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Staghound...Extreme clipper 1850 by rwiederrich 1/96

rwiederrich said:
Thanks Peter. I too have been a clipper fan for over 55 years. It fascinates me that the challenge for the need for speed was met with sucha beautiful design. The clipper model, especially designed by Donald McKay are my favorite.

Rob
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Rob, I've been an enthusiastic follower of McKay's clippers ever since as a kid my parents gave me the Revell Flying Cloud model for a Christmas gift. After building her I learned that the rear portico roof which I painted red was supposed to be light blue. Only the fire buckets mounted on back were supposed to have been red. She was a very lofty clipper but that dumb red roof drove me nuts.
 
Hey Rob,

I love your Staghound. Beautiful. We also had clippers like that in Germany. Unfortunately, 2 of them sank. It was bad for the Pamir, which sank with 80 sailors and only 6 of the 86 could be saved. I can understand why you have such a soft spot for these ships. They really are beautiful.

Best regards
Günther Ship-1

Here is a photo of her sister ship. The Passat.
Viermastbark_Passat_in_Travemuende-1.jpg
 
GIG1810 said:
Hey Rob,

I love your Staghound. Beautiful. We also had clippers like that in Germany. Unfortunately, 2 of them sank. It was bad for the Pamir, which sank with 80 sailors and only 6 of the 86 could be saved. I can understand why you have such a soft spot for these ships. They really are beautiful.

Best regards
Günther Ship-1

Here is a photo of her sister ship. The Passat.
View attachment 535965
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Indeed, these big German ocean carriers were a sight to behold. These big Barks were actually NOT clippers. They were more like the big Down- Easterners or Cape- Horners. Germany was famous for building these large 4 and 5 master barks , full rigged ships and *square-riggers*. But they are an entirely different class of vessel from the true *clipper* of a couple decades earlier. True clippers are entirely an American invention. Britain, in strict competition, followed with the much smaller, *Tea Clippers*. The true clipper ship era was short lived and lasted only roughly 20+ years. Closely followed by the DownEasters....and subsequently...the large iron German Barks.

Rob
 
Hey Rob,

thanks for the reply and yes, you're right. It was a different era. But I thought I'd show this ship, which is so incredibly beautiful. I hope you're not mad at me for posting this photo with your amazing kit.

As I said, your Staghound is amazing ...:DThumbsup

Best regards
Günther Ship-1
 
GIG1810 said:
Hey Rob,

thanks for the reply and yes, you're right. It was a different era. But I thought I'd show this ship, which is so incredibly beautiful. I hope you're not mad at me for posting this photo with your amazing kit.

As I said, your Staghound is amazing ...:DThumbsup

Best regards
Günther Ship-1
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No, Gunther. I'm not mad at all....I appreciate the images and love any large sailing vessel. I love sailing ships in general. I just wanted to make clear that all sailing ships, no matter how beautiful they are...are NOT clippers.....even though they may appear to be. The devil's in the details. Clippers were specifically designed for speed...cargo carrying was second...maybe even third on the list of requirements. These big iron square riggers...were all about cargo capacity.

I fully appreciate your comments on my build......I try to keep her clean and smart....and most of all ......accurate as possible. She was indeed a sleek, smart vessel. Beautiful in every way.

Rob
 
GIG1810 said:
Hey Rob,

I love your Staghound. Beautiful. We also had clippers like that in Germany. Unfortunately, 2 of them sank. It was bad for the Pamir, which sank with 80 sailors and only 6 of the 86 could be saved. I can understand why you have such a soft spot for these ships. They really are beautiful.

Best regards
Günther Ship-1

Here is a photo of her sister ship. The Passat.
View attachment 535965
Click to expand...
Gunther,
At least in Germany the Passat has been restored and her future is safe. Here in America, although we have millionaires and billionaires they do not care to preserve ships on our shores. Two examples: SS United States two time winner of the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossings both ways. A record that has never been equalled, is right now being dismantled to be turned into a reef. Meanwhile Falls of Clyde 1878 Scottish 4 masted, fully-rigged ship, the last surviving example in the world is sinking due to severe neglect. A sad commentary indeed of the sorry state of ship preservation in my country.

