Vladimir_Wairoa

very nice work on figurehead congratulation!

just lovely work on blocks etc... Vaddoc. i admire your patience

Hello Rick, another idea might be to use plastic cutty sark revell model and you can modify it with wooden parts up to desire...so that can be easier than starting wood from scratch....

Very nice fix Mark . Vlad

very realiatic and beautiful Kevin, congratulations. lightning is a top on a cake

Hello Dali, this is just beautiful. very well done. congratulations!

Thank you Rob, appreciate that ! V.

thanks Vaddoc, haha youre wrong its deep water harbour really , but there were a times of capes heavy gales prevailed the room. i do all messy work outside in my "laboatory" yet it takes kilometers of walking stairs. i hope you dont think i sand wood in my living room i had to reorganise . the moment i took her in ny room speeded up work considerably as all preparin , measuring , and pre drawing cutting and dremel drilling im doing instantly over my computer table , just for messy work i step away. but she reigns the room true. but really not for long now

much appreciated Geert , thank you

Im glad you like her Mark thanks for stopping by.

Good morning, i havent updated for some time, doing so nnow. Somethimes i feel i make 2 boats in one, coming up with new ideas. Summing up the pics, I had to reinforce nose, sticking in thick wooden nails. I was never satisfied with bow floral ornament, probably still undoable with carving even at this scale, so I tried to paint a new ones, with acrylic Golden metallic color. I have to say I am quite a satisfied with outcome myself, with tinest brush possible even small birds on tiny vineyards line are visible now. it really glows agains sunrays. I made rail winches out of some old rivets stuck into wooden block: i finally made cabin doors and made proper horizontal base for decks to follow reality more...Made davits lanyards. Finished ratlines and forestays. I made topsail yard to be attached at deck. updated catheads with release levers and chain eye...i almost finished 1 side of sheathing, ending with 480 individual pieces of brass plates...still another side to come but that will be done later as I run out of brass. I must say before bow curvature disaster all looked bleak but as I managed to repair that most important flaw , all seems really fit to me. foremast stay heartbocks are not really nice but I juct made them out of remained roundblocks leftouts from shrouds. they are quite fragile so i couldnt push wires more to them, but im sure knowing myself iwill repair them sometime in future. I attached 2 of three bowsprit guys, and from that pic you can see reewed topgallant rail outer wooden rails nicely stepping out of stright line to lean outwards making more steeper agressive curvature going in line with toprail. I tried to rivet the outer side of bulwark iron walls and attached eyed to deck. At this point all shourds and ratlines are fit, I secured lifeboat to the vessel _no pic unfortunately, and varnished Hull of the vessel with vax oil. I must say I found painting eith acrylics and putting semimatte vaxed oil afterwards really works visually for me. This Acrylics drying almost instantly, even not dilluted just brushing with good brush is what I used on yard. This is all for now, im adding pics along. Thank you. Have a nice sunday. Vlad.

Impressive stuff Geert, very beautiful. Vlad.

Very nice work Peter !

im happy i can consult with you as im certain I surely will when times come...V.

Thanks Rob, it sure is very intreresting reading all of your inputs to the point, im sure i could read it for hours...but sorry i feel I am a bit stealing or little messing your log with general debate so I will slow down a bit. entire fleet that was merely joke as I pointed, thanks for explaining why you picked up boats... by the way. today I received parcel from model shipways with 6 beautiful detailed plans of flying fish. I dont have particular reason for that boat /well I do..even just she is typical representation of McKays design anyway.....apart of records McKazs boats possessed, few of them proved sluggish as well as He embarked glory himself on maiden voyage to San Francisco to fool authorities but he was just a passenger not her master yet he stated himself in papers....Mr. Mjelde writes.... I picked fish just because model shipways has developed amazingly and thoroughly researched updated and laid plans etc. that was most important reason., That would be my 1st McKays vessel to build, I already measured her up, and will go most likely for usual 1.48 scale up from 3rd watter level,.... without masting her in first place...future can deside masting anyway. I intend to make her with significantly slower approach so will take me long i guess with focus on deck wood aesthetics on decks etc..etc... will probably try hull to carve from single block and on that to foolow up ....with my best ability to shine and with idea to keep memory of Donald McKay alive and sound for todays audience in my surrounding. after cutty im turning to the west and Thanks for introducing me to "clipper americana" Vlad

Rob, small joke to stirr up some fun. are you going to build entire McKay fleet ? ithat would be some accomplishment of century but fleet is huge. when i read how great republic ended up only first day after launch in new york dock i couldnt believe my eyes . the feelings of her author must have been - undescribable. i guess the stories of their "life" are probably even more interesting than their appearance. success and fame equals horrifying disasters as well. both extremes. caught a fire day after launch. thats s**t. glory in last minute avoided getting burnt with coal...im almost scared to read further ...to the point , if i understand correctly losing of ship was not thing that would not have been predicted or expected to some point sooner or later / be it sinking due to weather or other misfortune. rapid speed of building wooden boat compensated for that and high prices of ships insurance played important role within "all building/merchant business ". not to mention havoc the sea water and sun played on deck etc. significant reapis and cargo like coal must have damaged inner walls of boat to small or bigger extent....or unrepairable.....crushing sandy soil was general and with serious damage ships were usually sold for friction of price to the third countries. as they would not get insurance credibility nor chance to compete or get to the business....interesting. but burnt total of biggest ship in the worl day after launch is something beyond all luck .

Very nice. Thanks for explanation Rob, you probably dont need to guess hard i am already genuinely in love with Donald Mckays clip. design and art and curious about american way to make clippers...there is quite a few photographs of ship in glory book.

Rob , i am a actually reading thru Mr Mjedje book - cant help but i must confess that sawn song of D McKay (her being his finest accomplishment) and his unsuccessful effort ( game) to revert his serious debt situation either by trying to sell her or though maiden voayage to San Francisco brings almost tears to eyes or pain. yet honoration of his in San Francisco despite of this setbacks was moving. He was such respectful figure that even fact that almost everything on her was ordered on later pay promise is fascinating read...im glad im not building this ship. i woul weep probably :))) perfect is i can see on your build what ship looked like .

Good morning, im updating some work...thanks a lot for watch.

Hi Erik im so happy someone is building this beautiful boat. splendid work and wishing you sucess , following and looking forward ahead . Vlad

Hello very fine carving . this looks like oak to me, hat off that wood is beast to tackle congratulations.

Hello Nenad, been eyeing your build here and there, hat off in that scale lovely work, go on continue. i am about to fiddle around bowsprit as wel. Vladimir

Splendid work Sir. thanks for sharing.

This is gorgeous indeed Sir , lovely work, thanks for sharing. steel plates wow .

Hat off Sir this is wonderful craftmanship and build. Simply beautiful. Congratulations.