ClipperFan
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Arina, TheAuthorsDaughter I personally want to express my most profound gratitude to you, for your interest in Rob Wiederrich's progress on his Glory of the Seas builds and especially your proactive step of arranging for him and your dad to get together. It's no exaggeration to say that it was the turning point in our project. While we would have proceeded apace anyways, I have no doubt the accuracy of our builds would be nowhere near as refined as they are today due to the immeasurable contributions of your dad's historic insights and irreplaceable contemporary photos. If you had told me on June 1st, 2009 a date which was my 24th Anniversary, that one day I would be regularly collaborating with the inspired author on two books about McKay's last Clipper, you could have pinched me because I would have sworn I was just dreaming. I remember that exact day because that's when I first decided to tackle revising Glory's hull to reflect the impressive Samuel Walters' painting which your dad wisely chose to debut on the dust cover of his first book. My wife Peggy and I were spending our first romantic overnight at The Stonington Inn and there were lovely nautical scenes everywhere. Sitting by the crackling fireplace, the mood was just relaxing enough that the idea of correcting the sail plan just felt right. Thirteen years later and here we are. While I haven't heard anything yet from the editor of the Nautical Research Journal, I did my part by submitting a thorough summary of our group's continuing journey in time to meet their deadline. Should that manuscript be published and well received, my intention is to do a follow up article on the masting and rigging of Rob's and hopefully by then Vlad's model. Besides that, Rob and I are in the rudimentary planning stages of setting up a museum display when his vessel is complete. I actually envision quite an elaborate set-up, which I've discussed with Rob. Shoot for the stars, maybe end up on the moon.... The unpublished San Francisco Waterfront manuscript sounds like a fascinating project. I know I would want to read it. Maybe it can be found and published some day. Once again, thanks for your continuing interest in Rob's build group. Best Wishes, Rich- 3,560 replies
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Rob, As Spock would say "Fascinating!"
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Rob, You need to take out the entire crew and their wives to a nice establishment and treat them all to dinner. It's a well deserved reward! Meanwhile Mike sent us a 1990 Sea Chest article with specific information regarding the fo'c'astle height. Apparently in 1911 a Marine Surveyor was hired to measure the area, to ensure the fit of a new windlass the owners were purchasing. He reported the height as 5 feet 9 inches. That definitely puts it above the original location which would only have been 5 feet even. Now, if the new windlass pillars were intended to abut the supporting beams and not the deck above, then the added height would be 7 inches, making it the height at the fancy rail itself, bringing head room up to 6 feet 6 inches. I agree with you that your overall look for Glory of the Seas now looks far more balanced. Great job!
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Druxey, Ahhy. Them sisters be the three fearful witches they are! For they be sayin' a curse, which witches be cursin' the accursed MacBeth for his deathly accursed greed and the bloody avarice of his accursed wife! Which, this bein' a Shakespearean tragedy and all, of course the curse follows through to their horrific but deserved end.... "Out, damned spot!" "double, double, toil and trouble! Fire burn and cauldron bubble!" I be carried away.... "Fairleads" it is then, matey!
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Druxey, Rob Have we settled on "fairlead" or did Druxey's damn spelczech change it from "farelead?" Nautical inquiring minds want to know. 🙂
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Rob, Just trying to get the nautical lingo correct. Is it "fairleads" or "fareleads?" Because they've been spelled both ways and I just want to get it right.
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Rob Can you correctly identify the metal inserts that accompany the chocks in the splash rail? I read earlier that you referred to those as fairleads. The metal prevents the lines from chafing on the wooden openings. I was referring to your observational skills in identifying and replicating them in your model.
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Rob, Simply beautiful rework. Fairleads you refer to are there on the ship but only if you know where to look for them. Well done!
