Lettie G. Howard schooner by Cap'n'Bob - 1:48 POB - Finished

[captainbob]

Thanks Nils but I don’t think the brass comes close to yours.  It's all in the camera.

 

Thanks Pete I was starting to work on wood hoops when I remembered the admiral said black and gold so the hoops are now slices of brass tubing and the pins may be brass also.

 

Bob

[captainbob]

After many hours of research, mostly in reading and re-reading the last half of Chapelle’s book on fishing schooners and many hours on the web.  I finally think I know the rigging of a fishing schooner, at least the way the Lettie G. Howard will be rigged.  I also decided that the saying, ‘Each part is a model’ is true.  So I made a holder for the main mast.  I mounted the fittings and pulled thread through the blocks to check everything.  When the mast is on the boat, the thread will be replaced with rope.  I will also add the shrouds at that time.  So here are pictures of the main mast, boom and gaff.  Relooking at the pictures I just realized I need to add fairleads, one or two on the boom and a couple at the crosstree.  I have new respect for you who build the square rigged ships with all their rigging.

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

[dgbot]

Keep it up Bob. I have read Chappelle's book many times. As far as I am concerned that is the place to go for schooners.

David B

[Omega1234]

Hi CapNBob

 

The blocks and rigging look great. This is one very beautiful model. Look forward to continuing to follow your progress.

 

Kind regards and all the best?

[michael mott]

Bob that is a neat way to sort out the rigging I will have to remember that one.

 

Michael

[pete48]

Hi Bob, Nice work, the mast and rigging look Fantastic , I agree with Michael Mott, I will have to remember that one

 

Best Regards,,

Pete

[mtaylor]

I'm thinking it would be a very worthwhile way to pre-rig and 3-masted man-of-war.... 

[Bedford]

I'll join in on the rigging jig, nice idea.

 

This is going to be a beauty, hope the Commodore is impressed !

[themadchemist]

Great mock up on the Main rigging, Cap'n'Bob.

I love the detail on your rig. The metal work and blocks on the peak and throat halyards are beautifully detailed and I especially love that you included the jaw clapper, which appears to be coated.

 

(In tmc's most appreciative voice) I personally could use more pictures as you captured a lot of what I wanted to do to the DSotM's rigging.

For example what did you use for parrels. Close ups of the boom, gaff and mast ends would be very much appreciated. Plus a picture of the Parrel attachment to the gaff and a top view of the throat halyard attachment to the upper gaff jaws. Sorry not trying to be bossy or demanding, just wanting more of a good thing, so I can learn. You've become a great mentor to me and I'm sure many others, that appreciate your work and fine attention to detail. Oh a close up of the boom jaws also would be great.  

 

Anyway, excellent work as always. I think maybe I've been stalling on building so I could borrow (steal) all your great rigging ideas. The double/sister block throat halyard is remarkable. Chapelles fishing Schooner book is such a great source, its rigging diagrams are what caused me to slow way down and think details. Seeing your work become reality, really has me wanting to build again.  

 

Thank Cap'n'Bob for sharing.

[SGraham]

Bob, that mockup is a great idea. I'm not sure I've got the patience to take a step like that, which is probably why I do so much tearing apart what I've put together wrong. You've got me seriously thinking about coming over to the "dark side."

 

Steve

[Mirabell61]

Bob,

 

nice Little mock up, that gives you necessary room for Trials with the block Arrangement, thread thicknesses, etc, and for all adjustments impprovements ( if any ) before you go on to the model, a good idea

 

Nils

[themadchemist]

Oh just for reference, What size throat and peak blocks did you use?

Thanks

[captainbob]

Thanks to all of you who thought the rigging of the main mast separately was a good idea.  To me it was a necessity.  Looking at rigging the whole boat became too overwhelming.  This was a way to break it down into smaller parts that I was able to handle. 

 

Nils, you’re right there were parts that were changed as I built.  For one thing, on the peak halyard, I wanted to have a jig halyard coming from the top mast block but it pulled the block down too low and crossed the lines.  So I left it with a single halyard.   

 

Bob

[captainbob]

Keith, this one’s for you.  First, thanks for your appreciative words and wanting to know more.   For the size of the blocks, the sheet blocks are 18”, the throat halyard blocks are 15” and all others are 10”.  Now on to the pictures.

