BCG

Andy, you and I think alike. I think you wrote the chopstick advice on another thread of mine. In fact, I already created just that tool, except I created a tiny loop at the pinhead end so that it was harder for the line to slip off (I was think of using a technique where I tie the line onto the pin and just cut it off when done). I have a hard time picturing how your tool actually moved the line around...although, I think what you were doing was keeping one end of the line taut as you pushed it around the pins with your chopstick tool...right? I actually bought a special pair of scissors (I forget what they're actually meant for), but they're fairly long, angled, and I've put a rubberband around the handles to have the scissors almost entirely closed so I can come right up to the line I need to cut. I plan on using the clear plastic glue from Testors (it's actually like a thin white glue) to do all of my tacking down of the lines on the pinrails just like you suggested. I think there are like 200 pinrail connections and I completely agree that if I can get just a few done a night that look good, I'll be thrilled. What will be unnerving is trying to weave in between already set lines AND THE SAILS when doing all the rigging. I have not seen anyone with a build that's done it with sails or examples of how they accomplished that rigging. It will be a challenge. I'm petrified of breaking a yard by pushing an attached line too far or destroying one of the already placed rigging lines (and some of those were already tough to put in place the first time!). I would guess that I will run out of one or more of the tan threads? Did you? If so, was it simple to replace with a texture that worked out okay? Thanks!

Great responses. Since all the yards are already strongly glued in place and I've attached the blocks according to the earlier instructions, I'm going to basically have to try to follow those lovely instructions bit by bit. I COMPLETELY agree with having to read the same line(s) of instructions over and over and over again. Usually, after the 15th time reading the same line, I figure out what they want me to do. This part of the build will take me a very long time. I know it's extremely delicate and I'm a bit nervous about causing damage. I'm already 2 years into the build and I suspect it will take me at least another year or so of cautious rigging to get it all finally complete. I've been trying to figure out the best way to tie things down to the pin rails and what tools I'll use. I've already received some nice advice from the people on this forum.

I'm finally about to start the running rigging (With Sails) and the first instructions are about connecting the rigging to the yards. Basically, the thread goes through a hole at the top of the mast and then somehow connected to the yard. What I don't see is, How the heck am I supposed to connect the thread to the yard? I'm assuming I just tie it on or is there some subtle part of the instruction I'm missing? Also, other halyard instructions for the other yards look like the rigging just goes through some blocks but never actually tie onto the yard. Is that correct? A large number of blocks were added to the yards in earlier instructions. I see in one part of the running rigging instructions where they note that fact and that the rigging should be done with those blocks. It seems like there are more blocks (I could be wrong) then there is rigging to them for those yards (for that one instruction part). And, there are tons of other areas where blocks are needed for other rigging all over the rest of the instructions. Is there an assumption that some of those blocks that were previously rigged would be used in those other instructions and not just the area noting their usage? Sorry, if this seems confusing, but if you've completed this any time recently, I think you might understand what I'm getting at. Thanks.