Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Nice work Rob.

Steve

Thanks Steve...this is the first version I am heavely weathering and modeling in a particular period.  All my other builds have been static display models for other people.

A couple of threads involving the Cutty Sark are active at the moment.  Whenever this subject comes up, I can't resist calling attention to what I regard as one of the best (and certainly one of the cheapest) sources of information about her:  the set of three plans by George Campbell.  I think it's appropriate to mention them now, because the process for buying them seems to have changed recently.

The plans used to be available via mail order through the ship's website.  That site appears to be gone from the web now.  It seems the Cutty Sark has, at least for some purposes, been amalgamated with the National Maritime Museum, Queen's House, and the Royal Observatory into one organization called Royal Museums Greenwich.  Part, at least, of what used to be the ship's own website is now included in a sort of super-website:  http://www.rmg.co.uk/ .  Click on "Cutty Sark," then on the big picture of the ship.  That takes you to her portion of the website.  When you get there, click on "Shop."  Then type "plans" into the "Search Shop" box in the upper right.  Here's the link that will take you to them directly:  http://shop.rmg.co.uk/search.html?SearchTerm=plans .

As you can see, the three sheets cost 4 pounds (that's $6 or $7) each.  I don't know what the shipping charges would be, but when I ordered a set a few years ago they were quite reasonable.

I bought my first set on board the ship many years ago, and literally wore them out.  That old set was printed with the "blueline" system (blue lines on white paper); the ones available now are printed in black ink on (pretty cheap) white paper.  They aren't quite as sharp as the old ones, but they're plenty good enough for modeling purposes.

Mr. Campbell was the naval architect in charge of the ship's restoration back in the late '50s and early '60s; he knew whereof he spoke.  Those drawings contain just about every conceivable detail of the ship, from the hull lines to the sizes of the rigging lines to the sails to the pattern of the linoleum in the galley.  (They also make pretty conspicuous the errors and simplifications of the Revell kit.  It's a fine kit  - especially by 1959 standards - but it does offer the modeler lots of opportunities to improve it.)  The voluminous notes all over the sheets make for quite a bit of good bedside reading.  Highly recommended to anybody tackling a model of the ship.

I googled "Cutty Sark plans," and was led to another rather interesting web page:  https://www.google.com/search?q=Cutty+Sark+plans&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zmJ&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KlnsUIqwE8eW2QXV_4DQDQ&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=605 .  All three of the Campbell sheets are there (if your printer is of sufficiently large format you might be able to print them out at a usable scale), as are several pages from the original Revell instructions - along with lots of other drawings, photos of the ship, photos of models,  etc., etc.  (How those other ships, and airplanes, got there I have no idea.  For that matter, I have no idea who put the page together.)

She is, of course, a great subject for a model.  The Revell kit has a lot to recommend it.  My favorite plastic version of  her, though, is still the long-unavailable 1/125 one from Imai.  (I've commented on it  - and its rather amusing inaccuracies, at least one of which looks like it stemmed from the Japanese designers' not being able to read Mr. Campbell's notes - several times before here in the Forum.  A Forum search on "Imai Cutty Sark" should bring them up.)

Fascinating and rewarding stuff.

I have a very extensive library documenting the CS..even some very nice cut away images showing below decks and every aspect. Plus a collection of  Capt Richard Woodget's images he took from around 1887~1888.  My model is set during CS's lesser days...when she was mastered by the nefarious capt William H Bruce.  For nearly 4 years between him and his successor, capt Fredrick Moore..the CS was a mess and was recorded on several occasions as *tattered, beaten and rusted*.  Many stories are written about her poor performance and unprofitability during these low years.

Capt Woodet brought her new destinction and aclaim.

Rob(thanks for the links)

Looks like you are a beautiful job on her. Will be watching with interest.....Cheers mark

You can see the waterways a bit better and the metal bracings I fabricated to replace the unrealistic plastic ones...I placed mesh mats at the enterances of doorways too.  I will be placing canvas covers over the hatchways.

I can assure you, I am far from the most skilled model maker found on these pages...and my painting skills leave much to be desired...but I am having fun..and thqt is what really counts right?

