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

[Rick310]

Absolutely amazing Rob,  your furled sails are top notch!!

[BANYAN]

I think you may have started a new method for doing furled sails  They look great, even up close.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

Thanks for all the fine compliments. 
 

I rotated the model and began the port side rigging. I’m getting there, but still bunt lines and tidying up (rope coils).  I’ll leave the braces off for now so as not to bump them. 

Nearly ready to add the final touch……the pendant gaff and old Glory. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, BANYAN said:

I think you may have started a new method for doing furled sails  They look great, even up close.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Thanks Pat.  I couldn’t imagine trying this with cloth or silk span.  Most folks are fearful straying away from accepted methods and materials.  It’s the end result….Not the material used. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Started the pennant gaff and rigging…….just need to make a flag.  
 

Rob

[michael mott]

19 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

It’s the end result….Not the material used. 

I think that is the thing that many of us forget when struggling to portray a moment in time, which is what our models are really all about in my humble opinion. That said it is wonderful when the model can use the miniature of the real full sized object being modeled. But here's the thing we cannot scale molecules and an element of nature is what it is. We compromise all the time to make something look as real as possible in miniature, And you my friend have done an amazing job in representing all those furled sails.

Oh but I did notice the stitching was a bit loose on the clew of the mizzen sail.😉

Brilliant work Rob!!

 

Michael 

[rwiederrich]

Added the large stars-n-Stripes. 

[rwiederrich]

A few closeups before I throw myself into the main mast

[rwiederrich]

A few catch-up pics and I’m off on the main mast.  
 

Rob

Edited April 22, 2022 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Test Setting the main mast after the addition of blocks and eyebolts. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Up to this point, I’ve not taken pictures of all the yards as I was making them.  
Well, here are the two lower main yards for the fore and main mast.  I just finished turning these on the lathe.  I wanted to at least show them in the raw wood.   I won’t show every yard I make, but you now have a clue as to my process. 
Now to dress them up with bands and eye bolts. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Lower topsail yard ready for the sail. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I added the sail……….still lots to finish before I move to the next yard.  
 

Rob

[michael mott]

Hi Rob Not intending to hijack your fantastic thread but I thought you might like to see this coaster I just cut this morning for you, it was a lightning cut, only took me a bout a year or so to do. It will go in the mail today.

 

I am assuming your address is the same as the one you PM'ed to me earlier.

sorry for the long delay I accasionally suffer from bouts of procrastination.

 

Cheers Michael

[rwiederrich]

11 minutes ago, michael mott said:

Hi Rob Not intending to hijack your fantastic thread but I thought you might like to see this coaster I just cut this morning for you, it was a lightning cut, only took me a bout a year or so to do. It will go in the mail today.

 

I am assuming your address is the same as the one you PM'ed to me earlier.

sorry for the long delay I accasionally suffer from bouts of procrastination.

 

Cheers Michael

I thank you so much Michael.  I assumed you had other things on your mind, like your wonderful train project.  I appreciate the thoughtfulness.  
 

I surely wonder what a cut through the middle of that tree nail would look like.  
 

Thanks again…..I can’t wait for the prize. 
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

5 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I thank you so much Michael.  I assumed you had other things on your mind, like your wonderful train project.  I appreciate the thoughtfulness.  
 

I surely wonder what a cut through the middle of that tree nail would look like.  
 

Thanks again…..I can’t wait for the prize. 
 

Rob

Michael, by Lightning I figure you're referring to the famous McKay Clipper "Lightning" and not a lightning bolt?

[michael mott]

7 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Michael, by Lightning I figure you're referring to the famous McKay Clipper "Lightning" and not a lightning bolt?

Indeed!

[ClipperFan]

On 4/24/2022 at 1:32 AM, michael mott said:

Indeed!

Hi Michael,

I came across a rare painting attributed to Samuel Walters, who's renowned for the accuracy of his works. This is a close up of the bow and original figurehead of the McKay Clipper Lightning. What impressed me is that in this depiction, it appears that much like Glory of the Seas, the Lightning has similar naval hoods and gold leaf embellished carved cutwaters. Notice the sheer plan of Lightning. Pay particular attention to her bow. There's literally an open space where her cutwater, naval hoods and figurehead would be located. Donald McKay was famous for wanting to keep his nautical designs secret. I believe that's why even today, none of the contemporary McKay Clippers feature accurate bow treatments. For that reason, I see our group's accurate Glory of the Seas reconstruction as sort of a Rosetta Stone to revisit many of Donald McKay's other Clipper Ships.

Edited April 25, 2022 by ClipperFan
grammar correction

[druxey]

This close-up of the painting seems to show that it was 'skinned', that is to say, over-zealously cleaned at some point. Much fine detail has gone. Notice the spotty appearance of the dark paint, where the white ground is showing through and near-absence of some lines. A pity.

[ClipperFan]

druxey,

Good observation. At least it hasn't been enhanced like that completely bungled effort to restore a fresco of Christ the Redeemer in Italy! If I remember correctly, this impressive work of art still accurately captures a McKay Clipper's features. It's unfortunate it's been so unusually washed out, especially for a Samuel Walters piece. Since my preference is to share an entire image, I've attached it here. Not wanting to hijack his Glory of the Seas blog, I'm now dropping the issue in respect to Rob.

