Glory of the Seas 1869 by rwiederrich - FINISHED - 1/96 - medium clipper

[ClipperFan]

1 hour ago, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

     Rob, your point is well taken about "philanthropy", in that many among the millionaires at the turn of the 20th century (who often did a lot of questionable - even ugly - things to gain their fortunes) sought to whitewash their reputation by publicly giving away a relatively small portion of their vast holdings to some charitable institution ... hmmmm ... often with their NAME attached to it, just so everyone knows who the benefactor was.  Perhaps the steel magnate Carnegie may have been more 'real' since the lion's share of his money was given away, as he didn't believe in multi-generational 'dynasties' based on inherited wealth.

 

  Whatever, the 'token charity' trend continues to this day ... with perhaps Bill and Melinda Gates being among the exceptions where a majority (something over 50%) of their fortune appears to be going to worthy causes.  Most others are hung up about 'naming rights' and publicity.  I suspect that Farrell DID desire the Glory's figurehead for sentimental reasons, and he didn't make any money on it - rather it was donated for display.  Of course, the ship was in a terrible state at the end - and would have required some big dollars to restore/rebuild her to ship-shape condition ... as well as maintain her in a permanent mooring (or perhaps set-up on dry land as a museum, thereby avoiding leakage over time and even more maintenance). That would have taken a very large foundation trust fund indeed.

 

   I've no idea the extent of Farrell's commitments or how he was financially extended - and this may prompt me to research his personal life to get a better perspective.  So at this point, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt ... at least half way.  BTW, the book I mentioned is titled: Some Famous Sailing Ships and their Builder Donald McKay - published January 1st, 1928.  I found a later edition with many illustrations and an attractive color dust jacket on Amazon (there are others available) with free shipping (but sales tax) for a total of $30 and change.  I've ordered it and should get it next week.  I want to see everything that Richard C. McKay had to say about the Glory, and any other McKay clippers of note.

Rob, Johnny the sad reality about the loss of McKay's magnificent final clipper is most likely a combination of  factors. Not least of those was apparently irreperable dry rot, most likely caused by carelessness of her later owners which neglected to resurface her waterline with yellow metal. Such benign neglect allowed barnacles and other undesirable sea life to invade her bottom. When the Syndicate of wealthy industrialists learned about the dreadful condition of her hull, they decided to abandon her as being considered unseaworthy to make the treacherous journey around the mighty seas of Cape Horn. Instead they decided to rescue the venerable frigate USS Constitution. Beloved and more critically undefeated "Old Ironsides." Still, if only they could have just bought her outright from the bank and rented the section of beach she was resting on, maybe just maybe the old girl could have been eventually saved too....

[rwiederrich]

Finished up the jib pendants and sheets.  Securing them via their eyebolts, fair leads and cleats, along with rope coils. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Starting the backstays.   Port side.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

A year and 4 months this week I began construction on Glory's hull.....via the bulkheads I received from Vladimir.  This time does not include the months of work I previously accomplished prior to the hull construction.  Much could be done then and I availed myself of the time waiting.   Total time accumulated for work on Glory has been 19 months.

Even though Glory is a larger scale model then was my previous build Great Republic.  Great republic took me 5 years to complete.  Of course she was fully rigged with an entire suite of sails and all the rigging accompanying them.....so that lengthened the build time.  Again, even though Glory is a larger scale, 1/96 compared to Great Republics 1/128......Great Republic was so much larger of a vessel...the two models are nearly the same length and height.

 

In retrospect....I actually pumped out Glory in quite a record time, compared.    Now I am rounding the corner and only have the finish up the port backstays and add the starboard and the yard braces....add a view more flags, redo a few minor items and I'm finished.  I give her a couple weeks at best.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Finishing up the port backstays and I added the top yard braces too

 

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Adding a scale captain for scale reference 

 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Congrats on your 'record' build Rob, might have been relatively quick but the quality did not suffer - a wonderful model.  I have also very much enjoyed your journey and the various discussions.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

11 hours ago, BANYAN said:

Congrats on your 'record' build Rob, might have been relatively quick but the quality did not suffer - a wonderful model.  I have also very much enjoyed your journey and the various discussions.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Thanks Pat....I'm still relishing in the work left to do...getting all the lower yard pennants and brace purchases installed in their blocks.  I've decided to add several scale men working at various locations...to help define her scale and add a bit more life inducing details.

 

I've gone and removed the older (first attempt) model I built using a modified Cutty Sark hull from my displayed collection.  The poor thing is so inaccurate....I can't display her as Glory of the Seas.   I'm considering removing her name boards and fantail lettering....and creating a fictitious clipper.  Making enough changes to her figurehead, rigging  and other identifiable details...that she can be reconstituted as my new clipper....the *Vickie Jean*....after my best friend and wife.  This will probably be my next build......or rebuild.

 

Life is full of changes and adventures.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Looky there………there be crew afoot on board.   
 

Better pics from other angles will be taken later. 

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob,

Adding sailors to your vessel certainly drives home how massive Glory of the Seas really was. I think it would be neat if you could reproduce positioning of men as seen in the now familiar photos. The captain in his distinctive bowler standing on the roof of the forward cabin and ship's boy perching on the boy's house would be fun.

