Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931 - Finished

[Bedford]

Not sure if this is of assistance but it's how they tack the stays'ls on the James Craig. Splice the two clews together with a yolk and let the wind carry the sail across the stay.

 

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by Bedford

[KeithAug]

Bedford,  thank you for looking in and for the information. I will find a use for it somewhere but unfortunately it does not quite resolve my lack of understanding.

 

I probably should have explained the issue better - here goes.

 

The picture below shows the topsail rigging arrangement.

Tacking the sail without taking it down would involve passing the foot through the triangle made by the fore topmast, the spring stay (top) and the mainstay (diagonal). As most of the sail sits below the mainstay the action of the wind would be to hold the sail against the mainstay and the triatic, rather than blowing it through the upper triangle.

 

I have a number of pictures of the yacht rigged with just a small triangular sail (see photo) which sits in the space between the mainstay, triatic and the main topmast. I think they must do this to avoid the complexity of tacking the larger fore topsail.

To complete the picture the photo below is Altair rigged as I am building her. (edit - except for the jibs / foresail which are as the previous picture.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2017 by KeithAug

[KeithAug]

On 17/11/2017 at 2:49 PM, Jond said:

One of your comments was about tacking the topsail.  I have read several different approaches.

Jon,

 

Sorry I somehow missed this - Thank you, it makes a lot of sense.

[KeithAug]

I have partially completed hoisting the mainsail. It was quite tricky and needed more than 2 hands. After struggling for a while I gave in an invited my wife to help. There followed a tense period of instruction but fortunately no divorce.

 

I find that I need to get the sails up with the halyards quite loose, and then progressively tighten them as I complete the sail hoop attachment. The photographs are taken at the stage of the 2nd hoop attachment with the sail still without any real tension.

 

Fortunately I remembered to install the deckhouse, it does not go in with the boom installed.

 

Anyway here are the photos:-

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2017 by KeithAug

[John Allen]

Keith,

 

I swear when you think it can't get any better it does with the post of each pic. I think I would insure this one.

 

If you ever have to evacuate do it in this order Altair, wife, dog. (kidding of course) Again amazing one of the cleanest builds on this site.

[jdbondy]

Keith, can you give some detail about the knot you used to secure the foresail/mainsail to the mast hoops? I am at a similar point on my rigging. I think I see how you are doing it but want to be sure.

[KeithAug]

Jon. Not sure of the authenticity of this way of doing it - but it gave the look I was after:-

 

Then taking one of the tails knot it round the 4 threads between the ring and the sail edge -

And again to lock it.

Then the same with the other tail from the opposite side.

 

Then a dab of CA glue.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Lad]

Absolutely delightful, Keith.

 

John

[Landlocked123]

Absolutely beautiful.  There’s nothing else to say but to thank you for sharing this with us.

 

Best,

John

[michael mott]

Wonderful work Keith, your build is a gem to be sure. When you have finished this one you need to build a second one with a white hull now that you have had a little practice.

 

Michael

Edited November 21, 2017 by michael mott

[KeithAug]

Thank you John & John. Still some way to go before it is finished and a few significant items to make. I think I need to write a list and systematically work through it. My wife advises that all lists should start with jobs already done. Apparently that way you can immediately cross them out, feel good and celebrate with a cup of tea.

 

Michael, welcome back and thank you. Have you been on vacation?

 

11 hours ago, michael mott said:

When you have finished this one you need to build a second one with a white hull now that you have had a little practice.

 

You are so right. I have to say that I have sadly neglected my epoxy filler skills of late. A white painted hull would certainly give me plenty of opportunity to wack on the epoxy and get out the 60 grit paper.

 

 

Edited November 21, 2017 by KeithAug

[michael mott]

Hi Keith, I have not been on holiday, just working through the list of jobs after the big move. The wall renovation is nearly completed.

 

Michael

[Bedford]

Well Keith when you build the white one I'll store this one for you and keep it out of the way.

 

[KeithAug]

Bedford - thank you for the offer - I'm not sure that the other side of the world is very convenient though.

 

Thank you to everyone else who looked in.

 

MAIN TOPSAIL:-

 

The manufacture of the jack and main topsail yards were not done during my mast making marathon easier in the year. Making them gave me a nice change from sail making and rigging.

 

I didn't have any photographic detail of these items and the plans were quite sparse. I decided to add a little interest in the form of brass end fittings. I had some mahogany dowel from which I intended making them but I realised that it was much too flexible at the desired diameters (jack yard = .190" dia and topsail yard .160" diameter). I did have some .200" ramin dowel that was stiffer but of course the colour was wrong. I decided that the ramin was the best bet in combination with a blend of Walnut and Georgian Mahogany wood dye by Liberon.

 

The yards were sanded to diameter on the lathe.

 

I took the opportunity with the end fittings of extending the mounting spigot to provide additional stiffness, the yards were drilled to take the spigot.

The spigots are inserted in the yard and glued in place. You can see the wood colour is far from ideal.

