Target is this weekend - weather permitting. Will update the build blog if successful and then move it over to harbour.

I wouldn't be scared by 2mm thickness as opposed to less than 1mm I'm using.
Have to say that's the best way or rigging; congratulation sir.
Any chance of seeing that beauty in action? Assuming it's a working model.

Thread is #21 3 strand twisted tarred nylon seine twine, as recommended by Sailtails. So it is about 2mm thick. Splicing involved magnifying glasses, as the eyes are not as young and clear as they were, and needle nosed tweezers. After doing about 20 odd splices I ended up taking only about 10 minutes per splice.

There's nothing to be worried about your work, the quality of your work looks really professional, well done

Holly mother of God!!!
That looks so pretty. What's the thread thickness?

AndyN - your wish is my command - just a snip of some of the splices I have done - I think in total there were about 21.

Just a word from me again. I learned how to finish the loops from bow makers. It's about how they tie and reinforce the bowstrings. I don't know however the correct term for it.
Ask, practice, and again, practice Ian. I can't believe how many swear words I used during my journey through ropelands😉
It's an easy sailing now. Pun intended

Ian, you don't learn if you don't ask, and the man who never makes a mistake never makes anything.
You will see that your models get better over time, and remember that the best tool in the workshop is patience.
We will always give you the benefit of our modelling experience as long as you ask.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Ian
We all started somewhere in our modelling adventure and no one is going to criticise your efforts. Quite the opposite really as we all hope to encourage and guide you to build to the best of your ability. There is a wealth of experience on the site and we all give advice freely but sometimes it helps if we know exactly what is being asked as some topics are difficult for a novice to explain exactly. The rigging and lines on a sailing vessel are many and varied and use different tie off and fixing methods. I have sent you a pm with the link I promised.
That video is very useful and informative regarding a working sailing model.
dave976

Thanks for your relpy Dave, and pm.

The quality and tidiness of the builds here make me very nervous to post photos of where I am going! Ill tidy things up and post in due course. The plans I have show all the rigging, but when I came to actually do it, I found I was unsure how to end the lines, and where they tie off. Im curious how others do it on a these models - and strong enough to withstand the Wellington winds.

I have found this video which is a very neat example, that others may like -https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+rig+a+radio+control+gaff+rig&docid=603527584682678441&mid=6C454B21449D20E93BAF6C454B21449D20E93BAF&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

I have been using the wire wrap and low temp solder technique used on the CD that Sarik provide - every one is getting better. I added a bit more of a loop from fishing knots so I felt the end result would be more secure.

I agree wholeheartedly mturpin013😉

Hi luckyduck -
"spliced all the rigging on my old Bristol Pilot Cutter"
Any chance of some pictures to show the "no nothing about rigging" people what your talking about?
thanks

Sorry if I have missed the point AndyN - thought we were talking about creating neat rigging. I agree to use of finer thread for whipping a lifesize splice, but not in model scale. Leaving a splice 'open' in model scle also shows attention to detail.

Hi IanTurk
Good to hear that you are building a Thames Barge. Not actually built one myself but have built sailing vessels of a similar era and we have a couple of the Kitty free plan types in my club. I did some years ago source Harold Underhill's plans for the 200 ton Thames Barge Lady Daphne on three large sheets, one of which is the complete sail plan with the rigging. I will photocopy the sail plan and send you a pm when I have managed to complete. The other sheets show some useful info so I will copy also. I have other plans of barges that show details of rigging which may help. It is quite a lot of info to take on board especially as you are new to scratch building and sailing ships. Fortunately there are many modelling books that cover the basics and others on this site will be able to help with any questions you may have on particular items. If you can post some pics of what you are attempting this will help.
dave976

luckyduck, I don't think we are talking about the same thing. As far as I know splicing doesn't involve secondary thinner rope like in my case. I did a lot of splicing on a job once. It looks amazing but what I do is finish the loop with a wraparound of a thinner thread.
The pic shows proper splice. Please correct me if I'm wrong, it seems like there are 2 kinds of splicing.

Yep that's me - mad, but the end result is worth it. But at a scale of 1/12 I think it is justifiable. Smaller scale and then yes, maybe a fine knot sealed with super glue.

Wow, you are mad sir. I did think about splicing however the amount of work on such a tiny threads put me off. I just do the wraps.

Depending how accurate you want to be in the standing rigging, it is always worth splicing rather than knotting - very fiddly, and obviously does not work with woven thread - have spliced all the rigging on my old Bristol POilot Cutter, and looks far neater than any other way of ending a rope.

Can be pricey but very good source.

Thanks Andy - found the book on ebay - ranging from $20 to $400!!

That is an amazing project, challenging yes but still amazing.
I built my very first working boat from scratch (see prof pic) without any plans. All I did was to buy a book "The gaff rig handbook", browse the internet and use my imagination.
The book helped me a lot thou
I wish you a great time through learning and discovering the beauty of this amazing craft.
Good luck

Ask Nerys, she's the TSB Queen, as she also was a skipper.
Cheers Colin.

Thanks Jacko - every bit helps.

hope this helps