 

The admiral wanted lots of gold color on the boat, so the hoops are slices of tubing.

 

Since the boom does not travel up and down so it is captured with a simple bail. 

 

There should be a plate on top of the shelf for the boom to ride on.  Pins are just splinters for now.

 

 

 

More to follow.

 

Bob

 

[captainbob]

Part two:

 

Front block of the boom guy.  When going down wind this would be fastened forward on the rail to prevent jibing.

 

Aft boom guy block and upper sheet block.

 

End of boom showing band for sail clew and topping lift rigging.

 

 

I'm trying to break this up so it makes sense.

 

More to follow.

 

Bob

[captainbob]

Part three:

 

Crosstree area.

 

Metal work.  Gaff halyard blocks are mounted with open hooks.

 

Throat Halyard.  Shackled at the top with a heart iron and at the bottom hooks into the spectacle iron.

 

Bottom of boom showing the eye for the sail throat, also a good view of the spectacle iron.

 

At present the parrals are just tiny beads.

 

The end of the gaff fitting for peak of main sail, side block for the top sail clew halyard and an eye for the gaff vang.

 

That’s it for now.  If anyone wants more, just ask.

 

Bob

 

[russ]

The blocks and metal work are excellent. Very nice work. I especially like the metal work on the throat halyard.

 

Russ

[themadchemist]

Thanks for the extra pictures Cap'n'Bob.

 

I agree with Russ, the throat halyard is a fine piece of work. Looking at it mechanically it also appears an efficient rig as it has two halyards for drawing the gaff up into position.

[mtaylor]

Beautiful work, Bob.  I can't wait to see it moved to the Lettie.

[Walter Biles]

Beautiful job, Bob

 

Glad I stopped over to get a closeup view of things.  Your brass work is great.  

 

Walt Biles

[JesseLee]

Thats some pretty good brass work!

[captainbob]

So many are following this log and saying such nice things about my work that I would have a hard time naming you all, so let me just say thanks to all entries and likes.  And to you new viewers, welcome aboard.  Just a word about the brass, all blocks are stropped with .020” (1” scale) as well as hooks and most eyes.  The crosstree support is .030” wire, annealed and flattened in the middle and ends.  All sheet brass is .005” and cut with scissors.   Now I’m off to do the same with the fore mast. 

 

Bob

[michael mott]

Excellent work and explanations Bob.

One thing that I am curious about is the use of the two sets of blocks for the Gaff up-haul, was it because the weight was to much for just a triple block?

 

Michael

[popeye the sailor]

you gotta be careful Bob.......while mock-ups like these are a big help.......they can accidentally turn into models themselves :D I hope you made two of everything.....it looks superb!

[captainbob]

Michael, According to Chapelle’s book multiple blocks were needed to lift the heavy gaff and sails.  Because the pull was all from one side that side would be pulled up and the jaws would cock sideways and jam against the mast.  The spectacle iron and links helped the jaws to stay square.

 

Thanks Popeye,  I keep telling myself, “I will put it on the boat.” “I will put it on the boat.” “I will put it on the boat.”

 

Bob

Edited August 12, 2014 by Cap'n'Bob

[pete48]

Hi Bob, I cant wait to see it on the boat

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[captainbob]

Michael, I just found this picture on Keith’s, “Swift by themadchemist”. 

 

At the top you can just see the bottom of the two blocks and how one is higher than the other.   They are hooked onto the spectacle iron which is also higher on one side than the other.  The links, alowed to move on the round part of spectacle iron,  straighten everything out so the jaws pull up square.

 

Bob

 

 

[dgbot]

When  people are look at rigging many do not understand the why and the reason for it.  Not realizing that much of it was learned through trial and error for the centruries.  Your model is a case in point.  Once more a nice job.

David B

Edited July 29, 2014 by dgbot

[captainbob]

Hey Pete, Looks like we were logging at the same time.  It's hard for me to wait also.  Maybe I should mount the main before I start the fore mast.  I’ll have to consider that.

 

David Thanks.  MSW seems to be a place to spread knowledge.  Just trying to do my share.

 

Bob

[michael mott]

Bob thank you for the detailed explanation.

 

michael