Harvey Golden

The chain drive on Gjøa thread is here, mostly on page 2: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/34394-gjøa-1872-by-harvey-golden-roald-amundsens-cutter-built-at-rosedahl-norway/page/2/#comments (thanks to all that helped with that puzzle). 

Hello All! The rigging is progressing nicely, albeit two steps forward, one step back.  The boats on the quarters are hung; it's a little odd, but they quite conceal the Gjøa's name board. A discrepancy of where the crow's nest was has been resolved: My plans had it 10' higher than is shown on other drawings; historic photos showed I needed to lower it.  Also started in on weathering the hull: It was Golden brand acrylic Red Oxide, which I've just gone over with a brown wash; it'll get a gray wash then some green sponging, then white sponging.  The squaretail yard is coming along, as is the gaff and boom.  I noticed some historic images of Gjøa (during her famous transit) do show the square topsail in place, so I'l be making that as well. Here she is today-- loving the Ropes of Scale line; I've replaced the backstays with it.

2 hours ago, petervisser said:

Hi Harvey. I just ran across your excellent build log of the Gjoa. Thought you might be interested in the actual village where Roald spent some time in Canada's Arctic. I was last there in 2003 aboard the Canadian icebreaker, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and went ashore with my watch partner Ed. We had a wonderful time walking the tundra and exploring the derelict boats nearby the village. Here's some pic's of what it's like in the high Arctic.

Thanks Ed! Looks like some interesting old boats around town-- 'Peterhead' boats, I suppose?  I'd love to get up there someday; I've been to Nunavut, but on the East Side of Baffin Island.  It's an incredible place!

23 hours ago, Arlo M said:

I am super curious about the seamanship and daily operations of the Gjøa, and was wondering if any of you could suggest somewhere for me to look, short of physically going to somewhere like the Fram Museum or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Anything like websites, books, or articles?

Thank you for the kind comments, Arlo! As mentioned by Steve, his popular account is in re-print (two volumes).  His private journals are a superb accompaniment-- there's a photo of the book cover on the first post in this thread.  Best, H-

Hello All! Still at it. . .  I finally sourced the info I needed for the rigging, so I'll be tackling that with more energy.  For such a big detailed model I decided to up-my-game a bit: I've ordered rigging line from Ropes of Scale, which are simply incredible compared to the line I had been using (various weights of thread, etc.). Also, I've decided on Silkspan sails-- I've bought enough to do the Gjöa, as well as to re-do a number of my older models. For practice with the Silkspan, I made sails for the skiff and faering.  I've brailed them up, as shown in the photo below (I've also added oarlocks, oars, and even rivet-heads to the faering, which look quite good [just dots of glue]).  I'm still uncertain if I'll have the Gjöa's sails up or drawn in-- I suppose that's a great advantage of Silkspan, as you can decide after they've been made up. 

1 hour ago, Paul Le Wol said:

In my opening post it should have been mentioned that the hull of Wapama was built by St Helens Shipbuilding Company in St Helens Oregon and towed by Steam Schooner Multnomah to San Francisco for completion. ...

Interesting-- I had thought she was built at St. Helens; I didn't know she was completed elsewhere.  I've been to the site of the St. Helens yard many times; the yard burned in the 20s if I recall.  Here's a photo postcard I picked up showing the launching of Merced, ca. 1912-13.  The next photo shows the only remaining evidence-- the ways shown in the post card.  Looking forward to this project!

-H

I heard back from Model Expo-- they have nothing available (plans) and said the Gjöa kit is discontinued.  I may DM other builders or wing it. 

14 hours ago, vossiewulf said:

Model Shipways is part of Model Expo. I would reach out to them and see what the printing/availability status is for this set particular set of plans.

Thank you Vossiewulf-- I wondered if that might be the case.  I will try that!

11 hours ago, wefalck said:

I would check first, whether the plans show her as in preservation. As far as I remember the rig was cut down to fit into the exhibition hall.

