BANYAN

I am building a model of a ship launched in 1855 in which extensive use was made of wire and chain. The Rigging Warrant for the ship confirms much of what has been discussed by other posters above. In the Rigging Warrant it clearly lists when wire rope or chain rigging was to be 'tailed' with a hemp rope. In this ship all standing rigging was wire rope and terminated by being turned on metal thimbles and seized back on themselves, so they could be shackled, hooked, set-up to rigging screws or rigmaiden lanyards (replaced deadeyes). Those elements of the running rigging that were wirerope or chain, such as halliards, sheets etc, were all tailed with rope where they went to belaying pins, cleats etc. The topmast yard halliards were made of chain tailed with wire rope that went direct to to purchase winches. As John points out, more extensive use was made of wire with the passage of time in clipper ships but I cannot comment on how these wire ropes were terminated or belayed as I simply do not have that knowledge or experience. cheers Pat

An excellent tutorial Paul, thanks for posting this. Does he also do one of the same quality for photoetching ? cheers Pat

Dang, that look so good Michael - congrats on your promotion from apprentice. Now if you don't mind doing a full parlour and officers quarters for a mid-19th century vessel ....... cheers Pat

Ron, now you've done it - Pandora's box has been opened Let me add: clothes pegs, hair clips and bulldog clips as clamps cheers Pat

Must agree with Tony, you will have to forgive us for reusing the same terms repeatedly. Clinical detail and finish; a joy to look at Pat

That's an interesting 'tid bit' of info Roger, many thanks. cheers Pat

Shipman, not as 'default' setup. You have to do a search in the 'add ins' and add it - if I recall correctly one of the better ones was IMTranslator (or something similar) - sorry a while since I used FF.

This is an interesting topic that does raise some questions and identifies the wide range of products used as 'ballast' Maybe of interest to some that even cannon balls were used as ballast - these will definitely had to have been secured well. An example is provided below from a letter written to the Admiralty by the Crown Agent General for the Colonies - this request was subsequently approved and the shot provided by HM Arsenal Woolwich. "I have the honor to acquaint you that the Colonial Government Screw Steam Sloop of War “Victoria” being nearly ready for Sea it will be necessary to supply her with 30 tones more Ballast and I have therefore to request that you will give the necessary directions for the supply of 32 pounder shot for that purpose as Commander Lockyer R.N. has requested the same instead of Iron Kentledge. " cheers Pat [Edit: - It may also have been a 'means' of acquiring (cheaply) storing and transporting additional shot for use in the "Colony' after the ship was delivered ]

Sorry, can't help you there, I did not rig my boats, I just showed them stowed. There may be a build log of the model of a longboat on here; I am assuming you have done a search in the build logs? cheers Pat

You're making significant progress Steven; I am sure you will do a greatr job of the painting having seen what you did with your previous build. cheers Pat

Hi Kev, if I am following correctly, especially Q3, I am not sure I fully grasp the issue. But then again it is easy to confuse me When planking, each plank should be 'spiled'. There are some good article by very experienced builders in the Knowledge Base. A common practice by modellers, is to divide the planking area into bands then try to make each plank within a band to the same dimensions, such that when fitted they completely fill the band space. If correctly spiled, similar dimensioned planks could be a starting point, but each individual plank should be spiled (adjusted) to fit correctly and maintain the natural 'lay' of the plank against the frame or bulkhead. If spiled this would then eliminate any accumulation of rise or fall surely? The articles mentioned above cover spiling etc quite well and there are several methods of applying it. The bevelling is simply to ensure the plank edges mate correctly. In the articles have a read of the spiling rules and the use of tick marks etc. It may help explain. cheers Pat

