"Flying Cloud " by Mamoli - kit bash

ClipperFan said:
Peter,
Nautical Research Guild is having a supplies limited back issue sale of 67%-92% off. Along with other issues, Spring 2023 #68 of Nautical Research Journal (includes my first article on reconstructing Glory of the Seas) is still available, on sale for $5.00 ($10 off). Older issues are listed for $1.25 ea; members get additional 20% discount (code: NRG20Off). Here's the link, if you're interested:

thenrgstore.org

Nautical Research Journal Volume 68.1 Back Issue

The Nautical Research Journal Volume 68.1 was originally published in the Spring of 2023. A limited number of original printed copies are available. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. Volume 68.1 includes: Features USS/SS Leviathan: Building a museum model with a split personality, Part...
thenrgstore.org
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Bought it!
ClipperFan said:
Peter,
While researching ship's ventilators I came across this subject on Scott Bradner's excellent site:


Bottom line, gooseneck ventilators illustrated on Langford's Flying Fish plans are wrong. A 1994 Nautical Research Journal article states correct planksheer ventilators would have been 2"-2&1/2" diameter open top brass tubes which would have terminated just below the main rail. Stanchions on Flying Cloud were 30" apart and between each would have been 1 maybe 2 of these brass ventilators. At 1:96th scale, you could possibly use brass straight pins to model this fascinatong feature. Emerson's patent ventilators were also mounted midships. They were actually air intake-exhaust pumps. The sobco article has a link with greater detail, if you're curious.

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For the ventilators along the bulwarks, I used very small dia. straight brass tubing to simulate those shown in Wm. Crother's book on the American clipper ship. They appear in some pictures in my log. Thanks for all the tips.
 
A few years ago, I visited the "replica" of the schooner-yacht America docked in Annapolis for a short stay. As thrilling as it was to see one of my favorite icons moored at the pier. The illusion began to evaporate as soon as I came aboard. As welcoming and generous as her wonderful crew may have been they could not (nor did they try to) disguise the fact that the resemblance between the "replica" and the original was largely illusory, so much of the original design having been sacrificed to the exigencies of a modern ocean-going vessel. After considerations for safety, strict legal codes, seaworthiness, creature comfort, and technology were factored into the design and execution of the ship, little remained to transport the casual visiting enthusiast of the original into an historic time warp. Even the little "Sultana" out of Chestertown, Md comes a whole lot closer. None the less, it doesn't take long to realize you are on board an essentially modern vessel. I think that the smaller the "replicas" and their mission are, the closer you are likely to get to the period experience. And let's be honest, stepping back into life aboard ship in the 19thc., or even the early 20th, let alone the 18th or earlier is not for the faint of heart under any circumstances. ;)
Oh yes. Is the 'replica' still functional or even in existence? I think you mentioned in an earlier post that the pictured iteration was significantly scaled down from the original.
 
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Peter Gutterman said:
Oh yes. Is the 'replica' still functional or even in existence? I think you mentioned in an earlier post that the pictured iteration was significantly scaled down from the original.
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To be honest, I haven't a clue as to her whereabouts or condition, or if she still exists. I just thought it was fascinating, someone built a scaled down version of her in the first place.

Rob
 
Following: a little progress on the main deck house. I added about a scale foot and a half to what I had. I can't believe it could have been to scale; it would have been like accommodations for a Hobbits. I put "canvas" on the house roofs for non-skid surface and painted them a lighter blue. I made some sheeve holes for the main braces.20240729_092554.jpg20240729_140051.jpg20240729_104630.jpg20240731_143449.jpg20240801_123555.jpg20240801_115318.jpg20240802_125055.jpg20240802_124957.jpg20240801_150747.jpg20240801_145618 (1).jpg20240801_151028.jpg20240801_150957.jpg
 
rwiederrich said:
Checking out some of my images...I found a couple of a replica of Flying Cloud...built in the 50' in Boston. I don't have all the specs, but it is interesting.
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Peter,
My dad took us to see her in the 70s. She was docked alongside a maritime based restaurant. Food was good, being a teenager, I wasn't privy to prices but by my parent's relaxed attitude, it appeared to be moderate. The owner of both restaurant and ship originally wanted to build her as a full scale replica. To save money, she was actually about 3/4ths scale. I can't remember if we boarded her or not. I do distinctly recall staring at her winged, trumpet bearing angel, tacked on awkwardly beneath the bowsprit and saying that it just didn't look authentic. To which my dad replied "Aw what the Hell do you know? You're just a kid!"
As imposing as she was, she too wasn't authentic to the McLean description from Aprol 1851.... I was right after all.
Sadly, the restaurant eventually failed and the ship disappeared.
 
