build has been nothing short of an exhilarating motivation. Rob
  16. rwiederrich
    This is my favorite build log for sure....... Rob
  17. rwiederrich
    Fun part(well there are many fun parts), but this fun part(building the great cabin and accommodations) must be real fun. A little artistic license availeth itself. I suspect the roof of the poop deck will be be the window into the gallery. Great job Ed....real artistic workmanship. Rob
  18. rwiederrich
    Thanks Keel.....I had to display it somehow. Might as well make a story out of it. Rob
  19. rwiederrich
    Thanks everyone for your likes........ Rob
  20. rwiederrich
    One image from the waterline for effect....I'm currently finishing the mizzen...then I need to add standing rigging to the yards. I'll probably add the royal sail first. I'm sorry..I didn't start this Log any sooner, but I had some downloading problems and a new job to deal with....which as you are probably aware is a lot to handle.......for some any way. I hope this far has been an encouragement for some. I feel, a dioramic story is more powerful a theme to convey emotion and involvement then a static display. That is just me......I want to entice an emotional connection......to bring the viewer.....if for a moment...closer to the adventure of what is ships and ship building...and to appreciate the powerful significance of maritime history. Thanks for viewing. Rob
  21. rwiederrich
    I have so much more to do to complete this build.......but first......I want to show some images of the yards I built for the fore mast...again weathering takes precedence (fun for me). I'm glad I only had to make these four.
  22. rwiederrich
    Lets begin rigging. Unlike the CS, the Ferreira was rigged not unlike a schooner...were wooden slats replaced ratlines on the shrouds. Working along....I finished one side at a time.
  23. rwiederrich
    The figurehead was painted ..unlike the stark white figurehead of the Cutty Sark. She was draped in a pale blue gown and was painted to look like a Portuguese princess.......probably representing a Ferreira family Matriarch. Again, using ample artistic license, I moored the Ferreira and partially slung her starboard anchor midwater.
  24. rwiederrich
    More masts and sails.
  25. rwiederrich
    Now we need some masts......being that I had to build these from scratch....I copied the fore mast from a previous CS model I completed and fashioned the main and mizzen from wood stock and material on hand. the fore mast was the original iron and the later wood replacements. I decided to partially sail rig the Ferreira with jibs loosely furled and the fore mast royal hung to dry....while the main sail is also hung to dry loosely. All sails are in severe disrepair and discolored by man made and natural stains. Here are the masts and the cargo boom mounted on the main mast.

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