rwiederrich

Deck is glued on, ready for the next move Rob

The next bit of fun will be some hull modifications. I need to fill in the concave portion of the hull up from the sheer line to the forecastle decking. The CS hull if far too extreme to pass off as a fuller bowed Donald McKay. So….. when the forecastle/main house decking is dry(from gluing). I will tackle the bow mods. Another reason why I removed all the head gear. Rob

Spent some time working the forward deck house and plotting out the forecastle deck and the house roof The trick was getting it around the fore mast. No problem. Just did a bit of measuring , cut out along the masts width and simply slid it in from the front and used the piece I removed and put it back. Cut right along the deck strakes……no seams across any strakes. Rob

Yep……the benefits of the Howes design. Great picture. Rob

Actually, this model was my first attempt at Glory……. but the model originally set in the water was the clipper Donald McKay I decided to remodel the Cutty Sark modified to the Glory hull into the McKay and set aside the modified McKay hull. The Glory model was further along in construction and all it needed was to be transformed into the McKay. It sounds complicated, but it’s simply modifying an already modified model………. Still lots to do…….heeheehee The scale is 1/128 Rob

We’ll Pat, my options were limited if I wanted to make it work for me. Thanks for the kudos. Im so excited to create this version of the Donald McKay. Her comparison will be hard to find. I don’t know any current models of her. Thanks for the fine compliments. Rob

I added the framing for the forecastle decking and I began more work on the main forward cabin, and off bench I’m working on the 6 capstans and deck vents. Rob

Worked a bit tonight. I finished adding the port pin rail and pins. Rob

Lastly, I began the addition of the new forecastle deck beams. They’re just test fitted for now. I removed the rest of the head gear and the old figurehead. I refashioned the McKay clan figurehead and will add it after the new forecastle deck and new hull strakes are installed. Rob

I added additional mast bands to correct a previous oversight ……as I was fixin stuff. Easy to do with less stuff in the way. Rob

Spent some time working the McKay today. I finished adding the pin rail and pins and I flipped her and added the blue waterways to her port side. Rob

Rick....it has been fun...and I haven't installed the new pin rails yet, either. I'm working one side at a time currently...before I install the forward forecastle bulkhead and the forecastle decking. The real trick will come when I then install the decking over the forward cabin and the poop deck aft...... Both need to be split and cut away to pass around the masts...then reassembled. I've chosen to stain the decks a grey...because the McKay was built for the Australian passenger trade, where she saw lower latitudes where her decks would become greyed by the boiling sun and airy weather...not to mention the hundreds of passengers traversing her decks. Rob

There is another on the starboard side too..... Thanks Javelin. As it is my habit.....I like to display my models in unique ways. Rob

Drux....I expect nothing less then the highest forms of criticism, sarcasm, tomfoolery, blovinating, and every other form of flattery, while I run amok. It is a right, one must endure while passing through these waters. Rob (aka...Runamoker)

I’m reworking her forecastle. She was fuller forward then extreme clippers. Cutting the pattern and resting it, taking measurements. Lots of reworking. Im going to be removing and replacing all the head gear as well…….. The new decking will be a dark grey… weathered like the main deck at her waist. Rob

Several accounts claim she had Forbes rig, and others claim she had Howes. Anyway… I’m not changing the rig. I worked on several things today. I had to add the blue waterway that was missing I began the forward cabin and the new forecastle. Here are some pics.

Yep, six of -em. Yes, again......the helm was in the helm house aft. She had 5 main deck sky lights...and (not depicted)...she also had flush deck plate glass skylights...all along her deck...both on the port and starboard(Along the gunwales'). One, item I'm wrestling with, is that Crothers does not indicate the large aft cabin on the full poop deck...that the mizzen mast runs through(Like Glory of the Seas)....with skylights on its roof. I agree with most of Crothers interpretation, but, written first hand accounts vary slightly...especially when describing the waist house abaft of the main mast as a full house extending off the flush poop deck....and the catwalk extends to the main cabin/forecastle from that. I'm doing more research and triple checking....but I think my version may vary from Crothers(we'll see) He's rarely wrong.... She had similar structures as Lightning....so I am gleaning from her structures to aid me. Rob

Here is the deck plan of the Donald McKay. From Crothers. Rob

Sorry for the lack of work , but I’m on holiday in Las Vegas and Arizona this week. I’ll begin posting next Monday. Thanks everyone Rob

Yeah …… that’s like pouring the foundation after the house is built. Wait…….I’ve actually done that to an old house my brother in law owned. I’ve redrawn the deck plan based on this new data and it will be fun to construct. This clipper was designed and built for passenger service, so she will have lots of conveniences. Plus, she had 6 boats. Rob

Oh boy...research reveals a load of info, if you're willing to dig for it. My current front carriage house mod...is not correct at all....even though Crothers deck drawing shows the poop extended...or what is called a *full* poop deck. Information derived from an article found in the *Boston Daily Atlas*...claims there is a cabin forward of the poop deck that runs forward toward the main mast, and is in close proximity to it. This means the poop deck is flush with the roof of that aft cabin. Permitting side decking of the waist main deck to be available for working the mast and pumps. There is an additional house that rests on the flush poop deck that the mizzen mast runs through,(similar to Glory), and there is an additional house for the helm. Like the Lightning before her....McKay utilizes extensive flush deck plate glass skylights to illuminate the waist deck state rooms. McKay also uses extensive *box* type ventilators to bring fresh air into the cabins.....very similar to those on the Lightning. This flush poop deck runs forward over the aft cabin.....along a catwalk(past the main mast) that meets flush with the main cabin deck that is flush with the forecastle deck. This, (Like the Lightning) permitted crewmen to easily access stem to stern without having to descend into the waist. With all this new knowledge, I have to make mods to my mods. The rail on the flush poop deck will be turned posts as will be the poop cabin roof.....however, the rail that extends along the catwalk forward to the main cabin and onto the forecastle will be iron stanchions and rail. Rob

Here are some of Mike and I checking out his drawing he made in 1963. And a copy of his latest books dust cover from the publisher. Rob

A couple more images of me, Mike and Glory Rob

Surprise….possibly so, but, I’ve waited many years to finally get to finishing up my Donald McKay open water build. Getting back to her is exciting. She was the second largest clipper ever made, and she will make a great addition to my McKay clipper collection. Rob

I guess I don’t. I wanted to make things as clean as possible. I hate fixin stuff that gets broke. I’ll get all the deck supports laid across the old deck from fantail to cabin forward. Here is a before and after. Rob