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

[ClipperFan]

Rob, Vladimir, FINALLY! After over 12 long years of intense, careful research, I have produced what I consider my finest print of Donald McKay's1869 Medium Clipper "GLORY of the SEAS" hull. Is it perfect? Certainly not but I've come to accept that nothing in life truly is. But there's also this thing in life called the "relentless pursuit of perfection" in which nothing is ever truly finished. I will say this. Every possible, quantifiable, measurable property has been meticulously reproduced in the exacting scale of 1:96th (1/8th inch = 1 foot) identical to Rob's model in production now.

The first print Staples did is more clear than this but some of the lighter work was barely visible. It also has a future copywrite date by mistake. This image produced by Staples has been darkened more than the first, which has advantages and drawbacks. All elements are now clearly visible but it blurs out the delicate work around the Bow. I'm mailing out both prints to Michael Mjelde in duplicate so he can forward copies to his Shipwright buddy Ron Haug for his evaluation. I have printed enough copies to share one of each with Rob and Vladimir, just PM me your addresses. While this is about a 43" long print, it's actually not terribly tall and will fit easily into a mailing tube. I can also email the pdf & jpg images as well.

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

25 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, Vladimir, FINALLY! After over 12 long years of intense, careful research, I have produced what I consider my finest print of Donald McKay's1869 Medium Clipper "GLORY of the SEAS" hull. Is it perfect? Certainly not but I've come to accept that nothing in life truly is. But there's also this thing in life called the "relentless pursuit of perfection" in which nothing is ever truly finished. I will say this. Every possible, quantifiable, measurable property has been meticulously reproduced in the exacting scale of 1:96th (1/8th inch = 1 foot) identical to Rob's model in production now.

The first print Staples did is more clear than this but some of the lighter work was barely visible. It also has a future copywrite date by mistake. This image produced by Staples has been darkened more than the first, which has advantages and drawbacks. All elements are now clearly visible but it blurs out the delicate work around the Bow. I'm mailing out both prints to Michael Mjelde in duplicate so he can forward copies to his Shipwright buddy Ron Haug for his evaluation. I have printed enough copies to share one of each with Rob and Vladimir, just PM me your addresses. While this is about a 43" long print, it's actually not terribly tall and will fit easily into a mailing tube. I can also email the pdf & jpg images as well.

congratulationsRich. im really impress. i will vet it framed and hang in my room. V. 

[ClipperFan]

22 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Vladimir, first thanks for your appreciation of my drafting efforts. I deeply appreciate it. I'm in the process of redoing my large sketch (yet again). I've redone the 11 stanchions and it now much more closely matches images in the pics. Thank you Rob for making me review the post count one last time. My revisions will also include a deeper lower molding but comparisons I've seen seem to show that the ornamental soffett below rooftop is slightly deeper than the blue molding at the base of the house. Doors and windows now align equally. 

 

[ClipperFan]

7 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I think I can see them...but my images are not that good.

 

Rob

Rob, here's the scene I was referring to. I've enlarged the rear Wheelhouse. Actually if you pay attention to the "negative space" created by the shadow you can get a fairly decent idea of how ornate the bracket really was. I suspect for the sake of consistency, brackets on the front of the Rear Carriage House would have been identical.

Update: I found a larger image of the same scene. Whether the edited version of the Rear Wheelhouse is any sharper is hard to tell but I figured it might. If not, you should be able to see better details in the more detailed photo too.

Edited September 4, 2021 by ClipperFan
additional information

[ClipperFan]

Rob, Vladimir in my ongoing efforts to accurately capture the glory of the ornate face of Rear Carriage House, here's my latest results. The left side has incorporated all revisions suggested by you both. From much closer inspection, the doors and windows definitely have an arched component to them, more subdued than the semi circles of before. Interestingly enough, the actual door from Glory is almost identical. The entire house now shows 11 stanchions, which are the most accurate count & distance I can calculate. The right face hasn't been revised yet. If you agree with the left side, that's how I would revise the right one. 

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, Vladimir in my ongoing efforts to accurately capture the glory of the ornate face of Rear Carriage House, here's my latest results. The left side has incorporated all revisions suggested by you both. From much closer inspection, the doors and windows definitely have an arched component to them, more subdued than the semi circles of before. Interestingly enough, the actual door from Glory is almost identical. The entire house now shows 11 stanchions, which are the most accurate count & distance I can calculate. The right face hasn't been revised yet. If you agree with the left side, that's how I would revise the right one. 

