hof00

Thanks Ian, I purchased some "Tiny" Black Glass beads, (NZD $3.00 for 100) (1.0mm)), I don't think that I'll be making Ribs for these at this scale. Possible I guess but not for me.... 🙂 Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi Chap, Thanks for the feedback, appreciated! Many more "Challenges" ahead.... 🙂 BTW your first build is looking pretty sharp!! Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Thanks Ian, The Lower Yard Trusses are kit provided, Main and Top-Sail Yards. I should have got someone to cast some copies of these in Brass. The Castings provided are White Metal and very, very fragile until they were located and fixed, that is. (I managed to break a couple of the locating pins.) I was not happy with the way the plans/instructions fixed the Upper Yards, (Tied on), to the Masts so decided to make Parrel Jaws? to ride on the Masts. (I hope it works out ok.... 🙂) Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Small update: More Yard work, this time the Topgallant yards are complete. Unsure if I am completely happy with my work thus far, (I don't think I'll ever be 100% satisfied though.... 🙂) If I had it over, I would be fixing the Blocks with annealed Brass wire. (I don't think I will be re-doing this, next time perhaps....) (I have, however, decided to use annealed Black wire for the Mast Block work So, a bit of a hybrid, Thread for the Yards/Boom/Gaff and wire for everything else.,) Anyway, next up the Royals followed by the Skysail Yards, six to go. I am hopeful that these won't take so long, the Block count is ever decreasing the further up the Yard and no Stunsail Booms to worry about, Nice!!🙂 Yards are painted, Jackstays installed on the Royals, no Jackstays on the Skysail Yards. I ordered a Contour Guage to assist with the Lower Channels, the Hull profile is completely different to the Upper Channels, Once the Channels are made, I will pin them to the Hull, mark and make the necessary slots for the Chainplates. Thanks to @Rick310 for the Flemish Horse idea. I have installed these on the Main and Mizzen Top-Sail Yards only, less work, less stress.... 🙂 That's me for the mo.... Cheers....HOF. Photos:

Thanks Jan, I think that sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees.... I do recall seeing this in Flying Fish instructions I downloaded years ago. I'll have a go once I have completed the remainder of the Flying Cloud Yards. The time spent on this task will give me more time to ponder my approach. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, An issue, (Opportunity?), that I have currently, and one that has been playing on my mind is how do I install the Lower Channels and locate Chainplates within the Channels ensuring the correct angle of the Chainplate with respect to Shrouds/Backstays? Installation and placement of the Upper Channels was pretty much a "No Brainer." Kit instructions/plans show the installation of a "Chainplate Support," a 2.0 X 3.0mm strip to act as the Lower Channel. You would think this to be the simplest option. I had a tinker with this yesterday and it doesn't really seem to be.... For a start, the upper Channels are 1.5mm thick, 2.0mm Lower Channels are way too thick. Secondly, the spacing from Hull to Chainplate, (Chainplate hanging "Plumb" from the Upper Channel, varies from about 3.0mm, (Fore), 2.0mm, (Main) and 2.5mm (Mizzen)) One solution that I thought about, make a clone of the Upper Channels. (Lower Channel Width reduced of course.) The problem with this is that the slots that I would need in the Lower Channel would not allow for the angle of the individual Chainplate with respect to Shrouds/Backstays. (Chainplates would be "Vertical." The only other solution that I can think of is to omit the Lower channels altogether. (That would make my life a whole lot simpler.... 🙂) There are 72 Chainplates in total. So, what do others do? 😗 I am a bit "Stumped." Cheers... HOF. A couple of photos of the Fore Channels: (Channel Cap is "Pinned" only.)

Thanks Rick, There seem to be a few differing opinions regarding these. The late, great Manstini, (Ship Modelling Simplified), adv. Flemis Horses fitted on Yards with Studding Sail Booms. I'm leaning to Top-Sail Yards only. (Less work? 🙂) At the mo. I am struggling with the Lower Channels. Upper Channels are pretty much a doddle, but I cannot wrap my head around how to get the Chainplates set up to the correct angle with respect to Shrouds/Backstays and at the same time house the Chainplate. The kit instructions don't mention a dedicated Lower Channel but adv. to install a 2.0 X 3.0mm strip and call it a Chainplate Support. Any ideas? (I'll have a look at your build in a few minutes to see if I can see a way forward. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Thanks Rob. I'll equip the Mainsail, Top-Sail and Topgallant Fore and Main with "Horses." 🙂 A question for you: Do you have a diagram/key for Running Rigging Fairleads associated with the Fore, Main and Mizzen Main Tops? (Platforms) I am trying to figure out if these were used for Sail Handling only or if Sheets, etc. utilized these, or, if they passed through the "Lubbers" hole in the Tops. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Small update. A little dull perhaps just some progress on Yards. Photos are more or less complete Topsail Yards. (These require the addition of Flemish Horses and a bit of paint touch-up here and there.) I think about one month for these three items. (I am trying not to be too "Precious" with the Yards otherwise I would never get them done!! 🙂) I am also still trying to decide which Yard were equipped with Flemish Horses. Opinion seems a little divided on the subject. (The advice that I have received is that only Top-Sail Yards were equipped with Flemish Horses. I wonder if this applies to the Mizzen Top-Sail Yard also? If anyone has opinions regarding McCay's Ships, I'd be very keen to hear them.) I also include a couple of photos of the next three Yards, Topgallant, Fore, Main and Mizzen. (I prepped all Yards some time ago except for Paint and attaching Blocks and other items, prepared also.) Anyway, that's me for the mo. Cheers.... HOF.

