Thanks Bob,

The earlier pictures were with the pen, but the final one on my hand as it fitted there quite well. The rig is not strange though, there were thousands of topsail schooner built all over the world. The were generally for use as coastal vessels where a mainly fore-and-aft rug enabled them to sail closer to the wind when subjected to limited sea room. The three square topsails were to aid in tacking in close proximity to the land. They would be thrown aback when coming about, and help to push the bow round quicker. All the sails had their uses and were used in conjunction with each other. The Minnie was only 87 tons. Ships like this were real workhorses that seldom got recognition they were due. The Minnie was completed at Peterhead in 1878, and was still registered at Lloyds in 1932, a lifespan that today's ships could never hope for!

Bob

It might have had an engine fitted later, but I don't know for sure. It took just under 17 hours to build, spread over 9 days. But I still have to make the display case and carrying case. Coastal schooner generally had very long lives, but a lot of them were driven ashore and wrecked in adverse conditions.

Bob

I have now made the display case. The white part is the plastic protective coating on both sides of the acrylic. It will not be removed until the woodwork is French Polished. This case took six hours to make. It seems a long time, but spread over a few days, is not so bad. Having one made would have cost a fortune anyway! This one was made from leftovers from larger models.

Bob