ClipperFan

Rob, Just a reminder that the top of the base had the same extended molding as seen on the base. If I'm jumping the gun on reminding you, my apologies in advance. I suspect all these furniture moldings had to do with eliminating sharp edges which could cause serious injuries.

Rob, Drawing something up and actually building it are worlds apart. I respect the work you're doing. It will be a fine replica by the time you're done and will also be the first accurate Stag Hound miniature ever crafted too.

Rob, This certainly looks more compact and advanced then the more traditional barrel shaped ones we're used to seeing.

Rob, You're right about McKay's freedom. The other issue is that per contract stipulation, once signed the ship had to be entirely finished within 90 days, literally from when the ink was dry! Would it be quicker to build your own or pair two ready made units?

@rwiederrich Rob, I took another look at the Boston Daily Atlas description of a 13' skylight installed on Staffordshire. It wasn't a single one as I first thought, but actually a doubled up 6 & 1/2' skylight pair. That gives me the impression that for some reason, the maximum length for such structures might have been 6 & 1/2'. Next, I will see if it's possible that two back to back 12-13' skylights will fit on the poop deck instead. The wheel house on my layout looks like it can be moved back a bit which just might make everything else fit. Just give me a day or two and I should have an answer for you.

@rwiederrich Here's an 1855 Scientific Magazine article on Emerson's improvement of his own windlass. This article's material does refer to the windlass's ability to "ungear." I also noticed that the alternative windlass I just shared doesn't even illustrate use of a capstan. It's looking more likely that Emerson & Walker's patent windlass is the correct choice.

@rwiederrich Not to throw a "monkey wrench" into the Emerson & Walker 1850 patent but... here goes. There's another windlass by mechanic C Perley, patented July 30th 1850 which also looks quite versatile. What I'm looking to find is any reference to "ends which ungear" the sole attribute described by McLean Here's the patent image with details

@rwiederrich great catch! I was able to confirm that this is Emerson & Walker's 1850 patented windlass. I hope you don't mind; I lightened up your Campbell print and found a three-dimensional print as well. Hard to believe McLean's brief description had anything else in mind, from his terse description.

Rob, To clear up apparently repetitive confusion on skylight dimensions, here are precise descriptions by Duncan McLean of several skylights installed on Donald McKay's third clipper Staffordshire. Remarkably, while she was under construction, a third deck was added and she was converted to a flush deck packet. For my skylight reconstruction I relied on two sources: Michael Mjelde's Glory of the Seas rear coach house roof plans and the sole useful image of a skylight on the ship herself. Michael's two skylight outlines measure 6' long × 4' wide. Since the photo shows apparent seating surfaces on both sides with a slight overhang, my sketch was 6' long x 4' wide. Center house structure was 5' long (inset 6" on both ends) about 2' wide by 1' high. My estimate of a large 10' long central skylight is just that. I'm still nailing down those dimensions based upon available poop deck space. I hope this helps clear up skylight dimensions.

@rwiederrich Drawing inspiration from your triple window treatment for the side, I revised that side window. It appears to balance out the door better this way. Here's the finished starboard side for the Stag Hound portico. To complete the series, both fore and aft are included as a pair and each individually. What astounds me about Rob's rapid craftsmanship is this. His lovely, delicate portico was entirely complete, long before I could finish my conceptual sketches! Now the race is on to complete my sketch of the 44' poop deck furniture. .. 😉

@rwiederrich I'm sharing my finished Stag Hound fore and aft portico concept. You were right too, a 1' overhang looks more balanced. It doesn't match the lovely version you built but maybe @Vladimir_Wairoa or @Luis Felipe might want to tackle this alternate concept instead. Next, I'll finish up the starboard side view and then it's on to the full 44' poop deck illustration.

@rwiederrich based on each of the 3 side staterooms being 7 feet deep, going from fore to aft, porthole #1 would be 3 & 1/2' back from the poop deck front (1/2 way to fore center of 1st stateroom) #2 would be 7' from #1 (3 & 1/2' from #1 stateroom aft center + 3 & 1/2' to stateroom #2 fore center). Then #3 would be 7 & 1/2' (3 & 1/2 from #2 stateroom aft center + 4' to 8' recess fore center) then #4 would be 10 & 1/2' from #3 (4' from 8' recess aft center + 3' beyond watercloset + 3 & 1/2' to #4 stateroom fore center) #5 is 9 & 1/2' from #4 (3 & 1/2' from #4 stateroom aft center + 6' to large stateroom #5 fore center). Meanwhile all deck prisms would be centered on the outer poop decks beginning 4 & 1/4th' from the 6 & 1/2 large apartment border & matching porthole spacing. It actually all works out very logically and precisely.... I think! 😉

@rwiederrich Beautifully done! This is just such a nice looking (dare I say delicate?) little structure. Probably the very first time this fascinating portico has been realized accurately for a Stag Hound model. Realizing that a lot of this is speculation (especially the upper railings) still, it's based on solid evidence from McKay's other ships. Regardless, you've created a lovely little portico, worthy of McKay's Pioneer craft of the California Fleet.

