Staghound 1850 by rwiederrich - 1/96 - Extreme Clipper

[ClipperFan]

16 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

I remember reading that Staghound was  McKay’s only true “extreme “ clipper.   From her came fuller designs. 
 

Rob

Rob, I've read that same conclusion too. Meanwhile 1851 Flying Cloud McKay's second extreme California clipper twice set the record anchor to anchor from NY to San Francisco which was never surpassed by another three masted vessel. In 1859-60 the 1855 Mystic, CT built Belle Hoxie renamed Andrew Jackson beat her time NY to the Farallon Islands, entry point to the San Francisco Bay in 89 days, 4 hours. However, lack of an available pilot boat resulted in her anchor to anchor time being longer, resulting in 89 days, 20 hours. Since Flying Cloud twice set records anchor to anchor with her fastest complete passage being 89 days, 8 hours anchor to anchor, that standard applied to all other ships. Her record stood for 135 years until the yacht Thursday's Child finally beat her in 1989. And yet, some nautical scholars still insist that the only extreme clipper Donald McKay ever launched was Staghound.

 

 

Edited May 31 by ClipperFan
corrections & additions

[rwiederrich]

7 hours ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, I've read that same conclusion too. Meanwhile 1851 Flying Cloud McKay's second extreme California clipper twice set the record anchor to anchor from NY to San Francisco which was never surpassed by another three masted vessel. In 1859-60 the 1855 Mystic, CT built Belle Hoxie renamed Andrew Jackson beat her time NY to the Farallon Islands, entry point to the San Francisco Bay in 89 days, 4 hours. However, lack of an available pilot boat resulted in her anchor to anchor time being longer, resulting in 89 days, 20 hours. Since Flying Cloud twice set records anchor to anchor with her fastest complete passage being 89 days, 8 hours anchor to anchor, that standard applied to all other ships. Her record stood for 135 years until the yacht Thursday's Child finally beat her in 1989. And yet, some nautical scholars still insist that the only extreme clipper Donald McKay ever launched was Staghound.

 

 

Worked on adding the monkey rail.   I’ll weather it after it fully dries.  The onto the decking and bulwarks 

 

Rob

Edited May 31 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

First coat of primer white.  Before I install the stanchions.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

4 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Worked on adding the monkey rail.   I’ll weather it after it fully dries.  The onto the decking and bulwarks 

 

Rob

Rob,

It continually impresses me how rapidly you work. Staghound is shaping up to be one beautiful clipper.

[rwiederrich]

Thanks Rich.  I've been out of commission for a couple of days due to kidney stones.  I think(Pray), I'm all over it now...still a bit tender.

 

I work fast, but, not as clean as I used to.  I cut the main waterways for each side and will install them after the deck is placed.  I want to sand and add another coat of white paint before....so when the stanchions go in on top of the painted waterway, it will be clean.   The decking, must be stained and glued down first.   I intend to finish the bulwarks and decking...before I flip her over and begin the coppering.

 

First things first.

 

Rob

[Rick310]

She is really coming along Rob!!  Very nicely e!!  Love the traitors!!

Rick

[Rick310]

Rob, that was supposed to be very nicely done! Love the trail boards! Just love AutoCorrect!

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, Rick310 said:

Rob, that was supposed to be very nicely done! Love the trail boards! Just love AutoCorrect!

I always new I might be a little treacherous...when it comes to my depictions....but traitorous?🤣

 

Thanks Rick.  Still need to cut the poop decking.  In my mind it will all go together quite quickly, once I get the decks installed.

Been a bit sidetracked with pain lately....

 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Sorry to hear of the kidney stones - been there and know how much they can knock you about.

 

Nice progress on the model.

 

Cheers

 

Pat

[Rick310]

Not fun Rob!  Get better soon !!

Rick

[ClipperFan]

On 6/2/2025 at 9:48 AM, rwiederrich said:

Thanks Rich.  I've been out of commission for a couple of days due to kidney stones.  I think(Pray), I'm all over it now...still a bit tender.

 

I work fast, but, not as clean as I used to.  I cut the main waterways for each side and will install them after the deck is placed.  I want to sand and add another coat of white paint before....so when the stanchions go in on top of the painted waterway, it will be clean.   The decking, must be stained and glued down first.   I intend to finish the bulwarks and decking...before I flip her over and begin the coppering.

 

First things first.

 

Rob

Rob, pain sucks and certainly makes the days longer. My sis-in-law says the agony of passing kidney stones is worse than childbirth. You have my sympathies and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Edited June 3 by ClipperFan
word corrections

[rwiederrich]

I thank everyone for the sympathies and well wishes.  It has been the worst pain I have ever endured, and I have had broken bones.  Now just a bit sore in recovery.

I hope to be in full swing on Staghound....as I slide back into it.

 

Rob

Edited June 3 by rwiederrich

[Jared]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[Desertanimal]

Get well soon! Had them. Had to have a lithotripsy to break one up, 6x9 mm.
 Felt like I’d gone 12 rounds with a mediocre boxer! Get lots of rest. 

