Glory of the Seas 1869 by rwiederrich - Medium clipper - discontinued in lieu of new log

[rwiederrich]

Thanks for all the likes everyone and thanks Frank for the fine comments.  Sometimes I'm questioned as to those techniques..since they deviate from typical scratch building.  Some suppose that that means from all wood construction.  I prefer to save time by re-engineering what others have toiled over..to gain my desired effect.  In the ultimate end..it is the builder who is to be rewarded..and since a true scaled model is never truly accurate(Meaning: we don't actually build with oak, or use tree architecture for fashioning knees, or cast real iron for all the structural particulars, I don't know anyone who has access to muntz metal either...)    I guess I'm lazy...just wanting an end result...for me.

Again..thanks

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Yes he did..and it sold at auction recently........

 

Thanks for posting and the comment...

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I've finally finished the wall mounting for my Glory Model.  I added two iron pin samples that were excavated from her resting site and a short description of the vessel and artifacts found.

 

Now I need to finish the model...which by the way I will be working on the yards in earnest come next month when my schedule clears.

 

Rob 

[dgbot]

Looking good Robin,  I like that you did not put sails on thus showing the vessel and what everything looks like.

David B

[rwiederrich]

That's nice to put your work and the bits and pieces together in this way ,a fiting tribute and a tinge of imosion that you feel for the subject. I do feel may be the wall paper is a we bit distracting ,but very well done robin

The wall paper reflects the Blue hues in the room and the added dating.....all the things needed to make a statement.   Thanks for the fine comments.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Looking good Robin,  I like that you did not put sails on thus showing the vessel and what everything looks like.

David B

I will not install sails on this particular model.....When the yards are added the strong stark dark varnished look will make the vessel look like a B/W image.

I have a long way to go for rigging is an all encompassing hobby in of itself...so that will be fun.  Collecting remnants of the Glory of the Seas was the highlight of this entire project.

 

Rob

[Hyposphagma]

Hello Rob,

I just found your build log after reading your post in the "Flying Cloud Figure Head" thread. It is wonderful to see someone following the same strategies in building one of the famous clipper ships and the brilliant outcome. Your build looks wonderful, full of life and very well researched. Plus I am happy that you chose the same way of building her like I did.

For my build of the Flying Cloud I used the hull halfs of an old Heller Kit in 1:200 scale. I made some modifications on it like changing the keel, planking the ebony wood part with ebony veneer stripes and the copper part with real copper foil. I replaced all the decks and planked them with maple veneer strips. All the furniture I scratched and it came out nicely so far. Just like yours.

My next big task will be the masts. I will follow your log from now on and "steal" some ideas, if you don`t mind.  ;-) Looking forward to see how you proceed with the rigging. I am really happy that I found a "soulmate" here that likes the clipper ships same as I do and that builds his ship in a similar way I do. Thanks for posting. Keep it up. Harry

[rwiederrich]

HI Harry..Fantastic!  Sometimes we get distracted from the goal..to build a representation of a model we love, by pressure to use wood or cloth, or other typical media.  For me and it appears you as well...Clippers.  American clippers specifically are the favorite...  .  I have a goal and I will use whatever material or medium I can manipulate to achieve that goal...cuz once it's all said and done it is a fine looking vessel...and in most cases one will be hard pressed to identify plastic from wood, metal, card stock or wax.  Paint is my friend and as I recall.. all clippers were actually painted.  I respect the purist, who builds entirely with wood(However, not the actual oak used in real construction).  I'm generally a lazy builder..preferring to re-engineer other vessels..avoiding the more tedious job of POF or POB. 

 

I would love to see images of your builds.  I would love to exchange ideas and lend a suggestive hand if I am asked.

 

Again...thanks for your interest and most of all your love of clippers.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Shifting gears I'm back to work on the Glory working on the ratlines.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

After further self evaluation....I determined it was time to stop production on the Great Republic.so I could re-engage the Glory of the Seas.  The diversion has payed off and I'm ready to go full steam ahead on the Glory and work at getting her off the ways.  I've been stretched too thin these days so I need to focus my efforts and complete a build for the underwriters.(Me)

 

So here we go...........

 

I'll return to the GR...it's just nice to take a break now and again.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Spent an hour or so on the Glory of the Seas today...here are some pics.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Spent an hour or so on the Glory of the Seas today finishing up the ratlines...here are some pics.

I hope to begin the backstays soon.

 

Rob

[Omega1234]

Hi Rob

 

Four words "Looks perfect to me!"

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[rwiederrich]

Thanks Patrick...I hope to have those pesky rascals finished completely tonight.

Some other builders here are very meticulous in their install.......I just get it done and am not a perfectionist...As I've said before...OFTEN...I'm no purist.  

 

Rob 

[Guest Riccardo1966]

Hello Rob, That is looking very good indeed, your sea diorama is a beautiful piece of work also, very impressive.

Regards Richard

[rwiederrich]

Thanks Gentlemen.  Since there are only a few clipper plans on the market and those are numerous and copiously built...I decided I wanted to build several Donald McKay clippers from scratch from the builders models and period photographic evidence.  The open ocean diorama is the Donald McKay..coming out of the trough of a huge wave.

 

I hope to get back to the Glory very soon....too many family issues as of late.

 

Rob

[druxey]

Just catching up on your progress, Rob. Lovely work indeed! The sea in your diorama looks impressive as well.

[popeye the sailor]

browsing around,  I saw your project here........looks mighty nice!  

[rwiederrich]

I think I posted this before, but, I wanted to put the Donald McKay in big water..but not so big she could not be displayed.

 

I used this painting of the Cutty Sark as an example...and plenty of film of ships traversing big water.

 I simply placed the hull in a wooden box and filled it full of expanding foam.  First I positioned it..then I cut the foam to suite the look and I then covered that with fast set dental plaster.  I then carved the waves and created the final look.

Then came the real trick...painting the waves to mimic the translucency  of deep green water.  I then capped off the white caps with extreme white.  I detailed the waves with the tell tell signs of foam and exaggerations one would expect from active moving ocean water.

 

Here are some images.

 

The closeup was taken before the final white and gloss was added(Note the tape around the hull to prevent it from being captured by the plaster.

 

Rob

 

 

[rwiederrich]

Finally got in about 45 minutes to rig some backstays on the mizzen.

Rob 

[albert]

Very nice work.

[rwiederrich]

Thanks Albert...I appreciate that.  I spent an hour or so working on the Glory's rigging...and finished up the mizzen backstays.

Rob 

[rwiederrich]

Digging I found some old images of Glory during her heyday  years

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I thought I'd present this image of of the Down Easter (John Rosenfeld).  She is seen here run aground on a reef.  Note the Iron strapped built masts....similar to those on the Glory. ...the Glory was considered a *Down Easter*..because of her *Medium* full bodied design...even though she is also considered one of the last American clippers.  Kind of a hybrid.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Spent an hour or so working on the Glory's backstays.

 

Rob

[Tigersteve]

Joining late on this. Good stuff. 

Steve

[popeye the sailor]

finally made it to the scratch build forum........looking very good!   super progress  

[rwiederrich]

Worked a bit on the rigging tonight and I found another painting of the Glory......

[Sailor1234567890]

Interesting to see no stuns'ls and nothing on the crojack yard. Spanker is furled I think too. There's another ship on the horizon to the right and as anyone knows, two sailing vessels automatically makes it a race. She doesn't seem overborn by her canvas as she's sailing pretty close to dead downwind. Nice painting. I like it.

[rwiederrich]

Spent an hour or so finishing up the main backstays.

 

Rob