Hi All, A quick update tonight. Completed the Fore, Main and Mizzen Yard. (Main Course?) I am reasonably happy with the result although the process took me a little time to figure out an assembly sequence that seems to work for me anyway. (I guess the next 12 Yards will be practice enough. 🙂) I decided to blacken, (Paint) the Jackstays as they just didn't look right "Bright." (I have prepped all remaking Jackstays Black.) Footropes are 5.0mm below the Yard and are 0.15mm A/L "Waxed" Black Thread. (In the photo, the Footropes look a bit "Random," they look much better "Off Camera.") Stirrups are 4 X strands of Copper wire, (0.1mm?), twisted together with a 0.5mm loop in the end for the Footropes. Just a couple of touch-ups on these items that I have just seen!! 🙂 Tomorrow, I'll make a start on the Top-Sail Yards. These are, (Painted)), ready for thier "Furniture" which is also prepared. Thats me for the Mo. Cheers....HOF. Photo:

Hi Rob, Very Nice!! Thanks for your input, helps with the visualization. I made a "Dummy" Spar about the same as the Foretop. I can "Fiddle" with the Stirrups/Footropes without making mistakes on the prepared Spars. I am pretty sure that I have the Stirrups the correct length for the Top Sail Yards. The Main Yard Stirrups are going to need to be a millimeter or so longer as the Yard is thicker, anyway, consistency is what I'll be after. 🙂 Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Many thanks to you all!! I think I can move on a bit now. I am making up a "Test" Yard to gauge how different materials, (Thread/Wire), look and behave to avoid re-work on items already created. 🙂 Good to know a definitive answer regarding Flemish Horses. Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Thought I'd pose a question regarding Footropes, Flemish Horses and Stirrups. I am currently building the 1/96 Mamoli Flying Cloud and in the process of building the Yards. The plans show Footropes and Stirrups but no Flemish Horses. I don't think that this is entirely correct. I have looked at various publications, Ship Modeling Simplified adv. that Flemish Horses were only installed on Yards that had Stunsail Booms fitted, other info is either very vague and one adv. that Flemish Horses were only installed on Top Sail Yards. Another question, is there a formula for the spacing of Stirrups over the length of the Yard or arbitrary placement? So, what is the answer? 🙂 I am hoping that someone can offer some "Seer" advice on the subject. I am also tossing up the practicalities of adding Flemish Horses if they are too small at 1/96. Many thanks in advance. Cheers....HOF.

Many thanks Rob. I built the Mantua/Sergal Cutty Sark, (On this site), a few years ago, this now seems much simpler, (The Cutty that is), due to the bigger scale. 1/96 is much more challenging. Anyway, the answer to you question regarding Sails, no. 🙂 Bare Bones will do nicely. Incidentally, I have an A/L 1/84 Cutty in the cupboard with sails. After the FC I might be tempted.... Cheers and Regards, Harry.

Hi All, Bit of an update seeing that it's been a few weeks.... Working on Spars, Blocks and Hooks tiring to get my "Recipe" correct for these items. 🙂 I have completed Block installation for the Mainsail yards. For the Blocks that attach directly to the yards I first made up "Pigtails" with the Block siezed to one end using a "Slidey" Siezing secured with a dab of CA. I then wrapped the "Pigtail" around the Yarad and used the same Siezing to secure the Block and "Pigtail." After much Gnashing of teeth and brow beating the method works for me, a little more work but the results are more acceptable than other methods attempted. I also utilized the Jack Stay installation to line up Blocks along the center of the Yard. (Blocks for Boom and Gaff a similar approach for Block installation. The Stunsail Booms are not yet glued in position as I need to develop a method for Footropes and Stirrups. While I experiment, it will be nice to remove any "Clutter." (I have some ideas for Stirrups and Footropes.) I took some time to have a think about Hooks for Blocks and Rigging and developed a simple Jig to create 5.0mm Hooks. (I need quite a few of these as I am thinking that allot of the Running Rigging will eventually be secured to "Hooked" Blocks with Eyebolts on the Deck.) Next was to think about attaching the Hooks to the Blocks.... These Blocks require a Becket, no problem to create these but I was disappointed with the result after tying the Siezing on the "Hook" side of the Block. (Even with 0.15mm Rigging Thread, the result was disappointing.) I decided to resort to 0.4mm Black "Art Wire" More acceptable results and much easier. Next tasks: Stirrups and Footropes Topsail Yard Furniture That's me for the mo. Comments/suggestions always welcome. Cheers....HOF. Photos: