Keith Black

Mike, the two shroud lines converge at a single point on the mast. The most forward shroud line is parallel with the mast, it will be shorter than the shroud line aft of the mast. You can test this by taking two pieces of string running one piece from the most forward deadeye parallel to the mast and the other piece of string from the aft most deadeye to the mast. When removed you'll see that the lengths differ.

Stupid ole cats make such wonderful companions, Siggi. Give yours a scratch behind the ears from me.

Dave, I agree with Glenn. There's going to be a lot of tension (more than you think) on the mast when you start rigging particularly the stays.

Buddy, I hear ya. If I parted a shroud line when trimming ratlines I'd probably jump out the window. That's such a catastrophic image it makes me shudder. The cutters probabbly do work much better at my scale than yours, just trying to make your life easier. I tried fingernail clippers but the curved cutting edge kinda freaks me.

That glass mat looks like a nice launch pad for those tiny bits that escape every now and then.

i'm calling BS, you wouldn't carve no stinkin' penguin under any circumstance!

Ian, I thought the same thing and I said to myself "is he nuts" Glen, the Independence is looking great and those blocks are beautiful! A tip regarding parting the ratlines close to the shrouds. I use a diagonal wire cutter to snip thread and only use it for thread, I have another pair for cutting wire. Because the the ratline ends are soaked in CA the cutter makes a nice clean cut and you can get real close to the shroud line. https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Cutters-Diagonal-Cutting-Electronic/dp/B08TRNJZGQ/ref=sr_1_45?keywords=diagonal+pliers&qid=1651675625&sr=8-45

Steve, welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard.

Allan, see the attached.

Very nice, Tom. She's looking lovely.

A wonderful restoration. Just the right amount of cleaning and repair without destroying the patina that only time can impart. Congratulations.

Thank you, Rob. Yes, I remember that PM well. You saying no left me but one alternative, to do the research, learn, and to build them myself. To flesh out the story a bit..... I was so taken with Rob's work on his Great Republic's mast and yards that I PM'd him asking him if he would consider custom building the mast and yards for the Tennessee. He replied no and in hindsight I'm so thankful he said no as it was the very best answer he could have given me. His refusal forced me to make them myself but if you compare my mast and yards for Tennessee to those of Rob's Great Republic you'll see where I got my inspiration. Glen, thank you. That means a lot coming from a SIB builder. Thank you, Brian. Looking back, I wonder how different my life might have turned out had I been given a simple tube of airplane glue when I was eight years old. i've come to this wonderful hobby so late in life that I fear that all i've learned will be for a 'one and done'. I hope the Lord proves my fears to be unwarranted as I would like to try and make so many models but if it is just the Tennessee, thank God for the opportunity, thank God for MSW and my MSW family and friends.

Bolin, glad to hear you've recovered from Covid. I think your wench looks very well made and spot on.

Robert, welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard.

Sorry to not have responded to you folks till now but time gets away from me so easily these days. Thank you, Brian. Mark, thank you, you're too kind. Thank you, Pat. Lynn, thank you. MCB, thank you and yes, I keep track of every move with the model up on the box. Thank you brother Tom. Gary, thank you for the support and thank you for not looking too close. You're welcome and thank you, Brian. Rigging the deadeyes off model is awkward enough, I can't imagine trying to so with the shrouds attached and done off model as well. Thank you, Mark. I'm pleased I was able to help. Eberhard, thank you for your support. Thank you, Rob. So much credit goes to you and your Great Republic build. Rob, yes I've pretty much a dogs meal on the channels, deadeyes and shrouds. This hasn't been my finest hour. This is my first real attempt at building a model ship. My very first attempt was when I was eight years old and was given a Viking long boat and a bottle of Elmer's white glue and told "have fun". I was so frustrated trying to glue that plastic model with Elmer's glue I never gave modeling a second thought till six years ago. I guess my dear Mother thought if I had been given airplane glue I'd have glued my eyelids together. Four and a half years ago when I attached the channels I didn't have the experience/foresight to know the downstream repercussions by not making the channels wider. If I were building a kit the designer would have taken care of that small detail. Working without plans and solely from photographs, I goofed and goofed badly. I'm not going to redo at this point, it's live with it as is. I'm feeling pressed (a little voice inside my head) to bring closure to this build so its move forward and let the devil take the hindquarter. I've got the ratlines done on both sides and am finishing up the remaining mizen shrouds. I'll post pictures this coming Sunday, hopefully I'll have the mizzen completed, we'll see. I can not thank each of you enough for your kind comments and support. Thank you to all for the likes and for following me along on my journey. God bless each of you.........Keith

Rod, welcome to MSW. Nice to have you aboard.

Keith, I'm envious of how far along you are in rigging the Terror. She's looking so nice.

Good to see activity in the shipwright's shop once again, Pat. I've missed your Victoria updates.

Terry, welcome to MSW. You should introduce yourself in a new member introduction post where we all have a chance to meet you. See the below.

As all the cotton needs to be replaced why not go poly?

This is way beyond most of us.

Ben, do you only use cotton? What are your feeling about polyester?

I love restoration projects so I'll be following you along on this project. Beautiful model. Are the blocks okay or have they crumbled as well? What is the length of the model and what is the scale?

Beautiful work, Olha. The entire model has a lovely feel to it.

Barbara, I think that's left up to the modeler to make. See the attached build log post #74.