Monthly Archives: May 2013

Built to Scale

If you find any free time today, be sure to check out this incredible photo gallery focusing on one of our dedicated volunteers, Mike Mirman. The gallery, published by the Providence Journal, shows Mike along with many of his built to scale boat models. Mike is currently working on the brass fittings for the RELIANCE project here at the museum. We are all very glad that he is receiving the recognition he deserves, and we are proud to call him one of our own. Check out the gallery below, and let us know what you think!

http://www.providencejournal.com/topics/photos/arts/20130525-built-to-scale.ece?ssimg=1032168#ssTop1032179

Drawing From Nicholas

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This is a drawing of the RELIANCE model that was given to us by Nicholas, age 6. Thanks Nicholas!

Industrial Revolution

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Here I go again on a periodic tangential blog post.
As you can see in the enclosed picture, we are laying out all the fittings that go on deck.

We have beautiful cleats from J. M. Reineck done in his business shop on a CAD machine with all the machine tools and jigs to make many parts exactly the same, including posts to fasten these cleats to the deck. On the other hand, we have exquisite craftsman-made parts from Mike Mirman in his home shop.

BUT, it is so nice to just create one template for drilling attachment holes for 15″ cleats rather than custom-fitting attachments for each of the dozen #6229 pad eyes! SO, didn’t we just have an INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION moment on the RELIANCE Project! As Tim Horton (Our team psychologist and jack of all trades) said “You didn’t think that Henry Ford custom-made each cylinder did you?” I must admit I DO like the custom, craftsman approach. There is something about the statement” HAND MADE IN THE USA BY A CRAFTSMAN” but wouldn’t it be nice to have CAD accurate parts with engineered strength already confirmed; if only it were cheaply and readily made! We’d be done and you’d be enjoying this beautiful replica.

BTW, in the picture, we have cut off 4′ of extra length from our mast and fitted it as a stump mast for the time being. I think we’ll hang the boom from it shortly, if for no other purpose than reminding us of the immense size and girth of these two sticks and to get us giggling about building such a monster in one-sixth scale with such tiny fittings attached to such large sticks. We do have those moments!

110th Anniversary of RELIANCE

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110th anniversary of RELIANCE being turned over to the Iselin Syndicate.

April was an exciting month for RELIANCE.

April 11th: RELIANCE was launched
April 25th: RELIANCE first sailed
April 28th: RELIANCE was turned over to the Iselin Syndicate

From this date RELAINCE has about 130 exciting days in the water to conclusion of America’ Cup and her career. Follow her journey with posts from John Palmieri, Curator Emeritus.

Exciting Events This Weekend

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This weekend marked a number of key events for the RELIANCE Project which we’d like to share.

First, and very importantly, on Saturday Joe and Barbara Bartram, who have generously provided the funds to build RELIANCE and have been our strong cheerleaders, made a visit from Florida to our Building 28 to see our progress for themselves. A very, very happy time for all involved. As you can see, a number of our team members were able to be on hand. I’d like to thank them and all of the team for their support! HURRAH!

Sunday marked the opening of Herreshoff Museum for the summer season with a very successful open house. There was a constant stream of visitors to Building 28 that I had no time for lunch or any concept that that closing time had come and gone! Three highlights to mention among the many from the day:
– A visit by Marty and Stan Livingston whose picture I enclose
– The children (and adults) who were awed by RELIANCE and her G.I. Joe sailors. As you can see in one of the pictures, our team member Denise Bolduc has been making RELIANCE-correct uniforms for our 45 G.I. Joes, now known as Sven. Several of the girls have asked if they could have a dressing party when the uniforms are completed and the Svens are to be placed on RELIANCE. Way Cool! (P.S. I bet you didn’t know that Capt. Barr was a USMC reservist)
– A late afternoon closing time visit by “Chuck” who overheard Jim Reinbeck, his son and I talking about making 40′ of sail slide track and 200 sail slides to scale. It turns out that Chuck is a retired machinist, tool and die guy who also taught at the Jewelry Institute. He can read and interpret complex plans upside down faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. And then come up with such simple and creative solutions!!! Wow. After an incredibly interesting (and intense for me) hour Chuck had to hurry off. So Chuck, if you read this please come visit us. We need you!