Red Jacket by John Ruy - Marine Model Company - 1/16”=1’ (1/192 scale) - Vintage Solid Hull Clipper Ship Kit

[John Ruy]

Picked up this vintage kit from @Cornhusker1956 back in August. Here is the build log, I promised.

 

I do have a soft spot for these old kits. My first wood ship build was the Charles W Morgan by Marine Model Company. I built that kit in 2020. 

The date on the blueprint is 1951. This kit seems to have survived well and deserves to be rescued. 

This is a solid hull kit so my first order of business will be to get this “pre carved” hull into proper shape from stem to stern. 
 

Many thanks to @Cornhusker1956 for entrusting this little beauty to me. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

[Knocklouder]

Good luck on your journey on this one. I follow along, always nice to see a master whip up another wonderful build, I am sure Cornhusker will love it.  .my man.

[John Ruy]

36 minutes ago, Knocklouder said:

Good luck on your journey on this one. I follow along, always nice to see a master whip up another wonderful build, I am sure Cornhusker will love it.  .my man.

Welcome aboard Bob. This one should be real fun. But then, they all are…

 

Cheers 🍻

[Dr PR]

If you don't already have it, Harold Underhill's "Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship and Ocean Carrier" is an indispensable reference for clippers. He describes everything in detail, with hundreds of illustrations and full page plates, and appendices telling how to calculate the sizes of everything. The book has the most inclusive index I have seen, with page numbers for every part of the rigging. It is a joy to read and learn about ships of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

I'll be watching this one to see how it develops!

[John Ruy]

8 hours ago, Dr PR said:

Harold Underhill's "Masting and Rigging the Clipper Ship

Thanks Phil… I just ordered it, sounds like it will be very useful. You know how these Vintage blueprints can be lacking in detail. I am all about the detail. 🧐

 

Cheers 🍻
 

[gsdpic]

Wow, nice find.  Looks like it will be another beauty for your collection.  I'll follow along as well.

[GrandpaPhil]

Very nice find!  Looking forward to seeing this build!

[dvm27]

I look foreword to your build John. It's been awhile since I've seen one of these solid hull models taken to completion. Personally, I think they are more difficult than plank on bulkhead models. I assume the hull is pine? hard to tell from the photo.

[John Ruy]

Some History…

 

Note: She was built right here in Maine. 

 

Red Jacket was a clipper ship, one of the largest and fastest ever built.[2] She was also the first ship of the White Star Line company. She was named after Sagoyewatha, a famous Seneca Indian chief, called "Red Jacket" by settlers. She was designed by Samuel Hartt Pook, built by George Thomas in Rockland, Maine, and launched in 1853, the last ship to be launched from this yard.[3]

Name

Red Jacket

Owner

Seccomb & Taylor, Boston

Builder

George Thomas, Rockland, ME

Launched

2 Nov 1853[1]

United Kingdom

Owner

Pilkington & Wilson

Operator

White Star Line

Acquired

1854

Notes

In the immigrant trade; became an Australian and Indian coastal freighter, 1861.

Owner

Wilson & Chambers, Liverpool, 1868

Portugal

Owner

Blandy Brothers, Madeira Islands

Acquired

1883

Fate

Driven ashore in a gale, 1885.

Notes

Hulked, became a coal barge in the Cape Verde Islands.

General characteristics

Class and type

Clipper, designed by Samuel Hartt Pook

Tons burthen

2305 tons

Length

251 ft. 2 in., or 260 ft. 109m

Beam

44 ft..

Draft 

31 ft

 

History

 

Red Jacket left Rockland under tow, and was rigged in New York. Her captain was a veteran packet ship commander, Asa Eldridge of Yarmouth, Massachusetts,[4] and she had a crew of 65. On the passage to Liverpool, she averaged 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h) for the latter part of the voyage, with sustained bursts of 17 knots (31.5 km/h).

A Collins Line steamer arriving in Liverpool (which had left New York two days before Red Jacket) reported that Red Jacket was just astern. As she entered the harbor, tugs tried to get lines aboard the clipper but she was traveling too fast. Thousands, alerted by the Collins Liner, watched as Eldridge shortened sail and backed the vessel into its berth.

On this voyage, Red Jacket set the speed record for sailing ships crossing the Atlantic by traveling from New York to Liverpool in 13 days, 1 hour, 25 minutes, dock to dock.

