You would think that an experienced ship builder would know about that but I didn't. Amazing the things I learn here. Good tip Rob and it has to work better than a straight edge. Thanks for the help. Pete
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@Norgale
both Rob and Vlad discovered a few frame discrepancies by using lines to fare their planks before installing them. Their similar techniques can be found in their individual Model Ship World scratch building logs.
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@Norgale
While searching for a specific painting in the online Mystic Seaport Museum gallery, I came across these images of the large eagle figurehead taken off of Great Republic. There would have been more to the eagle's neck since she was obviously severed from the ship's prow. Typically, a figurehead's position was set so that they were looking straight ahead. From the raptor's head position, it looks like her neck would have angled down to accommodate the ship's bow. You'll want to consider that when you model your eagle for your model.
While searching for a specific painting in the online Mystic Seaport Museum gallery, I came across these images of the large eagle figurehead taken off of Great Republic. There would have been more to the eagle's neck since she was obviously severed from the ship's prow. Typically, a figurehead's position was set so that they were looking straight ahead. From the raptor's head position, it looks like her neck would have angled down to accommodate the ship's bow. You'll want to consider that when you model your eagle for your model.
I never said anything about using an Eagle for the figurehead. I have a small naked lady that I was going to use.Wouldn't that be ok?
Doing some work on the stern again. I copied this from a drawing in 1/8th scale by Mr. Crothers so I hope it will do. What do you think? I'll have to expand it to fit the model.. Rob too. Pete
Doing some work on the stern again. I copied this from a drawing in 1/8th scale by Mr. Crothers so I hope it will do. What do you think? I'll have to expand it to fit the model.. Rob too. Pete
Here is the same picture in 1/8th scale as above and the actual curve to use on the GR in 1/4 scale. The top line is an exact copy of the lower line although it does look more rounded than the bottom line. Comments please. Here she is with a bare bottom.
Took a few more pics;
Took a few more pics;
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@Norgale
Respectfully "no" naked lady figurehead on a meticulous large scale replica of the largest wooden vessel ever launched. Donald McKay, Scottish immigrant from Nova Scotia was immensely proud of being an American and for his greatest ever achievement, he chose the penultimate American national symbol. In fact, for her stern decoration she had a 36 foot wingspan spread winged eagle holding a stars and stripes shield in its talons. From a purist viewpoint, using any other figurehead but an eagles would literally be committing modeling sacrilege. If you want an authentic nearly naked lady, Glory of the Seas had a gorgeous, topless, very scantily clad Grecian goddess for her figurehead.
@Norgale
I commend you on your courageous choice to properly rebuild your stern to more accurately reflect that off the original Great Republic.
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@Norgale
Here are 3 equal cross-sections of your subject to give you a better idea of how this area was fabricated. Interestingly enough we observed a similar stern construct on Glory of the Seas. Her aft section looked round but actually it was a series of straight sections creating an elegantly curved appearance.
Here are 3 equal cross-sections of your subject to give you a better idea of how this area was fabricated. Interestingly enough we observed a similar stern construct on Glory of the Seas. Her aft section looked round but actually it was a series of straight sections creating an elegantly curved appearance.
Which color scheme would you think was the first?
Actually I do want the Eagle on the bow but I hadn't got around to the stern decoration yet. Those are three good pics of the figurehead to go by and we'll have to see about the color. Do you have William Crothers book on clipper ships? There is a chapter in it about figureheads that I'll have to study pretty soon. Hopefully it has some answers in it for us. I have already posted a picture of the stern minus the end. I'll post some new pictures now of the pattern I used to define the eliptus and how the frames look all attached but not yet trimmed. Waiting for the glue to set overnight and then I'll put dowels through each timber at the bottom and at the deck level to hold the timbers in place. Should be good and strong so I can use a sanding block on them without snapping any off. I think I might have it right this time. I had to stop planking the hull to get this in place as the planks end at the stern and are incorporated into the knuckle somewhat. It's amazing how one little thing in one place effects two more things else where on a ship. Also thanks for the three pics of the stern. I have them too in Crothers' book and they are very useful. Pete
#1) Empty stern
#2), Pattern in place
#3) Cut ten frames but only used 8--so far
#4) Stern frames in place but untrimmed
#5) Same pattern with timbers adjusted for form
#6) Will drill and set dowels in the bottom and at deck level for each timber
Hopefully this will keep the frames from snapping off or coming loose when I start sanding them to form.