Here are some more pics of my doings..and some more *stuff* added to my CS.

some more details

I thinned out the ladders and brought them into scale by trimming down the bulky steps and railes...plus I added the deadeyes.  I will be rigging all the ratlines and backstays.  Plus I noticed the molded deadeye lanyards are far to long..I will bring a more appropriate length into bear when I rerig.

Rob

picture

I really like the job you're doing with her. May I assume you applied the metal bracings (wire) to the bulwarks on the waterways before you added the pinrails?

Mike S.

I was wondering about those ladders when I built my CS.  They don't reach the roof  so how would they be of any use?

Dave

Right...I removed the casting and replaced it with the wire..that was afterI *Hogged* out the waterways.

I finished adding the aft rail...still have not painted the railing stanchons,.but the rail is flush at all joints and seamless.

Ooops pics....

From what I gather they are just under the roof eve.

Seems odd. Impossible to use  unless there were a series of hand grips on the roof.   Does somebody have photos of the real thing?

I looked through many of mine and still didn't find anything...I'll reference my books. I have pics of other clippers and squar riggers that do have ladders that go to the deck house roofes along with roof railings.     More study.....I hope to find some new info so I can model it correctly.

Rob

The George Campbell drawings (which, as I've mentioned before in this thread, I personally regard as the best source on the appearance of the Cutty Sark - at least in her as-built state) show no ladders or hand grips on the deckhouses.  I believe that source unless I find a specific piece of evidence that contradicts it.

We should remember that the Revell kit was designed in the late 1950s, just before the ship underwent a major restoration.  The first batch of kits out of the molds had the row of big airports along the sides, dating from her days as a schoolship.  (She retained those ports for many years - including the times I've been on board her.  The committee that supervised the '60s restoration decided to keep them for purposes of ventilation, preferring the airports to a noisy air conditioning unit with all its pipes and ducts.)  The ports were removed in the most recent restoration.  (I don't know what provisions have been made for air circulation - a vital consideration for the preservation of the ship.  I'm confident that the conservators figured out a solution.)

Another point that's worth thinking about:  the Revell kit has the big companionway at the forward end of the poop deckhouse.  I'm not sure when that was added to the ship, but she didn't have it originally.  This is one of the numerous places where the smaller Imai kit is more accurate.  I really like that kit - which quite obviously was based on the Campbell plans.  It seems to me that the only feature that recommends the Revell version to it is the obvious one:  size.  I never got around to tackling the Imai kit (I had one sitting in my attic for years), mainly because I couldn't think of a way to represent the chain parts of the rigging convincingly.  42-link chain, which is the finest I've found, would look too big.  Imai (with late 1970s technology) did a much better job on several features, notably the paneling on the deckhouses and the configuration of the forecastle deck.  (Imai provides enough room for a man to get under it.  Revell doesn't.)

Good observations...the Revell kit does have some interesting errors in the CS original design......all of my images do not show any ladders accessing the deckhouse roofs.  One thing to note:  Every one of her capts made minor cosmetic changes if not through neglect, through design. This fact makes building her all the more exciting.   Thanks.

Here are some more pics of my build.  I never use the typical thread railing design...I try to cut and create lifelike representations when ever possible.

Another

Moving along.  All the deadeyes are installed and the aft railings.  Jumping back to step 25, I'll install water cask and lifeboats and skids...then to main mast fiferails and pump,winches.

I think I figured out the slight error with the poop cabin companion way enterance.  Here it is depicted like it was in the late 40's early 50'safter extensive mods were done to her.  The companion way has been extended pas the forward walk..providing a door on either side to enter the stairwell down to the main cabin/parlor.  Earlier images show the companionway enterance shorter and with a single door amidship along the center line.  This explains why the amai model and the revell models differ and why some of my historical data/images show both..and some show doorways port and starboard and on the midline center.

As we putter along..I finished some more deck furniture and the boat skids and boats.

Here is a few pics.

I had to heavely modify the winches and add the base frame braces and thin down the cast feet(way to thick).

Here is another of the boats underway and the skids..I opted for canvas.....I will chain them down next.

I then painted the ship name. on the prow of each life boat

ooops..images would be nice

Right so I finished the life boat install..so here it is.

One a bit closer

ooooops