A few days after the Red Jacket’s arrival in Liverpool, the accuracy of the ship’s log—and thus the integrity of her captain—was questioned in a letter to The Times of London, arguably the world’s most important newspaper at the time. The letter came from a highly authoritative source, Lloyd’s of London, but was signed only with the author’s initials. It prompted a fierce rebuttal the following day from a second correspondent who also did not disclose his name, but was clearly American. Three days later, the final word in this correspondence went to Asa Eldridge himself; The Times printed a letter from him (sent in his own name) in which he patiently explained why the original correspondent was wrong in his interpretation of the ship’s log.[5]

At Liverpool, the Red Jacket had her bottom coppered and cabins fitted out for the Australianimmigrant trade. She was purchased by Pilkington & Wilcox and other Liverpool investors with registry changing on April 24, 1854. (Most secondary sources say that the vessel was bought by the British a year later, copying a mistake made by earlier historians.) She was then chartered by the White Star Line for a run to Melbourne, Victoria. Under Captain Samuel Reid (who owned 1/16 of her), she reached in Melbourne in 69 days. Only one clipper, James Baines, ever made the run faster.[citation needed] On 13 June 1859,[6] whilst on a voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne, she collided with the British merchant ship Elizabeth Walker, which sank. Red Jacket rescued the crew of Elizabeth Walker, which was on a voyage from Buenos Aires, Argentina to London.[7][8]

Red Jacket served in the immigrant trade until 1867, when she became an Australian and Indiancoastal freighter.[citation needed]. In May 1871, she ran aground at Cantick Head, Orkney Islandswhilst on a voyage from Calcutta to Dundee, Forfarshire. She was refloated and completed her voyage.[9]

 

Fate

In 1872 Red Jacket became a lumber carrier from Quebec to London, joining the clippers Marco Poloand Donald McKay, which "ended their days" in the transatlantic Quebec timber trade,[10] She collided with the Eliza Walker in 1878[dubious – discuss], which sank; Eliza Walker′s crew were rescued.[1] On 29 January 1878, she put in to Plymouth, Devon in a leaky condition, her crew refusing to proceed. She was recorded as a collier on a voyage from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland to Genoa, Italy.[11][12] In 1883, Red Jacket was sold to Blandy Brothers, a Portuguese shipping company in the Madeira Islands as a coaling hulk. She dragged her anchors in a heavy gale and was driven ashore on 16 December 1885; the sale of her wreckage fetched just £113.

from Wikipedia

[MrBlueJacket]

Note: The copyright date on the plans is not the manufacturing date of the kit, it only documents when the kit was designed.

 

Nic

[John Ruy]

Shaping the Solid Wood Hull…

Using a Wood Rasp to cut down the Pre carved bow…

Shaping the Stem…

Fitting the stem piece… The Hull needs a bit more shaping. 

Using PVA glue and rubber bands to attach the stem piece. 

Removing the pre carved keel to install my own of Basswood. I will have to properly shape the hull before reinstalling the keel. 

Flattening the hull fit a new keel. 

Working on the stern shape for fitting the rudder and stern post. 
 

Lots more Hull shaping to do. However, I am finding the blue print (yes only one) is not adequate, I have no Profile drawings. They also show no pin rails for belaying rigging. 🧐

This additional drawing at no particular scale is offered for placing the bulwarks. 

These drawings provided just are not acceptable for the kind of accuracy I intended for the Red Jacket. 
 

So I went to the internet to locate some decent plans. And what do I find, but a MSW Build Log by our friend @MrBlueJacket  Bluejacket Shipcrafters have an excellent set of plans (5 sheets) for The Red Jacket. 
 

This project just got more interesting 🤔. I’ll have change it to a kit bash. The Bluejacket - Red Jacket drawings are at 1/8”=1’. While this kit is 1/16”=1’. 
 

The challenge will be to build in “all” of the detail at 1/2 the scale. Wish me luck. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

Edited December 4, 2023 by John Ruy

[Roger Pellett]

This looks like an interesting project.  Looking forward to future progress.

 

Roger

[Rick310]

Good luck with your build.  Nic’s (Mr Bluejacket) model of the Red Jacket is beautiful!!  Maybe Nic can send you pictures.  I use his model as a reference for my Flying Fish!

Rick

[ScottRC]

I'm following along with your build because I like these old solid hull models.  I have two Marine kits in the stash I hope to build.  

[John Ruy]

27 minutes ago, Rick310 said:

Good luck with your build.  Nic’s (Mr Bluejacket) model of the Red Jacket is beautiful!!  Maybe Nic can send you pictures.  I use his model as a reference for my Flying Fish!

Rick

Actually, Nic @MrBlueJacket has a full build log of the Red Jacket I’ll be referencing it as I proceed. It would be a good reference for your Flying Fish.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by John Ruy

[Cornhusker1956]

John

Thanks for the link and I too will be following.  I have provided a link to my cousin whose father owned the kit.  Even this early I know the kit is in the right hands.

 

David

[John Ruy]

8 hours ago, Cornhusker1956 said:

John

Thanks for the link and I too will be following.  I have provided a link to my cousin whose father owned the kit.  Even this early I know the kit is in the right hands.

 

David

David,

 

Thank you, for the opportunity to honor your cousin’s father with this build. As I said earlier I love rescuing these forgotten model kits. It’s good to know it’s not a random eBay find or from an unknown estate sale. I hope, some day my unfinished kits will find will find a home on MSW. 

