ScottRC

One last weekend update. I've added the mizzen top yard and the mizzen topgallant yard, with the halyards and lifts for all three (including the course). I can't do the chain sheets and the associated clews until the double blocks arrive, hopefully soon. In the interim, I'm going to add any missing blocks for the braces, and work on the stuns'l booms. As can be seen, I've test fitted the spanker boom (it needs stuff added to it), but it's at least out of the way now. 
 

 
Ship as it currently appears:
 

 
BTW, for the cognoscenti out there. I was looking at the Boston Daily Atlas article (http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/News/BDA/BDA(1851-11-04).html) that @ClipperFan and others have pointed out, and it lists the lowest yard on the mizzen as a crossjack. I've seen indications online that it's called a crossjack (a) only if it carries a sail, (b) only if it doesn't carry a sail, and (c) regardless of whether it carries a sail. The article doesn't talk about the specifics of the sails that it carries - except to say that it carried sails peculiar to clippers: royal (!) stuns'ls, staysails, watersails, and a ringtail. Was it common for clippers to carry a sail on the crossjack? The Butterworth painting shows a sail, but Crothers says it was unusual. For royal stuns'ls are those just the stun'sls footed on the topgallant stuns'l boom? In Anatomy of the Ship for the Constitution those sails are called topgallant stuns'ls, but did the lingo change? I would have thought a ringail would require a set of booms similar to a stuns'l boon on the spanker boom and gaff, but there is nothing there. And watersails? What I've seen described is some kind of stuns'l that sounds like it hangs from the stuns'l boom mounted on the hull and dropping nearly to the water. I'm not planning on putting on sails, but has anyone even heard of such a thing?
 
Anyway, the list:
mizzen yards: 5 2                            Jib halyards: 4
     lifts: 10  4                                       Jib downhauls: 4
     sheets: 8                                      Staysail halyards: 2
     clews: 8                                      Staysail downhauls: 2 
     halyards: 4
Spencer gaff: 2 1                              Braces: 30 24
     topping lifts: 2 1                          Stun'sl booms on hull: 2
     vangs: 4  2                                    Stun'sl booms on yards: 12
Spanker boom: 1                             Davits: 4
     sheets: 2                                           Boat tackle: 4
Spanker gaff: 1                                 Decals: 3        
     throat halyard: 2                         Gilded balls on mast trucks: 3
     peak halyards: 1                          Fairleads on shrouds: 8 4
     topping lifts: 2
     outhaul sheets: 2
     vangs: 2
     ensign halyard: 1
 
Change:
+0 (Nothing Added!)
-14 (2 yards, 2 halyards, 4 fairleads, 6 lifts)
-2 (corrected to 8 sheets and 8 clews)
Net = -16
Remaining items: 98
 
As always, thanks for looking in.
 
Regards,
George

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so another update. First, made the spanker boom and gaff:
 

 
Everything painted black. Top to bottom spencer, spanker gaff, spanker boom, mizzen yards.
 

 
Two yards prepped with foot ropes and key blocks skysail (above) and course (below):
 

 
And first mizzen yard bent:
 

 
The free ends of the lifts (or more to the point their tackles are not yet fully in place, so I can't knock them off the list, but coming.
 
One thing I found out is that I am going to hit a wall after the mizzen top yard because (deep sigh) I don't have enough 1/8 double blocks. More on order, not sure when they will arrive. If I finish the top yard before the extras arrive, I guess I'll work on the stuns'l booms.
 
So, the list:
mizzen yards: 5 4                            Jib halyards: 4
     lifts: 10                                         Jib downhauls: 4
     sheets: 8                                      Staysail halyards: 2
     clews: 10                                      Staysail downhauls: 2 
     halyards: 4
Spencer gaff: 2 1                              Braces: 30 24
     topping lifts: 2 1                          Stun'sl booms on hull: 2
     vangs: 4  2                                    Stun'sl booms on yards: 12
Spanker boom: 1                             Davits: 4
     sheets: 2                                           Boat tackle: 4
Spanker gaff: 1                                 Decals: 3        
     throat halyard: 2                         Gilded balls on mast trucks: 3
     peak halyards: 1                          Fairleads on shrouds: 8
     topping lifts: 2
     outhaul sheets: 2
     vangs: 2
     ensign halyard: 1
 
Change:
+8 (shroud fairleads)
-1 (mizzen course yard)
+0 (corrected 8 sheets and 10 clews, not other way around)
Net = +7
Remaining items: 114
 
For some reason my list keeps growing every time I add things to the ship. I feel like Achilles, perpetually unable to catch the tortoise. Hopefully, no more major additions, and I should be able to get one more yard, 4 lifts, 1 halyard, and maybe some stuns'l booms if the new blocks take some time.
 
