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

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

8 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I made sure the keel was firmly within its straightening channel before I glued everything so it would be straight and rigid.

Rob it feels so good after such theoretical timeconsuming tortures finaly watch the thing. with your progress i guess in few days we will see her planked. tingling tingling..  

[rwiederrich]

6 hours ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Rob, 

centerblock joint is loose on mine as well. not sure why. ...

Rich, im speechless seing that figurehead....

Vlad...the most important issue was keeping the keel all level and true to itself.  That is why I made the jig to align and hold the keel straight while I fashioned the bulkhead braces.  This ensured the hull would be straight prior to planking.  And planking itself can put stresses on the hull...if you don't plank both sides simultaneously.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I wish to explain to our visitors who may have questions about this log.

My intent was to build a scale model of Glory of the Seas...the last clipper built by shipwright Donald McKay (Unlike my first attempt which suffered from many inaccuracies. On these pages can be found its discontinued build log)).  The initial model You see on these pages was built by me to identify errors in the original plans drawn up by author and historian Michael MJelde and to make experiments with certain building materials and techniques....that may or may not be used in the actual construction of the true to scale model of the same.  Its scale was 1/72

 

As the discussion continued and collection of data came in during research and contributions to the project of other *Glory enthusiasts* became more mature and final....  A new and more accurate model was begun on the ways.....the most recent and current pages reflect that effort.

 

I hope to now continue with the log as a complete construction of said vessel in the newly posted scale of 1/96.

 

Thank you for your patients and understanding as we(my fellow enthusiasts)....and I, specifically, now set out to scratch build from newly developed plans this magnificent last American (West coast) clipper.

 

Rob 

[ClipperFan]

On 6/3/2021 at 7:34 PM, rwiederrich said:

Those are some amazing miniature carvings.  Almost uncomprehendingly accurate and precise.    Thanks for sharing them.   

Rob, what's even more mind bending (to me at least) is that the Royal George double headed horse figurehead with all its intricate details was carved from a single piece of boxwood!

[ClipperFan]

7 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I wish to explain to our visitors who may have questions about this log.

My intent was to build a scale model of Glory of the Seas...the last clipper built by shipwright Donald McKay (Unlike my first attempt which suffered from many inaccuracies. On these pages can be found its discontinued build log)).  The initial model You see on these pages was built by me to identify errors in the original plans drawn up by author and historian Michael MJelde and to make experiments with certain building materials and techniques....that may or may not be used in the actual construction of the true to scale model of the same.  Its scale was 1/72

 

As the discussion continued and collection of data came in during research and contributions to the project of other *Glory enthusiasts* became more mature and final....  A new and more accurate model was begun on the ways.....the most recent and current pages reflect that effort.

 

I hope to now continue with the log as a complete construction of said vessel in the newly posted scale of 1/96.

 

Thank you for your patients and understanding as we(my fellow enthusiasts)....and I, specifically, now set out to scratch build from newly developed plans this magnificent last American (West coast) clipper.

 

Rob 

Rob, well said. I also believe a huge debt of gratitude goes to famed nautical researcher and author of two publications on "Glory of the Seas" the inimitable Michael Mjelde. Noteworthy too is the contribution of Arina, "TheAuthorsDaughter" who was instrumental in arranging the meeting of her dad Mike and Rob. 

Mike is and has been generous to a fault in sharing some of the rarest and simply amazingly clear images of Glory from a collection that has taken him 40 years to amass. I'm still amazed at the sharp clarity of the 1912 close up of her Bow and figurehead. The definition is so refined that I was able to count the 8 strakes that make up her mainrail bulkhead. 

Thanks to these reliable, in many cases never before seen images, we continue to develop what I believe to be the finest, most accurate plans and model of Donald McKay's last, longest lived Clipper Ship.

Edited June 5, 2021 by ClipperFan
additional information

[rwiederrich]

I spent a little time on the hull last night after a busy day of church and picnic.   I began to install the strakes and plank the hull.

 

Like as in the Flying Fish build Log,  I first added the waterways and the planksheer.  My metal clamps work very well too.

