Warwick woodcrafter pays homage to mighty ship
THE Cutty Sark was a masterpiece, considered the pinnacle of sailing ship design and one of the fastest clippers of the 1800s.
It has shipped Chinese tea to Britain, delivered coal to Japan and the dangerous wool run between London, Melbourne and Sydney.
Her strong hull was a combination of timber and iron.
The three tall masts could hold many sails that propelled the ship at up to 17 knots.
As a result the Cutty Sark spent the 1870s hightailing across the seven seas as the fastest ship in the ocean.
It was spectacular history of the ship that drew Warwick woodcrafter Ken Butler to use it as his inspiration as his first ever attempt to construct a wooden model of a boat.
So far Mr Butler, who has been a member of the woodcrafters for five years, has spent five months slaving away at the deck and hull and said he still had many months to go before it was completed.
"I have never made one before and it is a very intricate exercise," he said.
"It is to scale at a ratio of 78:1.
"The fittings are all very fiddly.
"I had to pull clocks apart to use as the cogs.
"It is important it is all in perspective."
Mr Butler said it could take another 12 months to finish with the masts, rigging and sails still needing to be added.