[rwiederrich]

No reason to think McKay would not include the Naval hood on all his clippers.   It’s like a signature.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

7 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

No reason to think McKay would not include the Naval hood on all his clippers.   It’s like a signature.  
 

Rob

Rob, Agreed. Seeing Lightning illustrated more than once with just a blank space where the cutwater and naval hood would be gives me the distinct impression that McKay intended to keep these features secret for as long as possible. His success in that endeavor is amazing too. Today, until you and Vladimir's meticulously accurate Glory of the Seas replicas, there hasn't been one single model that replicated those features. In fact, every single Stag Hound, Flying Cloud, Flying Fish, Lightning & Sovereign of the Seas model produced have only included the vessel's stem, both cutwater and naval hoods have been mysteriously left off. That's a major reason why I see Glory of the Seas as a type of nautical "Rosetta Stone" to finally reveal the true beauty of McKay's Clippers. After this project, now that the Nautical Research Journal article is in its editing stage I can concentrate on setting the visual record straight when it comes to the rest of Donald McKay's Clippers. Look for my future blog on this fascinating topic in "Research."

[rwiederrich]

46 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, Agreed. Seeing Lightning illustrated more than once with just a blank space where the cutwater and naval hood would be gives me the distinct impression that McKay intended to keep these features secret for as long as possible. His success in that endeavor is amazing too. Today, until you and Vladimir's meticulously accurate Glory of the Seas replicas, there hasn't been one single model that replicated those features. In fact, every single Stag Hound, Flying Cloud, Flying Fish, Lightning & Sovereign of the Seas model produced have only included the vessel's stem, both cutwater and naval hoods have been mysteriously left off. That's a major reason why I see Glory of the Seas as a type of nautical "Rosetta Stone" to finally reveal the true beauty of McKay's Clippers. After this project, now that the Nautical Research Journal article is in its editing stage I can concentrate on setting the visual record straight when it comes to the rest of Donald McKay's Clippers. Look for my future blog on this fascinating topic in "Research."

Fascinating!  I've been skewering the net and my book library for any paintings or photographs of such evidence myself.

I'm pleased you are taking on this overlooked subject...concerning McKay's *secret* hoods.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well I’m changing my process again…….I’m going to build all the yards first this time….including the main yard too. 
 

Once the yards ,  including sails and all the blocks, rigging are complete, then I will finish up the shrouds on the mast.  Then I can add the yards one by one to the mast.  
 

Process…..process….process.  
 

I finished the  lower topsail first…..now onto the main yard. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Finished adding the sail to the main yard….now to let it dry before I clean it up and then add bunt blocks and gaskets. And weathering.  
 

Rob

[Bob Cleek]

Very clever use of the drawer front edge holes and the alligator clips! That trick just went into my memory bank for future use. 

 

She's sure coming along beautifully, Rob. Thanks for sharing. I know these build logs take time and effort.

[BANYAN]

Very clever indeed.  The yards with their furled sails look very effective, I will really have to try your technique.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

8 hours ago, Bob Cleek said:

Very clever use of the drawer front edge holes and the alligator clips! That trick just went into my memory bank for future use. 

 

She's sure coming along beautifully, Rob. Thanks for sharing. I know these build logs take time and effort.

Its feast or famine.    I just wish I could take the time I really want to spend on Glory.   I've already begun the work on the next yard(Upper topsail) for the main.  I just loath having time gaps in my log of days and weeks of inactivity.  IMV, there should be daily updates...😄

OH....in a perfect world...

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

7 hours ago, BANYAN said:

Very clever indeed.  The yards with their furled sails look very effective, I will really have to try your technique.

 

cheers

 

Pat

What's so fantastic...is the wax-compound is so easily manipulated and formed...but when solidified (And When highlighted)it looks like furled, bunched, rolled, stacked canvas/cloth.  The argument is, *Its a wax* won't it melt?*.  Well its a very stiff compound when set....and who is going to let their model get so hot that it begins to deform/melt?  Too many other things on your model will ignite and combust first.  It's a moot argument.

 

By the way....I've even experimented with sheet beeswax and it works just as well.  When heated up and then cooled down it linda like anneals the wax....and once painted over, the paint encapsulates it and further protects is.

 

Just another of my *Hack* tricks of the trade......   I get the look/effect I want by unorthodox means.  No other known method works and looks so well...IMHV.

 

Thanks Pat for your wonderful compliments.  You wouldn't consider putting anything less than what would meet your stringent requirements on Your magnificent Victoria. 

I encourage you...give the technique a try and work out any kinks for yourself.

 

Oh..one last hint....I use twisted wire within the twisted ends of the sail at the clue where the blocks attach.  It supports the natural bend and strengthens and supports during rigging.

 

Rob(There....I've just given up my secret)

[rwiederrich]

Finished yard details and weathering…….now onto the next. 
 

Rob