ClipperFan
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MikeR your delicate machine work is simply amazing! Thanks for sharing. -
Vladimir, I'm praying for your family that you have a rapid, full healthy recovery.
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Snug Harbor Johnny I think you're right that the flag is being pushed by a different wind than the sails in your beautiful Europa picture. She definitely appears to be sailing with the wind directly abaft. I know what you mean, when you discuss the incredible artisanship of modelers like Mike R with his beautiful Clipper Flying Fish. The metal crafting and wooden spar scratch building that's done so casually is just mind-bending for novices like myself. EdT has set the bar at an unbelievable level. I have to admit to having a bit of a personal bias towards the two Glory of the Seas models, since I was deeply involved in collaborative research that led to a point where Vlad was able to create hull molds. Rob Wiederrich's 1:96th scale is a beauty to behold and I personally consider her to be the most accurate replica of the ship to date. Meanwhile Vladimir's even larger 1:72nd scale continues to be rigged and is another beautiful rendition of McKay's long lost final Clipper. A Nautical Research Journal article I wrote nearly a year ago is finally going to be published in February's issue. It should include some never before seen photos, courtesy of author Micheal Mejelde who was intimately involved in Rob and Vladimir's project.
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1911 Europa: Steel Bark, 131 ft length, 24.4 ft beam, 15 ft depth of hold, 108 ft mainmast height. 1851 Flying Fish: Wooden Extreme Clipper Ship, 220 ft length, 40 ft beam, 22 ft depth of hold, 150 ft estimated mainmast height. In all fairness, this isn't an equal comparison, as the steel bark was originally constructed as a light ship while the California Clipper was a purposely built merchant vessel designed to powerfully sail through some of the toughest seas on the planet. Still, the latter vessel is referred to as a "Tall Ship" and she's a lovely ship. However, America's original, genuine "Tall Ships" truly scraped the skies and would be a wonder to behold today.
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Snug Harbor Johnny That's a beautiful photo. What would be amazing to see would be how your Flying Fish would absolutely dwarf this modern day steel tall ship Europa. I'm going to look up the specs on the two to share and idea of the comparisons. But you're right, this image proves exactly what I'm talking about. In fact, in this image, based on the direction of the flag at the mainmast she appears to be sailing upwind.
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MikeR, there's something so beautiful and elegant about an intelligently rigged sailing ship. Clipper ships especially represent the epitome of this highly technical, scientific effort to most efficiently harness the power of wind. You're doing an impressive job capturing that accurately. I'm also blown away by the precision craftsmanship of your spars. It's truly enjoyable to watch your progress!
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Hi Pat, I appreciate your encouragement.
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Druxey thanks for your encouragement. I share your hopes.
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Re TBlack When you work with consummate professionals, they recognize a true state of emergency vs just an inconvenience. I just wish it was over. Rob, thanks for the sentiment. Given current circumstances, I honestly can't conceive of how 2023 can get any worse....
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Hi Rob, Vlad, Druxey, Arina, et all, Due to experiencing a major emergency I missed the chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas. For the first time in my life, I will sctually be ringing in the New Year in a motel room. Our home has a frozen heating system due to losing power Dec 23rd. Thank God I had the foresight to rent a motel room in time. Power was restored Dec 25th but by then ice formed in one of the baseboards. Plumbers drained all water from the system, so no danger of flooding but we're still waiting for repairs to be done. Happy New Year everybody. Here's the publisher's website to order Mike's new book: www.tamupress.com
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Rob, As the man who has inspired us all to join you in your pursuit of the most accurate recapture of McKay's final Clipper, I doubt any one of us would accuse you of being hypocritical. This continues to be a collaborative journey of discovery. Who knows what future discoveries may yet undo our current understandings? Still, I am firmly convinced that you and Vlad have built two of the finest museum quality scale replicas to date, flaws and all.
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Vladimir, I'm not sure if you remember the specifics for spars, so I'm sharing the section about the bowsprit. Inner bowsprit was 24' to the inside of the cap. Outside of the cap, the jiboom was 15' and flying jibboom 16' in one spar. From other descriptions of McKay clippers, there was a 5' end beyond. That would give a total spar length of 36' beyond the cap, 24' inner bowsprit, adding in an 18" cap gives you 61'6" total. It's doubtful these rigging arrangements changed over the years of her sailing service, other than the addition of the spritsail yard. I applaud your openness to revising your anchor chains. I also firmly disagree with your self-denigration. I'm sure others, including Rob, would agree. You are a far more talented, resourceful and clever artisan than you yourself give yourself credit for.
