Germania Nova 1911 by KeithAug - FINISHED - Scale 1:36 - replica of schooner Germania 1908

[KeithAug]

15 hours ago, Andrew J. said:

At one point they're sailing on the Pacific on a similar vessel, called the Tweedle Dee in the movie (Spike Africa in real life). There's this one shot at sunset with a lovely sweeping string motif that has always really struck me.

Andrew, I haven't seen the film but I will look out for it on Netflix or similar. I agree there is something special about a schooner under full sail.

 

12 hours ago, Dr PR said:

That Jackyard topsail is huge! I read in John Leather's Gaff Rig Handbook that the jackyard evolved as a means of getting around some type rules for racing. It allowed the area of the spar gaff topsail to be expanded greatly without violating the rules as written. He said some jackyard topsails had greater area than the main sail! You would have to be quick handling those things if a sudden squall blew up.

Phil, I agree that a squall would be worrying. They seem to sail Germania most of the time with a much smaller sail (Photo) so I guess they are worried too.

I don't like Germania as much with this rig. She seems a little "squat" to me.

 

1 hour ago, TBlack said:

I hope you have plans to publicly display this fabulous work of art/science. A broad audience really needs to see your work.

Sadly not Tom - we don't get a lot of visitors beyond family and close friends. The most important and valued audience is of course my friends at MSW.

 

Thank you Keith, Brian, Steve, Pat, Andrew, Phil, Eberhard, Valeriy and Tom, your interest and kind remarks are as ever much appreciated. Also thanks to everyone who have visited and or liked my work.

[Veszett Roka]

I have no words Keith. Former comments said all superlatives i could say, and no one too much. Believe me, hard to see this professional model anywhere. A million dollar baby.

[Zbip57]

8 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I don't like Germania as much with this rig. She seems a little "squat" to me.

This "squat" rig would be MUCH easier to handle when tacking.  The smaller main topsail, and the fisherman, are "relatively" easy to reset from one side to the other when tacking.

 

The stunning jackyard topsail is only good if it can remain set on one tack for a long time, because I suspect it needs to be lowered right down to the deck each time in order to re-hoist it on the opposite tack. 

 

The missing fore-topsail on this "squat" rig entirely eliminates the complication of having to tack that one.  With a fore-topsail rigged, it prevents that gaff from swinging under the between-masts cross-stays.  So the fore-topsail needs a complicated furling each time before tacking.

 

I modified my Bearospace Irene R/C schooner from it's original 3-sail configuration by adding topmasts to support extra sails.  I spent far too many hours scratching my head trying to figure out if it would be possible to tack the topsails, and I eventually gave up on that idea, as it's just too complicated.  I cheated and just eliminated the cross-stays on my boat.

Here's a little video showing what I had in mind, but there was actually more needed than just that.

 

 

[Zbip57]

In 2019 I had the very great pleasure of going on a Maine Windjammer cruise on the Lewis R. French.  She carries a main-topsail, but doesn't run a fore-topsail at all.  The captain said they don't have Coast Guard certification for that much sail area, but I suspect it's simply because the fore-top is just too much of a hassle to tack.

 

Their main-topsail had three lines attached at its foot (tack).   There is a port-side and starboard-side tack line to stretch the sail down tight on the desired side.  The third line (they called it a tump line) is also attached at the foot (tack) of the topsail, but runs up over a block at the top of the topmast.  With both port and starboard tack lines released, pulling the tump line lifts the foot of the topsail up high enough to clear the highest portion of the peak halyard supporting the main gaff.  The it's easy to pull the foot of the topsail over the peak halyard to either desired side.

 

 

 

[Bedford]

Interestingly, in the book Hand, Reef and Steer by Tom Cunliffe he states that the jackyard topsail should be raised on the port side only. Although it will not be as efficient on the port tack it still works and the reasoning is simple bearing in mind he would be referring to English vessels with a job to do, short voyages and not many hands. The sail has to be raised and lowered on the lee side of the rig for obvious reasons and since doing so is a busy affair you don't want to have to leave it to tack away to avoid another vessel. Having it on the port side means you raise or lower it when on a starboard tack and therefore have right of way over other vessels.

