Ferreira (ex Cutty Sark) by rwiederrich - FINISHED - 1/96 - Portuguese Barquantine

[rwiederrich]

As is my custom...I wanted to kit bash, scratch build a model that does not exist...and use a model that does to achieve this. Not just build, but bring alive a piece of history many people, not to mention modelers, are not even aware of.  Not just a conversion.....but a piece of life, a moment in history...to bring the viewer into a scene...not just present a wonderfully built model, but to depict an event, that sparks and interest and hopefully a fascination. 

 

Many modelers of the famous British clipper Cutty Sark are lost to the depraved history of this magnificent clipper.  Here is her story..the stuff of my depiction.

 

Once the ship had lost its usefulness as a profit maker for her owners she was sold to the Portuguese shipping family Ferreira , her name sake.  She fell into hard times and disrepair and was dis masted in a freak accident that nearly claimed her life.  Rerigged as a barkentine..she employed herself in local trade routes.  Here is where I begin.

 

I depict here in some back water shallow harbor..

 

I first had to paint her hull to depict the typical gun port sceme that as typical of the period.

[rwiederrich]

Now I had to mask and paint her hull to mimic the false gun port array.

[rwiederrich]

Next while I gathered my whits about me I had to design the water base and devise a display that would accommodate the effect I was seeking.

 

So I used 1/8" plexi glass as the base for the resin water.  I had to measure and cut the hull opening.......plus, I had to build the frame to support the edging and corner supports.

 

First I had to finish the painting..here is the final...un weathered paint scheme and weathered.

Edited February 7, 2015 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

A few more of the weathering.

[rwiederrich]

Now to the harbor.   The ship(un-weathered) sitting in the plexi water before the resin is poured.

[rwiederrich]

Now as you might imagine.......the water has to look like mercy, oily, algi, back water.  I did 2 details at  the same time...the water and the floor of the harbor.

The water was resin that I lapped for the unevenness.......died the resin and then painted beneath with water colors.  I was seeking a 3

D effect.  Next was the floor of the harbor....which as you would imagine...was strewn with nautical debris and water current deformations in the sand.  Plus minimal flora.

[rwiederrich]

Now for some trim around the border and some paint to finish off the display part of the waters edge.   Further detailing around the base and the hull still needs to be accomplished.

[rwiederrich]

Now onto the ship itself.  The deck of this model was so badly damaged..I had to fabricate a duplicate from wood and castings...I made.

 

One thing to make mention of.  The Ferreira was heavily modified from the original CS we are familiar with...so I will make note of as many mods as I can as I proceed.  One thing I practice is usage of multi applications and media in my builds.   I am NOT a purist in any sense of the word, so I use resins, waxes, plastics of all kinds...metal, paper and wood to build my vessels.

 

Decks.

[rwiederrich]

One thing I found in the building of the Ferreira, is that it was in this rig and ownership that she developed some of the current CS deck fittings and furniture.

the forward deck winch was inactive during this period and the aft cabin entry was added during this period.  I added new roof tops to both cabins and added additional furniture such as a wood stove/boiler and several iron water casks not in the original design.

 

Here are some images of the deck houses, furniture and the like.

[rwiederrich]

Severe weathering was necessary to convey the drastic disrepair the Ferreira(Cutty Sark) had found herself in.

 

Artistic license was the theme of the day and I availed myself of it.

 

Here is another photo of the Ferreira from the forecastle looking aft.  What a great subject to model.

[rwiederrich]

Back to the build.  Railing differed from the 2 ships....CS had a double run rail while the Ferriera for some reason did not...I suspect damage during her near capsizing may have been the culprit.

 

The forcatle needed degrading as well as the deck needed to be strewn with nautical paraphernalia.

Being a local cargo carrier she had a winch installed on her schooner main mast to aid in cargo laying...this would have been accomplished by the mains main yard.

 

Looking for activity to add..I opted to build a water line dingy to come along the side to aid on cargo uploading......this added detail contributed to the over all demise the ships state. 

[SawdustDave]

Very interesting historic background.... Thanks for sharing. Beautifully crafted model.

