Glory of the Seas by Rwiederrich - Medium clipper 1869 (discontinued in lieu of new log)

[rwiederrich]

Worked on the topgallant yard.  Even though I am not finished with the topsail yard rigging...I need the topgallant yard in place so I can run the sheets down to the topsail yard and through some sheaves and blocks to finish out that yard.

 

So I'll mount some eye bolts to the yards next...paint it and then bend the furled sail to it.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

I spent a bit of time bending the topgallant sail to the its yard.  Not to mention, the addition of all the blocks and lifts and downhauls and buntline blocks.......

 

Here are a few images.

[rwiederrich]

A few more...

[rwiederrich]

I only was working the starboard side...so much to keep untagled. 

 

While I was working I opted to spend some time machining a mini chuck for the right angle slow speed handpiece.  It locks into the collet and makes for a secure drill.   It makes getting into those real hard places a breeze now.  I can now use any of my mini drill, with no problem change out.

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

Rob , 

i am a actually reading thru Mr Mjedje book - cant help but i must confess that sawn song of D McKay (her being his finest accomplishment)  and his unsuccessful effort ( game) to revert his serious debt situation either by trying to sell her or though maiden voayage to San Francisco  brings almost tears to eyes or pain. yet honoration of his in San Francisco despite of this setbacks was moving. He was such respectful figure that even fact that almost everything on her was ordered on later pay promise is fascinating read...im glad im not building this ship. i woul weep probably :))) perfect is i can see on your build what ship looked like . 

[rwiederrich]

5 hours ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Rob , 

i am a actually reading thru Mr Mjedje book - cant help but i must confess that sawn song of D McKay (her being his finest accomplishment)  and his unsuccessful effort ( game) to revert his serious debt situation either by trying to sell her or though maiden voayage to San Francisco  brings almost tears to eyes or pain. yet honoration of his in San Francisco despite of this setbacks was moving. He was such respectful figure that even fact that almost everything on her was ordered on later pay promise is fascinating read...im glad im not building this ship. i woul weep probably :))) perfect is i can see on your build what ship looked like . 

 

 

Yes Vladimir...Michael Mjelde wrote two books on the Glory, and he even lives near me.  Before all this COVID nonsense came around we were planning a meeting.  I hope to be back in touch with him soon.  Yes...Glory is a very sad story and probably one of Donald McKay's best vessels...but like you said...he never recovered from investing everything he had left into her.  He was hoping on earlier days of Glory and honor...but the days of clippers had come and gone....right out underneath him.

 

I can't tell you proud I am to actually own part of her......

 

Thanks for looking in and for the fine comments.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

A little info from the past.  I wanted to show how I made the composite masts for the Glory of the Sea.  They were constructed in similar fashion as those for my Donald McKay build.

 

I first had to build a table saw for one of my Baldor lathes, that I could use to cut within the dowel and along its shaft a small groove.  4 to be exact, evenly placed around the dowel.   This would simulate the external outer portions of the constructed mast.  Then I added the fillets to fill in the space so the mast bands would follow symmetrically around the curve of the mast.

 

Here are a couple of images of the milling and the banding of the composite masts.

 

Rob

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

2 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

A little info from the past.  I wanted to show how I made the composite masts for the Glory of the Sea.  They were constructed in similar fashion as those for my Donald McKay build.

 

I first had to build a table saw for one of my Baldor lathes, that I could use to cut within the dowel and along its shaft a small groove.  4 to be exact, evenly placed around the dowel.   This would simulate the external outer portions of the constructed mast.  Then I added the fillets to fill in the space so the mast bands would follow symmetrically around the curve of the mast.

 

Here are a couple of images of the milling and the banding of the composite masts.

 

Rob

Very nice. Thanks for explanation Rob, you probably dont need to guess hard i am already genuinely in love with Donald Mckays clip. design and art and curious about american way to make clippers...there is quite a few photographs of ship  in glory book.

[rwiederrich]

16 minutes ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Very nice. Thanks for explanation Rob, you probably dont need to guess hard i am already genuinely in love with Donald Mckays clip. design and art and curious about american way to make clippers...there is quite a few photographs of ship  in glory book.