So much nicer,  I think you’re there.   
 I like the flatter windows

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob, thanks for your feedback. I agree. Thanks to Vladimir's input, I took a closer look in the shadows and was able to discern the flatter windows as well as the doors. As soon as I complete the front fascia, I will sketch the side with the fancy bracket utilizing my best estimate of how it appears on the Wheelhouse.

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, thanks for your feedback. I agree. Thanks to Vladimir's input, I took a closer look in the shadows and was able to discern the flatter windows as well as the doors. As soon as I complete the front fascia, I will sketch the side with the fancy bracket utilizing my best estimate of how it appears on the Wheelhouse.

Super. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well I went against my own judgment and I opted to go ahead and finish up the aft railing.  
 

I will add the iron bar rail at the head  next.  I got called away.  
 

Rob

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

3 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Well I went against my own judgment and I opted to go ahead and finish up the aft railing.  
 

I will add the iron bar rail at the head  next.  I got called away.  
 

Rob

oh thats amazing Rob! 

[ClipperFan]

Rob, that's simply beautiful! I love how you managed to replicate the slight inward cant of the turned stanchions. Speaking of which, you also did an amazing job of capturing the pattern of those fat, stubby stanchions too. It really captures what I call "the woodeness" of it all. By keeping all of these elements to scale it actually increases the size of the overall vessel as well. Great job!

[michael mott]

So why against your better judgement? Rob

 

Michael

[rwiederrich]

10 hours ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

oh thats amazing Rob! 

Thanks Vlad.  Those stanchions are about 3/16” tall.     Sweeehu.      Tint stuff. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

6 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, that's simply beautiful! I love how you managed to replicate the slight inward cant of the turned stanchions. Speaking of which, you also did an amazing job of capturing the pattern of those fat, stubby stanchions too. It really captures what I call "the woodeness" of it all. By keeping all of these elements to scale it actually increases the size of the overall vessel as well. Great job!

Thanks Rich.  As you recall….I made those boogers months ago.  The slight cant is to permit unrestricted passing of the shrouds and their lanyards up toward the mizzenmast tops.  As the stanchions pass the shrouds they begin to plumb up and go around the stern where they, again , cant inward behind the shrouds.   
 

Now, onto the cabin. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, michael mott said:

So why against your better judgement? Rob

 

Michael

I try to plan out each mini project and building the aft cabin would have been easier without the rail in place.  
I just have to be more careful is all.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob, Vladimir, as usual it's not perfect but I figure this is close enough to be usable for the front of Glory's Rear Carriage House. I'm doing the side now and should have it done soon.

Edited September 6, 2021 by ClipperFan
Grammar correction

[ClipperFan]

Rob, Vladimir in his most recent communication with me Mike wrote the following: "Our ultimate goal is to attain a degree of accuracy which will far exceed anything done in the past based on careful analysis of cumulative data gathered by a number of people. It would be great if at the end someone is able to put together a definitive article, backed by photographs of actual models, for Nautical Research  Journal."

 

Of course, as I have been observing all along, you Rob and Vladimir have, in my modest opinion, the two most accurate replicas ever undertaken in the world today. I suppose Ron Haug could build a professional model too but unless he uses our lines, his results won't match images of the real vessel at all. 

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, Vladimir in his most recent communication with me Mike wrote the following: "Our ultimate goal is to attain a degree of accuracy which will far exceed anything done in the past based on careful analysis of cumulative data gathered by a number of people. It would be great if at the end someone is able to put together a definitive article, backed by photographs of actual models, for Nautical Research  Journal."

 

Of course, as I have been observing all along, you Rob and Vladimir have, in my modest opinion, the two most accurate replicas ever undertaken in the world today. I suppose Ron Haug could build a professional model too but unless he uses our lines, his results won't match images of the real vessel at all. 

Rich...wouldn't it be amazing if such an article would be written to update historical records to demonstrate through newly found imagery(Made public) and through newly constructed models that Glory may fine her due place in history and the living conscience of the public at large?

 

It could be an historical update and published in and for Nautical Research Journal.