Peter Gutterman said:
Following: a little progress on the main deck house. I added about a scale foot and a half to what I had. I can't believe it could have been to scale; it would have been like accommodations for a Hobbits. I put "canvas" on the house roofs for non-skid surface and painted them a lighter blue. I made some sheeve holes for the main braces.View attachment 462414View attachment 462415View attachment 462416View attachment 462417View attachment 462418View attachment 462419View attachment 462420View attachment 462421View attachment 462422View attachment 462423View attachment 462424View attachment 462425
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A couple more pics, progress since I posted these, after picking away at the model (and the guitar) a couple of hours ago20240802_151940.jpg

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Peter Gutterman said:
I just read that she was the bar and lounge attraction next to the restaurant-night club. Both went up in flames in 1977.
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Both???
Not too suspicious.... insurance claim anyone???
I read that the entire venture was going bankrupt, so....
Now that you realize the accurate description by Duncan McLean, you can clearly see why I've been saying for years that not a single one of the probably 1,000s of Flying Cloud replicas, even this lofty beauty is (or was) accurate! What's even more astounding is that this impressive replica was built in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia by the same experienced maritime shipbuilders who constructed the 1968 HMS Bounty film replica.
Currently, Peter your modified Mamoli Flying Cloud model is the closest so far....
 
Thanks! You may, however, discover what my folks did lo these many decades ago, that I'm easily distracted, have a tendency to wander astray and get lost. :rolleyes:

BTW, the Bounty too fell victim to poor management and/or judgement and met a tragic and untimely demise; her captain having decided to sail off into the path of a meandering hurricane.
 
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Peter Gutterman said:
Thanks! You may, however, discover what my folks did lo these many decades ago, that I'm easily distracted, have a tendency to wander astray and get lost. :rolleyes:
!A
BTW, the Bounty too fell victim to poor management and/or judgement and met a tragic and untimely demise; her captain having decided to sail off into the path of a meandering hurricane.
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Peter
You sound like one who has insatiable curiosity.
I found this article about the captain of the Half Moon who rode out Hurricane Sandy by mooring his vessel at East Hartford, a mere 50 miles north of New London on the Connecticut River. The priceless original 1961 HMS Bounty replica foundered 90 miles into the Atlantic....
 
Peter Gutterman said:
A little more progress on main cabin windows. All those little slats for the sliding cover side! only nine more to go... :rolleyes:View attachment 462640View attachment 462641View attachment 462642
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Peter,
Nice, clean and consistent work on your cabin windows. Not that you have to do this, I'm just sharing how the actual ship's gothic panels would look, in between windows and doors. One thing we learned from examining many deck photos from Glory of the Seas was that McKay's clippers were more ornate then we first expected. Here's a photo of kitchen cabinets with double gothic molding. On the ship, these were single, probably standard cabinetry of the time. You can see why Duncan McLean referred to this as looking neatly.

Gothic_Custom_Furniture-24__26135.jpg
 
ClipperFan said:
Peter,
Nice, clean and consistent work on your cabin windows. Not that you have to do this, I'm just sharing how the actual ship's gothic panels would look, in between windows and doors. One thing we learned from examining many deck photos from Glory of the Seas was that McKay's clippers were more ornate then we first expected. Here's a photo of kitchen cabinets with double gothic molding. On the ship, these were single, probably standard cabinetry of the time. You can see why Duncan McLean referred to this as looking neatly
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Thanks for caring! I did a search of "Gothic" panels and still don't know what makes them uniquely "Gothic". Apparently, the gothic arch is not required, any shape molding will do. I plan to fit the panels in as "neatly" as they will go, they make a nice touch. The doors, I think, and between the windows. Pockets need to remain between the sliding doors. Nice cabinetry, by the way.;) Getting the ogee shape at scale is a little bit of a challenge.Cautious
 
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Peter Gutterman said:
Thanks for caring! I did a search of "Gothic" panels and still don't know what makes them uniquely "Gothic". Apparently, the gothic arch is not required, any shape molding will do. I plan to fit the panels in as "neatly" as they will go, they make a nice touch. The doors, I think, and between the windows. Pockets need to remain between the sliding doors. Nice cabinetry, by the way.;) Getting the ogee shape at scale is a little bit of a challenge.Cautious
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Peter,
I have to admit to not even knowing what an ogee shape is. Honestly, I think just doing a single element at the size you're working in will probably be enough. Take a look at Rob's work, it might give you some ideas.
 
ClipperFan said:
Peter,
There's an ogee, cabriole shape in that kitchen cabinet photo? I'm confused about your reference.
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The moldings Surrounding the inner panels of the doors at the inner edges of the frames look like a version of an ogee molding with and added element on the inside edge. Cut in cross section they reveal a "s" curve with one curve of the "s" being larger than the other like the curve of a cabriole.
 
Peter Gutterman said:
Bought it!

For the ventilators along the bulwarks, I used very small dia. straight brass tubing to simulate those shown in Wm. Crother's book on the American clipper ship. They appear in some pictures in my log. Thanks for all the tips.
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Peter,
Let me know how you feel about the article. Michael Mjelde's rare images weren't even available in his books. He was indispensable in his contributions. I'm racing to meet an Oct 1st deadline to submit article 2. Meanwhile Rob said he's doing something similar but he's painting his as he believes that would be too much brass to polish.
 
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