[Dr PR]

ZB,

 

Thanks for the information about tacking the gaff topsails. I was wondering how it was done. There as been some discussion and different ideas on other threads, but the videos you posted show the process nicely.

[KeithAug]

7 hours ago, Zbip57 said:

The stunning jackyard topsail is only good if it can remain set on one tack for a long time, because I suspect it needs to be lowered right down to the deck each time in order to re-hoist it on the opposite tack. 

Thank you for your two interesting and informative contributions, i learned a lot and i am sure they will be of interest to quite a few visitors to my build. The camera work in the second video is fascinating. I assume a drone was employed with some sort of fancy lens. Were you the operator? The video also reminded me that I haven't hd chilli for a while and I love chilli.

 

5 hours ago, Bedford said:

nterestingly, in the book Hand, Reef and Steer by Tom Cunliffe he states that the jackyard topsail should be raised on the port side only. Although it will not be as efficient on the port tack it still works

Steve - I have a lot of photos of Germania that supports your point. The coloured photos are of Germainia Nova while the black and white is the original.

 

[Zbip57]

4 hours ago, KeithAug said:

The camera work in the second video is fascinating. I assume a drone was employed with some sort of fancy lens. Were you the operator? The video also reminded me that I haven't hd chilli for a while and I love chilli.

It was an Insta360 camera on a long selfie stick.  It sees and records everything in a 360° spherical view.  You can do neat stuff in editing with that.

 

I used on my R/C schooner too, with the selfie-stick clamped to the gunwale railing. 

 

 

[Zbip57]

4 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I have a lot of photos of Germania that supports your point. The coloured photos are of Germainia Nova while the black and white is the original.

 

That last photo is particularly interesting.  Of course the topsails can simply be left in place, set to one side, but they're less effective when tacked to the wrong side.  But this last photo is peculiar because you can see the fore-topsail is deformed where it's pressing against the gaff peak halyards.  It really should be flown outboard of the peak halyard lines.  But what's interesting is that it is outboard of the cross stays running between the masts.  How did they manage that?

 

Here's a photo showing someone working on a fore-topsail.

And here I've added some colouring to identify the lines.  Red & Green to mark the Port and Starboard tack lines and sheet lines.  And Blue 1,2,3, marking the cross-stays running between the masts.  You can see that, if the fore-topsail is fixed to one side, when tacking it would prevent the gaff from swinging freely to either side under cross-stays #1 and #2.

 

The small triangular fishermans sail is almost self-tacking as it can pass freely between stays #1 and #2.  But it would still require two separate sheets, one to port and one to starboard, with the desired side pulled tight and the other lazy-sheet left loose.

Here's an action shot of a fore-topsail being furled (brailled?) using a Clew line.  And you can see how the main-topsail only needs to be lifted over the main-gaff peak halyards when tacking, or even simply left in place, because there are no cross-stays in the way of that one.  But the fore-topsail needs somehow to come through the cross-stays on each tack.

[KeithAug]

3 hours ago, Zbip57 said:

The small triangular fishermans sail is almost self-tacking as it can pass freely between stays #1 and #2.

They have even managed to make tacking the fishermans complicated on Germania. I don't think you have spotted the unusual way the between mast stays are rigged. It is like the final video you posted in 2073.

Now why would they do that?

 

I have added insta360 to my Farther Christmas wish list. It is brilliant.

 

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by KeithAug

[KeithAug]

2 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I don't think you have spotted the unusual way the between mast stays are rigged

However if I look long enough i will find the answer!

There are a pair of stays and they are obviously "running" stays that can be slackened on either side depending on which tack the boat is on. i hope the crew remember to tighten the stays or they may loose the fore top mast. it seems a bit of a worrying arrangement to me.

