Clipper Ship Build Thoughts

Bill-R

Bill-R

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I am planning on a scratch build of a clipper ship. Lately there has been a lot of posts regarding clipper ships. This has peaked my interest. I find that I really like the lines of the clippers. I also find schooners attractive. My thoughts for a build will be the Ed Tosti Young America or the Scott Bradner Flying Could plans. The build will be a POB. The Ed Tosti plans are beautiful and I have the books to go along with the plans. Having the books will greatly aide me in construction. I have also gotten a set of the Scott Bradner's Flying Cloud plans. These plans appear to be a very complete set of plans. At this time, because I find both ships appealing, I am stuck in the middle as far as a decision on which to build.

Would anyone have any thoughts, opinions or suggestions as to which to choose.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bill
 
Bill……I’m a McKay clipper guy. Though Webb did a magnificent job on YA. McKay built bigger ships….and I believe the YA was Webb’s last clipper. Good plans with well done research helps.
Brander’s plan, unfortunately does not include McKays “secret” Naval Hood.

Good luck.

Rob
 
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the reply input. I really like the Flying Cloud and I have become a McKay fan. After your discussions on other threads about naval hoods, I think I have a fairly good idea about them. Although I haven’t seen a direct representation of naval hood on the Flying Cloud, I have seen pictures from other ships and paintings of the Flying Cloud that indicate a naval hood. I have seen one painting of the Flying Cloud that suggests a naval hood, but the haws pipe runs through it. Not sure if this would be correct.

Bill
 
Ed Tosti is both a master builder and great teacher/author. You cannot go wrong with his books and plans as he has done all the research for anyone wanting to build this ship plus he shows how to do everything, piece by piece, step by step. His photos and explanations on the internet are also a great help.
Allan
 
Hi Allan,
I agree. Ed Tosti’s skills as a teacher and a builder are amazing. The combination of his plans, books and build threads make having a successful build a certain success.

Bill
 
I have visited with Ed a number of times over the years and he is a brilliant engineer, thus his attention to detail. One of my most fun days was touring Preble Hall with Ed and having curator Grant Walker as our guide for a few hours. Ed's questions made the visit all the more interesting. GOOD TIMES
Allan
 
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It depends on your objective. Although these graceful ships have been popular modeling subjects for the past 100 years, it is surprising how little is really known for someone wanting to build a historically accurate model. Many builders were not interested in revealing trade secrets such as hull lines to competitors. Available evidence; half models, Griffith’s Nautical Magazine, Hall’s Government Shipbuilding Report, do not necessarily reflect the vessel as built, as hull lines were often not finalized prior to final layout on the mound loft floor. I believe that Webb’ compendium of drawings was published after the vessels included were built.

Whichever subject you choose, this is not going to be a “quickly” project. Ed Tosti’s Young America is the result of careful research. I would, therefore, choose it. If you have not already done so, I would also get and read Crothers’ The American Clipper Ship. He does a good job of presenting currently known information on this subject.

Roger
 
Hello Roger,

Thanks for looking in and for your input. I have not been in the model ship hobby for a long time, but in that time I have found that finding accurate information can be an art in itself. My objective is to be able to build a historically accurate ship based on the best information I can gather. I also understand my limitations from my lack of time in the hobby. I am in no hurry and plan to spend a great deal of time on whichever ship I choose. Over the past year, in the pursuit of finding a ship that suits my interests, I have gathered information on ships throughout history from early eighteenth century merchant ships to early twentieth century fishing schooners. I tend to be attracted to merchant vessels. I get as much enjoyment do research as I do in the actual build. The most important aspect for me is to pursue something that gives me great fulfillment. There is one constant. The one thing that I can be sure of is that this site is full of great people that are very willing to help in whatever way can and in that I am grateful and humble.

Bill
 
Bill,

I got in trouble on another forum with this advice but I’m either a slow learner, stubborn, or both, so here goes.

If you want to build a Clipper Ship, don’t let your perceived intexperience stand in your way. Build one!

The usual advice is to start with a “beginner kit” to develop skills before tackling something more complex. Life is, however, short and a Clipper is a long term project so why waste time first building a subject that doesn’t interest you. With Ed Tosti’s books you also have an excellent set of instructions written by a master builder. Even if you do decide to build something other than Young America, his technique still apply.

I don’t know how you’re outfitted for tools, but this could be a limitation particularly for milling wood. Amortized over the life of building a model, tools are a good investment. I’m still using tools that are well over 50 years old.

Roger
 
Hi Roger,

I think it's great advice. I've never been the one to let inexperience get in my way. I don't know if that is good or bad. When I entered the hobby, I started out building two intermediate models. Before I invested too much time into model ship building, I wanted to make sure I enjoyed the hobby enough to spend a great amount of time building. Well, after the first two builds I am hooked. To be honest, my greatest obstacle right now is deciding which ship I want to spend a number of years building. As far as tools, I am fairly well set. Although I do have more tools on my Christmas/birthday list. I was also able to find a wood supplier that is able to mill wood to fit my needs. So there you have it. All I need to do is to make a decision and start.
Thanks everyone for the great input. It has been a tremendous help.

Bill
 
Bill,
In Addition to Crothers’ book, I also recommend Chapelle’s The Search for Speed Under Sail. I consider these two books to be companions. Chapelle’s book was published in the late 1960’s. Crothers’ in 1990. Both authors were professional Naval Architects so they know their stuff and can discuss these ships absent the usual romance associated with the type. Chapelle’s book also includes an appendix with contemporary descriptions of a number of Clippers reprinted from Griffiths Nautical Magazine. Griffiths was the designer of several Clippers who also published a technical magazine discussing notable vessels of the day.

Roger
 
Fun fact (and I’d have to check details, but overall gist is as is) around 1900 it was cheaper to sail a clipper one way New York - Los Angeles than to sail it back. That’s why you can still find remnants along that coast, in houses and barns.

You’d buy a clipper for 200k, a load for 200k and sail it around South America, sell all of it for 600k, get the crew back by train and buy a new ship.

Some people got rich fast!
 
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