Thank you Wefalck.  I've seen a low-res image of the plans, and I think they will still be especially helpful. I had noticed in your photos that the upper portions weren't photographed, but then I saw in museum pics that the upper portions aren't there(!)  I've noted several discrepancies between how she is set up now versus how she appeared on the voyage, e.g. two yards versus one on the voyage-- the kits seem to all have two square yards. It's a blessing she was preserved, but she is quite stripped down, and indeed cut down as you said.  It all keeps the process interesting!

I need assistance.  As I get down the nuts and bolts of the rigging, I'm finding the plans I'm working from are wholly inadequate (and often contradict each other); Wefalck has generously shared images of the Gjöa, which has been an incredible help for the deck fittings and much of the bow rigging-- this model would be a mere caricature without his help.  Poking around, it seems the Model Shipways Plans may be what I'm looking for, but I can't find the company on-line.  I see some of their plans are sold by Model-Expo, but no sign of the Gjöa there. Can anyone point me in the right direction?   I'm happy to purchase a used set, if someone has them laying around.  Many thanks in advance!    -Harvey

Getting the bowsprit rigged. I'm using the smallest ring bolts I could find, but still had to clip them open and resize them.  Also had to trim the threaded end for length-- real fun trying to screw one in with the point gone!

1 hour ago, Paul Le Wol said:

Beautiful work Harvey!. The crow’s nest is superb 

Thank you Paul.  It looked very lovely with natural cedar, black iron bands (paper, actually), and raised rivets (glue dots) . . . was saddened to see the original was painted(!)

The ratlines are completed-- never will I forget how to do a clove hitch after all that. The process went very well-- didn't need tweezers at all, just all finger work. I think they came out mostly okay; I'm happy with them.  I've also attached the name boards, also visible in the photo.

The bowsprit is in place, and I threaded the anchor chain through the hawse pipe-- will hang it shortly. 

The crow's nest is also built and attached.  Historic photos show it was painted some light color; I went with a light grey.

I'm getting ready to hang the boats on the davits, and have found very little about how they were hung/cleated in quite a number of model books-- is this sort of an overlooked aspect, or am I just looking at the wrong books?  Best I can find in my library is an illustration in "American Merchant Seaman's Manual" (1942).  It looks correct to historic photos of the Gjøa, except it runs to a winch instead of a cleat, and the davit heads on the Gjøa have integrated double blocks. 

6 hours ago, wefalck said:

I make myself a drawing of the layout of the ratline and place this behind the shrouds. This helps to space them equally and also to detect quickly, whether the shrouds become distorted by the process.

Thank you-- I've seen several images of this being done on other models.  I did make a paper spacing guide and I marked out with white ink (on the outer shrouds) where the ratlines should go, so I think I can keep things proper looking. . . we'll see. 

6 hours ago, wefalck said:

Prototype fashion, the ratlines are not tied to the first and last shroud, rather there would be an eye-splice that is lashed to the respective shroud. You can fake this by a modified by a modified knot, where the loose end returns back parallel to the ratline.

I used square knots on the outer shrouds (first and last), but I like your suggestion as it would hide the trimmed ends.  Thank you as always!

Happy New Year to all!  A tiny bit of progress today:  My very first ratline!  At least, first tied ratline, as I think I glued them on one of my older projects.  I'm terrible with knots, and line, and tangles drive me insane . . . I think I'm part kitten.  Nevertheless, I sought out instructions for clove hitches, and by practicing AND by drawing the knot, I think I have a handle on it.  Here it is, pre-trimming: 
Seems to have a nice natural sag to it between the shrouds. . . hope they all turn out this nice.  I'll be doing them intermittently (every fifth one), and then filling in. (I still need to lash the sheer pole on... just held on with glue at this point).  Anyhow, here's the drawing as well:

The shroud lines are all in place!  Sheer poles, as well.  I just need to glue down the lashing ends so they aren't defying gravity.  The ratlines ought to be a mind-numbing challenge.  Attachments for the bobstays are also in place on the stem-- upper a simple curve, with the lower twisted for an eye. Bowsprit is permanently affixed.  The back stays are in progress-- just need to attach them to the mast.  I'm pleased with how things are taking shape, and am learning a lot about this rig. 

