What is the best order of adding sails and spars???

[Modeler12]

I would like to know what to do next with rigging the sails and spars to my Conny.

 

I have made the sails (top mast plus a few others) and never rigged square sails before. I have done some work on the spars and at this point added the jackstays, footropes and some blocks for the various lines that go up from the sides or base of the sail.

But I don’t know if I should attach the sail to the spar (in this case I show the mizzen top sail, and it is still loose) and then attach all of this to the mast or wait and attach the sail after the spar is in place.

In either case there are a lot of lines to work with.

 

Any suggestions???

 

[Jim Lad]

Jay,

 

I find that it's usually better to have as much as possible rigged before you actually attach the spars to the model.  When the yard is off the model it's much easier to manipulate to get all the little fittings properly attached.

 

John

[Modeler12]

 

Jay,

 

I find that it's usually better to have as much as possible rigged before you actually attach the spars to the model.  When the yard is off the model it's much easier to manipulate to get all the little fittings properly attached.

 

John

 Thanks John. The reason I asked is that when the sail is attached to the yard and then the whole works is places on the mast, there are many lines to deal with and the sail could be in the way. But I can see your point that the reverse could be worse to handle.

 

I am still toying with the idea of attaching some of the running rigging to the belay points on deck first, except, of course, the ones I have preattached to the sails (as shown above). Halyards, clew lines and others that go to belay points around the mast could benefit from that approach. Any suggestions? As I said, this is my first attempt to rig square sails.

BTW I still need to add the double blocks for the clew lines to the yard. They are not shown in the picture above.

Edited February 25, 2013 by Modeler12

[Jim Lad]

Jay,

 

In order to more easily get the correct tension on the running rigging, attaching to the yards and sails first is probably best.  I know it can be difficult reaching belaying points, but that's what we get for building to scale instead of full size!

 

John

[pirozzi]

I find it easier to place the yards on the masts before setting the mast on the ship. Add all of the blocks and footropes etc. first before attaching to mast. One the yard is set on the mast, then hang the sail and add the running rigging. If you place the sail before adding the yard to the mast, it puts more weight to the yard and makes it harder to secure it to the yard.

 

Vince P.

[Modeler12]

Now with two different approaches it leaves me hanging in the wind.   
 

What I may do is one of each. The mizzen topsail will be the first and I will rig it with the lighter sail in place to the spar and attach the 'works' to the mast that way. If I encounter the weight problem you refer to, Vince, I will do the other two your way by adding the sails afterwards.

 

But you touched on two topics: one is that you rig the spars to the masts before you even step the mast??? The other is to add the sails afterwards. In the case of my mizzen I cannot do the first because I have the spanker sail and its mast in place.

 

Whow, and I thought rigging would be fun. Actually, the whole process is a puzzle and I like it.