John

[BAR553]

John

I am cornhuskers cousin Bruce.   A little history.  My dad was a craftsman woodworker.  One Christmas we kids decided to get him the model you now have in your hands.  We gave it to him in the mid 70,s.  Well life went on and he kept busy with other projects and this got put aside…..Forward to 2023 and I am helping my mom reorganize a few closets and discover the old model which I had not thought of in 30 years at least…..couldnt bring myself to sell so I sent to Cornhusker and he wisely got it to you.  I asked him for a pic or two of the finished model for my mom…..I couldn’t imagine a detailed build log.  
Bless you my friend.  It will be a pleasure for mom and I to follow along.  
 

Bruce

[John Ruy]

21 hours ago, BAR553 said:

 I asked him for a pic or two of the finished model for my mom…..I couldn’t imagine a detailed build log.  
Bless you my friend.  It will be a pleasure for mom and I to follow along.  

Bruce,

 

Welcome aboard my friend. It will be my pleasure to take on this build for you and your mom. I am sure your Dad, being a craftsman, always wanted to find the time. Time is what it takes, this little boat will probably take me a year or so to complete, but worth the journey. 

 

Welcome to Model Ship World. 🌎 

 

John

 

[John Ruy]

Ok… All that said, back to my First Steps. 
 

I purchased the Bluejacket Shipcrafters plan set for the 1853 Red Jacket. I then had Staples copy the plan sheets at 50%. This reduced the scale to 1/16”=1”.  These plan sheets also give me a lot more detail than the original Marine Model Company plan sheet. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

 

[Rick310]

 Bluejacket is great!!!

[John Ruy]

Shaping the Hull…

Used card stock to cat section templates of the hull profiles. 

Carved to mid-ship using router tip and barrel sander on a rotary tool. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

[Bill Morrison]

I have the old Marine Models kit of the Sea Witch. You are inspiring me to build it!

 

Bill

Edited January 3 by Bill Morrison

[John Ruy]

Shaping the Hull continues…

Carved out mid-ship aft…

Bulwark added…

Using wood filler to refine the rough shape…

Adding the Keel and Stern Post…

Adding the Stem Post…

 

She is coming along nicely… Lots of fill and sanding left to do, we’ll get there. 
 

Cheers 🍻 

 

[jerome]

Very nice!

Red Jacket was a beautiful ship.

built just down the road a piece.

[John Ruy]

8 minutes ago, jerome said:

Very nice!

Red Jacket was a beautiful ship.

built just down the road a piece.

Yes she is… I hope I can do her justice at this scale. Lots of great ships built here in Maine. 👍

[John Ruy]

Scribed Decking…

I added decking, kit supplied scribed deck material. I can now build up the bulwarks then finish filling and sanding the hull. 
 

Steady as she goes…

Cheers 🍻

[rwiederrich]

On 1/10/2024 at 6:20 AM, John Ruy said:

Yes she is… I hope I can do her justice at this scale. Lots of great ships built here in Maine. 👍

John....I've been following your build...great job.

One thing I hope you really consider and research, is Donald McKay's  prolific use of the *Naval Hood*. A structural feature he utilized on all his clippers.  Separating his designs from the average clipper.  The Naval Hood can be easily seen on his last clipper, the Glory of the Seas.

This is an excerpt from an email from Rich Jones a fellow McKay clipper researcher ;  

"Anyone reading this brief description by Duncan McLean of Flying Cloud has to ask themselves this question. Why would McKay abandon such a ruggedly constructed feature? 

 

"Her hood ends are bolted alternately from either side, through each other and the stem, so that the loss of her cutwater would not affect her safety or cause a leak."

 

I believe the very fact that these exact features are prominently incorporated in his final medium clipper ship Glory of the Seas is proof of precisely the opposite: Donald McKay was consistent in maintaining this unique structure throughout his career. "

 

I hope you will consider adding the Naval Hoods to your build...even though they are absent  from your plans.  Since Builder models seldomly replicated this feature due to the fact the builders model was designed to depict the Hull design(Dead rise/sheer) and not any extra feature.  It is a well known fact Donald McKay kept this structural feature a secret, until his model was run down the ways.

 

Rob

[John Ruy]

7 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

One thing I hope you really consider and research, is Donald McKay's  prolific use of the *Naval Hood*.

Thanks Rob, Sounds like an interesting feature/detail to add. Can you give me some references, such as links to where I can get drawings or at least detailed descriptions. I haven’t found the feature on the Red Jacket. 
 

Thanks

John

Edited January 12 by John Ruy

[rwiederrich]

16 hours ago, John Ruy said:

Thanks Rob, Sounds like an interesting feature/detail to add. Can you give me some references, such as links to where I can get drawings or at least detailed descriptions. I haven’t found the feature on the Red Jacket. 
 

Thanks

John

John…I’ll begin by posting some pics of McKay’s last clipper, Glory of the Seas. You can see the curved  hood just above and behind the figurehead and under the bowsprit.  This devise is described on his ships. And it is nearly depicted on all his clippers. It is what reinforced the stem and cut water.

Rob