CDR_Ret

Part 2: Let's make a Rope (Finale)
 
The last step in the process is to add a Curve Deform, or simply 'Curve modifier to the rope object. So go back to the modifier stack and add a new modifier and find 'Curve'

 
 
this modifier is super simple and there are only three settings options, of which we only use the first two:

Curve: Use the eyedropper to select the curve object. Jumping ahead here, but it's important to call out that both the array and the curve modifiers must reference the SAME curve object to work properly. Pairing the array and curve modifiers to the same segment might be easy when there's only one rope and one curve but it gets confusing quickly on a ship. Thus its always good to have a specific naming scheama.
 
Deform Axis: Set dropdown to 'Z'
 
And that is the basic process in a nutshell. The next tutorial will cover texturing, then we will get into the difficult part after that, which is manipulating the curve path to where you want it. Like I said in the beginning, the challenging part is getting the curve. But for now, enjoy! Play around with the curve by tabbing into edit mode and dragging the handle around, or press 'e' to extrude a new segment.
 

 
Till our Next!
-Nate

I know I've been deficient in attendance here, but life is taking my time...
Any way the current state of the design....
 

And underneath...

3D Ropes in Blender - Part One: First Things First

Preamble and a Humble Plea
 
Hi everyone. I’ve received a few requests to demonstrate how to do ropes/rigging in Blender. Admittedly, I’ve been dragging my feet.. for the better part of a year! Attempting to put it all down in writing is a bit like opening Pandora’s box. There are just so many different aspects of this that can be done differently based upon personal preference, CPU/GPU performance, and use case. 
 
I think the most helpful is to share my personal preference, my chosen approach - and rather than defend or compare it to alternatives - quickly get into the tips and tricks I use to adapt these processes to Age of Sail ship rigging. My humble ask of any experienced 3d artist reading this topic would be: let’s try to avoid any of the ‘why not do it this way’ conversations in this thread [dm’s always welcome]. I’m always open to learning new things, but there are very good reasons I do things the way I do in Blender, even if they’re not always seemingly efficient. Aside from which, there are certain cans of worms I’d rather not open for the sake of the newbie’s trying to follow along. Thank you all and here we go…
 
The Concept
 
There are two (2) fundamental methods used to create ropes in Blender. Both methods, which I will cover in a moment, have the same components:
 
A path in 3-dimensional space that the rope will follow. In Blender, we will represent this path using the curve object. For example: The path of a shroud line a ship begins around the upper deadeye at the channel and end curled around the lower mast head. A mesh or model of the rope itself. A texture for the rope.  
Figure #1. A transparent view of the main shroud lines as they pass through the lubber's hole and wrap around the mast head atop the bolsters. The curve object (yellow line with orange vertices) acts as the path for the rope mesh (dark orange) to follow. The arrows indicate the direction of travel and the tilt of the curve.

 
Method #1: Create Ropes Directly from a Beveled Curve
 
Workflow: Create the path using a curve object -> Bevel the curve to create the rope’s mesh -> Texture the mesh 
 
NOTE: I do not use this method, and thus am only loosely familiar with how it works. However, I believe @Kurtis used this method, so perhaps he can assist if anyone’s interested.
 
Method #2: Create Ropes Using the Array and Curve Deform Modifiers
 
Workflow: Create a rope mesh segment -> Texture the mesh -> Create the path using a curve object -> Assign the segment to the path (curve) using the Array and Curve Deform Modifiers
 
NOTE: The second method is what I will be using for the remainder of this topic/thread.
 
 
 
Now let’s open blender and make our first rope!
 
 
 
@CDR_Ret
 

Bob - Just a suggestion - in your 'spare' time, start cataloging your books for the sake of your 'dearly beloved'.  That way your spouse or family won't have the arduous task of having to sort through them all some day.  A lot of great libraries end up in a dumpster because the owner's family was too overwhelmed to deal with it.  If there are certain books that you want to go to certain people, put an index card inside the book with a note that says "Please give this book to .......", and list their contact information.  Let your family know that some of the books have such cards inside, so they know to check for them.  Every year we deal with family members trying to figure out what to do with books and models left behind by a parent or spouse.
 
Mary

A 3D-presentation that explains bottom->up what an 18th century battleship is all about.
 
How an 18th Century Sailing Battleship Works
 
Greeting,
Andreas

Short answer: Yes, you are. This area of the forum is specifically for discussing issues related to how the forum works. We used to have (and occasionally still do) members posting questions here about some particular modeling topic; those questions should be posted in the appropriate area of the forum. So, here's some examples:
 
"I can't figure out how to change my avatar." (Goes in the "How to use the MSW forum" area.)
 
"How do I shape the first layer of planking?" (Does NOT go in the "How to use the MSW forum" area.)

Well, in that case: (here come the commercials) wait for my new book, containing several tutorials for scratch build paper models, like for instance this one:

smalschip.mp4 Prepared frames and hull sheathing, rigging details, etc. A perfect model to enter the field of freedom! :-))
Soon to be on the market.
Ab
 

Just found this thread. The story is near to my heart; I grew up nearby.
 
