ClipperFan

Bob Cleek, Rob & Vladimir It took the better part of the afternoon, running and pausing the video more times than I can remember. Anyhow, here's my sketch of the name board for McKay's last Clipper "Glory of the Seas."

Rob, that explains why Glory's name boards appeared to be so well preserved. I remember reading that the "David Crockett" had her figurehead's rifle removed when out to sea and "Thermopylae" had King Leonidas's sword taken out as well. I don't recall entire Figureheads being taken down but I suppose it's possible. There's a tale of the British Clipper "Torrens" losing her lovely lady Figurehead being lost in a dramatic collision with a Steam Ship. Three years later she reappeared thousands of miles away in a rugged island near the Antarctic!

Bob Cleek, Thank you so much! It's always so thrilling to see actual items from McKay's long lost last Clipper! Seeing the genuine signboard from her, I am struck by the rough hewn simplicity and "woodeness" of her capital letters, although the "R" and "S" seem to be smoother than the "G" which looks the crudest of all. In fact, the "of the" lower case words are far more refined in appearance. Even still, it must have been quite an impression to see this in it's original gold leaf glory. Reviewing her 1869 photo, I noticed her "oak leaf" end clusters appear to have been completely gold leafed too. At launch, her Bow signboards were positioned further back, aligning with the graceful termination of the quarterdeck caprail just above.

Rob, has it already been a year? It seems like yesterday when we started. Besides, at the blistering construction pace that you usually proceed with your builds, I'd lay even money you'll be done with your "Glory of the Seas" before Keith Black even sees another Birthday!

Keith, "May you be dearly departed in Heaven with God, a half an hour before the devil knows your gone!" an old Irish joke

Keith, where you planning to go? Inquiring minds want to know!

Rob, Being familiar with the dramatic ins and outs of Hull curvature I think I get what your revision does. It's intended to allow you to put the pins in perpendicular to the hull's bulkheads regardless of the angle or curvature, right? If so, that's genious!

Well better to have a powder horn than a powder keg!

Rob, Those are really clever and beautifully made. Honestly, I have no clue how they will function, other than your detailed explanation. It will be fun learning from observation.

Rob & Vladimir, I'm in absolute agreement with both of you. Looking closely at this half Hull, you'll notice the view is just slightly from below. It's too bad the image of "Donald McKay" is so dark. Still you can see how accurately the model is to the lines plan. It does give a lovely impression of the ship. What I'm continually in awe of, is how simply beautiful these vessels were. While it's an optical illusion, it can be seen on many Down Easters and Clipper Ships of this era. My goal is to realize as accurately as possible the true form of "Glory of the Seas."

Rob, I've seen a similar slight droop in another McKay ship very recently too. She's very familiar to all of us. You can have no doubt. Both of "Glory of the Seas" Jibboom and Bowsprit are rectangular when they enter her Bow. This makes total sense too, as it prevents any possibility of either spar from rotating. McKay must have somehow considered this as a design advantage, since he went out of his way to conceal it. If you have any doubts, look at the McKay sketch of Clipper "Lightning" which mysteriously leaves the entire Bow which includes Naval Hoods and Cutwater completely blank! Donald McKay was so effective in concealing this element that it's probably the chief reason why none of the models of his Clipper Ships contain these features, even today!

Druxey, thanks for enlightening me as to the opposite phrase!

Rob, Vladimir, rom the MAAS Museum, Australia comes this beautiful half Hull model by Ron Haug, of the 1855 McKay Australian James Baines 'Black Ball' Line Clipper "Donald McKay, Here's an article from the Museum's site: https://collection.maas.museum/object/570557

