rwiederrich

I wasn't sure if half hull models were considered a legit topic...but I'm sure many have either put their hands  or wanted too, to creating half models of their favorite ships.
 
Thanks for all the likes everyone.
 
More to follow.
 
Rob

I'm  A SHIPYARD.
 
Well I took a few images of the blocks of wood for the next 3 hulls...the Sovereign...the James Baines and the Cutty Sark.
 
Drawn on the wood in 3D...I'll go to the bandsaw and cut them out.

Searching for a good place to start this..and since I will be building wood half models of at least 8 clipper ships..this looks like the right place.
 
I have several builder half models of several clipper ships..ie...the Lightning and the Cutty Sark.
 
But my problem is, in all the clipper models I build they are all roughly the same size models..but do not represent the actual comparative size to each other.  To keep the scale issue from being clouded as folks view my collection..and from misconceptions being formed that this ship was the same size as that ship; I am embarking on a new project.
 
To scratch build from carved wood a plaque that will contain some significant clipper ships through the period from 1845 to 1869.  A representation of the evolution of the clipper design.  As far as I am aware...there is no such collectors plaque currently available...so I am taking it upon myself to design and build one myself, for my library.
 
This means I will draft and scale 8 clippers...that I feel represent significant design changes and establish a visual representation of scale between these clipper ships.
 
I'm first starting with the Rainbow..of 159 ft built in 1845.
The Sea Witch of 170 ft built in 1846.
The Cutty Sark of 212 ft built in1869.
The Flying cloud of 229 ft built in1851.
The Young America of 243 ft built in 1853.
The Sovereign of the Seas of 258 ft built in 1852.
The James Baines of 266 ft built in1854
The Great Republic of 335 ft built in 1853
 
Each one of these clippers represents different designs and sizes...just what I want to demonstrate.
The average clipper's size fell between 170 and 260 ft in length....so I selected vessels that fell within that norm.  Not to be eclipsed by the Giant of them all the Great Republic.
 
I will be carving each of the half hull models from soft pine and the scale selected for rooms sake will be 1": 35'.  So the Rainbow will be roughly 4 1/4" long and the GR 9 1/4".
 
All will be situated in row on a nicely detailed plaque of wood(Painted antique green) with gilded trim.
 
Lets get started.
 
Rob

All together

 

And the Flying Cloud

The next is the Sea Witch

Next I'll post some images of the first three hulls already cut and primed.
Here is the small Rainbow

I'm  A SHIPYARD.
 
Well I took a few images of the blocks of wood for the next 3 hulls...the Sovereign...the James Baines and the Cutty Sark.
 
Drawn on the wood in 3D...I'll go to the bandsaw and cut them out.

I still have rudders to add and painting the muntz bottoms.  The Rainbow will have a green bottom and a wide white band along the hull.
These are simply the primed wood half hulls and lots of details left to bring them up to the finish I want.
 
I still have Young America and the Great Republic to transfer to the pine blocks.
 
I use my bandsaw...and drum sander along with hand grinders to shape the hulls.
 
Rob

All together

 

And the Flying Cloud

The next is the Sea Witch

Next I'll post some images of the first three hulls already cut and primed.
Here is the small Rainbow

I'm  A SHIPYARD.
 
Well I took a few images of the blocks of wood for the next 3 hulls...the Sovereign...the James Baines and the Cutty Sark.
 
Drawn on the wood in 3D...I'll go to the bandsaw and cut them out.

Searching for a good place to start this..and since I will be building wood half models of at least 8 clipper ships..this looks like the right place.
 
I have several builder half models of several clipper ships..ie...the Lightning and the Cutty Sark.
 
But my problem is, in all the clipper models I build they are all roughly the same size models..but do not represent the actual comparative size to each other.  To keep the scale issue from being clouded as folks view my collection..and from misconceptions being formed that this ship was the same size as that ship; I am embarking on a new project.
 
To scratch build from carved wood a plaque that will contain some significant clipper ships through the period from 1845 to 1869.  A representation of the evolution of the clipper design.  As far as I am aware...there is no such collectors plaque currently available...so I am taking it upon myself to design and build one myself, for my library.
 
This means I will draft and scale 8 clippers...that I feel represent significant design changes and establish a visual representation of scale between these clipper ships.
 
