Great Republic by rwiederrich - FINISHED - four masted extreme clipper - 1853

[rwiederrich]

Came across this painting by E. J. Pegrum  depicting the original sail configuration of the Great Republic PRIOR to her rebuild where she was fitted out with skysails, like most paintings depict her.  She had more sails, but actually had a 25% reduction in sail area, after she was rebuilt.

 

Rob

Edited November 26, 2018 by rwiederrich

[BANYAN]

That is a great painting mate.  Amazing fact that although the number of sails was increased, the actual sail area was reduced.  Do you know whether this was this intended to make sail handling easier, or reduce the strain on the masts or ...?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

43 minutes ago, BANYAN said:

That is a great painting mate.  Amazing fact that although the number of sails was increased, the actual sail area was reduced.  Do you know whether this was this intended to make sail handling easier, or reduce the strain on the masts or ...?

 

cheers

 

Pat

Pat...the rebuilders could not afford the massive timbers needed...the average main yard for a clipper was around 80+ ft...the Original GR had a 120ft main yard.  Plus the GR was the brainchild of Donald McKay..based on some assumptions that were not generally accepted at the time.....so caution was the master of the rigger....so smaller sails were used and since the size of her hull required a tall mast to drive her...the skysail was added to compensate for the loss in mass......(note:) The height of her mainmast was shortened by 25ft as well.  But her original sail spread was amazingly significant.

 

Big hull, (4555) tons required an enormous spread of canvas. Her original crew was over 100 able men and 30 ships boys.  This was reduced to less then half.

 

Rob

[popeye the sailor]

foremast looks great Rob........amazing the mount of rigging there is.  real nice job on the shrouds too.  never tried the alligator clips....did you judge the lanyard spread by eye?

[rwiederrich]

7 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

foremast looks great Rob........amazing the mount of rigging there is.  real nice job on the shrouds too.  never tried the alligator clips....did you judge the lanyard spread by eye?

No...I used a compass/caliper.  Occasionally I will not get everyone spot on...but that isn't a real issue for me....the ratlines are straight.  The alligator clips have had their teeth bent inward and flattened so they only clamp.  I clamp the deadeye with one and the shrouds with another to hold the line close...then seize off the line in between them.  Makes the chore much easier.

 

I'll add the ratlines then finish the rigging for the lower topsail and main course.  I'll have around only 12~16 lines going through fairleads at that time.

 

So many additions I will be adding in the fab of the main mast....things I had to add after the thought to the foremast.   I'm glad I made my mistakes only on one mast...repairs and additions were not that bad...but if I had to do that on all 3 mounted masts...there would have been trouble in river city.

 

Rob(Thanks everyone for the fine likes and comments)

Edited November 28, 2018 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Spent a bit of time on the ratlines..here is one side finished.

[rwiederrich]

Finished up both sides and the futtock ratlines..

[rwiederrich]

Now on to running some of the sail control lines down through the top fairleads and to the shroud fairleads.

[rwiederrich]

I toned down the light a bit so you can see the top fairleads better.

 

Things are progressing..

[rwiederrich]

I've quickly realized that finishing one mast at a time is the method I will employ(On other builds) from here on out.....

Once all the running rigging is nicely belayed on their appropriate pins.....this STEP in the build will be behind me.  Breaking the build down into far more manageable sections, or (Mini builds) actually makes the build move along faster... IMV.

 

Since each mast has already had their top/topgallant shrouds complete...to spend 3 or 4 of hours finishing the main shrouds/ratlines seams like nothing.  I'll easily, off model, add the footropes to the main yard and then rig the final 2 sails.

I wish I simply had more time.

 

Rob

[michael mott]

Very nice work Rob.

Michael

[BANYAN]

You're making some rapid progress there Rob; all is looking very good.  We'll have a clipper under a full 'fit' of sail before we know it.

[rwiederrich]

Thanks everyone.

 

I spent some time finishing up the fairleads...

[rwiederrich]

Next, I had to finish up running the sail control lines down through the top fairleads and down to their pins.

[rwiederrich]

Just a quick pic of the ship coming along.

[rwiederrich]

Next as I progressed it was clear the main fore yard needed to be rigged...so on went the foot ropes and I added the sheets.

[rwiederrich]

I also added the clews to the lower topsail..getting it ready to set .

 

I'll probably rig the downhauls before I rig the sail...less out of the way, plus I can more easily square the yard for the sail.

I did all the new work in about 2 hours tonight.

Gotta run to get some parts for the mantle I made my wife.

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

Rob

[Tigersteve]

Nice steady progress!

Steve

[BANYAN]

Yep, you better make sure you keep the lady happy otherwise you may find your fine build de-masted  

 

cheers

 

Pat

[mtaylor]

Excellent work and progress, Rob.  I think you have hit on a good method for rigging. 

[rwiederrich]

Worked for a bit today finishing up adding the lower topsail.

[michael mott]

Really Nice Rob, my that is a lot of work with all that sail and associated lines.