 

I'll work on it again today for a bit and will provide some images then.

 

Rob

Edited June 7, 2021 by rwiederrich

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

1 hour ago, rwiederrich said:

I spent a little time on the hull last night after a busy day of church and picnic.   I began to install the strakes and plank the hull.

 

Like as in the Flying Fish build Log,  I first added the waterways and the planksheer.  My metal clamps work very well too.

 

I'll work on it again today for a bit and will provide some images then.

 

Rob

cant wait  

[rwiederrich]

Spend some time in the shop laying down planking....lots of sanding to follow.  here is today's work.

[rwiederrich]

Don't get all upset over my process..... I will cut the stem and stern post  and add them after the planking are done.  A bit unorthodox, but it works for my process better.   I did a slight amount of sanding and determined that to prevent any flex of the planks I needed to apply a copious amount of wood glue to the interior of the planks....after that dries things will be far more rigid.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

All the contour errors have been since filled in...but here is the beginning of the transition from the bottom to the front which sees the most plank corrections.

[rwiederrich]

Again...don't worry about the stem or stern or keel.  I have to thin them down and make sure the strake junctions are clean and tight.  This is the method I prefer..because it allows me great latitude when trimming and filling.  Then these members simply get glued on.

 

Rob

Edited June 7, 2021 by rwiederrich

[michael mott]

Looks like you want to get this finished before next week😉 

And I have not forgotten the bit O' wood I promised you.

 

Michael

[ClipperFan]

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Spend some time in the shop laying down planking....lots of sanding to follow.  here is today's work.

Rob, with all the patient research and background work invested in getting her true form accurate, I predict this will be the most exciting build you've done so far. Already I can see a more refined Hull with a much sleeker, fine entrance of her prow without even seeing the enhanced Cutwater and Stem included. Great work as usual!

[rwiederrich]

5 hours ago, michael mott said:

Looks like you want to get this finished before next week😉 

And I have not forgotten the bit O' wood I promised you.

 

Michael

Thanks Michael.   Yeah.....well I want to at least get her planked

[rwiederrich]

11 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, with all the patient research and background work invested in getting her true form accurate, I predict this will be the most exciting build you've done so far. Already I can see a more refined Hull with a much sleeker, fine entrance of her prow without even seeing the enhanced Cutwater and Stem included. Great work as usual!

Rich,  remember, I have much work to do on her stem and I need to cut her strakes to mimic the stem as it abuts the hull.   Plus the over exaggerating of the planks at the beak of the bow at the head of the forecastle will also be reduced and the sheer of the monkey rail will be refined

Edited June 8, 2021 by rwiederrich

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

13 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, with all the patient research and background work invested in getting her true form accurate, I predict this will be the most exciting build you've done so far. Already I can see a more refined Hull with a much sleeker, fine entrance of her prow without even seeing the enhanced Cutwater and Stem included. Great work as usual!

all agreed,  Rich Rob I am really suprised how Sharp tip of the bow looks already and its even half of the most agressive curvature installed ! and stern looks awesome sweet already doesnt it? Rob nailed circle pattern of stern i think. 

Edited June 8, 2021 by Vladimir_Wairoa
add

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

Rob this is really ticking on my nerves here watching you build. my hands are trembling. it looks like i will curse my rule not to shipbuild during summer. :)) 

ok im gonna start with waterways. 

[rwiederrich]

5 hours ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Rob this is really ticking on my nerves here watching you build. my hands are trembling. it looks like i will curse my rule not to shipbuild during summer. :)) 

ok im gonna start with waterways. 

I've hooked you Vlad.   Several slight issues I have identified.  Several bulkheads are slightly out of contour...causing the planks to slightly deviate from a smooth surface(this can be corrected with wood filler).

 

I found that while sanding...there is some flex of the planks because the space between the bulkheads is slightly excessive.  So I remedied this by applying a good coat of wood glue to the inside of the planks..which when dry will significantly stiffen or make rigged the planks seams.

 

I'm using CA glue and accelerant so things are moving quickly.