Last year in put a model of Ethel into a bottle; as she looked the day after her stranding, sitting on the sand just clear of the waterline.
 
Hope you enjoy it!
 
Matt

Hello everyone,
 
Thank you very much for allowing me to join this group. Good to be here.
 
I joined MSW a week ago at the suggestion of another member here, but haven’t gotten around to an intro until now.
 
I’m a 62 year old retired Deckhand/Deck Officer formerly with the Canadian Coast Guard of the Federal Government of Canada. I was at that career for 35 years and 4 months.
 
Born and raised on the coast of British Columbia, I currently live in Warman, Saskatchewan (just North of Saskatoon). I moved here in 2016 for family reasons.
 
I am essentially a beginner scale modeler. Here is my modeling story, hopefully in brief…….
 
I just recently finished my first completed scale model build in 50+ years. I had finally gotten around to checking out THE hobby store here in Saskatoon 5 years after moving here. It was an unplanned opportunistic visit. Walked out with an Academy 1/400 Titanic and another much simpler non ship model. That was in June 2022. Both models sat untouched all of last winter.
The non ship model was purchased mainly for a nostalgic reason and is yet to be built. I’ll be starting that one soon and I intend to post a build log for that in the Non-Ship forum. There is more than just the nostalgic reason for that build now. It will be a great model to develop skills. Detail painting and airbrushing in particular.
 
As for the recently “completed” kit….that would be the 1/400 Titanic. I started it in early November and “completed” it mid January. I will post some pictures and text about it in the Completed Gallery soon.
In the meantime, I just want to say that I started that model without any prior research or a plan. Just dove in, having no idea what to expect after a 50+ year hiatus from plastic scale modeling. It is also the most complex plastic scale model I have ever attempted, by far. I was somewhat disappointed with it, in the end. I attribute this to two aspects. My skill level (essentially a green as grass beginner) and the model itself as manufactured (historical inaccuracies; fit issues; and fine detail painting required where I would have preferred parts to attach).
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and want another crack at it. Therefore, I’m going bigger. I’ve purchased the Trumpeter 1/200 Titanic. It arrived yesterday 😊. I have read the pinned article “For Beginners – A Cautionary Tale”. I intend to not give up. Many lessons already learned from the 1/400 build, and many many more lessons to come, and learn, and skills to develop. I’ve been researching the 1/200 quite a bit, the last two weeks. I am already aware that it too has inaccuracies. Some of which I will deal with, whereas others I will accept as is. But I digress. This build will not start for quite some time. I will begin a build log on that project when the time comes, but in the meantime I intend to focus on much smaller and simpler builds to develop my lacking skills.
 
One final note….a brother of mine gave me a Corel 1/25 “Sloup”, Modello SM 43, wooden kit as a Christmas gift some 25+ years ago. It is a model of a small French F/V. I still have it. I actually started it, way back, but then after three rows of the planking done, I got to the difficult task of needing to bend the next rows for the hull’s buttock lines where they meet the transom. I tried, but eventually gave up. I learned years later that there’s more to it than simply holding and bending said planks in the steam of a boiling kettle of water, as the instructions indicated.
I also learned on this site that difficulty with planking is the single most deterrent to a wooden ship modeler from continuing. That is actually comforting to now know. But I digress. Point being I intend to continue and complete this kit as well, but that’s a few years down the road.
 
Again, thank you very much for the privilege. I look forward to learning many aspects and techniques of scale modeling from the wealth of expertise here.
 
Cheers,
Mark Meester

I am a long time reader of MSW posts, but now have joined the group.  I've been ship modeling for about 45 years and have launched many scratch builds from my bench top ship yard ranging from a Roman merchantman, circa year 0,  to an American sloop of war, circa 1830.  At age 85 I am no longer modeling large 3-masters but am staying busy building small sloops and schooners that can be completed more quickly.  Recent  builds include the pinkie Dove from the plans in Chapelle's "American Fishing Schooners" and under construction is the pilot boat Achilles from his plans in "Search for Speed Under Sail".

Blomefield Pattern about 1787 STL Files
 
Blomefield Pattern 6 Pounder 84 1_24 Size_99_39mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 6 Pounder 90 Full Size_2554_42mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 6 Pounder 102 Full Size_2873_90mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 9 Pounder 90 Full Size_2413_63mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 9 Pounder 102 Full Size_2873_90mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 9 Pounder 108 Full Size_3031_86mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 12 Pounder 90 Full Size_2553_49mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 12 Pounder 102 Full Size_2873_90mm.stl
 
 
Blomefield Pattern 18 Pounder 108 Full Size_3031_86mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 18 Pounder 114 Full Size_3183_60mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 24 Pounder 108 Full Size_3031_86mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 24 Pounder 114 Full Size_3183_60mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 32 Pounder 114 Size_3183_47mm.stl
 
Blomefield Pattern 12 Pounder 108 Full Size_3031_86mm.stl

Welcome to MSW.
I know that feeling well, I just say to myself, get on and finish it
 
Tim

Welcome aboard, Kevin! Yeah, the Lewis and Clark is nothing but HY-80 razor blades.
 
