Cutty Sark by Richard Dunn - 1/40 scale - scratch built semi-kit prototype

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

22 minutes ago, Scottish Guy said:

 

Hi Richard, maybe a bit late but just joined the forum a week ago. I would be interested even if the size would be a bit hard to chew for me (would have to build a model of this size in the garage or garden under a gazebo. But in a smaller size like 1:75 I definitely would volunteer for a trial.

 

I love the Cutty Sark and there is a nice model (with wrong hull design I guess) in 1:75, also the Revell 1:96 is a great size but I don´t really like the plastic kit, but there should be a wooden kit available somewhere though.

 

Micha

  Artisania Latina has a 1:84 scale CS kit - perhaps a good 'compromise' scale to consider.

[Scottish Guy]

16 minutes ago, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

  Artisania Latina has a 1:84 scale CS kit - perhaps a good 'compromise' scale to consider.

 

Hope I don´t step on someones toes now but I don´t like the Artisania Latina Models, also not their scales.

 

Micha

[Richard Dunn]

Currently I am not planning to produce this at any other scale than 1/40, as I said at the start this was a request for a single client and I merely wanted to put it out into the community in case any others wanted it in this scale as well.

To produce this even at 1/48 would involve having to completely redo the 3d model and start from scratch again, not only is it a huge amount of work but I would have to charge my time and make an already expensive semi kit simply too much for most people.
I am happy to do it at 1/40 though, any request, for this please pm from now on as the prototype is finished now and client has the model.
I do want a minimum number of orders to make this viable and this is not the only site I have done a build on for this particular project.
 

[Richard Dunn]

On 4/10/2024 at 11:32 PM, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

Artisania Latina has a 1:84 scale CS kit - perhaps a good 'compromise' scale to consider.

This model barely even looks like CS, wrong lines, out of scale features and planking just as start, I am not going to say anything else as  most people are aware of this already.
My kit is for people who want an accurate model. and are able to and prepared to do a lot of scratch building as well.

[ccoyle]

30 minutes ago, Richard Dunn said:

the prototype is finished now and client has the model

 

Wait, what? No final pictures?

[Scottish Guy]

10 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

Wait, what? No final pictures?

 Was a bit surprised about that mself @ccoyle but we have to accept it. I hope Richard gets some pictures out and I´m still interested in it, even in the 1:40 scale (have to empty my garage for it somehow) but I would really love it.

 

Micha

[Richard Dunn]

9 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Wait, what? No final pictures?

The kit as far as it was required was complete, sorry I have not updated this build as much as others.
I have not had time to plank the hull or deck yet as other paid work has come up.
I will post some images soon

[Scottish Guy]

2 minutes ago, Richard Dunn said:

I have not had time to plank the hull or deck yet as other paid work has come up.

 

That´s ok @Richard Dunn, we all have a life and that often sucks the life or energy out of us and much more often it has priorities that are more important than others. So don´t apologise for your life, it keeps you going.

 

3 minutes ago, Richard Dunn said:

I will post some images soon

 

Looking forward to see the progress. I sent you a pm about the project.

 

Micha

[Richard Dunn]

Laminate bulwarks

Deck planking ripped ready for cutting to length.

 

[cajunrandy214]

On 12/17/2023 at 12:35 AM, Richard Dunn said:

Just laying the main deck on with a 1 meter rule next to hull for scale.

 

[cajunrandy214]

i would be VERY interested in a kit trial build - I have the time and the room. what would be the requirements of me please ?

[GrowlTiger2015]

Hi Richard

Cutty Sark has long been a favourite of mine.

When I was a very young man, I was given a Revel kit that I began assembling, all the while embellishing to make it more realistic. Unfortunately, it was accidentally destroyed.

I started toying with the idea of a 1:50 scratch build. This was over thirty years ago. I started creating scale drawings using Harold Underhill’s drawings and reference material from Longridge’s book. Unfortunately, life got in the way.

Lately, my interest has been re-kindled since seeing her in the UK a few years ago.

My current thinking is to develop frames from a reliable 3D file, 3D print them, then plank then hull.

My modelling software of choice is Autodesk Inventor.

Would you be prepared to make your computer models available?

