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I finished up the ladderways and then added the mooring deck rails.
 
 
 

 
Next I made the mooring deck winches of which there are two styles, as well as left and rights based upon the electric motor location. Here they are set on the plans.

 
Here they are set on the deck with bits and mooring posts. White rope will be added before the winches are glued in place.
 

 
Next I moved on to the bow that has three winches the same as the mooring deck; in addition there are anchor winches and the pictures show "in progress" anchor winches in place on the bow fore deck.

 

 
The anchor chain will index into the hole with the brake arm over the roller and into the deck. Just a great deal of more details and fixtures to add yet. 

Derek, in the instructions there is an option to bypass indexing the shroud lines through the holes and tying directly to the bottom tabs for a little extra length if needed. Sometimes you just need that extra inch or so. 

Derek, in the instructions there is an option to bypass indexing the shroud lines through the holes and tying directly to the bottom tabs for a little extra length if needed. Sometimes you just need that extra inch or so. 

Doug, looks like you are off to a great start; and practice will help. One thing to do is stretch the line before starting and use 100% cotton for best results. I made all my own lines on ME’s highly modified ropewalk that can be seen in mt Constitution build.
 
As for your issues when tying the left side, tie a clove hitch which you can tighten and snug up with tweezers then follow up with a half hitch tied back through the rat line and seized on the tab to tighten more. The real key is to have all lines as tight as possible when starting. 
 
Three sizes are needed to best satisfy the range of model scales. Height difference from 1:35 versus 1:96. Ratline spacing is quite different.
 
One can also drill a new pattern off indexing holes for a specific application and still tie off on the lower tabs
 
Question 2: A odd or single shroud can be seized like a double line and then positioned as needed.
Question 3: use clove hitches and with a half hitch if necessary and knot tying practice.
Question 4: May need to make a rigging fixture to hold the deadeyes when tying off the shroud lines to them.
 
To add your finished assembly to the mast you may have to cut and pin to relocate the mast after installation. That or debond the joints to disassemble. That will be a choice to ponder.
 
I will enjoy following along and appreciate your feedback, but it looks like you are off to a great start!
 

Doug, looks like you are off to a great start; and practice will help. One thing to do is stretch the line before starting and use 100% cotton for best results. I made all my own lines on ME’s highly modified ropewalk that can be seen in mt Constitution build.
 
As for your issues when tying the left side, tie a clove hitch which you can tighten and snug up with tweezers then follow up with a half hitch tied back through the rat line and seized on the tab to tighten more. The real key is to have all lines as tight as possible when starting. 
 
Three sizes are needed to best satisfy the range of model scales. Height difference from 1:35 versus 1:96. Ratline spacing is quite different.
 
One can also drill a new pattern off indexing holes for a specific application and still tie off on the lower tabs
 
Question 2: A odd or single shroud can be seized like a double line and then positioned as needed.
Question 3: use clove hitches and with a half hitch if necessary and knot tying practice.
Question 4: May need to make a rigging fixture to hold the deadeyes when tying off the shroud lines to them.
 
To add your finished assembly to the mast you may have to cut and pin to relocate the mast after installation. That or debond the joints to disassemble. That will be a choice to ponder.
 
I will enjoy following along and appreciate your feedback, but it looks like you are off to a great start!
 

Doug, looks like you are off to a great start; and practice will help. One thing to do is stretch the line before starting and use 100% cotton for best results. I made all my own lines on ME’s highly modified ropewalk that can be seen in mt Constitution build.
 
As for your issues when tying the left side, tie a clove hitch which you can tighten and snug up with tweezers then follow up with a half hitch tied back through the rat line and seized on the tab to tighten more. The real key is to have all lines as tight as possible when starting. 
 
Three sizes are needed to best satisfy the range of model scales. Height difference from 1:35 versus 1:96. Ratline spacing is quite different.
 
One can also drill a new pattern off indexing holes for a specific application and still tie off on the lower tabs
 
Question 2: A odd or single shroud can be seized like a double line and then positioned as needed.
Question 3: use clove hitches and with a half hitch if necessary and knot tying practice.
Question 4: May need to make a rigging fixture to hold the deadeyes when tying off the shroud lines to them.
 
