Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Pull to windward!
21 09 08
Pt 7
The Sail and Jib are a work of art in themselves and a couple of emails to Bluejacket have been neccasary to clear up some confusion over plan details. Thanks to Suzi for her assistance. So the morning of 20 09 08 has seen the final fitting completed, setting up the sails with strengthening pieces, bolt rope, reef ropes, tieing on the mast, boom and gaff and rigging them to the boat. The rudder has been painted to match the colour scheme and line tubs fitted inside the vessel. I have to admit to leaving out a few small items due to time constraints (piggin, water breaker and lantern keg) so the crew will have to go thirsty in the dark!
I have tried to photograph as many details of construction as possible and this has amounted to quite a lot of pics which I will edit and publish here as and when.
So, the Aurora is set up and ready to run. Right now (Sun morning) she is within the circle surrounded by wooly whales on my work table just waiting for the last few photos before packing up for transportation to the gallery tomorrow. What fate awaits her is yet to be determined. I can only hope for fair weather and a calm sea, though I fear mightily for her safety.
Pt 7
The Sail and Jib are a work of art in themselves and a couple of emails to Bluejacket have been neccasary to clear up some confusion over plan details. Thanks to Suzi for her assistance. So the morning of 20 09 08 has seen the final fitting completed, setting up the sails with strengthening pieces, bolt rope, reef ropes, tieing on the mast, boom and gaff and rigging them to the boat. The rudder has been painted to match the colour scheme and line tubs fitted inside the vessel. I have to admit to leaving out a few small items due to time constraints (piggin, water breaker and lantern keg) so the crew will have to go thirsty in the dark!
I have tried to photograph as many details of construction as possible and this has amounted to quite a lot of pics which I will edit and publish here as and when.
So, the Aurora is set up and ready to run. Right now (Sun morning) she is within the circle surrounded by wooly whales on my work table just waiting for the last few photos before packing up for transportation to the gallery tomorrow. What fate awaits her is yet to be determined. I can only hope for fair weather and a calm sea, though I fear mightily for her safety.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Fun with Ropes and Lines
A little improv' going on here as the plans are a bit confusing with regard to the sails etc!
Circle of Life
Cloth purchased from Wilton Market, Erdo.
Process Cyan acrylic courtesy Rob Y. 2nd coat.
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Whales Ho!
Pt 6
17 09 09
Pretty much on the last leg now. Just waiting for Bluejacket to get back to me regarding a query over the construction of the sails/rigging. I have had to make a slight revision in my plans as it's not going to be possible to paint my circle on the floor of the Mailbox space where Claudia's whale is being exhibited. So, I shall endeavour to track down some canvas (or similar) and make the roundel portable/temporary. Emma from Ikon has agreed this will be suitable and I'm looking forward to Mon 22nd when it all kicks off.
All that remains is to fit the sails & lines (mast, boom and gaff now constructed) , make the killing lance (harpoon made: see below) add harpoon racks, apply final coats of paint/varnish and add a nameplate to the port bow then she's ready to set sail!
The Immortal Dawn
Aurora now had left her saffron bed,
And beams of early light the heav'ns o'erspread,
When, from a tow'r, the queen, with wakeful eyes,
Saw day point upward from the rosy skies.
Virgil - The Aeneid
And beams of early light the heav'ns o'erspread,
When, from a tow'r, the queen, with wakeful eyes,
Saw day point upward from the rosy skies.
Virgil - The Aeneid
Monday, 15 September 2008
Cast off!
Pt 5
10 - 15 09 08
Oarlocks, Harpoon Crotch and Rudder fitted and the mast has been raised. Much thought about ways to disable the boat: Oars lost o'board, rudder broken, capsize and broken mast, holed below the waterline. It needs to be damage that would sink the boat so really she needs to be broken a'midships in a way that could be inflicted by a whale so... perhaps a hammer blow to the hull!
Ikon have indicated that we could meet with Claudia on the 22nd so 5 days to finish building the Aurora!
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Oar Aura 01
The boat won't be ready for Artsfest so here's a scuptural assemblage featuring the Aurora's oars which will act as a stand in.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Belay there!
Pt 4
07 09 08
Things have moved on somewhat since Pt 3 and quite a lot of small details have been added: thwarts, fore deck, cuddy deck, clumsy cleat, raising rods, lions tongue, loggerhead, bow rails, steering oar brace, oarlock pads, rear standing cleats, steering oarsmans foot brace and a cleat to tie off from the steering oar brace. Phew! As I say only small details but quite a bit of work. Cramming all this in between working away in Evesham and making plans for Birmingham Artsfest (where I hope to show the piece as a work in progress)
The next really fiddly bit is to cut lengths of reed to affix to the thwarts. These parts are called knees and they are used by the oarsmen to brace themselves against (I think) I have also constructed the steering oar and it's very satisfyiing to make this small detail accurately (another five oars to go)
I have decided on a colour scheme and 'though Blue Jackets instructions state that this type of boat would invariably be painted white below the rubbing strips I am going against this and as well as using Cyan to paint the blue circle which the boat and whales will be displayed on the boat itself will be Magenta (outer hull), Yellow (inner planking, ceiling and thwarts etc) and Black (gunwhales, rubbing strips outer hull upper) which ties in with another series of work currently in development: http://argeebeeseeemwhykay.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
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