Rob, here's what I learned about the depth of "Glory of the Seas" Keel & Backbone. When you count all the timbers bolted together above the Keel, it's between 11'10" to 12'6" depending if you count her 8" Bulwark Stanchions (which Duncan MacLean did count in his description of "Stag Hound" having a 9' Backbone. 1869 Medium Clipper "Glory of the Seas" LOA 265' displacement 2,102 tons Keel moulded 24" & Shoe 5" total 29" Floor Timbers moulded 20" Bulwark Stanchions kneed to Beams above & Keelson below moulded 8" 3 Midship Keelsons ea moulded 16" total 48 3 layers of Thick Work ea moulded 15" total 45" Moulded total 150" = 12'6" 1852 Clipper "Sovereign of the Seas" LOA 265' displacement 2,421 tons 11'8" "through the backbone" including mouldings of Floor Timbers. 1850 Extreme Clipper "Stag Hound" LOA 226' displacement 1,600 tons Possibly because she was the largest merchant vessel in the world at her time of launch, McKay's revolutionary new Extreme Clipper "Stag Hound" was described in great detail, especially in components which comprised her 'backbone.' Keel combined with Shoe moulded 46" (3' 10") Floor Timbers on Keel moulded 14-16" 3 Midship Keelsons combined moulded 42" Hold Stanchions kneed to Beams above and Keelson below 10" square, including these make her "9' "through the backbone" Total moulded depth 107" (9'11") 1851 Extreme Clipper "Flying Cloud" LOA 235' displacement 1,750 tons "nearly 9' through the backbone." [in reality 9'3"] Keel [& Shoe] moulded 44" (37" clear of the Garboards) Floor Timbers moulded 12" 3 depths of Midship Keelsons moulded 45" 2 Keelsons moulded 10" Total moulded depth 111" (9'3") 1851 Extreme Clipper "Flying Fish" LOA 220' displacement 1,566 tons 9'6" through the backbone Keel (& Shoe) moulded 3'2" (38") Floor Timbers moulded 18" 2 Midship Keelsons ea moulded 15" (combined total 30") 2 Bilge Keelsons ea moulded 14" (combined total 28") Total moulded depth 114" (9'6") 1851 Clipper Packet "Staffordshire" LOA 240' displacement 1,900 tons "9'8" through the backbone." [in actuality 10'6"] Keel (& Shoe) moulded 48" (4') Floor Timbers moulded 18" 3 Midship Keelsons combined moulded 5' (60") Total moulded depth 126" (10'6") 1853 Clipper Packet "Star of Empir zeee" LOA estimated 239' displacement 2,000 tons "Whole depth from top of Midship Keelsons to bottom of Keel [including Shoe] is 9 1/2 feet" [in actuality including 5" Floor Ceiling & 2 16" square Bilge Keelsons of 32" her 'Backbone' was 12'7"] Keel (& Shoe) in 2 depths moulded 32" Floor Timbers moulded 18" 4 Midship Keelsons ea 16" square total 64" (5'4") total moulded depth 114" (9'6") Floor Ceiling 5" thick 2 Bilge Keelsons 16" square (32") total through 'Backbone' 151" (12'7") 1855 Clipper "Donald McKay" LOA 266' displacement 2,588 tons 11'11" through the Backbone Keel (& Shoe) moulded in 2 depths 16" ea total 32" Floor Timbers moulded 20" Midship Keelsons in 4 depths, ea 16" square, total 64" (5'4") Ceiling on Floor 5" thick Ceiling above Bilge 12" Ceiling above that 10" total moulded depth 143" (11'11") In conclusion "Glory of the Seas" having a depth of 12'6" through "the Backbone" is consistent with increased size and carrying capacity of thes massive ships of Donald McKay.

Vladimir, you are absolutely right. Look very closely at her Stern in the 1869 fitting out scene. There's just a hint of her carvings. In the tradition of the time, there would most likely be a small amount of floral decorations over her name and Port of Hail, which probably was originally Boston. The more elaborate embellishments would be below her identifying information. It most likely would have echoed the elaborate work seen on her cutwater.

Rob, the rather colorful background story of the inspiration behind the name "Cutty Sark" has always fascinated me. Apparently Robert Burns is the national poet laureate of Scotland and his Birthday is practically a holiday. I'm glad you're still talking with Mike, I haven't gotten an email from him since he sent the impressive scene of Glory's Stern. I wonder if it's because I'm still using the personal email given to me months ago instead of the one "theAuthorsDaughter" gave us? One other construction detail I noticed in Mike's cross section. Other Clippers of Glory's size had Keels of 11'. I'll detail how the same can be discovered of her.

Vladimir, thank you! You shared a bit of "Cutty Sark" design history that previously, I never knew existed. Too bad Victorian society wouldn't have accepted such a lovely stern. This would have tied the Bow and Stern together so much better. Tam O'Shanter and his Trusty grey mare Maggie are neatly portrayed on the Port while a bag piping demon is on the Starboard. Meanwhile 'Nannie Dee' dancing is even prettier in this sketch than on her figurehead. She even appears to be smiling too. There's just enough clarity on the Port side to read "Weel Done, Cutty Sark!" in the flowing scroll below her top counter but try as I might, I cannot make out what's inscribed on the Starboard side. Can you? Do you know if there's a more detailed image of this? It's unfortunate that, to my knowledge "Glory of the Seas" has very few scenes of her embellished rear Stern, which most likely echoed the beautiful flowery carving of her Cutwater arch.