There are quite a few (mostly former) bubbleheads as members here.
 
Terry

Welcome aboard, Kevin! Yeah, the Lewis and Clark is nothing but HY-80 razor blades.
 
There are quite a few (mostly former) bubbleheads as members here.
 
Terry

Welcome aboard, Kevin! Yeah, the Lewis and Clark is nothing but HY-80 razor blades.
 
There are quite a few (mostly former) bubbleheads as members here.
 
Terry

Welcome aboard, Kevin! Yeah, the Lewis and Clark is nothing but HY-80 razor blades.
 
There are quite a few (mostly former) bubbleheads as members here.
 
Terry

I am a new member to MSW.    I am an avid sailor who currently owns a UFO Foiler - which has been a heck of a learning experience.    Originally from Long Island NY and after 20 years in the US Navy and other logistics work for DoD, we retired to Duluth, MN.
 
I joined this group to get recommendations on restoring a pond sailboat that has been in our family for 80+ years.    The story was it was made for my uncle who would be 90 years old this year.   The hull is 25 " on deck.    I stripped the hull down and modifed the keel for a better look.    
 
I realize this boat is more sentimental value but hope this is the right place to start.
 
Thank you,
Joe

Dictionary offering nautical terms in: German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch.
Not all terms seem to be available in each language, still this might be useful to study foreign plans and sources.
 
Happy Modeling!
 
Nautisches_Woerterbuch

More work today.  No leaps and bounds, just more finish work on the cello.  I'd say the cello itself is about 85% done.  I'm posting many of these photos more for reference than anything, in case someone might be interested in these Rokr kits and wants to see details on the processes they implement. 
The base consists of models of stacked books.  I'll build them, but not sure if I'll use them.  That will be up to my wife; this is for her.  Thanks for looking!
 
 

I agree 100 percent.  

Strange. We see so many posts about damaged models and on repairing them instead of taking a perfectly good model and wrecking it deliberately!

So apparently, I'm the guy who models each individual clove hitch on the ratlines... because, you know, the project wasn't tedious enough already.  
 

So setting aside programs, platforms, or OS for a second, making a true nautical simulation of a sail-powered ship would require a fundamentally different approach within any gaming engine, and here's why.
 
Normally in a game/simulation, the hero character (a vehicle/vessel in this case) is setup to move through the world and actively interact with the environment. In the case of flight simulator, for example, the player controls the throttle, and once airborne can control the drection of travel in three dimensions. The same can be said of driving simulators in two dimensions (plus rise and fall of the terrain). Yes, physics impose rules - you can crash a car or stall an airplane - but it is still the player who is fundamentally in control of the vehicle.
 
In a sailing simulation, the controls would need to be reactionary. you would start with an environmental factor, wind, and a given compass heading between 1 and 360 degrees. Then you would assign a maximum speed that a vessel could reach if all 'critera' are met. The nuances of all these 'criteria'  are where this gets unbelievably complicated, and is why I believe that no studio has gotten it right.
 
But lets say we were so inclined to be the first. The simplest scenario would be a single square-sail vessel and a yard that auto trims and a wind at a constant strength/direction. (like a viking longship).
 
The movement logic would be something like:
Actual speed = max speed [12 knots] * (1 - (vessel rotation [z-axis] / max crosswind component [wind rotation, z-axis +/- 90 deg]))
 
And that is the simplest relationship I can think of.
 
It all makes my head hurt lol.

Way back in the day, I took a hard look at Doom and Red Baron and tried to figure how to.... First person shooter wasn't all that hard but the coding was something else.  Even got a hold of the code for Galgothia, (if I remember the title right). Basically another 1st person shooter but with different few points.   You guys are way beyond that with full 3d or as close as one can get.   One that really hit me hard was a flight simulator from an aircraft company.  The amount of computer power was maddeningly huge.   
 
I admire what you guys are trying to do and hope you have success.  Soooo much more complex and realistic compared to back then.    I doft my hat and hope you have success in your efforts.  

Anyone who has read my blogs knows that I tend to worry about the "correct" procedure that should be used in building a model ship.  One of the things I have been worrying about lately was how to step the masts on my Granado in a way where I could guarantee they would be aligned relatively straight (albeit with the required rake), and whether I should use  wood glue (PVA) or the time control CA I have been using a lot of lately.  In the process of worrying over this and other things, I ran across one post where an individual had a laser line system and used that to make sure his mast was glued in place with the correct orientation.   That seemed like a high tech solution, but I don't (yet) have a laser level system....so I just kept worrying, thinking about having my wife help me eyeball it, etc.  (I know, I need mental help).  But it finally occurred to me that a simple *plum bob* might just be the most cost effective solution.  So my questions are: 1) how many individuals have actually used a plum bob to step their masts, or what other techniques might be suggested for me to consider/worry over to get the mast stepped the first time; 2) what glue do you recommend for this endeavor.  PLEASE HELP ME STOP WORRYING ABOUT THIS (so I can worry about something else =).
Best regards, and happy holidays,
Brian