Development blogs for new BlueJacket Kits

[alross2]

OK, the display model is done. Next week, I'll look it over and do any necessary touchup. It's always better for me to leave a finished model for a few days and look at it with fresh eyes. It's still on the building board as the case isn't done yet and the case base needs to be in place when Josh puts in the glass.  Once she's mounted on the case base, I'll get some better photos.

[Red Rhino]

WOW! Al: she looks great! Thanks for bringing us along on her development log.

Dave

[Kevin]

lovely work

[mtaylor]

That is one impressive model.  

[MrBlueJacket]

So after almost a month to do 2 repairs, I am back to the Wyoming. Attaching battens to the starboard side of #4 mast. No, the battens aren't crooked, they are parallel to the waterlne, but because the masts are raked, it looks skewed.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

So now I've flipped to the port side. Masts 6 & 5 are completely done, working on #4 and 3.

[MrBlueJacket]

Having done what I could on the port side, flip over to the starboard side again. I'll be adding to mast #4; shrouds 1 & 4, jackstays,  backstay, and ratlines every 5th batten. To #3 mast; shrouds 2&3 (for the battens) and start the jackstay. Then we'll flip yet again.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Been awhile since I posted. I'm now working on #1 mast, #2 is almost finished, and 3, 4, 5 & 6 are done. Then it's the bowsprit and flags.

 

[chris watton]

That's certainly a big girl!

[Kusawa2000]

That is one large, beautifully insane kit! Simply wow! 

 

Mike Draper

[Nirvana]

What is the weight of her? She looks massive!

[alross2]

5 hours ago, Nirvana said:

What is the weight of her? She looks massive!

The hull is about 44" long but it's plank on bulkhead.  It only weighs a couple pounds or so.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

All the masts are done. Now to start the bowsprit rigging.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

So I had to put 2 blocks underneath the foremast trestletree. Problem is. how to work under the top and see what you're doing? Answer: Lay the model on its side over foam padding. now I can get to the area I need to.

[MrBlueJacket]

And with very few cuss words, the blocks were added. The black band above them is called a barn door, and prevents the glut from popping forward. The glut is what holds the topmast in place.

[MrBlueJacket]

And here are those blocks all rigged up.

[MrBlueJacket]

All the bowsprit chains and forestays finished. What's left are the 3 set of stays on the whisker pole (still to be attached) and all the outhauls and downhauls for the jib sails.

[MrBlueJacket]

Last night I did the three jib downhauls. Next will be the halyards

 

[MrBlueJacket]

So the jib halyards are done. While documenting where I belayed the lines, I was curious as to exactly what each jib sail was called. Wikipedia to the rescue, here's their take:

 

Schooners typically have up to three jibs. the foremast one sets on the topmast forestay and is generally called the jib topsail, a second on the main forestay is called the jib, and the innermost is called the staysail. Actually, all three sails are both jibs and staysails in the generic sense......

 

A large square-rigged ship typically has four jibs, but could have as many as six. From forward to aft, these sails are called;

Jib of jibs

Spindle jib

Flying jib

Outer jib

Inner jib

Fore (topmast) staysail

[MrBlueJacket]

Here are the jib sheets, ready to finish. Then the whisker shrouds, and the rigging will be done!

[GrandpaPhil]

That’s a beautiful model!
 

Do you include sail plans with the kits?

Edited December 1, 2022 by GrandpaPhil

[MrBlueJacket]

Yes, our sailing kits include a sail plan

 

Nic

[MrBlueJacket]

Over the weekend, I attached the port jib sheets from the cathead through the sheet block to the bitt, and did the port whisker shrouds. 6 more lines to go (starboard) and she's done!

 

 

[MrBlueJacket]

So here's the bowsprit all finished.

[MrBlueJacket]

And an overview of the whole model. All that's left are the flags, and I think I'll put a figure or two on her.

[Keith Black]

 Nic, very nicely done. Congratulations. 

[MrBlueJacket]

There's 975 feet of rigging line on her.

 

Nic

[Keith Black]

3 minutes ago, MrBlueJacket said:

There's 975 feet of rigging line on her.

 

 Right at a football field length of line. I'm impressed! 

[MrBlueJacket]

Um.....

 

I think a football field is 100 yards, or 300 feet. This model has over 3x the length of a football field.

[Keith Black]

Sorry, Nic. I was thinking back of the end zone to the back of the end zone for 360 feet but duh, I needed to add another two fields to the total. Dang, that's a lot of line.