Fair American by EdatWycliffe - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Kit-bashed per LSS Practicum

[KenW]

Hey Ed:  Just encountered something that I wish I'd added earlier with the lower mast's standing rigging.  I should have attached the sling bridle (Fig. 39 on page 34 in the FA instruction manual) before all the other masts and their rigging was done.  Would have made things a lot better.

In fact, the tightness has made me consider hanging the bridle from the cap as is shown in Peterseen's book on page 34.  Seems like it will provide much more space to work in.

Just a "heads up".

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks, Ken. I would not have thought about the sling at this point.

[EdatWycliffe]

The seven yard arms have ben shaped and are ready to be rigged with as many blocks and slings as possible while they are off the masts/bowsprit. I haven't yet added the stuns'l booms. I found some plastic tubing that may work well for the stuns'l irons. I may keep the yardarms natural color rather than painting them black. When the off-ship rigging is done, I'll start the standing rigging with the bowsprit and working my way aft. I find myself doing as much reading/research as modeling at this point and that adds a new and interesting aspect to the hobby. 

 

[EdatWycliffe]

Finally some Fair American buildlog photos. Overall, the work is progressing. The spritsail yardarm, gaff, spanker boom, lower yard arms and lower yard arms have all been hoisted and pinned. (I also rigged the main topmast staysail downhaul and halyard, the main topgallant staysail downhaul and halyard and the Burton tackles.) I'm using the rigging order described in the Syren instructions.

 

The gaff, boom and spritsail are fully rigged. I also added boom guys since I thought that made sense to help guide the boom to the port and starboard. The slings and lifts have been added to the lower yardarms. Braces, clues, sheets and tacks for the lower yard arms will wait until the topsail and topgallant yard arms are mounted and rigged. The main topsail has its yard parrels installed, as well as the tye, halyard, halyard runner and halyard tackle. (I'm very grateful for help from KenW and Rafine). (I tried to conform to Petersson and Lees as much as I could, but given the limited belaying points and belaying plan in the FA kit, I added a pinch of imagination.)

 

The topgallant yard arm needs to be installed before I can rig the main topsail lifts (per Lees). The photos:

 

Boom, Gaff and Guys

 

 

Sprit sail

 

 

lower yard arms and spritsail overview

 

 

main top with parrels not yet rigged

 

 

main top with Burton tackles waiting to be belayed

 

 

spritsail rigging

 

 

 

yard arm overview with main topsail pinned

 

 

 

main topsail halyard runner  (port) and tackle (starboard)

 

 

 

fore topsail yard arm with Burton tackles belayed to main top

 

 

fore lower yard arm and spritsail yard arm

 

 

view down from onto the main and fore tops

 

 

As far a workmanship and skill sets--that too is a work in progress (from a D when I started to a C+/B- today. I made a lot of errors. Some are visible; some not, but I've learned from them all. Still great fun and wonderful learning experience. (I look forward to Syren as my next build.)

 

Ed (EdatWycliffe)

 

 

[victorpapa]

 

Looks great Ed, I found attaching the rope coils to the belay pins difficult on my FA. My next model I will attach all the belayed lines before I start rigging and run the appropriate lines under the coils as I rig rather than trying to add those little coils after the ship is rigged. Nice job all around, thanks for the posts. Vince

[GuntherMT]

Looking good Ed.  I see you got all the stuns'l booms on as well!

[EdatWycliffe]

Thank you Vince and Gunther. Much appreciated.

Good tip on the coils, Vince. I made a jig using a small piece (1 1/2 ") of a 1/4" dowel. Made a slit in either end of the dowel and laid down a piece of sewing thread along the dowel, catching the ends of the thread in the slits to keep the thread in place. Then wrapped the rope to be coiled around the dowel, over the thread, 3 or 4 times, put my thumb over the coiled line to keep it I place, released the ends of the thread and tied them in a knot around the coiled rope.

[rafine]

That's a lot of very nice work since your last update Ed. Into the homestretch now.

 

Bob

[EdatWycliffe]

Fair American has launched two years and two months after the keel was laid. Some pictures of completed the ship are attached. Most important, thanks to all of you who helped me through this first ship after the Phantom starter kit, especially Bob (Rafine) and Ken (KenW). In a couple of weeks, I'll start Syren with new wood to be ordered from Timberyard Crown (Jason is great to work with) and rope and blocks from Chuck at Syren. Thanks, much, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2015 by EdatWycliffe

[rafine]

Congrats Ed on completing a beautiful model. You have every reason to be proud of the work that you've done. I'm really looking forward to seeing  your Syren build.

 

Bob

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks, Bob. You are very kind.

[KenW]

Definitely looks like a model to be proud of.  Excellent work.

Congratulations.  Look forward on watching your build of the Syren.

Cheers

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks, Ken. High praise very much appreciated. Ed