I'm first starting with the Rainbow..of 159 ft built in 1845.
The Sea Witch of 170 ft built in 1846.
The Cutty Sark of 212 ft built in1869.
The Flying cloud of 229 ft built in1851.
The Young America of 243 ft built in 1853.
The Sovereign of the Seas of 258 ft built in 1852.
The James Baines of 266 ft built in1854
The Great Republic of 335 ft built in 1853
 
Each one of these clippers represents different designs and sizes...just what I want to demonstrate.
The average clipper's size fell between 170 and 260 ft in length....so I selected vessels that fell within that norm.  Not to be eclipsed by the Giant of them all the Great Republic.
 
I will be carving each of the half hull models from soft pine and the scale selected for rooms sake will be 1": 35'.  So the Rainbow will be roughly 4 1/4" long and the GR 9 1/4".
 
All will be situated in row on a nicely detailed plaque of wood(Painted antique green) with gilded trim.
 
Lets get started.
 
Rob

I read the article and the author did do some nice tricks with his approach. I did like his application of wire edging to support the natural bow and billow of the wind filled sails.  I do agree the stitching he used was slightly out of scale...but his sails were far better then any unmodified vacuum formed sails one may use....and a mile better then the bulky outta scale cloth sails some use.
 
Rob

I read the article and the author did do some nice tricks with his approach. I did like his application of wire edging to support the natural bow and billow of the wind filled sails.  I do agree the stitching he used was slightly out of scale...but his sails were far better then any unmodified vacuum formed sails one may use....and a mile better then the bulky outta scale cloth sails some use.
 
Rob

Fantastic job Ed...really.
Just to let you know..I made some of these myself..almost exactly like yourself..however I only needed one solder joint.  I compressed the tubing like you did..but I then only cut out the two corners of the compressed tube on the end and had a *T*... which I then added the bolt eye and soldered, then I made the final bottom cut and there you go.  My blocks were a bit bigger, but basically the same.  Your's  are very nice.
 
Rob

Absolutely magnificent! Just Extreme fabrication.....
 
Rob

Fantastic job Ed...really.
Just to let you know..I made some of these myself..almost exactly like yourself..however I only needed one solder joint.  I compressed the tubing like you did..but I then only cut out the two corners of the compressed tube on the end and had a *T*... which I then added the bolt eye and soldered, then I made the final bottom cut and there you go.  My blocks were a bit bigger, but basically the same.  Your's  are very nice.
 
Rob

Absolutely magnificent! Just Extreme fabrication.....
 
Rob

A couple images of the new boats and their davits.
Rob

Thanks Patrick...I really appreciate that.  I feel I spend more time in research then on the build itself.  I was prefabricating parts for the spider rings that hold belaying pins around the mast feet.
It's funny how it all comes together in a convincing manner, when it feels sometimes that I'm rushing...comparatively speaking.  Actually I like working fast......My 1/96 hybrid build of the Cutty Sark on her repair ways(getting a new rudder)...took me 3 months to build.   So in retrospect...this is one of the longest builds I've engaged in.
 
3 months to build this....

From what my study has revealed , unlike men of war, clippers were heavily spared and generally had taller masts to accommodate those spars.  Double channels simple allowed the stresses of the shrouds and backstays to disperse their loads over a greater surface.  Double channels allowed such forces to be fixed as have been mentioned earlier, over a greater area of strength on the hull...plus more points of contact for the chainplates allowed for greater retention against the pull or force applied against them.  Enormous lateral stresses were placed upon the shrouds and backstays and many captains who were bent on *DRIVING* their ships in extreme conditions, far beyond what would be expected in ordinary ships relied upon well built *STRONG* vessels to *Do the Impossible*.  these ships had to be extremely strong to endure what they were expected to do, in the hands of a driving captain.
 
Rob

Thank you....if it ain't one thing...it's six other things.
I have so many conversion models I'm working all at the same time...I feel exhausted. 
Which one to work when I have so little time to give to them ?
Glory of the Seas...needs finishing up on backstays and yards(running rigging).
Donald McKay...needs Fore and main masts and yards(Rigging).
Great Republic...needs shrouds,backstays, yards(rigging)
Ferreira...needs(running rigging)