The port side has reached the section where each plank will need to be modified to compensate for the curves that intersect.

Today I hope to gain some ground.  I plan on finishing both sides before I add the gunwales.  I want to paint the waterways and probably add the deck before I do finish the gunwales.

 

I determined that if I were to finish the gunwales first...before the deck, I would have a tough time sanding and finishing the deck without interference and possible damage to them.    So that is my plan....currently.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

3 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I've hooked you Vlad.   Several slight issues I have identified.  Several bulkheads are slightly out of contour...causing the planks to slightly deviate from a smooth surface(this can be corrected with wood filler).

 

I found that while sanding...there is some flex of the planks because the space between the bulkheads is slightly excessive.  So I remedied this by applying a good coat of wood glue to the inside of the planks..which when dry will significantly stiffen or make rigged the planks seams.

 

I'm using CA glue and accelerant so things are moving quickly.

The port side has reached the section where each plank will need to be modified to compensate for the curves that intersect.

Today I hope to gain some ground.  I plan on finishing both sides before I add the gunwales.  I want to paint the waterways and probably add the deck before I do finish the gunwales.

 

I determined that if I were to finish the gunwales first...before the deck, I would have a tough time sanding and finishing the deck without interference and possible damage to them.    So that is my plan....currently.

 

Rob

Rob,

Your plan of procedure sounds First Rate. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate know which Bulkheads you're referring to that are asymmetrical and need attention. While my own plans are of necessity long term, still for future planning, I'd like to know.

[rwiederrich]

6 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob,

Your plan of procedure sounds First Rate. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate know which Bulkheads you're referring to that are asymmetrical and need attention. While my own plans are of necessity long term, still for future planning, I'd like to know.

Did some work tonight...I finished up the starboard side and am 1/3 finished with the port.

 

Lots of sanding and filling are in order too.

 

#10 is too large and #3 is too short or narrow.

 

Rob

Edited June 9, 2021 by rwiederrich

[Keith Black]

 Rob, it's exciting to see GS's hull finally taking shape. I'm eager to see her after the first sanding.

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, Keith Black said:

 Rob, it's exciting to see GS's hull finally taking shape. I'm eager to see her after the first sanding.

Indeed.    And if I need to, I will also trowel a thin coat of dental compound over the wood hull to smooth out any uncanny defects that sanding alone won’t correct. 

[ClipperFan]

9 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Did some work tonight...I finished up the starboard side and am 1/3 finished with the port.

 

Lots of sanding and filling are in order too.

 

#10 is too large and #3 is too short or narrow.

 

Rob

Rob, you do such amazingly fast yet beautiful work. I know it must have felt like an eternity over this past year but it now looks like our group's concerted efforts are paying off in big dividends. "Glory of the Seas" has never looked better. Her sleek , fine entrance finally reflects the images of her at Seattle and other scenes. Even more noticeable is that her previous over large, sort of dumpy exaggerated Stern is much more refined reflecting the hard work we did in getting that area accurate. What's more is her superior carrying capacity is very noticeable too, from your overhead shots. It's immediately clear what Donald MacKay was aiming for in this refined nautical design: a vessel with very strong clippership qualities yet with significant carrying capacity too. I am so looking forward to watching your progress on her.

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

1 hour ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, you do such amazingly fast yet beautiful work. I know it must have felt like an eternity over this past year but it now looks like our group's concerted efforts are paying off in big dividends. "Glory of the Seas" has never looked better. Her sleek , fine entrance finally reflects the images of her at Seattle and other scenes. Even more noticeable is that her previous over large, sort of dumpy exaggerated Stern is much more refined reflecting the hard work we did in getting that area accurate. What's more is her superior carrying capacity is very noticeable too, from your overhead shots. It's immediately clear what Donald MacKay was aiming for in this refined nautical design: a vessel with very strong clippership qualities yet with significant carrying capacity too. I am so looking forward to watching your progress on her.

very well put! 