 

As you might already know..the clipper ship design is uniquely an American design, born out of necessity.  Speed was far more a premium then cargo capacity  Donald McKay was able to blend the design characteristics of several other builders, along with his own ideas and he capitalized.  Never creating the same clipper model twice, apart from a couple sister ships.

American Clippers were mainly constructed out of old growth timber....a commodity not available in the UK.  During the height of the clipper rage (about 1852) some ships were actually built in as little as 3 months.   Amazing, when you think that it generally takes years to complete a large sea going vessel.

There are several volumes of books dedicated to Donald McKay and his clippers.

 

Rob 

[rwiederrich]

Unlike ,many ships, clippers could see many modifications to their rig, their structures and even their paint schemes.  Glory of the Seas saw much changes to her structures and even her duties. 

 

Rob

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

Rob, small joke to stirr up some fun. are you going to build entire McKay fleet ? ithat would be some accomplishment of century but fleet  is huge. when i read how great republic ended up only first day after launch in new york dock i couldnt believe my eyes . the feelings of her author must have been - undescribable. i guess the stories of their "life" are probably even more interesting than their appearance. success and fame equals horrifying disasters as well. both extremes. caught a fire day after launch. thats  s**t.  glory in last minute avoided getting burnt with coal...im almost scared to read further ...to the point , if i understand correctly losing of ship was not thing that would not have been predicted or expected to some point sooner or later / be it sinking due to weather or other misfortune. rapid speed of building wooden boat compensated for that and high prices of ships insurance played important role within "all building/merchant business ". not to mention havoc the sea water and sun played on deck etc. significant reapis and cargo like coal must have damaged inner walls of boat to small or bigger extent....or unrepairable.....crushing sandy soil was general and with serious damage ships were usually sold for friction of price to the third countries. as they would not get insurance credibility nor chance to compete or get to the business....interesting. but burnt total of biggest ship in the worl day after launch is something beyond all luck . 

[rwiederrich]

4 hours ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Rob, small joke to stirr up some fun. are you going to build entire McKay fleet ? ithat would be some accomplishment of century but fleet  is huge. when i read how great republic ended up only first day after launch in new york dock i couldnt believe my eyes . the feelings of her author must have been - undescribable. i guess the stories of their "life" are probably even more interesting than their appearance. success and fame equals horrifying disasters as well. both extremes. caught a fire day after launch. thats  s**t.  glory in last minute avoided getting burnt with coal...im almost scared to read further ...to the point , if i understand correctly losing of ship was not thing that would not have been predicted or expected to some point sooner or later / be it sinking due to weather or other misfortune. rapid speed of building wooden boat compensated for that and high prices of ships insurance played important role within "all building/merchant business ". not to mention havoc the sea water and sun played on deck etc. significant reapis and cargo like coal must have damaged inner walls of boat to small or bigger extent....or unrepairable.....crushing sandy soil was general and with serious damage ships were usually sold for friction of price to the third countries. as they would not get insurance credibility nor chance to compete or get to the business....interesting. but burnt total of biggest ship in the worl day after launch is something beyond all luck . 

 

 

Yes..can you imagine Donald McKay's reaction when he first heard that his largest most expensive vessel burned to the water...before she could even prove herself in her design and her ability.

 

To answer your question, *Am I going to build every clipper Donald McKay built....well the answer to that is no.  He built 38 clippers...from extreme models to medium designs.  With that said....I am mostly interested in the models that made significant contributions and or had historical implications.  Not simply recognizing the ones that have available plans and working descriptions.

I first built the Glory of the Seas, because she was Donald's last clipper, with an epic beginning...not to mention life and end.  The Donald McKay...she was Donald's second largest clipper and the last *extreme* clipper McKay built.  Similar to the clipper Lightning, she had a (single) open railed gangway that led from the poop deck forward to the main cabin...permitting sailors to traverse forward and aft without having to descend  down to the main deck and back up to the forecastle.  An ingenious design that the latter *Windjammers* and DownEasters would employ. Then there is the Great Republic...being nearly twice as large as the average clipper and coming in at a whopping 4555 tons.  She was, IMV a *natural*.  Her concept to her demise is a thrilling story in of itself.  an amazing ship and tale.

