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

[rwiederrich]

12 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob,

As I first mentioned, in a tribute to McKay's long lost final Medium Clipper, I believe what would really draw viewers in would be an inspirational display with your magnificent model as the centerpiece but not the sole piece. Mike has a lifetime collection of ultra rare images. How exciting would it be to see enlargements of the most crystal clear ones? Imagine if we could display her original 14' name board. How dramatic an overall backdrop that would make? Then think if we could gather some of the finest paintings done of her as well. I believe the best displays tell a story, they pull in the viewers with a compelling narrative. We have more than enough actual artifacts, as well as the fascinating two year collaboration to ascertain the authentic appearance of Glory of the Seas which has proven to be radically different, far more advanced than the rather dumpy image of her we started out with. I will relocate my Librarian's contact info, share some of your incredible images and see if I can get her to catch fire with this compelling idea.

 

First of all...thanks to everyone who  commented and congratulated me on Glory's completion.  A most heart felt...thanks.

 

Rich.....Talking to Mike, he suggested contacting the Bainbridge Island Historical Society...claiming Glory did indeed share some history with Kitsap County.  I hope I enticed him to throw some of his own Authorship weight behind the venture and do some investigating himself.  Most of these local nautical historical societies have, either previously corroborated with him, and or, provided him with information.  His name among certain circles, I am sure, can at least, give us the  traction needed to find a suitable and respectable museum partnership.

 

Rob

Edited November 4, 2022 by rwiederrich

[popeye the sailor]

hello Rob!

   I was so happy to see you put the finish on the Glory of the Seas.....very impressed on how she came out   the rigging is so stunning and the sails look awesome and very life like! huge congratz on a beautiful model!  I love the display stand.....very original..........by all means,  a case is in order!  

[Bruma]

Wait, finished?!?

You are a wonderful mix of speed and accuracy. The result is stunning, your Glory is really a testament of what can be done with passion and skills. 

I like many aspects of your job, but probably the most important is your will to test new solution for old problems, and your sails are just that! They turned out convincing and I like them! 

Thank you for sharing this journey with us, it is, and it will be for a long time, a source of inspiration for many modelers.

 

 

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Reading about the ship Donald McKay (1855) in Richard McKay's book, (pp 284 & 285) I found (parenthesized notes are mine):

 

"The Donald McKay was fitted out with Howes double topsails, A decided improvement over the common rig then in use, and so we describe it below:

 

  "The lower topsail yard was trussed to the topmast cap, and instead of slings, was supported by a crane upon the heel of the topmast ... The upper topsail set upon the mast above the cap,"  (obviously bent to the jackstay of the upper topsail yard)  "and had its foot laced" (ergo bent) "to a jackstay upon the top of the yard below, so that no wind could escape between the two topsails."

 

  ... "The ship could be reduced to close-reefed topsails at any time, by lowering the (upper) topsails, which would then lay becalmed before the lower topsails, and the latter, if required to be reefed, could be held without the use of reef tackles."

 

  "In squally weather this rig proved invaluable, for sail could be carried to the last minute, as it could be reduced and reset without a man leaving the deck.  Its economy in wear of canvas must also have been very great, for the sails were of manageable size, and had neither buntlines, reef tackles, nor clew lines to chafe them." ... "and could be worked with fewer men than a vessel of the same size, having the old rig."

 

  I have 2 questions:  1.) To be able to rotate (pivot) with the upper topsail yard, was the bottom of the crane attached to a metal ring and bearing plate at the heel of the topmast ?

 

2.)  Does the text mean that ONLY the upper topsails had no buntlines, reef tackles or clew lines?  They would need sheets (obviously), but the lower topsails would not require reef tackle.  To furl the upper topsail in the lowered position, men standing on the foot ropes of the upper topsail yard could simply pull sections of the upper topsail over the top of its yard before lacing with grommet line - but would have to un-bend the bottom of the upper topsail from the jackstay on the yard below to wrap line around the furled sail above.  Otherwise the foot (bottom) of the upper topsail would still be bent to the lower topsail yard - and would preclude the lower topsail from being pulled over its yard for furling.