Chris

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Get well soon.  I've been there - done that 4 times in the past ... twice with laser lithotripsy in each ureter (catheter required for recovery), and twice with ultrasound in the kidneys (required slant inversion to pass all the 'gravel').  Since mine were calcium stones, a potassium citrate pill twice a day (to increase solubility of calcium oxalate) , plenty of hydration (to maintain diluted urine) and limiting foods containing significant oxalic acid has kept stone formation at bay for 7 years so far.  

[ClipperFan]

On 6/2/2025 at 10:12 AM, Rick310 said:

Rob, that was supposed to be very nicely done! Love the trail boards! Just love AutoCorrect!

@Rick310 not to be curmudgeonly but just to set the record straight for everybody Staghound had neither headboards nor trailboards. What your seeing are navel hoods. They're also different from naval hoods which apparently were intended to protect wooden hawse holes before the advent of wrought iron ones made them unnecessary. Navel hoods are actually an extension of the ship's hull while naval hoods do not. Earlier in this build there's a picture of the bow of clipper Seaman's Bride from below. You can clearly see how her headboards and trailboards leave a lot of open space while Donald McKay's design is solid.

[rwiederrich]

Finished adding the stained decks.  
 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

2 hours ago, rwiederrich said:

Finished adding the stained decks.  
 

Rob

Rob, I gather you're sufficiently recovered from your kidney stones, which is a relief to learn. Peggy took one look at your Staghound hull and said that's a pretty ship! Of course, she's right.

Edited June 4 by ClipperFan
correction

[rwiederrich]

Began the waterway and stanchions on port side.   Adding support. 
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Adding the stanchions.  
 

Rob

Edited June 5 by rwiederrich

[druxey]

That is rapid progress!

[rwiederrich]

Finished up the port pin rail and pins.   
Now it’s time to tackle the starboard side.  
 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

11 hours ago, druxey said:

That is rapid progress!

I try to section off the model into small *projects*...to make it progress faster(in my mind).

Preplanning pays of in great dividends.  Once I know where I'm going and what is next.....I plan for it, and then execute it.  Still have to add the venting between the stanchions.  But moving along to the starboard side.

 

Thanks for checking in and for the fine comments.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

@rwiederrich Rob, she's coming together quickly now that you're recovered. Even though it's years since I've done any model building, I appreciate you sharing your step-by-step building procedures with accompanying photos. I think I know why there's a forecastle splash rail. As we saw on Glory of the Seas there appears to be a similar waterway installed on the forecastle. The splash rail adds bulwark protection. 

[rwiederrich]

3 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

@rwiederrich Rob, she's coming together quickly now that you're recovered. Even though it's years since I've done any model building, I appreciate you sharing your step-by-step building procedures with accompanying photos. I think I know why there's a forecastle splash rail. As we saw on Glory of the Seas there appears to be a similar waterway installed on the forecastle. The splash rail adds bulwark protection. 

I have yet to add the splash rail to the forecastle.  I want to protect that area while I upright the hull to lay the copper plates.  Less uneven surfaces to break off while upside down makes me feel more comfortable.

 

Rob

[ClipperFan]

17 minutes ago, rwiederrich said:

I have yet to add the splash rail to the forecastle.  I want to protect that area while I upright the hull to lay the copper plates.  Less uneven surfaces to break off while upside down makes me feel more comfortable.

 

Rob

Rob, I didn't mean to suggest adding the splash rail early. I was simply thinking of an answer to a question of another observer who was questioning the need for such an extra rail only at the forecastle. 

[rwiederrich]

9 minutes ago, ClipperFan said:

Rob, I didn't mean to suggest adding the splash rail early. I was simply thinking of an answer to a question of another observer who was questioning the need for such an extra rail only at the forecastle. 

Riiiight.

 

Rob 

[ClipperFan]

Meanwhile I found an interesting pair of articles in The Portland Press Herald which I thought you might enjoy. The first is on a 1934 discovery of an ancient ship's bell caught in a fisherman's net. It turned out to be from the 1855 clipper Noonday built by Fernald & Pettigrew, who's shipyard was on Badger Island, Pistaqua River, Kittery, Maine. The distinctive shape and mount reminded me of the one you crafted for Staghound. They're both very close. 

The second article was about another now famous smaller clipper Snow Squall. There's another beautiful JE Buttersworth piece. The main subject "Clipper ship Warner rounding Cape Horn" features a background clipper, considered to be the last painting of Snow Squall.

Update: after noticing that "Old Glory" was in color, I used an app on my phone to enhance colors in the Noonday painting. Here's the result:

Edited June 5 by ClipperFan
picture added

[Rick310]

Beautiful work Rob!  What spacing did you use for the belaying pins?

Rick

[ClipperFan]

1 hour ago, rwiederrich said:

Riiiight.

 

Rob 

@rwiederrich I'm pretty sure that the removal of the additional Flying Cloud splash rail brought up a lengthy, silly discussion of the use of such rails including "ahem" certain necessary yet disgusting bodily functions. I suppose I should "mosey" on down to the other site and supply the sensible answer to them....

Edited June 5 by ClipperFan
correction