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Vlad, I hope you don't mind a little assist. Here's your clipper Lightning pics reoriented and lightened a little. The other way was giving me a little neck strain! 😉
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Rob, Vladimir and everybody else, Mike just sent me four more pictures of Frederick Pease Harlow's beautiful models. What these images really drive home for me at least, is the order of magnitude in meticulous accuracy Rob and Vladimir's museum quality Glory of the Seas replicas represent. This is in no means intended to disparage the level of detail or obvious talent displayed by FP Harlow in the loving construction of these impressive models. I have no doubt that, if Mr. Harlow had access to the same remarkable photographic resources as have been supplied to us by Michael Mjelde who has been methodically researching Glory of the Seas since 1957, he would have produced far more faithful models to the actual vessels. If anyone wants to understand the tremendous advancement in our comprehension of McKay's final medium clipper, all they need to do is review the many images of Rob and Vladimir's models in comparison to these models of two ships constructed 80 years ago. Having laser focused specifically on the impressive hull of Glory of the Seas for over a dozen years now, I (as I'm sure Rob and Vlad would immediately agree) can spot such obvious inaccuracies in her somewhat blunt bow, bulbous stern, even her enhanced sheer as to make the Harlow model appear just rudimentary in comparison to their modern counterparts. Ironically, both Rob and I agree that FP Harlow's Glory model is the most faithful replica we've seen to date. This fuels a personal suspicion that his other model of the magnificent clipper Great Admiral is probably very similar in being a more rudimentary replica too. The last two images are of that other significant vessel which, like his Glory model, FP Harlow constructed from a cabin door salvaged from her before she was burned. Here's the description Mike gave me from his latest email: "1940. ship Great Admiral made by F.P. Harlow. The decks are of 3/16 inch planks The decks, houses, boats, spars and masts are made from a stateroom door out of the ship Glory of the Seas/. Anchors are from copper spike." "This indicates that Harlow visited the burn site and recovered at least one copper spike from the wreck but by his having one spike, it seems to indicate that he did. I don't remember, however, being told that he was present for the burning." "I also have half a dozen images of his model of Akbar." (the extreme clipper FP Harlow served on)
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Rob, I never get tired of seeing progress photos on your magnificent model. Even the number of rungs on the newly installed ladders emphasizes how high the new bulkheads actually are. It's almost a shame they have to be there, as they now block most of the lovely molding behind them. I also applaud your thoroughness in replacing all iron bitts with wooden ones. Once again, having input from Michael Mjelde, a man who through his single-minded devotion to researching clipper Glory of the Seas beginning in 1957 has given us unique insights into her historical accuracy. After all, nothing beats first hand accounts of men who actually served on these wondrous vessels. It's yet another reason why I call Glory of the Seas the "Rosetta Stone" of Donald McKay's clippers.
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George, How does $8.37 sound? https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31077602751&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-tile1&searchurl=ds%3D10%26kn%3DAmerican%2Bbuilt%2Bclipper%2Bship%26sortby%3D17
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George, More of my spreader 2c contributions. I believe that placing chocks where the lines naturally fall makes the most logical sense. Rob's correct about his description of the proper purpose of the spreaders to alleviate stress, reinforce natural spread and prevent entanglements. That leads me to believe that pushing the lines further out would possibly increase stress beyond natural forces, and potentially weaken the upper masts. Probably the best resources would be either Bill Crothers The American Built Clipper Ship, 1850-1856 and Harold A. Underhill's Masting & Rigging: the Clipper Ship & Ocean Carrier.
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Rob, Your Glory of the Seas now looks like a far more accurate replica of the real vessel herself. The one confusing item was that troubling forward bulkhead. It's hard to underestimate the impact revising it has done to the real sense of this Ship. I congratulate you on your bold decision to remake this area. A particularly satisfying development is the new angled interior forward bulkheads, just hinted at by Mike's plan view. As I said in my email, Mike is glad that you concurred with his position that McKay clippers, from at least as far back as Flying Cloud were all equipped with wooden rectangular bitts. Mike gave additional background about the sailor posing with the port wooden rectangular bitt on Glory's f'o'cstle. His name was Frederick Pease Harlow who sailed on the Clipper Ship Akbar. I found this beautiful China Trade painting of her on-line titled "1869 Clipper Akbar off Hong Kong."
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George, Nice work on your masts. Thanks for sharing your progress photos. As for your spreader check question. I believe they're installed to position the backstays so they don't interfere with each other. If they would spread naturally, there'd be no need for the spreaders themselves.
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Wawona59 Thanks for your expression of appreciation for Rob & Vladimir's Glory of the Seas builds. Thanks for sharing the link too. It seems there's growing appreciation for McKay's last, wonderful clipper ship. Too damn bad his spectacular vessels weren't better understood for their value 100 years ago. What a pity, we might have had at least one of his magnificent ships to behold in person.