Thanks for looking in!
 
George
 

Because the decals have rotted off the model, I picked up the photo etched nameplates and they look really good. I also got the flag set they offered.  Anything to dress her up a little bit more.  
 

Thank you, I have been lurking on your build and its keeping me motivated.  

Because the decals have rotted off the model, I picked up the photo etched nameplates and they look really good. I also got the flag set they offered.  Anything to dress her up a little bit more.  
 

Thanks Vlad, it does feel like I am getting close to the end, although despite my current work, I have to add to the list of things to do with no items removed.
 
So, the mizzen yards are built. Photo below shows them, and I put some rulers in the frame to indicate size. These are way smaller than the main and fore (the skysail yard is only 2.5 inches wide). I wound up buying some extra 1/8 and a package of 1/16 inch dowels to make the topgallant and royal/skysail yards respectively. The 1/16 yards will be useful for the stuns'l booms as well, as the 5/64 (7.5 inch at scale) dowels were too large for all but the main course yard. This way, I'll have less to shave off and will be more likely to make better formed booms. Anyways, "iron bands" and eyebolts done, cranes in place, iron sheet blocks built and attached and jackstays in place; ready to paint. The black yard is the main spencer boom, just need to put it on once the mizzen yards are in place.
 

 
So, the list. I realized that I forgot the mizzen halyards, so the list is now:
 
mizzen yards: 5                                 Jib halyards: 4
     lifts: 10                                           Jib downhauls: 4
     sheets: 10                                     Staysail halyards: 2
     clews: 8                                         Staysail downhauls: 2 
     halyards: 4
Spencer gaff: 2 1                              Braces: 30 24
     topping lifts: 2 1                          Stun'sl booms on hull: 2
     vangs: 4  2                                    Stun'sl booms on yards: 12
Spanker boom: 1                             Davits: 4
     sheets: 2                                           Boat tackle: 4
Spanker gaff: 1                                 Decals: 3        
     throat halyard: 2                         Gilded balls on mast trucks: 3
     peak halyards: 1                         
     topping lifts: 2
     outhaul sheets: 2
     vangs: 2
     ensign halyard: 1
 
Change:
+5 (mizzen halyards)
-0 (nothing off the list
Net = +5
Remaining items: 107
 
[sigh]
Well, the braces (24) will go quickly once the yards are in place. And, once painted (and with the foot ropes in place, it was only about 2 weeks to clear what is basically 37 items (yards, halyards, lifts, clews, and sheets) for the main, so maybe not too long before we see yards on 3 masts...
 
Thanks for looking in,
George

Minor disaster... the knots for the starboard foremast shrouds were not set and the shrouds were a bit loose so I tightened them and intended to put a drop of CA at the upper wrap point.
 
Instead of a drop a gush happened and the glue ran down the shrouds.
 
I've had to cut them loose. The upper wraps are fairly cemented in place so I will try to wrap over that with the new shrouds. It isn't a fatal mistake but a very disheartening one but I'll recover as best as I am able. No pics, yet, it is too embarrassing but I'll let you folks tell me if it is too noticeable when I get the ratlines tied.

I briefly considered copper plating my model but sanity prevailed 😄
I am sure yours will look awesome.
 
I was off by a few on the deadeye count. There are only 192 deadeyes in the standing rigging 🙃
Each ratline shroud has a pair and each backstay has a pair.
There are 60 ratline shrouds and 36 backstays.
 

 
[edit] ouch - the camera caught a stray piece of scrap thread laying on the spars. I usually catch those things myself or let the canned air dust them into the ether. The camera also catches all the places I need to touch up paint. I may take a boatload 😉of pictures to help me spot those when the ratlines are done.

Standing rigging is virtually done. Though the main and fore ratline rungs are yet to be tied, I consider this a significant milestone because it means I'm finally done threading those accursed deadeyes. 196 of them on the main deck alone. There will likely be a small handful to be done in the running rigging but nothing on the scale of the standing rigging.
 
I'll start on the ratlines tomorrow and when they're done, all that is left is a ton of detail touchup paint and I can put paid to the standing rigging.
 
I've played fast and loose with tie points and methods partly out of n00bish ignorance, partly laziness, and mostly because of the indecipherable and bizarrely inappropriate instructions.
 

Because the decals have rotted off the model, I picked up the photo etched nameplates and they look really good. I also got the flag set they offered.  Anything to dress her up a little bit more.  
 

I'm jealous. I've been looking for one of those early Revell Thermopylae kits. I think I've found one, we'll see when it arrives.
As with yourself, there's no telling when I'll get around to building it... my Cutty Sark will be a year or better before it is done and then I'll probably start another.
 