To add your finished assembly to the mast you may have to cut and pin to relocate the mast after installation. That or debond the joints to disassemble. That will be a choice to ponder.
 
I will enjoy following along and appreciate your feedback, but it looks like you are off to a great start!
 

Today was the day that my Ratliner arrived.

It comes in a padded envelope with a single laser cut  MDF board and some stapled instruction sheets (also available online at Model Expo).

 
 2 page assembly sheet

 
8 page illustrated usage instructions - .

 
Assembly took under 10 minutes.  Now letting the glue set for a day until 1st use.
 
 

Doug, I am the guilty one that designed, engineered and wrote the instructions for the RATLINER.    As I was working on my Constitution I thought that there had to be a better way. Having been in Product Development my entire working career the gears went into motion. I also have designed and engineered model for ME so it was an easy proposition to work with them. Also keep in mind that I to am relatively new to ship building; but not modelling. So I devised this tool to be able to do the lines off model; like any other tool there is a learning curve. Some will wish to use it and other will rather rig on the ship. We went through a few materials until we got the correct combination for the best product to bring to market. I have tested it and it works great, but I also have the benefit of designing it. I also suggest reading and understanding the instructions before starting.
 
Here is a link to the instructions on how to use them. Enjoy! 
 
http://modelexpo-online.com/assets/images/documents/RATLINER-Instructions.pdf

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

Just a friendly tip about laser cut parts. The burning process creates a slight angle and the thicker the wood being cut the greater the angle. I mark parts with a pencil line before cutting front the parent sheet so I know which side is front so when adding the bulkheads I can position forward bulkheads one way and the rearward the opposite.
 
Sand the edges and put on a flat surface and set a square to see the difference. Just FYI.

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.
 

 
Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 
Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.
LCVP PLAN.pdf
 
For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
 
 
 

The ladders have arrived from Tom's Modelworks. While waiting for them to arrive I made the bollards for the decks and started the winches for the decks. There appears to be three different kinds of winch set-ups; two for anchors, 6 for mooring and two that I will call general purpose. All start out with the same basic construction with add-ons for specific purposes. 
 
After grinding a parting tool down to 1/32" to cut the gaps between the rope reels, I started by turning the basic reel set up starting with 3/16" brass bar and then started one of the frames for sizing. I used a turned piece of aluminum and moved the cutting tool horizontally to cut grooves for fins on the electric motor. 1 started 9 to go as well as finishing up the ladder ways.

 

 
My build time and updates will now be sporadic at best until New Years; my son, his wife and the twin grandsons travel tomorrow from NYC and will be here until the 28th. This will be their first time seeing the Constitution completed that will eventually be at their home on Long Island. 
 

John, looks like you are off to a great start. I will be following along. What kind of woods are you using?

Like Jon I to am a life long member of the long and distinguished list of screw-ups. Screw-ups are just mis-judgements turned into learning lessons.   

Doug, I am the guilty one that designed, engineered and wrote the instructions for the RATLINER.    As I was working on my Constitution I thought that there had to be a better way. Having been in Product Development my entire working career the gears went into motion. I also have designed and engineered model for ME so it was an easy proposition to work with them. Also keep in mind that I to am relatively new to ship building; but not modelling. So I devised this tool to be able to do the lines off model; like any other tool there is a learning curve. Some will wish to use it and other will rather rig on the ship. We went through a few materials until we got the correct combination for the best product to bring to market. I have tested it and it works great, but I also have the benefit of designing it. I also suggest reading and understanding the instructions before starting.
 
Here is a link to the instructions on how to use them. Enjoy! 
 
http://modelexpo-online.com/assets/images/documents/RATLINER-Instructions.pdf

Like Jon I to am a life long member of the long and distinguished list of screw-ups. Screw-ups are just mis-judgements turned into learning lessons.   

Another good source for copper foil with no clear coating are Stained Glass supply shops. They also carry the various widths as well.

Like Jon I to am a life long member of the long and distinguished list of screw-ups. Screw-ups are just mis-judgements turned into learning lessons.   

John, looks like you are off to a great start. I will be following along. What kind of woods are you using?