 

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by KeithAug

[Retired guy]

You have nailed it Keith 

Regards

Richard

[Zbip57]

20 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I have added insta360 to my Farther Christmas wish list. It is brilliant.

These 360 cameras really are a nifty bit of kit.  A nice feature is that the camera itself and the selfie stick are automatically digitally removed from the resulting image, so it appears as though the viewpoint is floating in space.  You can still see the camera's shadow though in my previous video.

 

In the unedited full-360 video, there are a couple of different modes to select from, stabilized or non-stabilized.  In gyro-stabilized mode, the image remains horizontally level looking at one spot on the horizon as the boat rotates and heels under the camera.  With the viewing angle aimed at a particular tree on the shoreline, it'll remain looking at that tree as the boat turns away. In non-stabilized mode, the view rotates with the boat as it bobs and turns.  You can select the viewing angle to look at the bowsprit, for example, and it'll stay aimed at the bowsprit as the boat turns.   In either case you can click-and-drag the view as it's playing on Youtube to rotate the camera view to any chosen angle.

 

Click and drag to change the viewing angle.

 

Stabilized - https://youtu.be/ZFflivuntpY

 

Non-stabilized - https://youtu.be/wazhC7-KZ70

 

The fun part is in the editing.  The camera records everything in a full 360° spherical view.  So you never need to worry about having the camera "aimed" in the wrong direction.  It sees everything.  In editing you can then choose which portion of the sphere to focus on, and zoom in or out, to create effects like tiny planet.  You mark the viewing angle and zoom level at selected points in the video, and the software transitions smoothly from one point to the next and exports the resultant mpg file.

 

Mine was the cheapest first generation Insta360 One, and I didn't have it properly calibrated yet in those two sample clips above.  You can see the stitching lines don't meet up smoothly where the front and rear lenses overlap.  More recent versions of these cameras are much improved. 

[KeithAug]

2 hours ago, Zbip57 said:

These 360 cameras really are a nifty bit of kit.

You make me more and more interested. Thank you for all the information.

[Zbip57]

19 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Thank you for all the information.

"We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming..."

 

I haven't commented or complimented you nearly often enough on this thread.  I followed your Altair build with rapt fascination, and now the Germania.  Your skilled metal work and attention to the minutest details is absolutely mesmerizing.  I always look forward to seeing every new photo posted and manufacturing trick revealed by you.  You bring these gorgeous models to life in a way that sets my imagination running wild.

 

The thumbnail for this video shows a fore-topsail being hoisted straight from the deck.  And at 2:36 you see someone high in the rigging working on a brailled fore-topsail.  This video really gets my blood flowing.  So many beautiful boats.

 

 

[KeithAug]

3 hours ago, Zbip57 said:

This video really gets my blood flowing.  So many beautiful boats.

They are all magnificent, unfortunately I don't think I have enough time left (or display space) to build many more of them. I think I misused my youth on work, i should have been born rich. I note Germania makes a few appearances in the video.

I am currently wondering what to build next. My hope is to finish Germania before Christmas so I am looking round for another project.

Thank you for the compliments.

[Veszett Roka]

13 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I am currently wondering what to build next.

My future project (have to finish the Pamir first) is the Royal Cutter Yacht Britannia 1893. 😉

 

 

[KeithAug]

2 hours ago, Veszett Roka said:

My future project

Veszett, Yes I looked at her some time ago the plus is that the plans can be bought, the minus is that there are not many decent photos of the deck detail. Have you found any?

[Wintergreen]

18 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I am currently wondering what to build next.

Well, to refresh our memories you can start by just list what you've built so far 😉 

Then I am certain there will be suggestions from the audience here 🙂 

 

About your GN, and schooners in general, such beautiful boats! 

[Veszett Roka]

3 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Veszett, Yes I looked at her some time ago the plus is that the plans can be bought, the minus is that there are not many decent photos of the deck detail. Have you found any?

Unfortunately not too many, will share them if you're interested. I have a directory on my work laptop.