[rwiederrich]

Detailing and weathering as I go.

[rwiederrich]

Now we need some masts......being that I had to build these from scratch....I copied the fore mast from a previous CS model I completed and fashioned the main and mizzen from wood stock and material on hand.  the fore mast was the original iron and the later wood replacements.

 

I decided to partially sail rig the Ferreira  with jibs loosely furled and the fore mast royal hung to dry....while the main sail is also hung to dry loosely.  All sails are in severe disrepair and discolored by man made and natural stains.

 

Here are the masts and the cargo boom mounted on the main mast.

[rwiederrich]

More masts and sails.

[rwiederrich]

The figurehead was painted ..unlike the stark white figurehead of the Cutty Sark.  She was draped in a pale blue gown and was painted to look like a Portuguese princess.......probably representing a Ferreira family Matriarch. 

 

Again, using ample artistic license, I moored the Ferreira and partially slung her starboard anchor midwater.

Edited February 7, 2015 by rwiederrich

[rwiederrich]

Lets begin rigging.  Unlike the CS, the Ferreira was rigged not unlike a schooner...were wooden slats replaced ratlines on the shrouds.

 

Working along....I finished one side at a time.

[rwiederrich]

I have so much more to do to complete this build.......but first......I want to show some images of the yards I built for the fore mast...again weathering takes precedence (fun for me).  I'm glad I only had to make these four.

[rwiederrich]

One image from the waterline for effect....I'm currently finishing the mizzen...then I need to add standing rigging to the yards.

 

I'll probably add the royal sail first.

 

I'm sorry..I didn't start this Log any sooner, but I had some downloading problems and a new job to deal with....which as you are probably aware is a lot to handle.......for some any way.

 

I hope this far has been an encouragement for some.  I feel, a dioramic story is more powerful a theme to convey emotion and involvement then a  static display.  

That is just me......I want to entice an emotional connection......to bring the viewer.....if for a moment...closer to the adventure of what is ships and ship building...and to appreciate the powerful  significance of maritime history.

 

Thanks for viewing.

 

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Thanks everyone for your likes........

 

Rob

[keelhauled]

really like the build.  Neat idea and beautiful execution!

[rwiederrich]

Thanks Keel.....I had to display it somehow.  Might as well make a story out of it.

 

Rob

[NenadM]

Story not to be forgoten, particulary with such a nice model

 

If Her was not in this stage, probably wouldn't remain for today

[Omega1234]

Hi Rob

 

I'm not sure how, or why I've missed your buikd log, but I'm happy that I've caught up now. Your ship is one seriously nice model. I love the weathering and the level of detail that you've achieved. Vibe looks so real!

 

Even more so is the fact that she is absolutely at home in the sea that you've displayed her in.

 

If ok with you, I'd love to follow along!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[Marcus.K.]

Hello Rob,

 

what an interresting build - what a fantastic result you got.

 

When I won the bidding for a wrecked Cutty Sark 1/96 weeks ago for cheap money I started my little research on the ship. Soon I found some pictures of the pity status of old Ferreira. And instandly there was the wish to rebuild the dismasted model I got in exactly THAT way.

 

Today I reopend the box of the model I got via e-bay - what a desaster ! The former builder did finish the ship and then it must have been hit by something hard ! Every mast was broken, the hole rigging was one big pile of broken masts, spars, sails and rope. Seemed like a fully broadside which dismasted the ship to a total wreck.

 

The former builder wasn´t bad .. But some mistakes have béen done in rigging in usage of sails, in colouring the hull. I just did cut away all the rigging which was really smashed. Masts broken several times. Spars broken too. I think I can not use any of it. So maybe its even a more practical way to re-rigg her as a Brigantine.

 

 

But what a huge model this 1/96 kit is!

 

 

Rob,

where did you got the idea for that oven ? Do you have more photos of the ship? What would you (or others?) recommend as researching sources - which books?

 

 

I did not like Clippers in my youth.. the hull too much like modern steamers, the sails of tea ship clippers ridiculous much ! ... in my eye.

 

But the more I read the more I am fascinated by those hard working and heavy hunting ships down in the roaring 40s!