In an earlier post which apparently didn't get saved, I compared the dimensions of "Cutty Sark" vs "Glory of the Seas." To put it mildly Glory would have dwarfed the Scottish Clipper. "Glory of the Seas" Wooden Medium Clipper 1869 Designer, Builder Donald McKay East Boston, Massachusetts 2,102 tons (1,139 tons larger) Keel: 240'2" (38'2" longer) LOA: 265' (ratio .96) (53' longer) Total with Jibboom: 322' (42' longer) 3 decks (1 deck deeper) Depth of Hold: 28 1/2' (7 1/2' deeper) "Cutty Sark" Composite Extreme Tea Clipper 1869 Designer Hercules Linton Owner Jock Willis Dumbarton, Scotland 963 tons Keel: 202' LOA: 212' (ratio .952) Total with Jibboom: 280' 2 decks Depth of Hold: 21'

Vladimir, Michael Mjelde told me that one the most exciting events of his promotional tour for his 1970 book 'Glory of the Seas' was a stop at India House, Manhattan. There he was able to see the Goddess 'Athene' figurehead close up. He also got to rub elbows with the world famous miniaturist Donald McNarry. He said he managed to get some black & white and color pictures of the figurehead. So far he hasn't been able to locate them. I'm still hoping he does one day. Meanwhile, I'm not sure how familiar you are with the inspiration of Jock Willis' famous Dumbarton Tea Clipper "Cutty Sark." Portrayed here is the original lovely Figurehead of the comely Witch 'Nannie Dee' as sketched by the Ship's designer Hercules Linton. Since her current 60 year old Figurehead has dry rot, they're currently carving her replacement which appears to be much closer than the one mounted to her Bow now. There's a fantastic tale behind the creation of "Cutty Sark" which refers back to a pivotal scene in Robert Burns' epic poem about the misadventures of Scotland's most infamous town drunk 'Tam O'Shanter' and his loyal mount 'Maggie.' Burns' tale made use of familiar landmarks still standing today. After imbibing at his favorite watering hole, Tam stumbles on a incredible scene of witches, warlocks, devils and demons cavorting in wild abandon. Chief amongst them is a scantily clad witch 'Nannie' whose enthusiastic seductive dancing in a too short chemise gets Tam to exclaim 'Weel Done, Cutty Sark!" (In Scottish Cutty Sark means short shirt) This leads to a life or death chase with Tam barely making it across the 'Brig O'Doon.' Fortunately hobgoblins can't cross beyond the keystone of a bridge. However Tam's loyal steed 'Maggie' pays for his foolishness with the loss of her long tail, still in the grasp of the furious witch 'Nannie Dee!' So now, in the immortal words of famous radio personality 'Paul Harvey' you know the "rest of the tale."

Vladimir, Off and on since 2009 I've been living with Glory's stunning Grecian Goddess Athene. Here are 2 of my better sketches. The top is probably most accurate but she's a little too low. However, these were done many years before Michael Mjelde's magnificent images were shared with us. I'll get right on this. I'll endeavour to do one each in 1:72nd and 1:96th scale. At 1:72nd it will be 1&1/4" and at 1:96th it's 13/16th of an inch. Piece of cake!

Rob,I saw both miniature figureheads years ago. Based on the limited knowledge available on Glory's figurehead, you did a credible job. I suspect because the Tartan McKay figurehead was less complicated in comparison, your effort was more refined. Both must have been quite a challenge considering their diminutive size. Meanwhile, Rob and Vladimir, here's a fascinating article on how a modern day replica of a full scale ship's figurehead is carved. What surprised me was the bread & butter use of laminates to form a rough outline of the whole. After 60 years of exposure to the elements, Scottish Clipper Ship 'Cutty Sark' Figurehead Witch 'Nannie Dee' of Robert Burns' famous poem "Tam O'Shanter" has developed dry rot and is getting a much improved replacement. This Witch will more closely resemble Hercules Linton's beautiful sketch. The existing figurehead was a copy of the Ship's Carpenter's version after her original one was lost at sea. With the advent of 3D printers, I was thinking if I could sketch enough images, maybe that's a solution which could be employed. Here's a link to the article: https://www.maritimawoodcarving.co.uk/maritima-commissions/the-cutty-sark/

Rob, keeping all elements to scale as much as realistically possible will help maintain a sense of the true massiveness of "Glory of the Seas." To do any less would only mar an overall impression of our efforts. I imagine it will be a combination of materials, whatever works best, to achieve the desired results. To do this, each item will need to be meticulously accurate. For example, at 1:96th scale, our 90" tall Athene figurehead will have to be 15/16ths of an inch! This is going to be real interesting....

Rob, here's the scale conversion calculator resource: https://www.inchcalculator.com/scale-calculator/ It's pretty neat. You can plug in any full sized dimension from a real ship and it will automatically convert it to any scale dimension chosen.

Rob, when it comes to scale accuracy, you're absolutely right. Oversized elements totally ruin an impression of actual size. 1:96 scale: 96' = 12", so 1" = 8', 1/2" = 4', 1/4" = 2', 1/8" = 1', 1/16" = 6'', 1/32" = 3'', 1/64" = 1 1/2". The Keel of Glory was 16" or 1' 4". Using an online calculator, 1:96th scale of 16" = 0.1667 which translates to 2". I'll find the link to share it.