Some progress, including blundering (as expected).  I had to re-do the deadeye attachments on the shroud lines, because I got a little ahead of my skis when following the instructions in Peterson's "Rigging."  The Gjöa's deadeyes are metal strapped to a solid thimble in the shroud-end instead of the usual way of running the shroud around the deadeye.  So . . . a fix and then proceeding with the rigging... compare with the above photo showing the incorrectly-made shroud ends. 

53 minutes ago, wefalck said:

I couldn't check against my photographs, but the chain-plates look rather on the thin side to me.

They do . . . will double check the pics.  Thank you. 

-- They look about right, not knowing exactly how thick the original's are. They are rods and not strapping. They seem proportional to the shroud size I'm using. 

After a five-month break, it's time to work on the Gjøa's rigging.  First photo shows the current stage.  She's 3/8"=1', so the mast is just over 36" high when on the stand.  My work space is quite small, so I've moved the work to the dining rooms table. 

I've begun mounting the chain plates for the backstays and shrouds.  Also, I've mounted the davits after modifying their ends to have double-blocks. 

The shrouds are coming together nicely-- just glued now, but will be tied as well.  

Hello Jackson! 

I build models for all of the reasons!  Everything from channeling fidgetiness, keeping the brain active, fighting depression, overcoming challenges, learning about history, finding technical solutions, improving skills, and that lovely final result of a hand-made trophy rewarding my ability to not mess up something too terribly.  I also build full-size watercraft (I started out doing that), and was surprised that building model is every bit as satisfying as the 'real deal,' never mind the bonus of models being a bit more practical to store and maintain than full-size vessels. 

The full-size craft I build could be considered models, though I've been calling them "replicas" for years.  While they replicate the form and joinery methods of the originals, there are enough material substitutions that "models" may be a better term.  I study hunting kayaks from Northern Cultures-- the Koryak, Chukchi, Unangan, Yup'ik, Sugpiaq, Iñupiaq, Inuit, and Kalaallit.  These models are built for the above reasons but with an emphasis on trying to learn the shaping methods and nuances of joinery used in the originals.  Being full-sized, they are completely usable, and there is of course a lot more to learn in their use.   

I see a number of builders on this forum building for research purposes-- working out ancient technical methods, building conjectural interpretations of historic craft, and even just walking well-tread paths in smaller scale to better understand how things go together and reconciling it with period 2D documentation. Briefly, modeling is a great way to wrap your head around something.  

I look forward to reading your thesis!  (Hope you've found James Roy King's "Remaking the World" . . . someone here mentioned it, and I snapped up a copy).   Best, Harvey      Some of my full-size "models"...:

Thank you Ras! I'd love to get down there someday and explore it by small boat someday.  The history, landscape, and the odd design of the steamers really captured my imagination.  All the best, Harvey

2 hours ago, schooner said:

In case you didn't know there is one surviving Victory ship, the SS American Victory, down in Tampa Fl...

There's another on the West Coast-- the Red Oak Victory, a museum ship in Richmond, CA.  https://redoakvictory.us  I had though it was the last, so am glad to hear of one on the East Coast!

-H

Would it be cheating to simply replace it with a paper or cloth flag?  Suppose the pattern could even be printed first. 

The diorama/display case is completed!  I'm still not sure about the top yet-- I may use plexiglass in the end.  Hard to shoot through glass, so apologies for glare and reflection.  Thank you all!

1 hour ago, ccoyle said:

 

Should we wait for those before marking this build as finished?

Your discretion is fine with me.  Not sure when I'll get around to finishing now that summer is here. The boat is finished; just not the display. I can still drop an image of the completed display into the thread after it is marked "finished," correct?  

53 minutes ago, Wawona59 said:

 

 

Thank you John-- that does seem to be the problem.  I just used water, but will try what you suggested for next time.