Lettie G Howard by captainbob - FINISHED - 1:48 - POB - schooner

[captainbob]

I just found out some information about the Lettie.  Back in July, John Cole, here on MSW, started to build America’s cup racer Puritan.  Since Puritan is on my “to build” list, I decided to do some research on her.  She was designed by Edward Burgess who also designed cup racers Mayflower and Volunteer.  About that same time (1888) Burgess was approached to build a schooner.  For two years his schooner won every race it was in.  It was then sold to the fishing fleet.  That boat was the Fredonia.  Because of its speed the Fredonia was copied several times. Those boats were referred to as Fredonia models.  The Lettie G. Howard was the last of the Fredonia models.

 

This is not a model of a brand new boat.  This boat has been around and working for a while, first as a private yacht, then as a cod fisher and finally as a mackerel fisher.  This model is of the mackerel boat.  You’ll notice that the rigging is not consistent.  That is to say the fore mast is not a copy of the main mast etc.  That is because as modifications and changes were made they used what was “at hand” as long as it worked.

 

Now some pictures of the build at present.  A lot of MSW members publish pictures with each add they make.  I don’t seem to be able to do that.  So here are a lot of little things.  Still a long way to go. 

 

Bob

 

Over all

 

Main halyard

 

Fore halyard

 

Jombo jib halyard

 

Bowsprit shrouds

 

Bowsprit

 

Main gaff

 

Fore gaff

 

Spring lines

 

 

 

 

[michael mott]

A lot of great looking details Bob.

 

Michael

[themadchemist]

I agree, the detail is fabulous. Thanks for breaking ground for me and clearing the path, so to speak, on detailing the fore and aft rig.

 

Your metal work detail is everything I hope to achieve, thanks for the cheat sheet

 

Fabulous Cap'n and how ever and whenever you post...I'll be waiting.

[cog]

Stunning details Bob ... makes me speechless ...

[Walter Biles]

GREAT JOB!  I especially love your brass work on the rigging.  very neatly done!

 

Walt BILES

[Perls]

Hi Bob,

 

She's coming along great! I especially like the "bright work". I think we Schnooner builders are a dedicated, somewhat motley, minority on MSW, but we build boats that are fast, beautiful, and (as Kate Hepburn would say) yar*.

 

Best,

Steve

 

For those youngsters out there, see the Philadelphia Story. It means easy to handle, quick to the helm and ready.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Perls

[Elia]

Bob,

 

That masting, ironwork, and rigging looks so the part.  I love that first overall picture.  She is a really sweet looking schooner (and model!).  I have a Fredonia hulled schooner on my to-make list (along with some plumb stemmer).

 

Very nice!

 

Cheers,

 

Elia

[Jim Lad]

She's really looking first class, Bob!

 

John

[Omega1234]

Hi Bob. Looking really, really good. Your metal work is clean, precise and accurate. Also...dare I say it, your rigging is definitely going to help me immensely when rigging my boat. Thanks so much.

 

All the best!

[Mirabell61]

beautiful ship Bob,

 

the rigging with all those fine Details I lke very much it Looks very authentic

 

Nils

[captainbob]

Thanks to all my friends who responded and to all who hit the like button. 

 

I am enjoying this build and all the research.  There is very little (almost none) information of the rigging of the Lettie.  So I go to the books and search the web to see how other schooners were rigged.  They were all different.  I take the basics and I become the master and the boson of the Lettie and rig her the way that seems best.  Sometimes I will start to do something and find new information and say ‘that seems better’ so I’ll undo what I did and redo it the new way.

 

Thanks again for following me on this wild ride.  Even now I do not know how the rest of the rigging will end up.  I feel like Michael must have felt as he rigged the Maria.  Ah the joy of it. 

 

Bob

[johncole]

Bob,

I'll be watching closely how you figure out unknown rigging details on your model.  I've got a couple of 'unknowns' myself with my build. I agree with your observation; these boats were rigged as conditions and materials permitted.

I really like how your Lettie is looking!

 

John

[captainbob]

Thanks, John.  If there are any ‘unknowns’ I can help with just let me know.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

great progress Bob.....the rigging is nicely done

[captainbob]

Thanks and stay tuned, Popeye, there's more to come.

 

Bob

[SGraham]

I love your metal work, Bob. Very inspiring!

 

Steve

[captainbob]

Thanks Steve, I enjoy it.

 

Bob

[HIPEXEC]

Very nice work!

[captainbob]

Thanks Rich.  Hope we can get together sometime.

 

Bob

[SawdustDave]

Been a while since I last dropped in on this beautiful build. You have come a long way since then. Wonderful work throughout Bob. I really enjoyed catching up on your log. Extremely nice job on the rigging.

Cheers

 

Dave

[captainbob]

Thanks Dave.  And thanks for the invite, in your build log, for a show and tell, to NC in November.  But I don’t think I’ll make it this year.  That was for everybody wasn’t it?  Oops.  

 

Bob

[captainbob]

Just a little off subject but a get together in NC in the spring sounds like a good time.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/8275-spring-msw-member-show-and-tell-meeting-discussion/

Wish I could be there.

 

Bob

[Bedford]

A bit too much of a commute for me too Bob!

[Perls]

I need help.

 

For most of her life the Lettie G. Howard sailed in the Gulf of Mexico fishing for mackerel.  She would have had a seine boat with her to set the nets.  I would like to build a seine boat to mount with her, but so far I have not been able to find plans.  Any help would be appreciated.  

 

Bob

Hi Bob,

 

I was going through your build log and saw that you are looking for plans for a seine boat. BlueJackets plans for the Smuggler (by Erik Ronnberg) have plans for a 1/48 scale seine boat. They only cover one small section of of page. They offer the plans for the whole ship for sale but since you only need a small section, maybe you can work something out with them, they're great folks.

 

I'm thinking I may try to build it as my first scratch boat, althought I have no idea how difficult it would be. If you (or anybody out here) knows of a build log of a small scratch whale boat or other clinker built ships boat, I hope you can point me in the right direction.

 

Best,

Steve

[captainbob]

Thanks for the information but things have changed.  The finished schooner will be placed where the admiral will see it all the time and she said. . . “I don’t want that other boat with the schooner ! ”  Since I’m making it black and gold for her, I will not be adding the seine boat, for her.

 

Bob

[captainbob]

Sorry it’s been so long since my last pictures.  It’s been one of those times when everything that could go wrong did.  Let’s leave it at that.  I have however finished the Lettie to the admiral’s delight.  She is now dressed in all her sails and rigging.  So here she is in all her finery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't know what is next.  The admiral likes to see sails but I'm leaning towards a launch.  We'll see.

 

Bob

[JerryTodd]

A launch with an awning - that looks like a sail

[Jim Lad]

Another fine model finished while I was away on holiday.

 

Congratulations on a job very well done, Bob.

 

John

[usedtosail]

Very nice Bob. Those sails really do her justice. You and the admiral both must be very happy.

[Mirabell61]

Congratulations to the Launch of your "Lettie" Bob,

 

thats a wonderful schooner build and a pride in sails. It realy is looking for a Special place in your home.

Very well done !

 

Nils