rcmdrvr

Whose ropes are you using.  They do not look like the rope provided for in the kit.  I tend to listen to audible books when working on models.  Right now I am taking a "course" in Criminal and Civil Law for dummies.  Interesting.

Whose ropes are you using.  They do not look like the rope provided for in the kit.  I tend to listen to audible books when working on models.  Right now I am taking a "course" in Criminal and Civil Law for dummies.  Interesting.

Ratlines:
I decided to tie the ratlines onto the shrouds instead of gluing them because I had glued them on one of my other ships and wasn’t happy with the way they looked.  I used a 14” (scaled) spacing on the guideline card that I printed out and clipped it to the shrouds to hold it in place.  I started with a simple overhand knot on the first shroud followed by clove hitch knots on the remaining shrouds.  Once the ratline was in its final position I put a small drop of ca glue on the knots to hold them in place. 

When all the knots were tied and glued I went over them with a bit of black paint to knock the shine off from the ca glue.
I don’t mind a little sag in the lines because imo it gives it a more realistic look. 

There is one new thing I learnt while doing these.  I normally listen to music while working on my ships and change the style of music by how I feel that day.  Well I happened to be in the mood for some classical music the day I was working on the ratlines and I can tell you now do not try and tie ratlines to Korsakov’s  "Flight of the Bumblebee", unless you want to finish them in about ten minutes.🐝
 
New toy I bought for myself for for my birthday.  Can't wait to try it out.

 
 

Looking great!

Looking great!

Moving right along the next few steps were pretty straight forward.
Sheerpoles were glued in place.

Main stay was served and installed around the masthead.....

....down to eyebolts on the deck

Fore stay was served and installed.  The futtock shrouds were also installed on the fore mast and I chose to make the these shrouds with 28 gauge wire glued to the crosstrees and set in a hole drilled in the mast.  I'm not sure I would recommend doing this and just use thread as called for in the instructions because keeping the wire straight proved to be a challenge. 

Wire futtock shroud 

Overall state of the rigging to date.

 
 
 
 

Coming along nicely, Sal!

I have to agree with Bob Cleek.  Often the instructions in wood ship model kits amount to "assemble the enclosed wood into a structure that looks like the photo on the box" whereas plastic models tend to have good illustrations.  I also agree the the Model Shipways three shipwright kits are a great way to start.  They are challenging to the new comer but can be completed in a reasonably short time so you can enjoy the statisfaction of completed wood model boat.  Regardless of what you chose; go after something you think you will enjoy.

I have to agree with Bob Cleek.  Often the instructions in wood ship model kits amount to "assemble the enclosed wood into a structure that looks like the photo on the box" whereas plastic models tend to have good illustrations.  I also agree the the Model Shipways three shipwright kits are a great way to start.  They are challenging to the new comer but can be completed in a reasonably short time so you can enjoy the statisfaction of completed wood model boat.  Regardless of what you chose; go after something you think you will enjoy.

I have actually been moving in an opposite direction (i.e. wood to plastic).  I like the selection of more modern ships such as aircraft carriers, LSTs, etc.  I have found that the tools I accumulated for wood have served me well in plastic.

I have actually been moving in an opposite direction (i.e. wood to plastic).  I like the selection of more modern ships such as aircraft carriers, LSTs, etc.  I have found that the tools I accumulated for wood have served me well in plastic.

I have actually been moving in an opposite direction (i.e. wood to plastic).  I like the selection of more modern ships such as aircraft carriers, LSTs, etc.  I have found that the tools I accumulated for wood have served me well in plastic.

I am going to add a bit of a curve ball to this thread.  I have built a few wooden ship models from kits and have enjoyed every minute of the process.  I hit a point where I looked at many wooden ship kits that were within my price range and found that many were very similar; i.e. ships of sail with masts and rigging and usually some cannons.  My last build, the Harriet Land, added steam power and  that piqued my interest in more modern ship designs; especially warships.  The wooden ship manufacturers do not cater to engine powered warships.  While I have stumbled on some wooden kits of these subjects; they are prohibitively expensive and quite large.  This has led me to 1/350 scale plastic.  Wow, this is a wholly different ship modelling world.  I purchased an inexpensive kit that contained some photo-etch as a practice project.  It turned out to be a dismal, never to be completed project but I did learn that there is a whole bunch of new skills that I will need to learn to build good looking models in plastic.  Puts some new excitement back into the hobby.  I have learned, however, that the common skill required for wooden and plastic ship models is PATIENCE!
 