[KeithAug]

2 hours ago, Veszett Roka said:

Unfortunately not too many, will share them if you're interested.

Veszett, Thank you, if they are off the internet I think I can find them. I see the building of a modern replica is being considered -

 

 https://www.superyachtnews.com/owner/britannia-replica-to-rule-the-waves-again. In my case it might be worth waiting and building a model of the replica which should have a more comprehensive photographic record.

 

4 hours ago, Wintergreen said:

About your GN, and schooners in general, such beautiful boats! 

Hakan - yes, i love the boats built in the early part of the 20th century. For me they epitomise elegance and beauty. I am thinking about building a display model of a steam yacht if I can find a subject with enough detail.

[Keith Black]

22 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

I am thinking about building a display model of a steam yacht if I can find a subject with enough detail.

 I'd love to see you build a steam yacht, Keith. I'd be more than happy to help you search for photos.

 

 Here's a pretty neat candidate.

 

https://www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/ena-up-for-auction-51056/

Edited November 2, 2022 by Keith Black

[Veszett Roka]

14 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

Veszett, Thank you, if they are off the internet I think I can find them. I see the building of a modern replica is being considered -

 

 https://www.superyachtnews.com/owner/britannia-replica-to-rule-the-waves-again. In my case it might be worth waiting and building a model of the replica which should have a more comprehensive photographic record.

Yes, they are from the net, except my plans. I'm doubt of the replica, as i read it will be built with full alu hull and a keel-step carbon mast.

[KeithAug]

2 hours ago, Keith Black said:

Here's a pretty neat candidate.

Keith - yes I have looked at Ena but I am also looking at this:-https://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk/yacht/618/pusey-and-jones-126-ft-steam-yacht-19012009. As yet i haven't found the hull lines anywhere.

 

 

[Wintergreen]

Well, if you opt for another sail yacht, how about Lulworth?

At present I can not help in the steam object trade.

[Bob Cleek]

1 hour ago, KeithAug said:

Keith - yes I have looked at Ena but I am also looking at this:-https://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk/yacht/618/pusey-and-jones-126-ft-steam-yacht-19012009. As yet i haven't found the hull lines anywhere.

 

 

I had a passing familiarity with Cangarda. She was restored by Jeff Rutherford's shop in Richmond, CA, in my neck of the woods. A buddy of mine attended to her relaunching and very nearly "dumped" her in that exercise.

 

 

 

 

I'd think Jeff Rutherford would know how you could locate whatever lines and plans drawings may be available for her. See: Rutherford's Boatshop (rutherfordboats.com)

[KeithAug]

17 minutes ago, Bob Cleek said:

A buddy of mine attended to her relaunching and very nearly "dumped" her in that exercise.

Hi Bob, yes i had seen that video - quite alarming really. I'm not really too sure why it happened.

 

Yes I was going to email Rutherford's boatyard to see if they could help with the hull lines. I found some fairly reasonable plans on the internet, unfortunately the only real omission was the hull lines.

1 hour ago, Wintergreen said:

Well, if you opt for another sail yacht, how about Lulworth?

Hakan, Yes she meets my "elegance" criteria. I'll add her to my search list. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by KeithAug

[Bob Cleek]

4 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Hi Bob, yes i had seen that video - quite alarming really. I'm not really too sure why it happened.

I believe the starboard railway cradle supports collapsed! She survived the event without damage, though. 

[Keith Black]

7 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Keith - yes I have looked at Ena but I am also looking at this:-https://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk/yacht/618/pusey-and-jones-126-ft-steam-yacht-19012009.

 The Cangarda is an interesting and neat yacht but it's not the beauty Ena is. Ena's beautifully executed deck features and lounge look a lot like that of the Germania, IMHO.  

[Bedford]

Keith, I'm biased but I don't reckon you can beat Ena. I've been aboard a few times and the details would really test you. Not to mention she is a museum ship now at the Australian National Maritime Museum.