#1) Empty stern
#2), Pattern in place
#3) Cut ten frames but only used 8--so far
#4) Stern frames in place but untrimmed
#5) Same pattern with timbers adjusted for form
#6) Will drill and set dowels in the bottom and at deck level for each timber
Hopefully this will keep the frames from snapping off or coming loose when I start sanding them to form.
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@Norgale
From the few contemporary illustrations of the time, it looks like the eagle's head was painted white with a small section of the shoulder painted brown, with the beak being natural.
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@
@Norgale
I found 4 contemporary 1853 illustrations which consistently confirm that the Great Republic figurehead was originally that of a bald eagle. The 1853 Currier lithograph is an exact reverse based on a Buttersworth piece. According to the Currier print it was submitted by L McKay (most likely Donald's brother and ship's captain Lauchlan McKay). It shows a white eagle figurehead. Two are from an 1853 commission published in Gleason's Drawing Room Pictorial entitled "Leviathan Clipper the Great Republic Fully Rigged." The monotone woodcut shows a white eagle figurehead with a dark shoulder where it joins the cutwater. A John Dodge hand tinted color reproduction shows a white eagle head, with yellow beak and brown shoulders blending into a slight curving cutwater. Unfortunately, both hand-tinted woodcut and the Buttersworth oil are just too small to get a detailed close-up as images blur and pixelate into something unrecognizable. I also found a 4th photo of the eagle figurehead from Mystic Seaport Museum. The eagle figurehead from the clipper ship Great Republic has the following dimensions: Overall: 29 x 61 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches.
I saw a picture of the Eagle figurehead that really came from the Great Republic. It may have been removed from the ship when she was rebuilt after the fire but it wasn't taken from the ship at the end of it's life since it sank in the Bermuda Triangle about thirty years after being built. I think it is being kept in a museum in Boston, maybe the Peabody-Essex Museum near where the ship was built. Have to see if I can find it again.
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@Norgale
You're correct that the original eagle figurehead was removed from the burnt out Great Republic hull almost immediately after the fire and was later replaced by a billethead when she was floated and rebuilt. Incidentally years ago, I saw this large regal figurehead in person when it used to be an outdoor main display to the Mystic Seaport north entrance. To say it was imposing is an understatement.
This original Great Republic bald eagle figurehead is currently now on display in the Figureheads & Ship Carvings display at the Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT
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I had to scour antique shops and online shops for months before I found my stern eagle for my GR. It was nearly perfect. Just some mods to it and the model to make it fit.
Rob
Rob
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I painted the shield. Just keep looking, you will find what can work. Or carve your own as I did with the figurehead.
I opted to keep her brown to show off her eyes and detailed beak. I thought she’d look washed out all while. My choice anyway.
Rob
I opted to keep her brown to show off her eyes and detailed beak. I thought she’d look washed out all while. My choice anyway.
Rob
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Rob,
That stern eagle with American shield is just perfect. If @Norgale is working on 1/48th scale of 1" = 4' his 36' scale stern eagle will have a wingspan of 9". Meanwhile his eagle figurehead would be 1 & 1/4ths" & a bit longer if he includes a bit of shoulder which blends into her diminutive cutwater as illustrated. Since he asked what color the eagle was originally painted, I reported what historic documents appear to show. Since her hull and bowsprit were both jet black, maybe a contrasting dazzling white figurehead would be more noticeable.
Hi Rob. I've been wondering what to do about the stern. That is a good looking Eagle you have there. I have another question; Do the hull planks go right on out to the stern post? That will be my next project, laying the rest of the planks. Pete
Your GR is beautiful.
Your GR is beautiful.
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You’ll need to bend the plank around the stern and below the plank sheer… you run the hull planking up to the sternpost. Blending them at the plank sheer.
Rob
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