I have one other Ship of significant design, that is on my list to build from the McKay catalog and that is the Sovereign of the Seas.   She was large, 2421 tons...but she is famous for being the Fastest clipper ship ever made.  Not only in knots per hour, but in miles logged per day.   The Flying Cloud is on record for having the fastest passages from NY to SanFran, however, the Sovereign, holds the fastest speeds and miles per day records.

I entertained building all of Donald McKay's clippers that shared the same theme in their names....too, like,  Sovereign of the Seas ,Empress of the Seas, Romance of the Seas, Champion of the Seas and Glory of the Seas.  However, more important contributions superseded vessel names.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Rob
 

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

3 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

 

 

Yes..can you imagine Donald McKay's reaction when he first heard that his largest most expensive vessel burned to the water...before she could even prove herself in her design and her ability.

 

To answer your question, *Am I going to build every clipper Donald McKay built....well the answer to that is no.  He built 38 clippers...from extreme models to medium designs.  With that said....I am mostly interested in the models that made significant contributions and or had historical implications.  Not simply recognizing the ones that have available plans and working descriptions.

I first built the Glory of the Seas, because she was Donald's last clipper, with an epic beginning...not to mention life and end.  The Donald McKay...she was Donald's second largest clipper and the last *extreme* clipper McKay built.  Similar to the clipper Lightning, she had a (single) open railed gangway that led from the poop deck forward to the main cabin...permitting sailors to traverse forward and aft without having to descend  down to the main deck and back up to the forecastle.  An ingenious design that the latter *Windjammers* and DownEasters would employ. Then there is the Great Republic...being nearly twice as large as the average clipper and coming in at a whopping 4555 tons.  She was, IMV a *natural*.  Her concept to her demise is a thrilling story in of itself.  an amazing ship and tale.

I have one other Ship of significant design, that is on my list to build from the McKay catalog and that is the Sovereign of the Seas.   She was large, 2421 tons...but she is famous for being the Fastest clipper ship ever made.  Not only in knots per hour, but in miles logged per day.   The Flying Cloud is on record for having the fastest passages from NY to SanFran, however, the Sovereign, holds the fastest speeds and miles per day records.

I entertained building all of Donald McKay's clippers that shared the same theme in their names....too, like,  Sovereign of the Seas ,Empress of the Seas, Romance of the Seas, Champion of the Seas and Glory of the Seas.  However, more important contributions superseded vessel names.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Rob
 

Thanks Rob, it sure is very intreresting reading all of your inputs to the point, im sure i could read it for hours...but sorry i feel I am a bit stealing or little messing your log with general debate so I will slow down a bit. entire fleet that was merely joke as I pointed, thanks for explaining  why you picked up boats... by the way. today I received parcel from model shipways with 6 beautiful detailed plans of flying fish. I dont have particular reason for that boat /well I do..even just she is typical representation of McKays design anyway.....apart of records McKazs boats possessed, few of them proved sluggish as well as He embarked glory himself on maiden voyage to San Francisco to fool authorities but he was just a passenger not her master yet he stated himself in papers....Mr. Mjelde writes.... I picked fish just because model shipways has developed amazingly and thoroughly researched updated and laid  plans etc. that was most important reason., That would be my 1st McKays vessel to build, I already measured her up, and will go most likely for usual 1.48 scale up from 3rd watter level,.... without masting her in first place...future can deside masting anyway. I intend to make her with significantly slower approach so will take me long i guess with focus on deck wood aesthetics on decks etc..etc... will probably try hull to carve from single block and on that to foolow up ....with my best ability to shine and with idea to keep memory of Donald McKay alive and sound for todays audience in my surrounding. after cutty im turning to the west and Thanks for introducing me to "clipper americana" Vlad

