Sailor1234567890

I know, it looks like 1:1 at times. Incredible. 

It really is a shame the world never got to see her stretch her legs in those conditions. Anyone with extra deep pockets feel like an experiment?

Oh, I knew that size difference was pronounced. We're talking 960 tons vs 2500 and more. Not even the same ballpark. But still, both are quite similar in hull shape. 

44 inches? That's mammoth. You could essentially call it 4 feet, it's close enough nobody would know the difference. 110 foot yard is pretty big as well. Who has the next longest? I think Cutty Sark's are interesting in that her fore and main yards were interchangeable which provided a bit of backup but also made her rig quite a bit larger than what was normally rigged on ships in those days. 

They were all fully rigged 3 masted ship except GR with her 4th mast, is that correct? The difference in scale even at this stage of the project is striking. Discounting GR, the remaining are all 3 masted so the difference in size of the rig and gear must have been quite considerable. Looking forward to more progress.

Cheers,

Daniel

Your ironmongery is awesome Ed. Keep showing us how you do the magic that you do.

If you look at a model of a man of war, there's a rope holding the bowsprit down. That's called gammoning. In newer vessels, it's usually a metal band that does the job. 

What information will be included with the hulls? Ship's name and some basic dimensions like LOA, LWL, Draught and Beam maybe?

My understanding is that the distortion will be dependant on the scale and size. Small rowboats have been projection lofted but when you start dealing with multiple decks, complex shapes etc. it becomes too much and you'll never get it to properly transfer the correct shapes. Nobody has been able to successfully projection loft a large complex boat for the reasons you've discovered. I do recall an article in Woodenboat magazine a number of years ago about projection lofting though. 

Because you don't have enough ships being built right now?  Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Gammoning is the rope and a gammon is the (normally metal) strap that goes over a bowsprit to keep it from rising up. Not sure what fitting you're referring to though. 

That bowsprit fitting is properly called the cranse iron. 

I'd say pick the one that's closest to being done and concentrate on her. Then move to the next closest. Oh, and don't start any more new ones until you're at least closing in on the last one remaining.

Does anybody know how nippers were passed in those days? I know we do it differently now than what' you've got shown here and was wondering if anyone knows for sure how it used to be done?

Nelson's patented method for boarding 4 deckers.

Do Cutty Sark next.

I'd be inclined to put the lifeboats upright and the captain's jolly boat upside down. It wouldn't be used often whereas the lifeboats need to be ready at a moment's notice. 

Ed, 

As usual, your work is exquisite. I have a question about that lower top'sl truss. Are you taking it from drawings, scaling of photographs? A rigging plan? I can only imagine the stresses that piece must have been under as the lower top'sls were the last sails handed when stormy weather came so were therefore often the strongest sails in the ship. Still, that truss looks bulky to me. How does one determine who much structure is required to meet stresses of hard usage but not overdo it and add unnecessary weight aloft or make it "look wrong" in the process?

What's the purpose of those hooked scarphs the whole length of the wale? Why not simply use straight planks?

Have you tried soaking them in tea instead of using paint? Tea stains can look pretty convincing.

By this period in time, most tops'l sheets were chain with a block and tackle out of rope. The wear around that block on the end of the yard and then the block in the middle of the yard underneath was quite severe. Theses ships rarely handed topsails as they were the last ones to be brought in so the sheets needed the best abrasion resistance they could get and chain was it. 

The more I watch your builds progress, the more impressed I am with your skills. Any idea what your next build might be?

Thanks.

Those little wooden structures fore and aft are properly called "poppets". I like the idea of displaying her that way. Adds an element of realism to the whole thing.

All the wood bending information I've read says 1 hour per inch of thickness. Seems to me for pieces the size of our ships, 1.5 hours would be much too long. I've never bent wood at this scale though, I do mine much larger.