Rick01

Rigging the main mast was not simple as the instructions were less than clear as I remember. Don't forget to have another look at my build at that point and if you need closeups of the top section which was the problem, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Rick

2 hours ago, SiriusVoyager said:

 

It was about 2.5 mm (about 5 feet at 1:60 scale) above the deck, which is probably a bit high.

Probably a tad high - a bit nearer waist level would work better.

With the main and mizzen mast brackets I dug through my scraps box to find something that would work. I never dump any left-overs from my builds particularly those items where you've punched out the laser cut items and still have the "frame", this has saved me many  times with problems such as yours.

Rick

Did you check the height of the tiller above deck. When I set mine up as per the plans the tip ended up something like two meters above the deck! I had to amend the angle between tiller and rudder post to get something realistic. Sorry I didn't ask this earlier but I only just looked at the last photo and enlarged it a little, it did look a little high.

Rick

A tip for miss-drilled holes and similar boo boo's .  Fill the problem with PVA glue then sand the offending item lightly until the error blends in with sawdust mixing itself into the PVA. If it's a large problem drop some PVA on a sheet on glass, sacrifice a spare bit of the correct timber by sanding it down to a pile of sawdust mix the two together and use as a filler. Covers all sorts of problems that way.

Rick 

Definitely side by side - if you go through my build there's a clear shot late in the build showing this. The holes only need to be big enough for the thread to pass through - so not as large a hole as you've made. Remember that you never want rigging to foul so when in doubt see if it looks like things will foul when fitted.

Rick

5 hours ago, SiriusVoyager said:

For the next cargo hatch I am going to fit each plank one at a time rather than trying to make all of the planks first.

Try making the hatch cover first then lay edging along its sides, then attach the whole assembly to the deck. You're not actually fitting the cargo hatch to a cut out in the deck so actual size is not actually relevant.

Rick

Thinking of you mate. I know the pain having an arthritic condition affecting my lower spine. Just don't push the pain too far even if you 're having trouble resting it just isn't worth it. 

Rick

32 minutes ago, wefalck said:

They were built rough and treated rough in their daily life.

I noticed that when first looking for working dhows, I just didn't feel competent to get a deck to look as rough as those I did find where deck and fittings were well photographed.

Rick

5 hours ago, SiriusVoyager said:

I am a bit disappointed with out the planking came out.

I wouldn't worry too much about the looks, if you search working Dhows their decks don't even have nice neat planking more often than not and as for neat rope stowage - the idea never existed.

5 hours ago, SiriusVoyager said:

Deck planking is now finished.

Fair bit of work as far as trim on the deck yet! 😉 

Rick

You may want to re-check my build regarding decking and the trim that they discuss. The main mast well in particular needs looking at as the tolerances are very fine and getting the mast mounted with all the trim they discuss can be pretty hard.

Rick

Hi - I see you've had a look at my build and will have noted a few of the problems I ran across with the build. To make the best of this you do need to dry fit and measure most items as I was never really happy with what was given on the plans. As for the padding out of the bulkheads I seem to remember at least two needed work otherwise the planking had a dip in it!! 

Have fun and look at as many photos of actual working dhows as you can find, avoiding the tourist ones if you want something with realism.

Rick

1 hour ago, vossiewulf said:

Haha! Sorry Rick, but I'm very glad to see you're still kicking around this forum 😀

Still around but now only viewing. 😞 Arthritis in my spine and dominant wrist plus a couple of cataracts to be attended to early next year have stopped me building anything at the moment. Maybe later next year as I'm also seeing surgeons about the wrist, keeping my fingers crossed.

Rick 

Hmmm I'm not sure if I'm speaking with you or not. Like others here I was traumatised when the build stopped - it was just like finding the last few pages of a brilliant book had been removed!! 😞 

Anyway welcome back mate, it's good to see you here again and I'm looking forward to seeing this little build finished. 🙂 

Rick 

For a master class in building this model check out this build https://modelshipworld.com/topic/15099-lady-nelson-by-vossiewulf-amativictory-models-164/

 for some reason he never completed it but what there is, is well worth reading.

Rick 

I seem to have been blocked from this thread  Australia - If the crocs and spiders don't get you, the possums will . . . either that or the whole string has disappeared. Can admin please see what has happened here.

Rick

5 hours ago, JamesBhm said:

BTW...what did you make the mast rings from? I watched a video of a guy making them from shaped and sanded wood shavings.

I'd like to say I made them of wood, but with no where enough skill for items that small I did twisted wire around a suitable bit of dowel, then ran a dremel cutting disk up the wire to provide a series of loops. A bit of solder and a paint job finished it. As the ship isn't viewed with a magnifying glass I'm quite happy with the result. Bowsprit guys and anchor were another item that needed a lot of adjustment until I had a clear run for all ropes.

Rick

I shifted mine to the rear of the channels - it just didn't make sense otherwise. As it is there is practically no port/starboard movement on the lower spar! As to the rings, if you used PVA glue you could get a bit drastic and soak the lower fitments on the mast, remove, fit rings then replace. I've just done that with the waterways on a model I'm working on as I just wasn't happy with the original fit and knew it was going to bug me if it wasn't fixed.

Rick 

Something I almost didn't do on my original model - mast rings. Bit of a problem for you if you've already mounted the mast! Have you considered this, the correct number is clearly shown on King's sketch of the ship.

Rick

Almost all my ironwork is done using a flat black cartridge paper with PVA glue used to secure it. Pretty well impossible to tell the difference unless you use a magnifying glass on it.

Rick 

It's probably worth re-visiting King's sketch of the Mermaid as it does give a rough idea of how he saw the basic rigging as well.

Rick

I've just looked back at my copy of the instructions. I made a few notes at the time and basically I threw my hands up in despair and then turned to Petersson's book as it was fairly obvious that the rigging plans had been taken from this book. I took it slowly, mounting and rigging each mast/spar fully before going to the next (working up the mast obviously).

Good luck!

Rick

2 hours ago, JamesBhm said:

(sounds like more or less what you did?)

Pretty much - I lashed a block to the head of the mast at the rear. Ran the halliard from the block, through a free running block with a hook lashed on

it back through the topmast block, then down to a spare belaying pin port side. The hook was secured in one of the eye bolts on the deck. Similar to the halliard as shown on p27 of Petersson. Hope my explanation is fairly clear.

He also has a problem with the anchor cables on p21 - he's never going to get both anchors lowered at the same time! Note that the guy who put the Mermaid together has also followed Petersson on that point. 

Rick

Don't forget that you still need a hoist for the spar/sail so a block at the head of the topmast is needed. I also ran the rigging through the block and down to eyebolts by the main hold. That may not be the correct anchor point but at the time it was the best idea I had. If you come up with some other way of handling it I'm happy to re-rig mine! 

Rick

6 hours ago, JamesBhm said:

have the anchor dangling loose from the cathead tackle. I’ll have to figure out how to address that (Rick, any thoughts?). I’m not above adding another pair of bitt heads on the cap rail just for the anchor.

I re-jigged my model around the time we were all discussing the stern and its shape. I added a pair of bitt heads, but you need to be careful as it's easy for the anchor to foul the bowsprit braces. Page 1 post 27 has an illustration of her under sail with the anchor lashed up but it's not clear what to, so for my money it's a bitt head. You may also want to give yourself a refresher on those first few pages as there are a couple of points on the mast and its rigging that will need to be watched for. I'm afraid mine is now well encased in glass and I can't get a good photo easily, but if you think one will help I'll see what I can do.

Rick

That. Was. Close!

Rick