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

Thanks Rob, it sure is very intreresting reading all of your inputs to the point, im sure i could read it for hours...but sorry i feel I am a bit stealing or little messing your log with general debate so I will slow down a bit. entire fleet that was merely joke as I pointed, thanks for explaining  why you picked up boats... by the way. today I received parcel from model shipways with 6 beautiful detailed plans of flying fish. I dont have particular reason for that boat /well I do..even just she is typical representation of McKays design anyway.....apart of records McKazs boats possessed, few of them proved sluggish as well as He embarked glory himself on maiden voyage to San Francisco to fool authorities but he was just a passenger not her master yet he stated himself in papers....Mr. Mjelde writes.... I picked fish just because model shipways has developed amazingly and thoroughly researched updated and laid  plans etc. that was most important reason., That would be my 1st McKays vessel to build, I already measured her up, and will go most likely for usual 1.48 scale up from 3rd watter level,.... without masting her in first place...future can deside masting anyway. I intend to make her with significantly slower approach so will take me long i guess with focus on deck wood aesthetics on decks etc..etc... will probably try hull to carve from single block and on that to foolow up ....with my best ability to shine and with idea to keep memory of Donald McKay alive and sound for todays audience in my surrounding. after cutty im turning to the west and Thanks for introducing me to "clipper americana" Vlad

 

Vlad...I'm just so happy I could be of any influence...when it comes to clippers.  Since the clipper is an American invention...an invention of necessity....I am compelled by their robust, wood construction and grace in simplicity.

Even though the Clipper Era was short...there were and are, a vast amount of vessels to entice the prudent modeler.  I am so glad you are beginning to focus on the Flying Fish.  She was one of McKay's smaller models..but she had a wonderful history.  A good set of plans is a good start....and 1/48 is a fairly large scale to work in...so details can be more accurately replicated.

 

Good luck and I'm glad I can be of any help.

 

Rob

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

37 minutes ago, rwiederrich said:

 

Vlad...I'm just so happy I could be of any influence...when it comes to clippers.  Since the clipper is an American invention...an invention of necessity....I am compelled by their robust, wood construction and grace in simplicity.

Even though the Clipper Era was short...there were and are, a vast amount of vessels to entice the prudent modeler.  I am so glad you are beginning to focus on the Flying Fish.  She was one of McKay's smaller models..but she had a wonderful history.  A good set of plans is a good start....and 1/48 is a fairly large scale to work in...so details can be more accurately replicated.

 

Good luck and I'm glad I can be of any help.

 

Rob

im happy i can consult with you as im certain I surely will when times come...V. 

[rwiederrich]

Spent a bit of time working on the Glory....I began the royal yard....here before the furled sail is bent to it.

[rwiederrich]

Now the sail ir bent and the yard is fixed to the mast.  I installed the lift and getting ready to work up the sheets and their blocks.

I decided to work on one side at a time...so I don't have to keep flipping the model around.  This is why you can see the topgallant still needs the port lines installed.

[rwiederrich]

Here is a bit better image.  You can see the lift on the topgallant...and the halyards on both yards.  When things dry a bit I will add the royal lift and then rig up the sheets and the buntlines and their blocks..

 

Rob

[druxey]

Love the appearance of your furled sails, Rob!

[rwiederrich]

18 hours ago, druxey said:

Love the appearance of your furled sails, Rob!

 

Thanks Druxey..

 

Spent a bit more time today working on the topgallant and royal rigging.  Here I'm setting up for the lifts and sheets.

[rwiederrich]

I turned the model around and am getting ready to begin the entire port side rigging of all the yard lifts, halyards, buntlines and blocks and the sheets.   Lot of stuff going on...but it works out better this way.

 

Rob 

[BANYAN]

Great work Rob; don't want to visit here (post pandemic) to do a bit of rigging? (upside down as well   )

 

cheers

 

Pat

[michael mott]

Rob the combination of the furled and billowing sails is wonderful, You are show you excellent skills with the paper sails.

