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

[rwiederrich]

I mounted the main mast today.  Just need to let her dry fully,  then I’ll rig the mizzen lower stay before I begin the shrouds. 
 

Rob

[druxey]

Real progress. I really like your furled sails.

[ClipperFan]

Rob, what really impresses me about the loftiness of Glory's masts is the fact that it's so difficult to get her entire rig in frame of the camera's lens. Unless you back up a good distance, it's impossible to see her whole rig because it's so tall. It would be interesting to calculate the scale distance required to get your whole Glory of the Seas into frame once she's completed. Maybe then we could calculate the actual great distances contemporary photos such as this have been taken from.

I was reviewing this beautiful scene and noticed a significant difference in height of the group of disembarked passengers in the foreground compared to a seaman standing amid ship on Glory of the Seas in the background. Based on the relative height of the camera's viewpoint above the people, it's clear the photographer was aboard the docked passenger vessel Dora when this picture was taken. Considering by 1910 her rig had already been reduced several times, even so Glory's rig is still impressive.

[ClipperFan]

23 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I think this is the same pier she was at when she had her figurehead removed.....Well what's left of it..

 

 

Rich....can you see if Mike has this image in his clear collection of images?

 

Hi Rob,

Mike replied that he has an 8x10 print of the above scene and he'll send it to me once he locates it.

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Hi Rob,

Mike replied that he has an 8x10 print of the above scene and he'll send it to me once he locates it.

Fantastic!  This particular image is quite revealing, concerning her gunwale height and channel detailing.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Just now, rwiederrich said:

Fantastic!  This particular image is quite revealing, concerning her gunwale height and channel detailing.

 

Rob

It would be really neat if the 8×10 includes the entire ship. Either way, as soon as I get it, I'll share it with you here.

[rwiederrich]

7 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

It would be really neat if the 8×10 includes the entire ship. Either way, as soon as I get it, I'll share it with you here.

It is the only image that shows the large cut-out made to access her deck easily.  A real violation of her integrity.  Even, the only other image of her port side, of her on the beach at Endolyne doesn't show this breach.

 

I can't wait.

 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Nice work on the masts and yards Rob, hopefully no tangles/knots in the many tail ends

 

cheers

 

Pat

[rwiederrich]

Keeping lines untangle is at a premium. 
 

I worked on the main mast gaff and iron mast bar for bending  its sail. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I’ll leave the chicken house off while I belay lines to the main fife rail.   Just easier that way. 
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob,

The apparently innumerable amount of untethered lines sure looks intimidating. I know you have a reliable system to keep them all sorted out so that they arrive at their proper destination. I would appreciate some insight into your procedure, because your results are just spectacular.

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob,

The apparently innumerable amount of untethered lines sure looks intimidating. I know you have a reliable system to keep them all sorted out so that they arrive at their proper destination. I would appreciate some insight into your procedure, because your results are just spectacular.

Indeed it looks daunting....and it will take time, but I have properly located the lifts in their own fairleads at the head of the top....and they will belay to their appropriate pin on the forward fife rail.  The bunt lines are further aft in the lubbers hole and will find their place down along the shrouds and through their particular fairlead and then to the main rail along the gunwale.

The returning yard tack lines from the mizzen will find their appropriate blocks on the mainmast and then down to their belay pins on the aft of the fife rail(these lines have yet to be installed).

 

I installed all the control tack line blocks for the mizzen on the main mast...when I installed the spencer gaff and its gear.

 

I needed to install all this inner gear prior to installing the stays for the mizzen.

 

You kinda have to work through the install process and make sure you install details in their order...or you will find yourself having to work in tight quarters and you can possibly break stuff. (One...I can't see it and I can't reach it...so I break stuff)

 

Working inward to out...after the stays are installed....THEN...I will be able to add the back stays.

 

Currently.....I finished with the most inner subjects/details....now the main mizzen stay.....and then the main shrouds/ratlines.

 

Everything in its order.  Couple this process with time.....and there you have it.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Rob,

From my limited time rigging old plastic Revell & Linberg sailing ship models, I recall that most critical steps are to work inside to outside. One of our proudest accomplishments was improvising all running rigging on the French Frigate La Flore. We came up with a way to have all yardarms fully functional, through the use of blocks and tackles just like on the vessel herself. 

While this is the most taxing process, the rewards in scale authenticity are immense. Thanks for sharing your process.

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

the rewards in scale authenticity are immense.

I try to leave nothing undone. but things do happen...

 

I would like you to research the corner venting system for Glory's houses.  It is true she had louvered venting(black corners) on each of her buildings....main cabin, boys cabin, carriage house.  I'm going to add them(Super detailing).....but a bit more research would be nice.  I know how in-depth your searching can be and it will contribute to your drawings...if you have not already done so.

 

Thanks man.....

 

Rob

Edited May 26, 2022 by rwiederrich

[ClipperFan]

6 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I try to leave nothing undone. but things do happen...

 

I would like you to research the corner venting system for Glory's houses.  It is true she had louvered venting(black corners) on each of her buildings....main cabin, boys cabin, carriage house.  I'm going to add them(Super detailing).....but a bit more research would be nice.  I know how in-depth your searching can be and it will contribute to your drawings...if you have not already done so.

 

Thanks man.....

