Cutty Sark by Pipeorgel - Scientific Models - 1:140 (?)

[Pipeorgel]

A tale of a life-long project:

 

As a child, I had a giant poster of a clipper ship in my room and was obsessed with drawing them, models of them, and occasionally going to Baltimore to go on the USS Constellation. No doubt a familiar story.

 

One day there was a “sale” advertisement in the newspaper of wooden ship model kits ($69.99!) at a local hobby store. My father pointed it out to me. I think I was 9 at the time (1986?) and couldn’t fathom how I’d ever have $69.99. So Dad told me to get an old coffee can and cut a slit in the lid to put my pennies in. Which I did. After some length of time and panhandling maybe I had $2.50? I vaguely remember Dad smiling and taking me up anyway to the store (long trip) and picking out the model before the sale ended: the Scientific brand Cutty Sark of indeterminate scale. I remember eagerly opening the box at home, only to be filled with dread when I saw such primitive parts. It seemed to me just a log with a few planks of wood and bags of tiny metal bits. And a set of directions for little engineers: only 5 “steps” long. Gasp…Oh, easy for Leonardo!

 

Over the next months I sat next to him as he whittled away at the hull and I helped sand or glue or paint various tiny pieces. It then languished in the box for many moons. Occasionally one or two tiny things were done.

 

In my college days, stressing over exams, I poured a great deal of time into it (escapism?) and mostly finished and painted the hull and details—with occasional help from Dad. But then the “drilling of the masts” loomed and we were unduly freaked out by such a step. Again it languished. Until we finally got brave some years ago and drilled them freehand. Whew.

 

There have been other set-backs or near disasters—then rebuilds and repaints. I bought a duplicate kit off eBay to cannibalize to fill in missing pieces. There have been endless discussions about display cases and when or whether to get one. About whether to stick as closely to the instructions or branch out to custom parts (mostly former, but some latter).

 

Just this week I finished Step 3. Step 4 is when the rigging begins. I’ve ordered poly Ropesofscale in various sizes and colors and intend to press ahead. A few days ago I texted my Dad (now a very young 81) and asked him what on earth he was thinking buying a 9 year old such a kit…

 

I’m not intending to win awards….nor to EVER build another ship….but I’m determined to finish this one as respectably as I can—as it very much carries a history of my life! 

 

Clearly I am in no rush.

 

A few pictures of where it stands…

Edited Sunday at 02:14 AM by Pipeorgel

[TerryPat]

That's a beautiful looking model! Definitely worth finishing. 

[ccoyle]

You have done very well to this point!

[Pipeorgel]

A few more pictures with the masts now stained. None of them are cemented in yet—I feel like I can’t protect it from dust once I do that. Do people usually wait all the way until the model is complete to case them?

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 01:33 AM by Pipeorgel

[RVB]

Looks great. What is your next build since you are doing a wonderful job on Cutty. Since this is your first model you possess great modeling skills and it is only up from here  

Best Rick

 

 

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  You've done very well with the project at a challenging scale (most of the Scientific clippers were about 1:125) ...  well above average form some that I've seen.  You don't need to glue in the masts, as the shrouds of the standing rigging will hold them in place.  An oldie I've done some restoration on did not have the masts glued, and that was a blessing - as I could take them out to work on repainting and fixing hull details.

  An alternative to casing is to mount a wood shelf on a wall with an identical shelf above it as long as the model fits in the space between the shelves with a little room to spare.  Then you can screw in hooks into the front and sides of the top shelf, from which acrylic sheets (with holes to fit over the hooks) are hung - with the bottom edge of each sheet cut to overlap the bottom shelf.  They will keep out most of the dust, yet the model will still be accessible by lifting the front panel.  Every few years, a few deft passes with simple compressed air ("dust off" for computer keyboards) will clear away what little dust might have infiltrated the wall mounting.

  You only need to do the 'standing' rigging' - and using the durable rigging line from Ropes of Scale is a smart move.  I know you will always be pleased when viewing the finished display, and you'll have good memories of your father.  That's all have left of my own Dad, aside from one small airplane model he made.

[Pipeorgel]

Thanks for these ideas! At Ropes of Scale, I’ve ordered three sizes of poly dark brown (.25, .5, .8), and three sizes of light beige (.25, .35, .45). After reading around online it was still vague to me what sizes I needed, so I guess I will eyeball it from these. In the meantime I’m collecting tools and glue…

[Sailor1234567890]

My father had that exact model on the mantle in the dining room when I was growing up as a kid. He never did finish it. It's still in the room I used to live in, sitting on a printer by the door. I saw it a few weeks ago when I was home. That model brings back fond memories of my dad. Thanks. I'll be following along.