[Sailor1234567890]

Hello Richard. I'm incredibly intrigued by your correction of her hull shape.  Is there a way your computer can turn the data you have in to a table of offsets? That way future modellers can get her hull shape correct. 

[Richard Dunn]

 

On 4/1/2025 at 4:35 AM, Sailor1234567890 said:

Hello Richard. I'm incredibly intrigued by your correction of her hull shape.  Is there a way your computer can turn the data you have in to a table of offsets? That way future modellers can get her hull shape correct. 

Just to let people know.
I have signed a contract to write a book on her structure along the lines of an AOTS series which will be late next year but all this will be released then.

[Jim Lad]

Congratulations on the contract, Richard. Well done!

 

John

[Sailor1234567890]

1 hour ago, Richard Dunn said:

 

Just to let people know.
I have signed a contract to write a book on her structure along the lines of an AOTS series which will be late next year but all this will be released then.

 FINALLY!!!!  Will there be an element of Boudriot's 74 Gun Ship to it as well? Schematics and scale drawings, lines plans, sail plans, rigging plans... ooooh, all the good stuff..... 1:64 scale would be nice so as to model from if you just can't decide.  I can't wait for this one. Pretty sure you can count on a few others aside from me to purchase a copy. 

[Richard Dunn]

7 minutes ago, Sailor1234567890 said:

 FINALLY!!!!  Will there be an element of Boudriot's 74 Gun Ship to it as well? Schematics and scale drawings, lines plans, sail plans, rigging plans... ooooh, all the good stuff..... 1:64 scale would be nice so as to model from if you just can't decide.  I can't wait for this one. Pretty sure you can count on a few others aside from me to purchase a copy. 

Hopefully better than those book's as it will all come from a 3d model it will all line up.
It's something I have been dwelling on for years, but the chance only arrived 3 weeks ago and I grabbed it.
I plan to do the usual sections and elevations but also renders of the views in colour as well.
It's a first for this type of ship so it should be interesting

Edited Tuesday at 02:22 AM by Richard Dunn

[Sailor1234567890]

I went to a nautical college. The entire library was "the nautical section".  It was the best I can remember ever seeing. The university library also had an incredible nautical section. I spent hours in both.  This sounds like THE book I wish I could have found. I wish you every bit of luck, skill and whatever else is required to bring this off to your satisfaction.

Daniel.

[Sailor1234567890]

I presume some construction explanation and reference to the original. The photo opportunity to back up her construction drawings is unparalleled for extreme clippers. Some have photos in the builder's yard etc. but we still have Cutty Sark here. It's always stumped me why nobody has published such a book yet. There are plenty of books like this, new and old, plenty about Cutty Sark. She's surely worthy of this treatment. So what's taken so long, considering she's still with us and available for direct reference. Details such as her cabin fit-out or the delicate, decorated shape of her deadeyes can be captured. I suppose being digital, her rig can be portrayed both in her tea rig as well as her wool clip rig.  Today's technology means this project has so much potential that didn't exist 20 years ago.

[Richard Dunn]

1 hour ago, Sailor1234567890 said:

I presume some construction explanation and reference to the original. The photo opportunity to back up her construction drawings is unparalleled for extreme clippers. Some have photos in the builder's yard etc. but we still have Cutty Sark here. It's always stumped me why nobody has published such a book yet. There are plenty of books like this, new and old, plenty about Cutty Sark. She's surely worthy of this treatment. So what's taken so long, considering she's still with us and available for direct reference. Details such as her cabin fit-out or the delicate, decorated shape of her deadeyes can be captured. I suppose being digital, her rig can be portrayed both in her tea rig as well as her wool clip rig.  Today's technology means this project has so much potential that didn't exist 20 years ago.

What's taken so long is it's very hard to do a forensic study of the ship when she is complete, but during the restoration we had all the planking off for quite a while as the planks needed conservation, and it enabled us to measure and document everything including deadwood parts and butt plates for planking.
I did express to the publisher my dislike of having plans that vanish into the spine across pages so we have decided to also provide actual sheets as well in a folder as an additional product at 1/48.

Edited Thursday at 03:11 AM by Richard Dunn

[Sailor1234567890]

Awesome! I can't wait.