Scott, I'll be following your restoration with great interest. Best of luck!

You're doing fine ... take all the time you need, which is my own style.  I have an early, well-molded version of this kit up on the shelf for some future time (or perhaps to end-up with someone else when I'm gone), and have long thought on what eventual approach could be done with it.  The Czech-made laser-engraved wooden deck topper was added to the box, as I've never been happy trying to paint plastic to look like wood - yet some have done pretty well doing just that.  And starting with an unbuilt kit does not have the limitations imposed on restoring a previously built model, as you are doing.
 
  

I'm right there with you, Scott

Had some time this last week to actually spend in my workshop.  Added more standing rigging.  
Hope to add more soon.  I am kind of in the doldrums with building at the moment.  

Finishing the day by retro fitting(heavily modifying), the fife rail and making the cat heads. 
 
Good evening.  
 
Rob

Still working out the mast boot and putting together the fore fife rail. 
In this session I also reconfigured and mounted the McKay clan figurehead.  
It’s about  6/8” long. 
 
Rob

Worked  bit today. 
I installed the ventilation hoods for the cabins and a view sky lights. 
 
I also added the forecastle access ladders.  
 
Rob

Coming along nice with the rigging.
This boat that you rode to the lighthouse looks a lot like an old 40' USGC utility.  
 

Jib rigging:
 

 

 
The list:
mizzen yards: 5                                 Jib halyards: 4
     lifts: 10                                           Jib downhauls: 4
     sheets: 10                                     Staysail halyards: 2
     clews: 8                                         Staysail downhauls: 2
Spencer yards: 2                              Braces: 30
     topping lifts: 2                             Stun'sl booms on hull: 2
     vangs: 4                                        Stun'sl booms on yards: 12
Spanker boom: 1                             Davits: 4
Spanker gaff: 1                                         Boat tackle: 4
     throat halyard: 2                         Decals: 3
     peak halyards: 1                          Gilded balls on mast trucks: 3
     topping lifts: 2
     outhaul sheets: 2
     vangs: 2
     ensign halyard: 1
 
By the way, if anyone knows how to embed a more proper two column view - I'd love to know - otherwise I'll just copy/paste this sorta messy version. Will probably do one of the staysails next, followed by the spencers while working on the mizzen yards.
 
As always, thanks for looking in!
 
Regards,
George K
 

Thanks @Rick310 and @Jared. We are going to have a bunch of finished Flying Fish on the site relatively soon I expect. 
 
Well, the main mast is done (minus the braces) - more anon. Nothing major to describe, but here is a couple of photos:
 

 

 

 

 
Interestingly, it appears I may have spoken too soon about the chain. I've been building mostly from the plans, and was looking at the instructions the other day, and it appears that I (a) misread the plans to think that all the halyards are chain, and (b) shouldn't have over-interpreted for the fore and mizzen off the drawing of the main. At a minimum, the fore and main skysail halyards should have been rope. Since I made the fore skysail halyard from chain, I decided to make the main match. For the mizzen I will follow the instructions and make the royal and topgallant halyards from rope, although I have enough chain. They are the lightest of the yards, so it makes sense. I probably should have either RTFM first, or ignored it completely, allowing for bliss in ignorance. One more error that I will be aware of and no one else will be.
 
With all that said, I think that I can actually put a list of what remains to be done that won't make me depressed; a list I can mark things off as we go. At this point, I believe I have:
 
mizzen yards: 5
     lifts: 10
     sheets: 10
     clews: 8
Spencer yards: 2
     topping lifts: 2
     vangs: 4
Spanker boom: 1
Spanker gaff: 1
     throat halyard: 2
     peak halyards: 1
     topping lifts: 2
     outhaul sheets: 2
     vangs: 2
     ensign halyard: 1
Staysail halyards: 6
Staysail downhauls: 6
Braces: 30
Stun'sl booms on hull: 2
Stun'sl booms on yards: 12
Davits: 4
     Boat tackle:4
Decals: 3
Gilded balls on mast trucks: 3
 
Not a zero list, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I didn't mention the other two ship's boats. I may model the ship with them on a task away. If I do include them, I'm probably going to make a cover so that I don't have to detail the interiors of what are a rather meh Brittania casting.
 