I hope this is not stealing a thread.

I am going to add a bit of a curve ball to this thread.  I have built a few wooden ship models from kits and have enjoyed every minute of the process.  I hit a point where I looked at many wooden ship kits that were within my price range and found that many were very similar; i.e. ships of sail with masts and rigging and usually some cannons.  My last build, the Harriet Land, added steam power and  that piqued my interest in more modern ship designs; especially warships.  The wooden ship manufacturers do not cater to engine powered warships.  While I have stumbled on some wooden kits of these subjects; they are prohibitively expensive and quite large.  This has led me to 1/350 scale plastic.  Wow, this is a wholly different ship modelling world.  I purchased an inexpensive kit that contained some photo-etch as a practice project.  It turned out to be a dismal, never to be completed project but I did learn that there is a whole bunch of new skills that I will need to learn to build good looking models in plastic.  Puts some new excitement back into the hobby.  I have learned, however, that the common skill required for wooden and plastic ship models is PATIENCE!
 
I hope this is not stealing a thread.

I am going to add a bit of a curve ball to this thread.  I have built a few wooden ship models from kits and have enjoyed every minute of the process.  I hit a point where I looked at many wooden ship kits that were within my price range and found that many were very similar; i.e. ships of sail with masts and rigging and usually some cannons.  My last build, the Harriet Land, added steam power and  that piqued my interest in more modern ship designs; especially warships.  The wooden ship manufacturers do not cater to engine powered warships.  While I have stumbled on some wooden kits of these subjects; they are prohibitively expensive and quite large.  This has led me to 1/350 scale plastic.  Wow, this is a wholly different ship modelling world.  I purchased an inexpensive kit that contained some photo-etch as a practice project.  It turned out to be a dismal, never to be completed project but I did learn that there is a whole bunch of new skills that I will need to learn to build good looking models in plastic.  Puts some new excitement back into the hobby.  I have learned, however, that the common skill required for wooden and plastic ship models is PATIENCE!
 
I hope this is not stealing a thread.

rcmdrvr, many thanks for the kind words, and for all the likes.

Your work continues to demonstrate you are a craftsman.

Your work continues to demonstrate you are a craftsman.

Your work continues to demonstrate you are a craftsman.

Welcome back.  Post some photos or better yet a build log.

Welcome back.  Post some photos or better yet a build log.

Welcome back.  Post some photos or better yet a build log.

I should probably start another topic but here we go with another question.  I am toying around with a build of Revelle's New Jersey (premium edition).  I have been roaming about the internet looking for New Jersey photos (quite plentiful) and I cannot find any that show the wooden decks unpainted.  Most show the wooden decks painted a fairly dark grey.  Raises the question, should I paint the wooden decks?  Has anyone ever painted wooden decks provided in a plastic model?

I have completed my Harriet Lane model.  I have to apologize, however, that my photo taking and postings to this build have been somewhat ignored in the process.  I want to thank Cathead for his rigging suggestions.  I spent some time on this site reading other postings and builds that focused on rigging.  I learned quite abit.  As I read, the plans and rigging views provided with the kit began to make more sense.  Where possible I did some re-rigging and I think I managed to get most of the standing rigging where it belongs.  Looking at the completed model, it is not a museum piece but it will be a nice addition to my shop.  I will continue to follow SalD's build because he is taking a more meticulous approach to the model that I admire and will use in the future.  Finally, I want to thank the designer of this kit.  It is a fairly complex build; but, for the most part, the plans and instructions lead the builder thru the process without too much difficulty.  I very much like the photographic approach in the instructions; I would recommend even more.  If any of the readers have wanted a model of an early steamer; this would be a nice addition.
 
I have to decide on my next project.  I have a few kits of various sailing vessels sitting around; but I think I would like to try a model of a more modern ship.  Looking at some of Bluejacket's offerings of WWII ships.  Any suggestions.
 
Thanks to all that read and commented on this build.  Here are photos of the completed model:
 

Your build is really moving along.  Very impressed with the details you are adding.