Rigging.
I am sure those of you who have built this type of model before will understand the frustrations, but more importantly, the satisfaction of watching the rigging come together.
Instructions say to rig the shrouds first, then tie the ratlines.
First job, lace the deadeyes. This was quite straightforward, having beeswaxed the rigging thread first (to prevent the ends fraying), then using tweezers to thread through the very small holes.
To get the deadeyes a uniform distance apart, I used a piece of brass wire, cut to the appropriate length and bent at right angles at each end. The wire was pushed into a hole in the upper and lower deadeye until lacing had commenced, then removed, to finish the lacing and tie off.
Let us now pretend that I followed the instructions and completed tying the ratlines.They are tied to the shrouds using a clove hitch, which is quite straightforward, once you have done one or two, using tweezers. Just as well, as I estimated that I tied 920. A dab of superglue at each end then clipping them, finished the job.
It is worth taking time to get the ratlines a regular distance apart and also making sure the tension is right. Too loose and they look too slack and too tight can pull the shrouds inward from the vertical.
A word of warning! I decided that I needed a change from ratlines, so I rigged other things - backstays and forestays to name just a few. This made life so much more difficult when I returned to the task in hand, trying to manoeuvre tweezers, fingers and clippers.
The remainder of the rigging was reasonably straightforward, once I had translated it into three dimensions from the two dimensional plans.
One of my main concerns was to ensure that none of the rigging became slack, by over tightening some of the other elements.
Also, the overzealous use of clippers, resulting in a stay being cut when the trimming of a loose end was the objective.
I have now finished my first model of this type. It is by no means perfect, but I must say, I am really chuffed with the end result.
For one who is used to building in fibreglass and plastic, this has been a learning curve, but I am so pleased with the help and advice I have received. Thank you!
Steve
Instructions say to rig the shrouds first, then tie the ratlines.
First job, lace the deadeyes. This was quite straightforward, having beeswaxed the rigging thread first (to prevent the ends fraying), then using tweezers to thread through the very small holes.
To get the deadeyes a uniform distance apart, I used a piece of brass wire, cut to the appropriate length and bent at right angles at each end. The wire was pushed into a hole in the upper and lower deadeye until lacing had commenced, then removed, to finish the lacing and tie off.
Let us now pretend that I followed the instructions and completed tying the ratlines.They are tied to the shrouds using a clove hitch, which is quite straightforward, once you have done one or two, using tweezers. Just as well, as I estimated that I tied 920. A dab of superglue at each end then clipping them, finished the job.
It is worth taking time to get the ratlines a regular distance apart and also making sure the tension is right. Too loose and they look too slack and too tight can pull the shrouds inward from the vertical.
A word of warning! I decided that I needed a change from ratlines, so I rigged other things - backstays and forestays to name just a few. This made life so much more difficult when I returned to the task in hand, trying to manoeuvre tweezers, fingers and clippers.
The remainder of the rigging was reasonably straightforward, once I had translated it into three dimensions from the two dimensional plans.
One of my main concerns was to ensure that none of the rigging became slack, by over tightening some of the other elements.
Also, the overzealous use of clippers, resulting in a stay being cut when the trimming of a loose end was the objective.
I have now finished my first model of this type. It is by no means perfect, but I must say, I am really chuffed with the end result.
For one who is used to building in fibreglass and plastic, this has been a learning curve, but I am so pleased with the help and advice I have received. Thank you!
Steve
Sign in to comment on this update.
Trev