BenD

I've been working out the formulas for the Gutermann E thread and I have some pictures to show. I purchased the color card and bought every color that I thought would look like rope. I like this thread quite a lot. It's easy to work with, has zero fuzz, low shine, and is very strong. It's also a quarter the cost of cotton thread and I don't have to treat it with book-binders PVA. This should make my synthetic line of rope more affordable. On the left we have pale beige. In the middle we have tan which is very close to my cotton tan color. On the right we have a golden brown, I think it's close to manila hemp. The tan I'll get into production for sure. The other two however need some testing onboard some models before I go any further. For the standing rigging colors we have the usual suspects. Black on the left. Very dark brown in the middle. Dark brown on the right, It's actually a little darker than what is in the photo as I turned the brightness up a bit. I like them all to be honest and will probably have them all available on my store. Here is a 2.4mm cable I made with the tan color. Very crisp detail with no fuzz! I'm going to put the dark brown and tan into production and I hope to have them online by early next month. I'm also going to look into other types of thread for the lighter colors. Amann Serafil I hope has some good options but the color card still need's to arrive. Thanks for looking in!

Here is a couple of video's of ropewalks in use

Cranking out another Vanguard masterpiece!

That's looking about right! Don't worry too much about polyester snapping, you can twist and pull the heck out of it. The only thing I don't like about Mara thread is that it can be a bit fuzzy.

Not only is that way easier but the twisted end will probably hold glue better.

That was the exact video I was going to post! 🤣

I use PH neutral bookbinders PVA, It wont damage the cotton over time and keeps the fuzz down. 1/20 or higher dilution with water is recommended. This is the one I've been using. Lineco PH Neutral PVA

Very cool, Thanks for sharing!

I have an interesting documentary about rope making I would like to share. I has interesting information about the history of rope.

Eye problems are just the worst, especially if you like building models. I had Vitreous detachment last year and it made a bunch of floaters in my vision. Hard to pay attention when there are dozens of little squiggly lines floating in your eye. I'll be here waiting with everyone else!

3D printing really is the future, Hard to beat those results. Gorgeous little stoves.

Hello Everyone, January has been extremely busy! I assume everyone is buying rope for the new models they got for Christmas. I've been trying to keep up but I have so many sizes and colors it's hard to keep them all in stock. I have most of my inventory set so that when items are out of stock people can pre-order. Just know that when pre-ordering it may take a day or two to fulfill the order, if there is a longer delay I'll get in contact. No development news this month, when it calms down I'll get around to making more sizes of cable and left-hand standing rigging. The rest of my synthetic threads should be coming in at the end of the month so I hope to get the synthetic line under development too.

The package should come this week. I've been watching all of my mail and anything going to the UK seems to be terribly slow, 2-3 weeks for Airmail.

I went to every second hand bookstore I could find in Toronto. I don't know where else to check, All I know is the ones I like were printed circa 1996.

I might need to get me a copy of "A Sea of Words" I managed to get almost all of my Aubrey Martin series in the older print with Geoff Hunts art on the front. Good font and the pages have an old fashioned feel to them.

I've build one Falkonet kit and am working on the Four-oared yawl. I would highly recommend them to anyone as they are easy and fun to build.

Looking really sharp, good work. I really wanted to get this kit but I have to much on my plate... Still working on 3 other kits. So I'm living vicariously through people like you doing amazing work.

Looking very good!

You got lucky mate! I have a friend you can't move two fingers anymore because of a table saw.

https://thenrg.org/resource/articles# -Under the | masts and rigging | section you can find the rigging spread sheet by the late Danny Vadas. It's a lot to take in but you can eventually figure out what it all means. Books like the anatomy of the ship series or Lennarth Peterssons rigging period ship models/ Fore-and-aft craft can help with identifying the names of the ropes.

https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/ https://www.agesofsail.com/ https://www.wawak.ca/ - threads for rope making https://craftysailor.com/ https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/ https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/ You should also check out all of the sponsors on the side bar, Some of them were in my links.

@DaveBaxt The cable laid rope is for large stays and anchor cable so you really don't need more than a meter or two for a kit. The cable is expensive because I have to make three separate ropes first then twist them together. It takes a lot of time and material. As for how much rope to get, I would say get some samples and see how far they go. My cheapest shipping option (untracked airmail) for the UK was about $5 or $6 so getting multiple shipments isn't to panful.

Have you checked out Vanguard models by Chris Waton? https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/ They are one of the top tier kit manufacturers out there.

After doing some research on rope I've decided to add left hand variants to my standing rigging colors. I'm starting with dark brown and so far I have gotten to .8mm. I hope to have them all available in the next week or two.

This is the one I've really been waiting for! I'm sure others are as well. @chris watton Do you thing you will make a 3D printed figure of Captain Sir Edward Pellew?