rwiederrich
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Everything posted by rwiederrich
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This will be one of the first things I will correct. That is, replacing the stanchions with scale ones carved in the correct pattern. The poorly executed stern rail has always bothered me. So I'm going to tear it all down. I hope to get to some demo tonight. Rob
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Oh man Vlad...she is looking good. tying in those sheet to the clews can be diplomatic. You're eliminating the bunt lines all together correct? I see the stunnsail iron work, are you going to add the booms and their rigging.....or eliminate them too? This girl can get busy real quick...can't she? One thing your larger scale does provide and that is, larger rope and block details/connections. I've noticed this a while back...but I like the little trick you use to secure the running lines to their belay pins on the rail. You thread the line through the pin hole, then insert the pin. Securing snugly without making it permanent. Then when all is well glue it and make a rope coil for it. Smart idea....when you have the room to thread. Well...she's looking very fine Vlad...very fine. Rob
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Pat, that might be so...but I think my excitement exceeded theirs, if not solely for the knowledge that Mike is publishing a 4th addition to his Glory of the Seas saga. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Mike has also informed me that he would like my model to accompany him on any book signings and reviews he may be engaging in. Rob
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Just a note for folks wondering what Mike is looking at in the first pic I posted. That is my remade shadow box of a plaque Mike had originally presented to the son of a crewman who served on Glory. The original plaque spent its time on a schooner that was built by the father(crewman)(Sorry, I can't remember all their names off the top of my head). When the son....who inherited the schooner passed away.....the family went through his collection and sold or parted with much of it. Serendipitously I found the plaque(now missing its glass) for sale on Ebay. I had to have it.....and I repaired it...remounted it in a new shadow box I made for it and...now it hangs in the library. Mike hadn't seen it since, he originally presented it over 35 years ago. He was moved. Needless to say, Mike and I have a lot of conversations, and he sharing new treasures from Glory coming in the future. Rob
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Thanks Nils. Well I was going to start on the Western Shore, a clipper built in Cooz Bay Oregon, but I have yet to receive the plans from a friend, model shipwright Steve Priske. So, I decided to do a bit of extensive remodeling and convert my first attempt at Glory...into the clipper Donald McKay. The last of a group of four clippers Donald McKay built for James Baines of the Black Ball line in England. James Baines was so impressed with this latest model of McKay's and of her sheer size, (second to that of the Great Republic), that he names her after his friend and builder Donald McKay. As is my usual habit of creating unusual displays for my clippers, I will be placing her in the open sea diorama base I made for her several years ago. It too is getting an upgrade. If you pop over to my log on the subject, you can follow there. Thanks for the fine comments Nils. Rob
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Yeah....it was a real honor. He was so impressed and even commented and made a strong point to note the use of scale men on her.....he said that really helps bring her size to life. We are far from over with discussions about Glory. His new book is coming out soon and he suggested he wants to use my model during book signing and review sessions. Mike also sprung some exciting news on me too.....he is planning a fourth book. Unlike the newly published 3rd book, which is more or less a biography of the captain who sailed her for several years....but is a specific story about her last voyage that she sailed under her own power.....up the West coast from San Fran to Canada. His transcript is ready to go to review. The story behind it is fascinating. He actually was able to transcribe the entire event from 2 crewmen who actually sailed on her during that voyage...back in the 60's. Can't wait for that book. Plus Mike has many more unpublished images of Glory we have yet to see. Stuff keeps coming out of the woodwork. It was a great visit. Rob
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Pictures of Mike Mjelde and hid daughter Arina viewing Glory of the Seas. What a meeting Rob
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My biggest trepidatious move will come when I begin removing all the old deck furniture and houses. I have a general idea of what McKay's deck plan was (thanks Crothers), but no images exist...except for a few paintings and a very descriptive outline of her features written at the time of her launching and subsequent loading for her first voyage. I'll need to glean from what I know of clipper Lightning's deck plan for internal venting and lighting of her lower decks to aid me. Her forecastle and poo decks were joined by a long gangway that connected them along side her main mast. Again reflective of her sister Lightning. She also had 7ft gunwales...so I might need to add some to her monkey rail to heighten this discrepancy. I'll make more descriptions as I go along. Rob
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Now it’s time to tear the ship apart and create it into the Donald McKay. Rob
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Worked on the water base. Beefed it up and painted it leather, and I glossed the sea. No spray or foam yet. Rob
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I tend to use a clear varnish for the larger portions of water to enhance the reflectivity.....and a mat finish for the white water spray....which tends to redirect and disperse the light coming off of it because of the multi surfaceness of *Ocean spray*. My 2 cents. Rob
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The concept may find question with the observer...and weather it holds up in general wasn't the basis of my comment. However, it was a factual determination and reasoning made by Donald McKay as to why he set all his masts vertical on his clipper ship Donald McKay. He actively sought improvements wherever he could....I'm sure this one was not made recklessly or without evidence based reasoning. I could be mistaken, but I thought the subject was referring to a square sailed vessel. Sorry if I missed something. Rob
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One aspect few consider is the idea that the raked masts was more detrimental to the sails life. When raked, the sails chafed against the mast and rigging. One particular reason why Donald McKay fashioned his namesake clipper Donald McKay with true vertical, non raked masts. His clippers generally had .05~1.5 degree raked masts anyway. One of the many improvements he strived to make with each clipper. Rob
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Thanks Keith. After base mods and painting leather brown....I will be applying high gloss to the waves and hull....and when I finally rest the hull in place...I will then add the foam and sea spray to the water. Rob