Rob, Another conundrum to resolve isn't a big one. It's where to locate what are basically little green spots and corresponding portholes for stern cabins under the poop deck. In this case, it would have been nice if Duncan McLean had given just a little more details than he did. All we know for sure is that the main deck portico is an enclosed entrance for stairs that descend 3' below. That leads to apartments under the poop deck. A sole dimension given is 32' long by a mere 13' wide by 6' 8" high. Yet, somehow each stateroom (of which I count 7) has their own deck light (prism) and side light (porthole). The only logical way that makes sense is if the large central space is some sort of formal dining area maybe with a kitchen at the end, where the smokestake is located. Behind this presumably is the single large stateroom with double berths. Then on each side are located other various single berth staterooms, water closets and recesses, each with individual doors opening into the large central room. It looks like the front of the poop deck is about 30' wide. Subtracting 13' leaves 17'. Divided in half gives us 8 & 1/2' width on two outer ends, narrowing as you approach the stern. Before the single large stateroom are two waterclosets (toilets). They could be 4' wide entrance by 6-7' length deep, placed sideways on each side. Then a stateroom, an 8' recess and two more staterooms. Since each has their own side and deck light, it makes sense to double these. That means a watercloset, a stateroom, a recess and finally two more staterooms. If I reduce the watercloset to 3' now I have just enough room for 3 equal 7' staterooms. Tight but it works. Figuring that the 8' recess might have had its own deck and sidelight, I count 5 prisms and 5 portholes per side in the stern. That's counting 2 for the single large double berth stateroom fit for a family. Let me know if you can follow my layout and if you can, does this sounds right to you?

Rob, I will double check dimensions on my skylight sketch, based on Michael Mjelde's Glory of the Seas coach house roof sketch. From memory they were each 6' long x 4' wide. His side view showed they appear to be 3' high. Look at the photo, there's seating surfaces on each side as well. FYI: top divisions of 8 sections are wrong. I later revised the top to match sides. There really were 6 divisions, not 8 as incorrectly illustrated.

@rwiederrich The 44' poop deck fits a 10 foot skylight, which looks pretty well spaced with a 6 foot steering box and ship's helm, a small binnacle about a 5' companion with smokestack about 2 feet between it and the 4 foot 20 inch wide skylight with 10 inch seating on both sides. Since Stag Hound also was designed to carry passengers, it makes sense the skylight could double as a seating area, again similar to what was installed on Glory of the Seas.

@rwiederrich "A portico is a roofed steucture with columns attached to the front entry way of a home." That's how these inviting structures are described in modern architectural style. They're also generally more ornate than a plain entranceway. I think Duncan McLean nailed it when he described this small house which is actually just an entranceway to stairs leading to apartments three feet below the main deck. I also believe Rob, you nailed this tiny edifice on your first try. Well done!

Rob, Wow! Those little round toothpicks are too large? I'm surprised to read that. On the new perspective sketch it seems like they're just about the right size. Of course, it's been a while since I've actually seen one, so there is that...

@rwiederrich That's consistent with what's seen on coach house side windows. For allowing light entrance, it may make more sense to have single rectangular side windows. For front and side doors, if possible, I hope you can retain the pillars which are what add dimension and interest to this structure. At this size, maybe round toothpicks could suffice.

Rick, Thanks! What I do is the easy part. Rob is making the real magic as his 8' portico at 1:96th is essentially a 1" square with aft end cut in half, topped by 32" high 21/64ths" scale, turned stanchion railing surrounding it!

Rob, Since you're working on such a tiny size, that makes sense. For the sides, you might want to do just one larger window too. If you take a close look at the revised arch, it's almost flat as well.

Rob, Nice foundational work. As a reminder of the difference between my earlier inaccurate arched windows, I'm sharing the latest fore and aft revisions, more accurately based on Michael Mjelde's sketch. As we discussed, the 2 foot overhang is too extreme and should just be 1 foot. Faux pillars (since they're only 1/2 projections) support arches over each element, window or panel below, which are slightly inset and match profiles above. New subdued arches are almost flat in comparison. Overlapping arches may not be as clear in my sketch, so I've included Michael Mjelde's Glory of the Seas rear coach house front fascia for clarity and better comparison.

Rob, as you said before, you had some concerns that such placement of a glass window might open it up to rigging damage. I'd just keep the same motif for design consistency but eliminate the window. My thinking was for providing light but the massive mast would probably block a lot of that as well.