Here's the British Tea Clipper Sir Lancelot with Spindrift in Foochow. Looking closely at the mizzen mast of the ship in the foreground, just below her mizzen royal yard, there's a sailor comfortably sitting out in the air on nothing but  rigging doing some kind of repairs. That would be a fascinating scene to replicate too. Have fun!

Edited October 8, 2022 by ClipperFan
grammar correction

[rwiederrich]

Rich….. you bring up a fantastic point……one that I had already settled on.   However,  I had intended to place an officer on the poop (which I have), yelling forward into the main mast rigging at a sailor doing work on a topsail yard.   The addition of a boy on the boys cabin roof is a great idea too .    I’m enjoying adding these captured moments and some fictitious ones too.  Good observation, we are on the same page…….as usual.  
 

Rob

Edited October 8, 2022 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

I added a sailor on the upper topsail foot rope.    
 

The first mate on deck is yellin up orders. 
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

11 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I added a sailor on the upper topsail foot rope.    
 

The first mate on deck is yellin up orders. 
 

Rob

Rob, displaying interactions of crew is a great idea, as it creates an imaginative narrative for observers to interpret for themselves. The reason why I specifically suggested the fellow sitting out in midair on nothing but rigging is because it's surprisingly eye-catching as well as being demonstrably historically accurate. It made me realize how at home in every area of these magnificent tall ships those fearless individuals really were. Finally I hope you fully populate your superlative vessel with more than just a token handful of crew.

[Roger Pellett]

Rob,  Nice Job!!

Did you make the figures or were you able to find 1:96 scale figures?

Roger

[ClipperFan]

1 hour ago, Roger Pellett said:

Rob,  Nice Job!!

Did you make the figures or were you able to find 1:96 scale figures?

Roger

Roger, from their positions, the few crew I've seen so far are most likely from Revell's 1:96th scale Cutty Sark.

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

every new additions are lovely Rob.

[rwiederrich]

19 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Roger, from their positions, the few crew I've seen so far are most likely from Revell's 1:96th scale Cutty Sark.

Some are And some are HO figures.  
 

I had to heat them up and reform them for my purposes.  
 

Rob
 

[ClipperFan]

31 minutes ago, rwiederrich said:

Some are And some are HO figures.  
 

I had to heat them up and reform them for my purposes.  
 

Rob
 

Rob, you learn something every day. I didn't know HO figures were 1:96th scale.

[MrBlueJacket]

3 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, you learn something every day. I didn't know HO figures were 1:96th scale.

They are not. They are 1/87 scale. However, the difference is very small (only 10%) and not noticeable on a large model.

Edited October 10, 2022 by MrBlueJacket

[ClipperFan]

5 minutes ago, MrBlueJacket said:

They are not. They are 1/87 scale. However, the difference is very small (only 10%) and not noticeable on a large model.

Thanks for setting the record straight. By mixing HO  & 1:96th scale figures, Rob can give the impression of a variety of crew sizes, just like real life.

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Thanks for setting the record straight. By mixing HO  & 1:96th scale figures, Rob can give the impression of a variety of crew sizes, just like real life.

Exactly……. 
 

By heating them, I can lengthen them as well. 
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

16 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Exactly……. 
 

By heating them, I can lengthen them as well. 
 

Rob

Rob, kinda like "Gumby" sailors 😉 could have some real interesting possibilities for Halloween!

Edited October 11, 2022 by ClipperFan
misspelled word

[rwiederrich]

Taken on a few more crewmen , while Glory stays in port a bit longer. 
 

Some men by the foremast, one preparing to mount the main cabin roof.  A mate ascending the aft stair.  And a seaman sporting a red jacket tending to the main fife rail rope coils 

 

And lastly, a closeup of the first mate on the carriage cabin roof.  

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob,

I love the activity you're creating as you continue to populate your replica with additional crew. Maybe this is "pushing the envelope" but since you're already displaying Glory of the Seas in port, I thought it might be a fun moment to add a vintage photographer in the act of recording the ship's boy posing on the boy's house. Here's an actual scene of a photographer of that era, showing what would have been considered "portable" and in use in the late 1870s when that image was taken. You could even pose the ship's carpenter preparing to do the work on the port side of the ship before he crouches down. The idea is to replicate actual events which have been memorialized on film. If your stunning vessel does go on display, this would give potential audiences a fascinating tie in to actual events.

Edited October 12, 2022 by ClipperFan
grammar correction

[rwiederrich]

Finished up the fore backstays.   
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

As far as rigging is concerned, all I have left to do is the starboard royal, top gallant braces and both starboard and port top masts and main braces and the main sails sheet and tack lines.  
 

Adding the house and Union Jack sails will top it off.  
 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Those crewmen have really brought your build to life Rob; makes the model that much more interesting to view.  

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

Went to work rigging the starboard braces and adding all the rope coils.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Again I had to flip the model round again so I can proceed with the port side.   Went around the ship and added a dozen rope coils I needed to address.  
 

Some overviews. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Now back in the shop……getting prepped for the next phase of rigging.  
 

I probably flip her a couple more times so I can get all the details wrapped up. 
 

Rob