 

    It would seem that the lower topsail would still need clew and bunt lines to work that sail as before (and described in the quoted text above "if required to be reefed").  If this pair of sails were not in use for a short period - whether docked short-term or at sea in a squall - the upper topsail yard could be lowered (and not furled), while clew and buntlines would merely pull the lower topsail up to the yard (sheets obviously slacked) - effectively taking in the lower topsail because it would no longer offer resistance to any wind.  It might then (if docked) have the appearance cited in the book:

 

   "It looked rather clumsy in port, and this, we believe, was the principal objection urged against it by those who did not comprehend its advantages at sea.  Ships, however, are rigged not for show in port, the, therefore, which is the most serviceable, is certainly the best."

 

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by Snug Harbor Johnny
clarification

[rwiederrich]

Johnny.  In its premium(Later) form, the howes design evolved into a self reefing topsail and other designs namely from Colling & Pinkney and Cunningham's self reefing topsails..

Cranes were for lower topsail yards that were mounted on the mast cap and they then had another *crane* iron bar supporting them from either a band on the topmast doubling or from a foot on the tops.

 

Basically the upper and lower topsails were laced together and were both rolled onto the upper topsaIL yard as it was lowered down to were the lower topsail yard would have been placed.

 

I recommend you aquire a copy of Underhill's book *Masting and Rigging the clipper and Ocean Carrier*.  It will answer all your rigging questions for sure.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Just to let my friends know, I bought this artifact and it’s description originally written for and sent to the son of one of the men involved in the burning of Glory of the Seas.  It was a gift from Mike.  He (Joe), since passed and his estate put it up for auction. I got it. What a thrill.  I will place it in a new shadow box and put it in my collection.

 

Rob

Edited November 26, 2022 by rwiederrich

[BANYAN]

Great addition to your collection Rob.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[ClipperFan]

On 11/26/2022 at 4:37 PM, rwiederrich said:

Just to let my friends know, I bought this artifact and it’s description originally written for and sent to the son of one of the men involved in the burning of Glory of the Seas.  It was a gift from Mike.  He (Joe), since passed and his estate put it up for auction. I got it. What a thrill.  I will place it in a new shadow box and put it in my collection.

 

Rob

Rob,

I was hoping you'd be the highest bidder on this exciting item. I'm glad it's going to a deserving home.

Fortunately for you, I'm tight on funds right now or we might have been in a bidding war without either one of us been the wiser for it.... 🙂

[rwiederrich]

2 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob,

I was hoping you'd be the highest bidder on this exciting item. I'm glad it's going to a deserving home.

Fortunately for you, I'm tight on funds right now or we might have been in a bidding war without either one of us been the wiser for it.... 🙂

I got it today.  I’ll take pics of it tomorrow.   I’m gonna make a new shadow box for it, so it will be displayed correctly.   
 

I was prepared to spend what ever it took………I’m glad we were spared *war*……😂.   It will go well with my other artifacts. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Here is a better image.  I’m going out to build the shadow box frame.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Here is an image after I completed the shadow box.    Reflections are off the glass.  Blue on blue with gold rope trim. 
 

Rob

Edited November 29, 2022 by rwiederrich

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

16 minutes ago, rwiederrich said:

Here is an image after I completed the shadow box.    Reflections are off the glass.  Blue on blue with gold rope trim. 
 

Rob

beautiful  

[BANYAN]

Rob, what a great artifact to have, and very nicely presented after your efforts with the shadow box.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[ClipperFan]

 Rob,

Your really lovely shadow box treatment is proof this rare Glory of the Seas relic has most definitely found the proper home. I love the blue & gold rope treatment. All in all, very elegant. Ironically, your blue is exactly the color I had in mind for the table cover of a proposed display. It's like we're twins or at least constantly on the same creative wavelength....