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To all Glory of the Seas build followers, A Fourth of July treat for everyone! Mike sent me some beautiful pictures of a historically important Glory of the Seas model built by Frederick Pease Harlow (sailor who served on the sailing ship Akbar a similar three masted merchant vessel) constructed primarily from a cabin door removed from the actual ship before she was tragically burned for her metal in 1923. While this impressive model is of historic value, it isn't as meticulously accurate as those being currently built by Rob and Vladimir. Her bow isn't as sleek as we've discovered, she sports dual metallic capstans on her f'o'cstle, there's no overhang on the rear coach house and the mizzen mast is way too far forward. This is not meant to disparage the creator of this lovely model who I'm sure had obvious capabilities to create an exact replica given the proper information. All in all though, of all models I've seen of Glory of the Seas, this is definitely one of the nicest I've seen. I only wish there were some overall scenes of this magnificent large model. However, it does highlight the advances in our greater comprehension of every iota of McKay's final glorious Medium Clipper. Such advances in accuracy are based in major part due to the immeasurable contribution of Michael Mjelde's incredibly sharp images, which have guided us in every step of this magnificent project. So, I sincerely hope everyone enjoys these lovely images and to all, Happy 4th of July!
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Rick, George, My apologies for confusion on who's health issues were who's. I was just trying to thank others wishing me well.
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Rob, Yes. You're right that this image alone cannot prove or disprove it came from Glory of the Seas. I only shared it to keep a promise I made to you guys to post it as soon as I received it from Mike. In my reply to his email, I asked for additional documentation, since he referred to this picture as being from 1915. He usually has additional information to support his images. While I revised my sketch to reflect Mike's update, since my deadline was coming up fast, you have no such due date. You can wait until you're fully satisfied with whatever decision you make. As I've always said, it's your model, not mine.
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Rob, You're doing an excellent job on the rebuild of the area under the f'o'cstle with impressive detail work on the bulwarks beneath. It's now far more faithful to the original now. For those who aren't familiar with the source which instigated Rob's courageous decision to completely tear down and rebuild this important section, the exact photo which provoked this action is shared here. Most of our previous focus naturally, has been on the wonderful information in the foreground. All specific details of her coach house railings with attendant turned rail stanchions beneath are clearly visible for anyone wanting to precisely replicate this area. However, once all this information is processed, look towards the very rear of the photo. Follow the large House astern of the foremast. Look at the lower port side corner of this structure. There you'll see the image of a sailor crouching on all fours attending to the ship, probably caulking. Towering behind him are the f'o'cstle walls with their distinctive vertical rectangular moldings. This tiny detail is our discovery that led to Rob's dramatic step to radically reconstruct this area. His resulting reconstruction with interior walls is now far more faithful to Glory of the Seas herself. It also consistently reinforces how roomy and spacious this vessel really was. Great work Rob! My hat's off to you for your insight to correct this area. Another controversial area of discussion has been Mike's insistence of McKay's apparent use of substantial wooden mooring bits instead of more modern typical wrought iron ones. Mike finally followed up with an email with this 1915 image of a guy standing on the f'o'cstle of a large wooden ship, which Mike said is the Glory of the Seas. Knowing Mike's penchant for confirming details, I accept his word that this picture is from the deck of Glory. In the left foreground are the large wooden mooring posts (the stern portion of the 2nd post is just barely visible in the extreme left foreground). Mike described that these peculiar mooring bits had been in use on McKay Clippers going as far back as the famous Extreme Clipper Flying Cloud. My reply email to Mike while accepting the veracity of this photo, asked for additional background information, which Mike typically has. I will follow with an update when I get his response.
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Rob, Here's another puzzle to resolve regarding cathead location relative to Glory's f'o'cstle deck. According to this very clear scene the placement of her starboard cathead is clearly positioned completely below her splash rail and apparently piercing her fancy rail below. Lifting Glory's f'o'cstle deck to the top of her fancy rail now means her catheads would be hidden or mostly buried by this new, higher deck.
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Rob, Thanks! Actually I almost missed the date. A client of mine reminded me.
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Rob, Personally, I agree with you about the well known fact that Donald McKay was an innovator and that it's obvious he spared no expense in his last masterpiece. It flies in the face that he would scrimp on funds for the use of old fashioned wooden bits as opposed to more modern wrought iron bits ones. What would explain their use is if Mr. McKay saw advantages to the use of wood over iron. As for their being 3' tall, that was simply my estimate when comparing their height to what I thought was combined height of fancy rail with splash rail. With a revision to just an 18" splash rail, that reduces their height considerably to maybe 22" as they're just a little higher than the rail. Again, as soon as Mike sends me his photographic proof, I'll immediately share it. I simply made the correction on paper since Mike was so convincing. Besides, you have your hands full with that impressive f'o'csle height revision.
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