 

Fascinating proposition.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

21 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, Vladimir, as usual it's not perfect but I figure this is close enough to be usable for the front of Glory's Rear Carriage House. I'm doing the side now and should have it done soon.

Beautiful Rich.  I still wish I could reconcile those door knobs...for sliding doors......if in fact they slide from center to outboard?

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Beautiful Rich.  I still wish I could reconcile those door knobs...for sliding doors......if in fact they slide from center to outboard?

 

Rob

 

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Beautiful Rich.  I still wish I could reconcile those door knobs...for sliding doors......if in fact they slide from center to outboard?

 

Rob

Rob, believe me, I personally have used large ornate heavy wooden sliding doors with round glass door knobs. I wouldn't get hung up on that issue. Meanwhile here's the side of the Rear Carriage House, using 3/16" = 1' scale.

[rwiederrich]

19 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

 

Rob, believe me, I personally have used large ornate heavy wooden sliding doors with round glass door knobs. I wouldn't get hung up on that issue. Meanwhile here's the side of the Rear Carriage House, using 3/16" = 1' scale.

Beautiful.   However,  if you look at the pic of the aft cabin, you can see men working on the port side right at the beginning of the rail.  The man leaning on the side of the roof edge appears to be about 5/8, so that puts his rump resting against the edge at about 3’ish.     I place the roof at about the height of the outer rail, or close to it.   Your thoughts?

Plus there are 4 rings on the steps up to the poop. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I worked on the aft cabin today.  Here is the beginning, starting with an image of the rail and deck.   
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Some more pics

[rwiederrich]

Here are some comparison images of our (mine and Vlad’s) versions……his 1/72 and my 1/96 version.    Looks like we are on the same page for sure.   Images were taken when the builds were at about the same stage for each model……though mine is further along.    It’s amazing how the study and research has paid off.   
 

Rob

Edited September 8, 2021 by rwiederrich

[BANYAN]

You are making some good progress Rob; looking good.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[ClipperFan]

1 hour ago, rwiederrich said:

Beautiful.   However,  if you look at the pic of the aft cabin, you can see men working on the port side right at the beginning of the rail.  The man leaning on the side of the roof edge appears to be about 5/8, so that puts his rump resting against the edge at about 3’ish.     I place the roof at about the height of the outer rail, or close to it.   Your thoughts?

Plus there are 4 rings on the steps up to the poop. 
 

Rob

Rob, go back to the picture of the ship's boy resting against the front of the Rear Carriage House, it's in Mike's first book "Glory of the Seas". The turned stanchion rails actually rest on a slightly elevated section which encircles the entire roof. It appears to be about a foot wide, maybe 6" deep. Another words the roof is indented 6" from the rails themselves. So the rail height is probably 30" from the house but actually 3' from the deck's indented roof. Just another fascinating little detail most would overlook 

As far as the poop deck ladder from the main deck, at first I was only able to count 3 rungs on the Starboard side, however I missed the bottom rung which was slightly faded. There are indeed 4 rungs to those ladders.

[ClipperFan]

7 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Rich...wouldn't it be amazing if such an article would be written to update historical records to demonstrate through newly found imagery(Made public) and through newly constructed models that Glory may fine her due place in history and the living conscience of the public at large?

 

It could be an historical update and published in and for Nautical Research Journal.

 

Fascinating proposition.

 

Rob

Rob, since this suggestion comes directly from Michael Mjelde himself, who as far as I know was at one point the Editor (?) or possibly even President (?) of the Nautical Research Society which publishes the journal, I believe this is a genuine possibility.

[ClipperFan]

1 hour ago, rwiederrich said:

Here are some comparison images of our (mine and Vlad’s) versions……his 1/72 and my 1/96 version.    Looks like we are on the same page for sure.   Building is at about the same stage for each model……though mine is further along.    It’s amazing how the study and research has paid off.   
 

Rob

Rob, it truly is uncanny how two separately, scratch built models so closely match. It really is a tribute to months of painstaking work of all involved in our most in depth research as to the true nature of this incredibly powerful yet lovely vessel.

[rwiederrich]

Spent some time working on the carriage house.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob, your Rear Carriage House is shaping up very nicely. From a nautical design philosophy, I like how the low profile emphasizes stability of the vessel herself.