What adventures .. what a hard life,.. the risk, the speed,  what a stress for ship and men!

 

Are you still working on the model? I saw different Posts in different Forums .. I hope you are still finishing here and give us some photos.

Edited January 4, 2016 by Marcus.K.

[rwiederrich]

Hi Rob

 

I'm not sure how, or why I've missed your buikd log, but I'm happy that I've caught up now. Your ship is one seriously nice model. I love the weathering and the level of detail that you've achieved. Vibe looks so real!

 

Even more so is the fact that she is absolutely at home in the sea that you've displayed her in.

 

If ok with you, I'd love to follow along!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

 

 

Thanks Patrick....I want my builds to tell a story of not just the model, but what the actual ship was involved in.  It lures in the viewer and if at all possible captures their attention to the beautiful sailing ship.

 

Thanks again.....for following.

 

Tob

[rwiederrich]

Hello Rob,

 

what an interresting build - what a fantastic result you got.

 

When I won the bidding for a wrecked Cutty Sark 1/96 weeks ago for cheap money I started my little research on the ship. Soon I found some pictures of the pity status of old Ferreira. And instandly there was the wish to rebuild the dismasted model I got in exactly THAT way.

 

Today I reopend the box of the model I got via e-bay - what a desaster ! The former builder did finish the ship and then it must have been hit by something hard ! Every mast was broken, the hole rigging was one big pile of broken masts, spars, sails and rope. Seemed like a fully broadside which dismasted the ship to a total wreck.

 

The former builder wasn´t bad .. But some mistakes have béen done in rigging in usage of sails, in colouring the hull. I just did cut away all the rigging which was really smashed. Masts broken several times. Spars broken too. I think I can not use any of it. So maybe its even a more practical way to re-rigg her as a Brigantine.

 

 

But what a huge model this 1/96 kit is!

 

 

Rob,

where did you got the idea for that oven ? Do you have more photos of the ship? What would you (or others?) recommend as researching sources - which books?

 

 

I did not like Clippers in my youth.. the hull too much like modern steamers, the sails of tea ship clippers ridiculous much ! ... in my eye.

 

But the more I read the more I am fascinated by those hard working and heavy hunting ships down in the roaring 40s!

What adventures .. what a hard life,.. the risk, the speed,  what a stress for ship and men!

 

Are you still working on the model? I saw different Posts in different Forums .. I hope you are still finishing here and give us some photos.

 

 

Hi Marcus...the stove came from images I have gathered through time of shipboard life and working on such vessels.  I think the top of the stove chimney can be seen in one of the B/W images I posted.  I also relied upon much artistic license...since the replication of the scene is not the real aim as much as is the fact the scene was true.  Small omissions are acceptable so as long as the truthful presentation of an actual event is replicated.  

 

Like my Cutty Sark on the ways getting her jury rigged rudder repaired.  Factual even wish artistic license to entice emotion.

 

Thanks for your kind remarks.  The model is near completion, however, I am working currently on 4 models at this time and I juggle between them.

 

Rob 

[samson]

hey Robert

I think it's a brilliant idea to build Ferreira and not Cutty sark. I've even had the idea to do it with my model of the Cutty Sark but relented when I had to make ornamatikken and name plate. and now I'm a little annoyed that I can not make a real time image of the ship from the many pictures that exist of "Cutty Sark" at the time, so what I ended up with is many details just not at the same time.

My model is Billing Boats 459 Cutty Sark,

I'm almost done with the ship's hull - I am about to build lifeboats now.

I will probably make a building log at a time. if there is interest in it?

Cheers

Jens

[rwiederrich]

I'd be interested in your log and your approach. The Ferreira has a very rough life under the Portuguese..and her story is hardly known.  To try to tell CS's story and to exclude the Ferreira saga would be to deny CS's history.

 

Rob

[samson]

I'd be interested in your log and your approach. The Ferreira has a very rough life under the Portuguese..and her story is hardly known.  To try to tell CS's story and to exclude the Ferreira saga would be to deny CS's history.

 

Rob

 

It is so true.

 

Jens