 

Michael

[rwiederrich]

7 hours ago, michael mott said:

Really Nice Rob, my that is a lot of work with all that sail and associated lines.

 

Michael

Riight!

 

I'm not finished installing the clew lines for the lower topsail and the lifts for the main yard....not to mention the main sail and all its control rigging.

Once done this will nearly finish off the fore mast mini project.  I might add the forestay...but my focus is proceeding to the main mast....off model.

Generally I add all the details for each step...for example...once a line is belayed at the rail...I'll add the coiled rope to it as well..to finish off that mini project.  I left off last night beginning to add  the rope coils to the control lines coming through the fairleads to the rail.  Still have 6 to go.

 

I used to put off adding rope coils to the end...but that got monotonous.  So like many monotonous tasks...I prefer to break them up by following a step through to its completion....and if that means stopping a process to go to another....that is what I do.  Makes for less tedium for me anyway.  Can anyone say...RATLINES... And this new technique I'm fiddling with provides the relief of that tedium and produces satisfying results in a step by step format.

 

When breaking the entirety of the build down into smaller and smaller mini projects....it makes the entire project feel as if it is moving along.....no...Clipping, along much faster....and seeing each project get done is very rewarding, indeed.

 

Thanks for your fine comments and everyone's likes....

 

Rob

[Dowmer]

Rob,

Looking great.  I like the billow of the sails.

Question:  Are you going to brace the yards over a little bit?  On a full size ship with all sails drawinbg, I doubt the yards would be all crossed perfectly with all the sails drawing like that.  The aft sails would blanket the fore sails somewhat.  So they would be more on a Broad Reach so all the sails could draw and catch the wind.

 

Just a suggestion, either way its looking very nice. 

 

 

 

[michael mott]

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

So like many monotonous tasks...I prefer to break them up by following a step through to its completion....and if that means stopping a process to go to another....that is what I do.  Makes for less tedium for me anyway. 

I understand this entirely.

Michael

[rwiederrich]

54 minutes ago, Dowmer said:

Rob,

Looking great.  I like the billow of the sails.

Question:  Are you going to brace the yards over a little bit?  On a full size ship with all sails drawinbg, I doubt the yards would be all crossed perfectly with all the sails drawing like that.  The aft sails would blanket the fore sails somewhat.  So they would be more on a Broad Reach so all the sails could draw and catch the wind.

 

Just a suggestion, either way its looking very nice. 

 

 

 

Thanks for noticing.  The yards are braced at 12deg...The reason was if I had braced them further I would in essence block the view of either the front or aft of the sail...hiding lots of rigging work.  The main mast yards will be braced at slightly greater degree and the mizzen even further.

 

I did wrestle with how much angle I would brace the yards....like a typical painting with full face exposure of the sails...either port or starboard.  Either way, portions of the rigging detail would not be in view.  I opted for a middle approach.   Running before the wind was not unheard of while setting your tack.

Capturing the curl of leading footer edge of the sails was the hardest thing to tackle...It looks authentic as much as I can possibly make it.

 

Here is a contemporary example and a painting.

Edited December 3, 2018 by rwiederrich

[michael mott]

Fabulous images Rob, I cant imagine what coming about would have been like with all that sail up. Likely easier to gibe. and of course running before or just off the wind would no doubt have been how these ships followed the trade winds anyway.

 

Michael

[rwiederrich]

9 minutes ago, michael mott said:

I understand this entirely.

Michael

Over the years of building clippers(before I decided to form my new technique of single mast building), I openly dreaded the task of rigging 66 to 72 deadeye shroud combos....couples with the one million ratlines that were required(sarcasm injected).

 

Add the many other very repetitious tasks...and 5 years later(If you're fortunate), you are half way done.

 

Repetition can be a project killer for some.....I just hope I retain most of my dark hair when this is all said and done.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

13 minutes ago, michael mott said:

Fabulous images Rob, I cant imagine what coming about would have been like with all that sail up. Likely easier to gibe. and of course running before or just off the wind would no doubt have been how these ships followed the trade winds anyway.

 

Michael

Yes...I would assume to fully use the stun'sles ...and to prevent them from plunging into the waves as the vessel heals to one side...you would require to be running before the wind.

 

I've not yet seen a model rigged where she was tacking her yards...where they are aiming in all directions shifting from one tack to the next.  I'm sure it looked messy and would not be an example one would want to display.

 

Note the painting.

[Jaager]

I only have a passing knowledge of sail handling, but the painting has me wondering.

I thought that stunsails were used in light breezes.  The sky looks like a storm.  The sea surface being combers, I think there is a correlation between wind speed and how the surface looks and I doubt that light breezes  do that. The angle it is hitting the bow and the angle of the yards.  Water pouring from the stb main stun spreader.  And how much fishing could the sea birds do in those conditions, or even scoop up garbage?

 

By the way, it has got to be difficult to get that much detail at what really is a miniature scale.  Excellent job.   Can you imagine what that ship would be like at 1:48?  Who gets the house, you or it?