[rwiederrich]

I really have to get into the shipyard/workshop and clean and rearrange things real bad.  But before I Could do that I first had to find a place for glory of the seas. So what I decided to do was build her her own shelf in the library.  I first removed The Charles W Morgan and put her on top of the great republic’s case. I then went out to the Wood shop and made a new shelf, brought it in and placed Glory on it.   I also installed a light to highlight her there.   I really want her in a case, but I just don’t have the room.  Here are a few pics of her in her new location in the library.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

The glare from the light isn’t very prevalent in person.   Just wish I could get her loaned or or sold. She needs to be viewed not hidden away in my dark library.  
 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Lovely display/feature wall of maritime artefacts and your model Rob; what a great way to show her off.  Now off to the workshop and tidy up that mess, and stop goofing off   

 

cheers

 

Pat

[druxey]

See my PM. please, Rob.

[rwiederrich]

4 hours ago, druxey said:

See my PM. please, Rob.

Thanks Druxey,   I already sent off a quick bio and some images to Michael Wall.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

8 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

The glare from the light isn’t very prevalent in person.   Just wish I could get her loaned or or sold. She needs to be viewed not hidden away in my dark library.  
 

Rob

Funny thing Pat…….I went into my Shop  to clean , rearrange and just sort it all out,  but I had to put Glory somewhere……she was in the way.  So I went out to the wood shop, selected a nice piece of knotty maple(I cut down 5 years ago), and made a new shelf for her.  Mounted her, installed some ambiance lights and…bam! Now back to the shop to finish up organizing/cleaning.  First things first.
 

Didn’t finish in the shop,  but I’ll wrap it up tomorrow sometime 

One thing always leads to another.  
I hope to find Glory a new home….where she will be properly cared fore and displayed in a case. 
 

Rob

[TheAuthorsDaughter]

From Whaling Ship to Clipper Ship-dust jacket.pdf

 

Thought some of you might find this of interest 

[rwiederrich]

22 minutes ago, TheAuthorsDaughter said:

From Whaling Ship to Clipper Ship-dust jacket.pdf 1.19 MB · 1 download

 

Thought some of you might find this of interest 

When will it be available?   I need my copy now……….

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I see it will be published on July 2023.  Pre orders are being taken now from the publisher.   
And the painting on Mikes living room wall of Glory of the Seas is on the cover……cool.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

Hi Rob, Vlad, Druxey, Arina, et all, Due to experiencing a major emergency I missed the chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas. For the first time in my life, I will sctually be ringing in the New Year in a motel room. Our home has a frozen heating system due to losing power Dec 23rd. Thank God I had the foresight to rent a motel room in time. Power was restored Dec 25th but by then ice formed in one of the baseboards. Plumbers drained all water from the system, so no danger of flooding but we're still waiting for repairs to be done. Happy New Year everybody. Here's the publisher's website to order Mike's new book: www.tamupress.com

[rwiederrich]

Oh my, my friend.  I pray the new year will bring better days as you move forward.  
 

Rob

[druxey]

Sorry about your weather related woes. Hopefully all be well for the New Year.

[TBlack]

Comfortable looking library. If you’ve gotten plumbers to come out during the holiday, you’re doing good!

[ClipperFan]

15 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Oh my, my friend.  I pray the new year will bring better days as you move forward.  
 

Rob

Re

 

15 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Oh my, my friend.  I pray the new year will bring better days as you move forward.  
 

Rob

3 hours ago, TBlack said:

Comfortable looking library. If you’ve gotten plumbers to come out during the holiday, you’re doing good!

TBlack

When you work with consummate professionals, they recognize a true state of emergency vs just an inconvenience. I just wish it was over.

Rob, thanks for the sentiment. Given current circumstances, I honestly can't conceive of how 2023 can get any worse....

 

[ClipperFan]

15 hours ago, druxey said:

Sorry about your weather related woes. Hopefully all be well for the New Year.

Druxey thanks for your encouragement. I share your hopes.

[BANYAN]

Sorry to hear of your heating/power woes Rich, I hope you find yourself back in your home soon.

 

I hope you and your family have a better 2023.

 

regards

 

Pat