However it is wonderful what a bit of dye blending can achieve. The yard is laid over the deck housings to check the colour match.

A few eyelets and a bit of binding and the job was done.

 

And so back to sail making.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2017 by KeithAug

[Jond]

Keith

I love the photo of the small triangular"fisherman staysail" instead of the top sail you posted.  Looking at the images in your following post it is clear of what you are saying to be a challenge. It would be possible for a clewline to raise the topsail tack up above the Maine head stay, but unrealistic. I would guess it would be better with a continuous halyard (like a fisherman staysail) then drop a raise the topsail when tacking as they did a fisherman sail?

 

I am not saying any of this with authority. I am only an interested student.  We are off to eat too much turkey today Thanksgiving.

 

Enjoy the season.

Cheers

Jon

[KeithAug]

Jon, My commiseration to the turkey but I hope everyone else had a good time.

 

The main topsail was the subject of last nights and todays activity.

 

I started as normal with a template. Basically as per the plans with minor adjustment as a result of offering it up to the topmast. The plans do not show the cutback of the luff to clear the top of the mainmast. As the cutback is clearly visible in the photos I decided to include it.

 

The sail was made on the template with wired edges etc etc - as previously described for other sails.

 

The topsail and jack yards were then attached and the sail spliced on. At the bottom right is my splicing (stitching) aid - the twine is cemented into a small bore tube (.08" OD) and the end is chamfered to a sharp point.

 

The sail is mounted on the topmast secured only at the top by the halliard and at the waist by the sliding ring. The tack is still hanging loose and the sheets are not yet rigged. The Halliard is temporarily secured by forceps - visible in the photos.

 

Edited November 23, 2017 by KeithAug

[Mirabell61]

WONDERFUL !!!

 

congrats to the beautiful sails Keith

 

Nils

[KeithAug]

Thank you Nils. 

[KeithAug]

I have been continuing with the rigging - still a bit to do though. It does not seem as though I have made much progress over the last week despite having been in the workshop for quite a few hours. Perhaps its just a slow part of the build.

 

I completed the sheets on the main top sail. The topmast lift and numerous other lines.

Once more I ended up with a rats nest of lines on the deck. The piece of wood with metal pegs is my rope coiling tool.

Some time later all was tidy.

[michael mott]

Isn't it amazing how many lines there are even in a simple rig. You are doing a super job Keith, although I think that you are being just bit skimpish with the pure white lines I would have thought with your attention to fidelity an' all you would have used some home spun unbleached linen for that final touch..... Oh these white lines are just placeholders for the real thing.

[KeithAug]

Thank you Michael. Im saving rope making for my next build, once I have made a rope walk, and a rear tool post, and a table for the scroll saw, and decorated the games room, and, and, and - life is just too short.

[Guest Riccardo1966]

She looks better with each post.

Richard

 

[KeithAug]

Thank you Richard.

 

Preparations for Christmass and family visits have disrupted the build somewhat but today I got back not there workshop for the first time in over a week. My schedule going forward is looking better so I hope to make more progress over the next 2 weeks.

 

Some time back I had a go at the binnacle but on checking my photo library i raised I had missed off the mounting plinth and the brass access plate. So I corrected the error, painted it with poly and mounted it on the deck. Its about 1 inch high.

I then made a start on the mountings for the port and starboard lights.

I turned the basic shape of the lights and segmented it into quarters of which I only need 2.

[Jond]

I love the rats nest comment on temporary condition of lines. You can say that with a smile because you do a great job cleaning them up on their cleats.  The binnacle detail is great too. 

 

Turning brass for lights wow ... can't wait to see the next step.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

[Jond]

On 11/20/2017 at 1:44 PM, KeithAug said:

 

Then taking one of the tails knot it round the 4 threads between the ring and the sail edge -

OK I am back looking at this post of yours from last month.   I will definitely set up a practice board.  i was concerned with the diagram you put on my site because the tails are loose on both sides.  I did it differently and had both tails on the same side allowing a simple square not.   fun city I think as i figure out what to do here.

 

cheers 

[KeithAug]

Hi Jon

 

The diagram I put in your post was from "The Gaff Rig Handbook" by Leather. Unfortunately he isn't letting on what to do with the tails. 

[KeithAug]

I made the navigation lights and housings and mounted them on the shrouds

I then rigged the reefing lines on the fore and mainsails.

 

[Guest Riccardo1966]

Hello Kieth,

The last picture really shows the effort and attention made to the smallest parts, the whole effect is almost too much to take in when you appreciate that it is all the work of just one very dedicated, highly skilled gentleman. She is looking fantastic.

Richard

[noel_colledge]

Hi Keith

 

You may have answered this question earlier on in you log, if so apologies I have missed it.

 

Are you using commercial line for your rigging or have you made your own, if so where are you getting your raw material and what are you using?

 

Regards

Noel

 

[shipmodel]

Beautiful, as always, Keith.

 

Dan