Common blocks & the like for 1:64 scale ships

[FlounderFillet5]

Hello out there!

 

I am currently living in an apartment where room is scarce and build space is almost non existent, but I have a space to set up my mill. I am planning on building a ship in 1:64 scale once I move after graduation, probably the Syren. I wanted to know what the typical sizes of blocks, deadeyes, etc are so that I can make a bunch out of some spare boxwood I have laying around in the meantime. I figure that it will save me some cost on my next build(s) by making them myself, not to mention I will know that they were my blocks and get some satisfaction from that later on. If you guys could chime in on what size blocks and the like I should mass produce, I would appreciate it. If you also have information on the dimensions of them, like a diagram of the layout or the like, that would save me a little time as well, but that is information that I'm sure I can find somewhere on my own.

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated and would get me back into doing what little I can related to model ship building in my current place. Thanks in advance!

 

Best Regards,

 

Max

[Steve 12345]

I've build three ships 1/78 1/35 1/50 and from what I can tell from a kit perspective there all pretty Simaler small medium and large and pretty much same with rigging

Perhaps try purchasing a small amount of a kit size to copy

Edited February 18, 2017 by Steve 12345

[mikiek]

Max - try going to the Model Expo site. Most of their kits are 1:64. If you drill down to the kit pages you can actually download the materials list for some of the models. That would give you sizes and counts.

[Heronguy]

Max,

 

The Syren uses 3.5mm and 2.5mm deadeyes according to my instructions. Haven't used them yet to verify what instructions say

 

Doug

[Heronguy]

Instructions are all on the model expo site

[FlounderFillet5]

Thanks for the quick responses this! I'm aware that I can find the parts lists for their kits, but was under the impression that they are typically oversized in kits or they will put 20 of one size instead of 15 of that size and 5 of a slightly smaller size, for example.

[GuntherMT]

Kit blocks (in my very limited experience) are definitely oversized in general (especially the small blocks like gun tackle), which means it will be difficult to find an accurate sizing for replacement blocks that are more in scale.

 

My system was a pretty simple 'that looks good' measuring system, starting with the size of the kit block and then going down until it just looked right.

 

Unfortunately there isn't a good way to do that in advance of the rigging stage on the model, so other than looking at completed builds of the Syren and 'guesstimating', your best bet might be to send a message to Chuck and ask him about it, since he designed the Syren.

[Rick01]

Try the spread sheet here - it should give you a general idea of sixes at least. http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-model-rigging-and-sails.php

 

Rick

[Chuck]

The list of blocks and sizes are correct for syren....you can use the materials list.  But yes,  when you see a 3/32" block called for, that is the correct size.  The problem is that what the kit gives you for a 3/32" block is closer to a 1/8" block.   So its not the list that is incorrect but the product that is supplied.  You will be safe making the block sizes called for in the materials list.

 

Chuck

[FlounderFillet5]

Thanks for the responses! I know how to convert scale, but guess I don't really know where to find sizing of the original rigging components to scale down.

 

@Chuck: would you say that most model expo kits show accurate sizing of blocks in the materials lists? Or should I only trust the ones you have worked on?

 

Thanks again!

[Chuck]

I am not really sure as I havent built them all but those I have worked on were OK.   Its just that all MFGs of commercial blocks in kits come from Europe.   They are metric so the sizes are off from the start when looking at an MS kit.  So when you build an American ship or an English one where the plans show the blocks the correct size...you get whatever the closest MM metric block made in Europe.  So if it calls for 3/32" you will get a 2.5 mm block.   Which was made slightly bigger as well and not even 2.5mm. 

 

If a block called for should be 1/8" long on the plans you will get a 3.5mm European made block which is too large....etc.  Its not intentional when they are placed in kits but there is only two suppliers of those square blocks from europe (as I was told) and all of the kit MFG's buy from them.  So they have to use the closest equivalent metric size no matter what the plans call for.

[Nirvana]

Max:

I have bought blocks from Chuck and can vouch for them.

The quality of his are outstanding and is the only ones for me with future builds.

Edit: Chucks rigging line is also something you should consider.

Edited February 20, 2017 by Nirvana

[Chuck]

Thank you very much.

[FlounderFillet5]

Chuck, thanks for the input.  That makes complete sense, I hadn't realized that.  

 

Per, I agree with you about Chuck's products.  I bought some blocks and line from chuck for my Phantom, although I haven't gotten to too much of the rigging, only rigging the deadeyes and a few blocks, but they were very high quality from what I could tell.  I just figured that I could save a little cash and get a bit of a modelling fix by making my own since I have the tools to make them now.  I will compare them to Chuck's blocks to see if the quality of my home made ones is acceptable.

[Nirvana]

My longboat is using blocks and rigging line from Chuck.