MODELMAKER'S CORNER
The Lovely Coronet: A Miniature Exposition by Lloyd McCaffery
This broadside view gives some idea ofthe lovely shape of Coronets hull. Such details as room and space ofthe framing are
based on written descriptions, checked against actual measurements taken down in her bilge area. (All photos courtesy the author.)
Looking forward along the deck and down on the starboard side shows the fine entrance and sweeping lines of Coroner '.s hull. A crewman stands on the bow grating. Almost all the deck plank was left offto show the structure and details below. Most fittings are made ofapple wood cut in Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona.
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y involve ment with Coronetgoes back almost two decades. She was hauled our at Gloucester at the rime, and I went up to lookherover. She was very impressive, even in her dilapidated state. I was amazed to discover that her garboard was at least 17" wide, and ran for something like 50 feet. The information I gathered was used on my first model of her, a plank-on-frame miniature at 16' = l " scale. Pulling together and using all the research material resulted in a small model of delightful appearance. Coronet has had a special place in my heart ever since. I recently learned of the good work being done by the International Yacht Restoration School in N ewporr, Rhode Island, to restore the schooner yacht Coronet, built byC. &R. Poillon in Brooklyn, New York, for Rufus T. Bush in 1885. I know it can be difficult to visualize what a ship can look like in her prime, especially if she has lost sheer, had her masts removed, and has had changes made elsewhere. I thought a largescale, cutaway hull model would be valuable to show her as she will once again be and to serwe as an educational tool for both students air IYRS and the average visitor. I decided tco construct her plank on fram e, and leave 1 most of the hull and deck plank-
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SEA fHISTORY 97, SUMMER 2001