_methode_times_prod_web_bin_c725a0c0-3c44-11e9-ac2f-7ff26270aa53.webp
 
Hi Rob,

Very nicely realised. I'm sure your Staghound will be a beauty. I agree with you, these people who have so much money would rather splurge on things than understand what history and historicity really means for posterity. :eek:It's very unfortunate. But it's good that not everyone thinks like that. It's a similar story with us. Nevertheless, every now and then something decent comes together, as with the Passat or the Gorch Fock I. The Gorch Fock II was not spared either. The restoration of the Gorch Fock II was associated with considerable cost increases. Originally planned for 9.6 million euros, the costs ultimately totalled 135 million euros. This sum has to be raised first. This cost increase was caused by a series of errors and inadequate planning during the refit. The madness. What a pity for this beautiful ship. It hurts the soul.

Cheers Günther Ship-1
 
Rob, your detail work is so crisp and clean, a real achievement at 1:96. While the overall model takes up a fair amount of real estate, at 1/8" =1' the details become increasingly microscopic. I am impressed with the crisp clarity you are able to achieve. Wood gets pretty hairy trying to carve at that scale unless you are using something with exceptionally close and dense grain like boxwood, or Swiss pear. And your progress is moving right along. Thumbsup

Pete
 
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ClipperFan said:
SS United States two time winner of the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossings both way
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She was a wonder in her day, but that is a lifetime ago. IMHO sinking her as a reef is LONG overdue. Why on earth would anyone want to waste money to preserve something that has no value in and of itself other than maybe some sentimental value. Even my classmates that sailed as cadets or junior officers on her back in the sixties agree she will do more for the world as a reef instead of sitting as she has been for decades. Cruising has become more popular than ever, but I doubt very many cruisers would be interested in visiting the big U if she was fully restored or sailing on her if she could go back to sea. I am very lucky to have sailed liners 60 years ago and cruise ships today and I'll take today over yesteryear without hesitation. There are a lot more choices of ships and itineraries now so we can change as our tastes (age) change. :)
 
I was involved for my first 10 years of retirement as a volunteer naval architect/ historian for the SS Meteor, the last survivor of the 43 Steamships of patented “whaleback” design. I was surprised to learn that the arrival of one of these whaleback steamships in England in 1892 had a significant influence on British Shipbuilders willing to try innovative ways to reduce shipping costs. The Doxford Turret ship (175 or so built) was a direct result. On the other hand she was not involved in US National Park Service “ themes” of American History and no one wrote a great song about her (ala Edmund Fitzgerald. ). Sadly, I believe that the local scrap yard will soon be involved. Why?

1 Regardless of who occupies the White House, there is no pot of federal money to restore these old ships. National Historic Landmark status, restricts how an old ship can be maintained, restored, etc, but doesn’t provide money to do so. Money has to come from earmarked Congressional action.

2 It is true that Americans tend to be drawn to things that engage the public interest. Technology is Cool but most people consider 1896 steam engineering not to be technology.

3 Museums require a critical mass. The term Bucket List says it all. Once you have visited an old ship, why return? Successful museums like Mystic Seaport have enough going on to keep people coming back.

Roger
 
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Peter Gutterman said:
Rob, your detail work is so crisp and clean, a real achievement at 1:96. While the overall model takes up a fair amount of real estate, at 1/8" =1" the details become increasingly microscopic. I am impressed with the crisp clarity you are able to achieve. Wood gets pretty hairy trying to carve at that scale unless you are using something with exceptionally close and dense grain like boxwood, or Swiss pear. And your progress is moving right along. Thumbsup

Pete
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Peter...I use all manner of woods...from boxwood to maple and pear...to redwood, cedar and pine. you have to paint...then sand, then paint and sand again.
Got to finish up some port details...before I move onto the fore fife rail and forward companionway. I'll be making another stem to stern sweep of adding details a bit later.
There are never enough details.

Rob
 
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