Finally, just a couple of fun photos from a work day I did over the weekend at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Point_Shoal_Light) in the Chesapeake Bay. The light was built in 1875, and is a wooden structure on top of an iron screwpile. As with any wooden and iron structure exposed to salt water and time, it requires more or less constant maintenance, so that's what we were doing - mostly painting on Saturday, but also replacing a window, and some hardware. I can't imagine what it was like to actually live there - it's only accessible by boat (we came in the Chesapeake Bay deadrise shown in the photo). The light has about the same amount of space as my younger daughter's not particularly wonderful Boston apartment and you couldn't go down the street if you go annoyed at the other people there. Even the lightships must have been better - they certainly had more spaces. Anyway, some photos. The light from the boat as we approached: 
 

 
The boat we came in on "Audacious"
 

 
Ice was a a constant danger for these screw pile lights, so rip rap and an iron ice breaker. Chesapeake Bay bridges in the background.
 

 
The bay from one of the doors:
 

 
And the restored parlor.
 

 
One of the other rooms is set up for a different historical period - 1986 - when the light was fully automated and the last Coast Guard crew left. This is worrisome, as there should not be 'historical displays' from when I was an adult.
 
As always, thanks for looking in and the likes. 
 
Regards,
George K.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A brief update.
 
Work on the main mast proceeds apace. I've permanently mounted the course, top, and topgallant yards, along with their lifts, halyards, and the top and topgallant clews, and 3 of the four sheets chain sheets. The trucks are now in place as well, so the task of anchoring the lines continues. Here are a couple of photos showing the ship in its current configuration:
 

 

 

 
A couple of observations thus far, for anyone also doing the Fish.
 
Trucks: It took me forever to find an efficient way to attach the trucks. I finally landed on using a cutting wheel on my dremel to make a notch in the truck, CA glue it into place, and then tie it to the shroud with some thread, using a dot of glue to secure the knot. Seems to work, although it took until I only had the 8 mizzen trucks left. The hardest part is holding the tiny deadeye tight enough so that it didn't fly away, but not so tight it split into 2 or 3 pieces.
 
Chain: Model Shipways gives you 25 feet of chain, and it is not nearly enough. As it was, I bought some larger chain for the anchors, bobstays, etc., and I still don't have nearly enough. When (hopefully this week), I mount the royal and sky yards, I won't be adding the halyards right away because I only have enough chain left to make the remaining topgallant sheet and that is it. I bought another 10 feet from Model Shipways which I hope will be enough. The reality is that you need like 8-10 feet for the sheets, and maybe 6 or 7 feet for the halyards per mast, plus some for the bowsprit, and that is assuming that you manage to not have any wastage. I mean, maybe someone doing things perfectly could get it done with 25 feet, but I don't see how.
 
Jackstay eyebolts: Along with the chain, I bought my second extra order of jackstay eyebolts. Between the jackstays on 15 yards, plus the Spencer jackstay on the fore and main, plus using them to make the iron work on the yards, and anchor points for various and sundry blocks, etc., etc., etc., you go through these things like they are going out of style. 
 
Anyway, not trying to be too harsh on the kit. I've said before, in general Model Shipways makes a good kit with a few exceptions (e.g. certain Britannia fittings) but you are likely to need additional materials by the time you are done.
 
As always, thanks for looking in and the likes.
 
Regards,
George
 
 
 

Well, finally making some progress on the main mast. First step, blocks, stirrups, foot ropes, flemish horses, and the clews and some of the lifts. And after careful review of the plans, adding a bunch of additional blocks and eyes on the main mast for braces.
 

 
So, here are the lower three yards test fitted on the ship. Lines hanging everywhere, nothing permanently atached:
 

 

 
Finally, the course yard attached, and with the live lifts attached, the ends secured to the tackle, and the ends of the tackle secured to the fife rail. I can add the top yard with lifts, but after that I need to attach the (not yet attached) trucks to the shrouds to act as fairleads. In an ideal universe I would have added the trucks before putting the course yard on, but I was so sick of doing work that didn't really change the appearance of the ship that I did this first (and will probably add the top yard as well), while I work on those frustrating things.
 

 
As always, thanks for looking in!
 
Regards,
George
 
 
 
 

Just for those that want a comparison.   Here are two models in 1/96.  Cutty Sark and  Glory of the seas.   Both built in 1869……..but just look at the size difference between the tiny 900 ton Cutty and the 2100 ton Glory.   They are both sitting at waterline height. 
 
Amazing…….just amazing.  American built clippers were huge. 

'Found an interesting image and I thought I'd bring it to your attention.  It shows the upper topsail let down ahead of the lower topsail (which, if at sea under growing winds, would block the breeze from the upper sail so lowered - and it could be taken in easier via bunt and leech lines).  'Looks like one of the the royals is similarly dispositioned.  This is yet another way to depict a model with sails (versus bare yards), in this case probably drying them in port - another actual scenario seen in this colorized photo.