 

Michael

[rwiederrich]

17 hours ago, michael mott said:

Rob the combination of the furled and billowing sails is wonderful, You are show you excellent shills with the paper sails.

 

Michael

Thanks Michael.....paper is amazing when its manipulated into convincing sails.

Rob

[KeithAug]

Excellent work on the sails Rob. They sit very realistically.

[rwiederrich]

16 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Excellent work on the sails Rob. They sit very realistically.

Thanks Keith...I wasn't sure if the texture or the shade would match between the paper and masking tape....but since the tape is actually rolled upon itself and wrinkled and folded then sprayed with dull-coat...it becomes quite convincing up against the paper sails.   Thanks for the fine compliment.

I've been so side tracked with adding a large garden building and working the garden that I've spent little time on the Glory in recent days.  I hope to return very, very soon.

 

Rob

[Keith Black]

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

but since the tape is actually rolled upon itself and wrinkled and folded then sprayed with dull-coat

Amazing. 

[rwiederrich]

22 minutes ago, Keith Black said:

Amazing. 

The dull-coat knocks down any sheen the tape produces, plus it permits me a dull surface and one with enough surface adhesion to permit me to draw on the panel lines cleanly.

I'm always thinking and looking for ways to *cheat* my way around doing anything difficult....and if my methods are unorthodox and the materials and techniques used non-purist.....Well.....I can live with that.   We are, in reality, MODELING the prototype...not actually making it.

Loose, tricky, lazy and outside of the box...has been my modeling mantra for years.

 

Rob

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

good day Rob, 

woudl you mind me trying to ask some questions about glory - plan? 

im still hesitating about building flying fish as that was built countless times i would like to something significant as not overbuilt. as finished Michael Mjeldes book i have at least emotional connection with such meaningfull boat ( at least for Donald McKay and for sake such important vessel was burnt to the ground i would love to raise her beauty up again )... i have myself  plenty of informations and all rigging stuff from book and omportant some reall good close photography from ship itself and drawing covered. yet i struggle with hull shape though meaning i amhaving perfect plan of flying fish but how would i use it for glory body is a mystery to me at the moment. im not sure if some body shape outline with curves even exist of glory which would be sufficient enough so I would have basically all imoortant information about ship perfectly covered. i did not find it in Michael book infortunately. 

 

thank you and all best 

Vladimir 

[rwiederrich]

On ‎6‎/‎28‎/‎2020 at 6:25 AM, Vladimir_Wairoa said:

good day Rob, 

woudl you mind me trying to ask some questions about glory - plan? 

im still hesitating about building flying fish as that was built countless times i would like to something significant as not overbuilt. as finished Michael Mjeldes book i have at least emotional connection with such meaningfull boat ( at least for Donald McKay and for sake such important vessel was burnt to the ground i would love to raise her beauty up again )... i have myself  plenty of informations and all rigging stuff from book and omportant some reall good close photography from ship itself and drawing covered. yet i struggle with hull shape though meaning i amhaving perfect plan of flying fish but how would i use it for glory body is a mystery to me at the moment. im not sure if some body shape outline with curves even exist of glory which would be sufficient enough so I would have basically all imoortant information about ship perfectly covered. i did not find it in Michael book infortunately. 

 

thank you and all best 

Vladimir 

 

Vladimir...your desire to build a replica of the Glory is commendable...and will take some real research, even though Mjelde's book does cover her deck plan very well...the hull is left to the imagination.  This will rely on your observation skills, not to mention some deductive conclusions.  When I built the Glory...my desire at the time was to use an existing Revell Cutty Sark hull and modify it enough to correct the cutwater of the bow and correct the under emphasized gunwale...not to mention the correction of the forecastle and poop.   Correction of the deadrise could not be made with that plastic hull....so I simply accepted what I had.   but if I were to do it all over again...I'd find or develop plans for a heavy bodied Downeaster hull design.  Photographic images of the Glory's hull(as she is on the beach), and at her launching, shows she was of a fuller design....not the extreme clipper design of the Cutty Sark.

 

It can be done..but work and research will have to be employed.  I hope you look into it further.

 

Rob