 

Rob

Rob, 

I'm working on completing Mike's two requests first. He asked me to do Glory's prow below the waterline using 8.3 degrees and to redraw her forecastle using Vladimir's sharper profile. It's taking me longer than I first anticipated due to the technical challenges of reimagining her upper deck profile. The revised prow is actually slightly more aggressive than the roughly 6 degrees of my large drawing.

I have to admit too, that the only actual vents I'm familiar with are the large split-level structure on her wheelhouse. So I'll need a little more direction on this interesting request.

[rwiederrich]

57 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, 

I'm working on completing Mike's two requests first. He asked me to do Glory's prow below the waterline using 8.3 degrees and to redraw her forecastle using Vladimir's sharper profile. It's taking me longer than I first anticipated due to the technical challenges of reimagining her upper deck profile. The revised prow is actually slightly more aggressive than the roughly 6 degrees of my large drawing.

I have to admit too, that the only actual vents I'm familiar with are the large split-level structure on her wheelhouse. So I'll need a little more direction on this interesting request.

Along the edges of each house….where the walls meet.   I’m still trying to figure out the structure. 
 

Anyway….here are some updates.  I’m adding the shrouds and belaying some of those lines. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Beginning the starboard side.  

[rwiederrich]

Main mast shrouds are finished.  I’ll clean things up and prep for adding the rat lines.  
 

Probably start them tomorrow.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Couple more images to end the night. 
 

Rob

Edited May 27, 2022 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Eye bolts ready for the fore stays.  
 

I’ll get there some day. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I came across this painting by marine artist Carl G Evers.   It depicts Glory of the Seas pretty much as I am building her.  At around 1877ish.   
He passed away over 20 years ago , but I have her nearly spot on to his painting.  Canny that we both came to the same conclusions concerning her lower mast colors, not to mention so many other aspects. 
 

Im looking at trying to purchase this original work. 
 

Rob

Edited May 27, 2022 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Prior to the ratlines…..I figured I had better add the Jacob’s ladders for both the mizzenmast and main mast.  Before it gets too crazy. 
 

Rob

Edited May 27, 2022 by rwiederrich

[Rick310]

Looks great Rob. Looks like you are spot on with the red color of the mast bands!

[rwiederrich]

Starboard ratlines finished.  
Time to flip the boat.   
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well….. let’s put a hold on the “flippin”.

I decided to run all the bunt lines through their respective fare leads.  That took some time.  
 

I’ve opted to do as much on each side before flippin.   It’s so much easier that way.  
 

Rob

Edited May 27, 2022 by rwiederrich

[BANYAN]

Sorry to hijack Rob.  Clipperfan, thanks again for those enhanced photos; they were clear enough that I think I can postulate that in this era, stayplates (as Campbell  calls them) or padeyes (as Underhill calls them) were the common means of securing the stays at deck level.

 

 

cheers

 

Pat

[BANYAN]

Rob, she's looking great.  Your GotS could easily pass scrutiny as a movie model from some of those views.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[ClipperFan]

5 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I came across this painting by marine artist Carl G Evers.   It depicts Glory of the Seas pretty much as I am building her.  At around 1877ish.   
He passed away over 20 years ago , but I have her nearly spot on to his painting.  Canny that we both came to the same conclusions concerning her lower mast colors, not to mention so many other aspects. 
 

Im looking at trying to purchase this original work. 
 

Rob

Rob,

Mike sent me the same picture this morning. He mentioned Carl Everts made 3 Glory of the Seas paintings. Sea History, Winter 1977 has his 3rd work titled "South Street 1879, 'Glory of the Seas' Picking Up Her Tow in New York Harbor." Here's the magazine cover and page with Evers' entire piece inside 

Edited May 28, 2022 by ClipperFan
additional information

[ClipperFan]

42 minutes ago, BANYAN said:

Sorry to hijack Rob.  Clipperfan, thanks again for those enhanced photos; they were clear enough that I think I can postulate that in this era, stayplates (as Campbell  calls them) or padeyes (as Underhill calls them) were the common means of securing the stays at deck level.

 

 

cheers

 

Pat

Pat, this is fascinating. Would that mean that most likely all 3 of Glory's stays would have been secured like this? The unknown component has an intriguing trapezoidal shape, would that be the stayplate/padeye you're referring to?

[BANYAN]

Hi Clipperfan, I think that the use of padeyes for all stays is a reasonable assumption but I know that in "Victoria" they did not set-up the mizen stays that way - they were set-up with large tackles.  However, the bottom block was probably set-up to a padeye anyway.  I think this was done to allow the respective stay to be slackened off when the main fore-and-aft sail boom was swung hard to either side (and also possibly used as a derrick to set up the accommodation ladder). In later photographs they overcame this by leading the stays further forward and probably set them up to padeyes.

 

The padeye is the arrowed fitting - still trying to work out what the other might be,  but possibly another padeye (but as big one )  .  Some (doubled) forestays were laced together to a height above deck where they then split and went to either side - this may be an example but the separating point appears too low to be practical.  Still pondering on this, but it is possible we are seeing a padeye with large solid thimble as shown by Underhill (Masting and Rigging of the Clipper Ship and Ocean Transport - Fig 91).  I am reasonably convinced this was the set-up in "Victoria" (1855) as she used wire rope for the stays.  She also did not use the laced forestays as she used the p[ort side stay as the staysail stay.  Hope this helps?  Sorry again Rob, can take this to a private discussion of preferred?

 

cheers

Pat

Edited May 29, 2022 by BANYAN