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Vladimir, This revised scale fore deck sketch is based on Michael Mjelde's original with the slimmer profile you indicated using red lines about a year ago. You'll notice, there's no indication of chains running dangerously across the deck. Neither is there any indication of openings for such in front of the foremast. It makes far more sense for the opening to below be directly beneath the windlass. Less distance for chains to travel, greater ease of operation. As I always say. It's your model, your decision as to how you want to approach her for accuracy. However, if your goal is to be as faithful to McKay's original, both Rob and I agree your current depiction is most likely inaccurate. I hate to be a pain in the a--, but there it is....
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Vladimir, Staring down on the fore deck of your Glory of the Seas it's quite possible to believe I'm actually looking at the real ship herself. In fact, that's true for many of your close-ups as well. That's a tribute to the refined level model making you're proficient at. Masterful work sir! I have a question for the group. When I see the anchor chains running from foremast to the windlass across the deck it occurs to me this puzzling question. Wouldn't such a dangerous arrangement represent a potential fire hazard to the vessel herself? If you've ever seen a heavy wrought iron anchor let loose to free fall into the depths of the sea, it plummets at a fast pace. If those chains weren't somehow suspended above the deck and away from all wooden structures, friction would certainly ignite to wood. Does anybody know how this was handled on the real ships? Vlad, this is no critique of your work, your deck photo just brought it to my attention.
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Rob, Your really lovely shadow box treatment is proof this rare Glory of the Seas relic has most definitely found the proper home. I love the blue & gold rope treatment. All in all, very elegant. Ironically, your blue is exactly the color I had in mind for the table cover of a proposed display. It's like we're twins or at least constantly on the same creative wavelength....
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Vladimir, I read in Revell's "Cutty Sark" instruction manual that running your lines through parrafin wax will eliminate the fuzziness issue you describe. Meanwhile your larger scale version is allowing for much greater detail than smaller scales can provide. You are doing a beautiful job of rigging and it's a thrill to observe your progress.
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Rob, I was hoping you'd be the highest bidder on this exciting item. I'm glad it's going to a deserving home. Fortunately for you, I'm tight on funds right now or we might have been in a bidding war without either one of us been the wiser for it.... 🙂
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Vladimir, It's painful to read about your solder skin poisoning accident. I wish you a speedy recovery. Your miniature crane fashioning is impressive. Thanks for sharing.
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George, I'm in full agreement with my buddy Vladimir's conclusion, you're doing a top notch job on this rigging process. Results are very clean and professional. I applaud your very thorough and patient approach in this tedium inducing process.
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Vladimir, Your attention to detail is second to none. I particularly appreciate your scratch built apparently brass parrell which matches the Underhill illustration identically. The same goes for your safety line, as well as the professionally rigged stirrups, footropes, and blocks. All very impressive work.
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Vladimir, It's been a while since I've been able to visit this site. Our son was recently rear ended while sitting at a stop light. He's fine but our family car's been totaled and as usual, the other guy's insurance settlement isn't near enough to get us another comparable car. It's been a huge distraction. Anyhow, your deck work is simply amazing. It actually looks like the planks have all been caulked as well. Very impressive!
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Vladimir, I really appreciate your deck and plank laying treatise. It's another tribute to your relentless devotion to accuracy. I'm looking forward to her final appearance after everything's laid down "shipshape and Bristol fashion" with her protective varnish.
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Rob, As I first mentioned, in a tribute to McKay's long lost final Medium Clipper, I believe what would really draw viewers in would be an inspirational display with your magnificent model as the centerpiece but not the sole piece. Mike has a lifetime collection of ultra rare images. How exciting would it be to see enlargements of the most crystal clear ones? Imagine if we could display her original 14' name board. How dramatic an overall backdrop that would make? Then think if we could gather some of the finest paintings done of her as well. I believe the best displays tell a story, they pull in the viewers with a compelling narrative. We have more than enough actual artifacts, as well as the fascinating two year collaboration to ascertain the authentic appearance of Glory of the Seas which has proven to be radically different, far more advanced than the rather dumpy image of her we started out with. I will relocate my Librarian's contact info, share some of your incredible images and see if I can get her to catch fire with this compelling idea.
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GeorgeK, I applaud your concern and attention to detail. Little items like the foremast tip not being in parallel alignment with the other masts is noticeable to people who pay attention and does mar an otherwise beautifully crafted model.
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GeorgeK, Impressive rigging treatise. I appreciate your explanation of using bowsprit rigging to actually pull forward the top of the skysail foremast in order to accomodate the stress being place on it by the mainmast rigging which will be applied later on. All in all, very beautiful, clean work.
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