New BlueJacket Shipcrafters kit in development: West Coast lumber schooner

[Wawona59]

Nice rendering of the windows Al.  I've seen something similar done on other model kits in photo etch.  I'm chompin' at the bit to see the final reveal.  Looks like she's going to be a wonderful much anticipated kit.

 

[alross2]

Untitled-1.pdfUntitled-1.pdfThis is the aft house in its not yet finished state.  There are currently 42 pieces in its assembly so far.  The drawing is the .015" laserboard at the moment.  

Untitled-1.pdf

Edited July 9 by alross2

[alross2]

Basic components placed but not glued to get a general overall view.

[ccoyle]

Hmm, looking more and more like the "ship that shall not be named"!

[Wawona59]

Looking more and more like the CA Thayer or Wawona.  We can only hope as they were both basically the same ship.  I'm staying tuned for coming attractions.  From the black hull color and yellow sheer line my guess would be the C.A. Thayer as the Wawona had a green hull.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

17 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Hmm, looking more and more like the "ship that shall not be named"!

"Schooner Voldemort" ?

[alross2]

Some more bits and pieces.  

 

Top to bottom - wheel house, winch head house, main and mizzen boom rests.

Forward house.

Edited July 11 by alross2

[alross2]

The basic "sticks" are done.  Each mast has a dozen mast hoops from .015" laserboard.  At the moment, I'm stropping blocks with twisted wire.

[alross2]

Starting some assembly now.  Today I have to drill and paint the 30+ deadeyes with chainplates.

[alross2]

Stanchions are in.  Cap rail will go on next week.

[alross2]

Both houses, both hatches, and the cap rails are now glued on.

[alross2]

First of the kit  drawings.  

AFT HOUSE CONSTRUCTION.pdf

[sheepsail]

I am finding this log most fascinating.  Since I am studying the local 4 masted design, such as the Forester.  I recently acquired an older model shipways "Yellow Box" 1:128 variation.  So the various build details look to be quite useful.  I especially like the laser cut timber heads. 

 

It is good to see an interest in these west coast lumber schooners.  

 

-julie

[alross2]

Second set of plans.  Next up will be standard side view/top view drawings of both houses as completed.

[alross2]

Third set of plans.  Working on the "stick" drawings now.

[alross2]

And the "sticks" are drawn.

[alross2]

Time to start the strings, I guess.

[Chuck]

Lovely...

[alross2]

Some of today's drawings.  These are part of the hull construction sheet.  This is reduced copy as the sheet will be 36" wide.

[alross2]

Added the top view of the framing.  Port side just shows subdeck applied, starboard side shows actual framing, fillers, etc.  I do like the ability to add color to the drawings to differentiate the parts.

[alross2]

A few more details added.  The boat on the davits has lasered floorboards and thwarts added and fire buckets have been placed around the skylight.  Another boat with lashings has been added to the fore house roof.

[woodartist]

On 6/25/2025 at 12:22 PM, Wawona59 said:

Attached is a photo of a West Coast Lumber Schooner (Wawona) for the modeler who doesn't want to build all of the deck details.

I too am a big fan of West Coast Lumber Schooners. I frequently visit the Port Gamble Museum, which houses the memorabilia from the Pope and Talbot lumber operations. There are numerous photos of the ships that sailed from their lumber mills on the Olympic peninsula and sent lumber to San Francisco.

[Wawona59]

Well woodartist, thank you for your comment and given our locations in the Pacific Northwest, I'm not surprised that we are both West Coast Lumber Schooner fans.  I visited the Wawona as a child in the mid 60's.  I also took my kids to visit the Wawona in the early 2000's.  They pretended they were pirates when they found an old sea chest in the restored captain's cabin.   Shortly thereafter in 2009 the Wawona was towed to Lake Union drydock for demolition.  Evidently the multimillion dollar restoration cost was far beyond what the owners, Northwest Seaport could afford as there was a lot of rotten wood that needed to be replaced.  Due to ongoing health issues, I'll be selling my wooden ship kit stash on MSW but will save one last hurrah for when Bluejacket releases their West Coast Lumber Schooner kit later this year (hopefuly).  So now, the C.A. Thayer in San Francisco is the only West Coast Lumber Schooner left.  The Thayer looks like aa beautiful restoration.

 

 

[woodartist]

Are there any plans that you know of for the Bailey Gatzert? Do you know of any photos? I would like to build a stern wheeler with connections to the PNW 

[Paul Le Wol]

8 hours ago, woodartist said:

Are there any plans that you know of for the Bailey Gatzert? Do you know of any photos? I would like to build a stern wheeler with connections to the PNW 

Taubman’s Plan Service has them at taubmansonline.com. They are in the Rochester NY area

Edited August 20 by Paul Le Wol

[woodartist]

1 hour ago, Paul Le Wol said:

Taubman’s Plan Service has them at taubmanonline.com. They are in the Rochester NY area

Thanks

[Wawona59]

On 8/20/2025 at 7:32 AM, woodartist said:

Are there any plans that you know of for the Bailey Gatzert? Do you know of any photos? I would like to build a stern wheeler with connections to the PNW 

Wow woodartist!  You and I seem to be on the same wavelength.  I've been researching the Bailey Gatzert.  The sternwheeler was named after Bailey Gatzert, the first Jewish mayor of Seattle in 1875 (I believe).  Please PM me and I will share with you everything that I have accumulated.  I've got photographs, drawings as well as a brief history of her from the Oregon Historical Society.

Hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

[Wawona59]

The Oregon Historical Society also has a 4 page set of plans.  You can request the plans here:

 

Collection: Steamer Bailey Gatzert plans | ArchivesSpace Public Interface

 

I believe these might be the same plans that Taubman Plans is selling.

 

[alross2]

This week and next (at a minimum) will be spent drawing.  I've been creating the plans by importing the laser drawings as a base which speeds up the process and also gives me another fit check.  These two will probably be rearranged several times before they're done.  These are the 24" x 36" sheets.

[alross2]

More as-yet completed drawings.  The image with the spacing of the lower deadeyes shown is probably the most useful one.  On the rigging drawings, they will take the appropriate angles to match the stays and shrouds.

Edited August 28 by alross2