[rwiederrich]

I aided the planks by brushing construction glue over them..both inside and out.  this way...when sanding the planks will not flex separate of each other and prevent a smooth surface.  One thing I'm a bit concerned about is that not all the frame bulkheads transition smoothly to the next.  When I flared the bulkheads I check each to its neighbor with a plank and assumed they all followed the same way.  But I discovered that I should have gone the extra mile and laid out a string pattern across the bulkheads to check more closely the smooth transition between bulkheads.  I'm sure the issue was not in design of the bulkheads but more in my assembly.  Many of the bulkheads fit the keel plate somewhat loosely....and even after my aligning and squaring of them I could have misaligned the bulkheads in question when I assembled and glued them all together.

 

All these small issues are associated with fit of the components and my misreading of it during construction.

 

No matter......a goodly amount of sanding will copious amounts of filler compound and we will be smoothed out.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

18 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I aided the planks by brushing construction glue over them..both inside and out.  this way...when sanding the planks will not flex separate of each other and prevent a smooth surface.  One thing I'm a bit concerned about is that not all the frame bulkheads transition smoothly to the next.  When I flared the bulkheads I check each to its neighbor with a plank and assumed they all followed the same way.  But I discovered that I should have gone the extra mile and laid out a string pattern across the bulkheads to check more closely the smooth transition between bulkheads.  I'm sure the issue was not in design of the bulkheads but more in my assembly.  Many of the bulkheads fit the keel plate somewhat loosely....and even after my aligning and squaring of them I could have misaligned the bulkheads in question when I assembled and glued them all together.

 

All these small issues are associated with fit of the components and my misreading of it during construction.

 

No matter......a goodly amount of sanding will copious amounts of filler compound and we will be smoothed out.

 

Rob

Rob, by pioneering the way for other modelers, especially pure novices like me, you're giving us all good insight how to be better prepared for the challenges ahead. That way we can hopefully avoid many if not all the ordinary pitfalls you're describing in your rapid construction process. I for one am very grateful for your willingness to share your progress "warts and all" as the saying goes.

In a few short hours, I will be going to Yale Hospital, New Haven for bladder removal and neo bladder procedure. It will be a painful recovery but since I've undergone previous difficulties before, eventually there will be recovery. Observing your build will be something I will continue to look forward to during this difficult process. I wish you Godspeed!

[rwiederrich]

4 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, by pioneering the way for other modelers, especially pure novices like me, you're giving us all good insight how to be better prepared for the challenges ahead. That way we can hopefully avoid many if not all the ordinary pitfalls you're describing in your rapid construction process. I for one am very grateful for your willingness to share your progress "warts and all" as the saying goes.

In a few short hours, I will be going to Yale Hospital, New Haven for bladder removal and neo bladder procedure. It will be a painful recovery but since I've undergone previous difficulties before, eventually there will be recovery. Observing your build will be something I will continue to look forward to during this difficult process. I wish you Godspeed!

Rich...it should be you who needs to be encouraged.   Even though you have crossed this bridge before...it never is easy and I will continue to pray for a quick recovery and comfort for you and your wife/family.

 

I hope, in some small way, I can provide a distraction from what is really a challenge.

 

My techniques are generally unorthodox and in turn, produces their own special set of problems.  Still....if I can point out any pitfalls with any process....I always will.   The mess is always forgotten when the final result is achieved.  And as is my habit....I'll use whatever medium is at my disposal to achieve my desired results.  Cuz....paint covers a multitude of sins.

 

Heal fast and stay encouraged.  

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I finished up the initial planking and began adding wood filler.

 

I know it looks rough....but a goodly amount of sanding and several coats of filler aught to do the trick nicely.

 

Rob

[Jorge Diaz O]

The technique is very interesting, use only acrylic paint afterwards or a type of primer, what is the name of the base it is occupying and the brand? I haven't seen her before sir. Thanks.

[rwiederrich]

34 minutes ago, Jorge Diaz O said:

The technique is very interesting, use only acrylic paint afterwards or a type of primer, what is the name of the base it is occupying and the brand? I haven't seen her before sir. Thanks.

What is the Brand of filler?  Minwax.

 

Rob