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George....so many combinations were employed on clippers. Typically when the line exited the gin block, it parted, and one side would either be fixed to the deck or chain plate, and the other ran through a double block system ending in a single to a pin. later clippers, (Like the Great Republic) used monkey winches for each mast to do the hard lifting. She even had a 5 HP steam donkey engine in the aft room of her forward cabin. Sometimes, they had several capstans along the deck to do such work. Each chain lift and tie for each yard had alternating (Port to starboard) double block to single block systems.... Depends on the year and what was typically operating at that time. Rob Earlier clippers used manpower of mechanical. Hence the invention of the Forbes and Howes double topsail and the addition of Deck winches
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I’m gonna re clad the wood with rich maple and beef up the base a bit. Not to mention I’m going to lay down another coat of high gloss on the water when I add the spray and foam. That of course will be after I remodel the deck and when the hull is ready to be glued in. Rob
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Thanks Rick. It's something a bit different. Rob
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We’ll now that GloryOf the seas is now complete I am ready to start a new on the Donald McKay. Here is my old glory of the seas mounted in the Donald McKay waterbase I am going to convert this model into the Donald McKay. First I had to make some home modifications corrections in the base to accept the glory of the seas hull. Typically the hulls were very similar above the waterline but below the waterline , quite different. I am not worried because that is completely covered by the water base. The conversation will be an extensive one, since the McKay had. Flush weather deck forward(forecastle) …..atop the main deck house and a gangway that ran down port center to the flush weather deck of the poop. All of this will need to be build and added. But first a great deal of demolition will need to take place on the old Glory of the Seas decks This model will be more to the scale of 1/128. Not sure exactly …..at the time of this writing. Here are a few starter pic to let you know what I’m starting out with Rob
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This is the main reason why the Forbes design and subsequently, the Howes design came into being. Being the easiest of the two designs...Howes, became the norm. Still....I think the model makers, made a slight mistake when they chose the iron truss for the single topsail. It is appropriate for the main course....because it is slung away from the mast...but the topsail as well as every other yard used a wooden parrel or mast boot...where the chain hoist was affixed. Placing it close to the mast and causing less stress and friction as it travel up/down the mast. Agreed...the double chain tackle for the hoist seamed necessary....but it became a far less cumbersome design when double topsails were introduced and a double block purchase and deck winches were introduced as well. Rob
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Super work George. She looks clean and well done. From your close-up angle...it is clearly visible and understood why McKay transitioned to the Howes double topsail design...over this single topsail design. One major drawback to this design is the pinching that was very evident within the parrel band. When the gin block is mounted on the top of the yard and the lift is activated...it unduly pinches the parrel band against the topsail mast...when attempting to raise the yard . Personally, I think the a truss is less effective then a wooden parrel..where the gin block could be mounted further back to the mast, allowing a more vertical lift angle....permitting an easier, friction free lift. This is one advantage(Of many), why the Howes and Forbes double topsail design was adopted in the early 1850's. I'm sad to hear you will be taking a break on her build....but I am enjoying it so...I guess I'll have to muddle along till a new entry is made. Again....super job. Rob
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Beautiful. I have a good picture of a model of her being built....I'll find it. I have read and own the Book about her. Good read. I had a friend who actually visited her in the Falkland's before parts of her bow were excavated. Here is a picture of her wreck. Rob
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Rick...what ship is that, you posted a couple of pics with your own? You're doing a fantastic job. Rob
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Modeling Ships is sucha wonderful hobby...... You can take it as far as your heart desires...or as far as your skill permits. If the prototype has had longevity...then surely, you will be allowed the freedom to model the *Period* you so choose.....and still be accurate. Where as, if the vessel lived an unchanged or short life...you have only one chance to get it right. Anything else is just wrong. Personally, my own travels have lead me down the road of modeling vessels that are not regularly modeled. It releases me from the scrutinous eye of the *comparer*. However....this approach, requires the utmost in diligent research. You have gained a plethora of knowledge and understanding....where clippers are concerned.....I suspect what you bring to your next build will greatly enhance that outcome. Great job...and I'll continue to monitor with eagerness. Rob
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George. I hope this observation hasn't caused undue repairs. Worse thing is, you leave it and as mentioned earlier it might just *blend* in with the sheet and bunt lines. I have been doing research on McKay vessels for over 40 years and most notable on Glory of the Seas....so even the most minor of details I try not to over look...though it happens. You have done very well on this build and she is looking magnificent. I'm glad you went the extra mile to work out the *Missing* Naval Hoods...the manufacture failed to include in the kit. Rob
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The reason I brought up the whole thing is that McKay used the same rigger for nearly all of his ships and and due to mast location, rake and the angle of the stays insertion to the mast.....it simply *Looked* as if your forestay was too low and in interference with the yard. Again, Many clippers rigged their forestay over the top. British clipper's....such as the Thermopylae and Cutty Sark rigged their forestays above the top. I can name a dozen clippers rigged in like fashion. Namely my own recent clipper, Glory of the Seas was rigged this way. Sometimes painting will not reflect every detail as it was....(especially with the rigging...because it changed so often). Flying Fish was built 18 years earlier then Glory of the Seas...and it is quite possible her forestay was rigged under the tops in her lubbers hole....but given the fact your stay appears it will impede the yard, and supposing this is a relatively accurate production model of the *Fish*....... and knowing McKay's habits. I came to an educated conclusion and made the suggestion. Here are some examples...
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