Has anyone built the Flying Cloud?
I am thinking about doing Mamoli’s Flying Cloud Kit. www.ModelExpo-Online.com has it for $250.
I restored the rigging for one about 6 years ago, go model, seemed to be put together well.
Jake
Flying Cloud is indeed a very impressive model. You sure like the deep end of that pool eh? No problem, you seem to have thought the project through more than most. If you find yourself treading water or going down for the third time just pop us a question or two and we’ll try to help.
Oh yeah, and pictures too.
Enjoy!
Bruce
Dave,
I’m finishing the old Appriccolla Cutty Sark. Also built the Model Shipways Sea Witch as my 1st clipper. A clipper IMO is an easy build except for the stern strakes right above the rudder. I think the Flying Cloud kit is a double plank which will make it a really nice looking model when just stained. Mamoli makes some really NICE kits. The only thing I dread is rigging a clipper since they have twice the number of spars of a warship or packet.
BTW, Don;t be afraid to build two at the same time. I do this not only to add some variety, but also I can work on one while waiting for parts on another.
Can’t wait to hear from you when you get it.
Scott
Yea Bruce I guess my desires are all in the deep end. [sigh]
Scott, I was also looking at the Cutty Sark. I used a very scientific method to decide which one to get. I flipped it 3 times and the coin kept coming up Flying Cloud. [:D]
Two at a time!! I also model HO scale trains. If I start my next ship project the USS Consitution (scratch built) I may end up with a box car amidship the Consitution or cannons on the Flying Cloud. [B)][oops]
I am very excited about getting started in ship building. I will most definitely keep you up to date on my progress. I suspect I’ll be spending many hours reading and treading water so be expecting a lot of questions.
If you’re serious about wooden ship building, you should check out the webpage for Seaways Ships in Scale magazine. It is the resource for wooden ships modeling.
There is a great website at www.seaways.com, and an e-mail list you can join.
In general, the consensus among wooden ship builders is that the Italian and Spanish kits build into nice models, but they are a challenge. Instructions are often incomplete or poorly translated, and the plans can be enigmatic. If you’re going to try one of those kits, the assistance from the SIS mailign list will be invaluable.
-Bill
Bill, Yes, I am serious about wooden ship building. I’ve always admired square riggers and now retired I’ve decided to build a couple. I just signed up for the Yahoo Group and daily e-mail. Thanks for the info!
Yesterday I purchased Mamoli’s Flying Cloud kit from Tallships Unlimited so am now eagerly awaiting its arrival. [:-^]
You interested in an Amati Santa Maria??
I’ve got one looking for a home.
Jeff
Jeff,
Just sent you an e-mail via your profile.
I got it! Ordered the 11th and received the 16th - that was faster than I expected.
Bruce, you’re right! In one of your posts you said that building a Tall Ship could be intimidating to some. I now understand why. I opened the box and WOW, there are thousands of pieces. For someone that has never built a model it would be intimidating.
I have one question about the hull planks that are Tanganyka wood. The picture that comes with the kit shows the wood as a golden brown color. The pieces that are in the kit are green. Bright dark-green! Is this the color they should be or have I received the wrong pieces?
Other than the green wood it looks good. It took me about a half hour to figure out what the instructions were trying to tell me but once I figured it out it seems straight forward. It will take at least a week of reading through the instructions and looking over the plans before I can get started.
Dave:
Those sure don’t look like hull planks to me.
Maybe after a week of reading up (excellent idea btw, too many just jump right in with the glue …) you’ll have it figured out.
Perhaps they are blocks to fill in between frames at the bow & stern? At this pointyour guess would be as good as mine.
Enjoy!
Bruce
[B)] I found it! They are green to resemble copper plating applied to the bottom half of the hull. After glueing the pieces, sand them, apply a copper color paint, sand again, then apply a green dye tint so that they resemble copper plating. [:D]