Agree (for what it is worth ) cheers Pat

Hi Dougal, there are several answers to your question unfortunately. Like many rigging subjects it is open to some conjecture. For instance, Karl Marquardt in his AOTS Capt. Cook's Endeavour shows a couple of way sto rig the long boat, one using a sliding batten or something. Unfortunately I have loaned out my copy at the moment so cannot provide the detail. Then Ray Parkin in his HM Bark Endeavour, not only shows a different boat design, but slightly different rigging again. It is a while since I looked at these, but one author argued for a long narrow design whereas, but due to the space to stow the boats, the other author argued that a shorter wider design was probably used. Due to copyright, we are somewhat restricted in posting too much from these books. I have however, attached one of Parkin's drawings. I would highly recommend getting Marquardt's AOTS, the other (Parkin) is a tad too expensive for what you want. That said, I think Parkin based his rigging on Steele's Rigging Rules (PDFs free on line) so using that as a reference may help you? The NMM, has some plans for long boats but not much on rigging (that I found), but even better plans are in the Danish Museum Online Library - may be worth a look. This is just one link into one of several collections - may not be in this one so you will need to explore (and also turn on your browser translator) cheers Pat

I love seeing how you develop solutions to create your ironwork Keith; it is as great a pleasure to see that process (and the jigs) as it is to see the quality of the finished products. cheers Pat

Pierre, the Jylland is a museum ship (if we are talking about the same vessel). You could try contacting them. Also, if I recall correctly someone recently posted about the plans for this ship being available in the Danish online digital collection - not sure if the plans include a rigging or belaying plan though. Hopefully, someone will recall that post and relink it for you. I am currently working on a steam-screw vessel of the same period. What I am finding in researching her, in particular the rigging, is that more so than in earlier times, the rigging differed significantly between ships and only conforming with the broad rigging plans for steam vessels of this period. Good luck Pat

Man that is some quality joinery Michael, great to see you back. I had to look twice at one of your photos to see if it was not the real thing - now that is mastery of the trade! cheers Pat

George, further to Allan's excellent overview, for mid-19th century Kipping and Fincham (both 1855) also offer advice, plus variations for those fitted in steam vessels. Further reference can be made to Underhill for later types fitted in clippers and steel masted ships. As Allan says, depends on the period, type of vessel and even whether a Service or Mercantile vessel. cheers Pat

Thanks very much Arina; sounds like a very interesting gentleman. cheers Pat

What a great opportunity and meaningful day for you Rob; glad you enjoyed it. I am sure we'll see some changes to your hull shape emerging in the near future? By chance, did he happen to mention who the shipwright down my way was? cheers Pat

Hi Diver, ah the 'joys' of the bosun's lash. We had similar 'no no's' in the RAN. Then the 'divers' got really upset with 'goggles' or 'flippers' cheers Pat

Couldn't agree more John, that is why it has thrown me. Not only associating tackles, but also the lift itself has a thimble and hook. lees says a soft eye over the yardarm stop, but Underhill says hard eye shackled to yardarm band lug. My current interpretation being that the lifts were set-up as standing lifts that were hooked, rather than shackled, at the yard arm and once hove taut, the working end was seized to a topmast shroud leg (within working reach of the top). POSSIBLITY: The lift was set-up with the hook to allow it to also be used as a sort of (mast) pendant for working/setting-up lower rigging? The tackle was provided to assist the tye/halliard when lifting/lowering the yard as required (only tailed on as required). This sort of fits with Underhill whom says the weight of the yardarms was carried by the lifts, and a tackle used when hoisting them into place. Only sort of arrangement I can think of that might work that utilised the fittings listed in the Rigging Warrant. cheers, and thanks for your continued interest/assistance. Pat

Very nice result Keith. Love that hand drill set-up - is it a sensitive drill type also" That would allow you plenty of control ofver some of thos drilling operations. cheers Pat

I have done that many times. I used the scratch pens to do that, but a thorough clean is needed. I have tried the Sparex, but found it did not work so well for me (could be technique etc). I have used a Ultrasonic cleaner but it is not necessary. cheers, and good luck. Pat

Thanks John, that accords with Underhill also - all upper yards lifts were standing lifts. I was thrown with the association of the tackles (tackle and runner). I am now wondering if the tackle was for hooking to the lifts to balance the lord/weight of the yard whenit was being struck/raised into position (I think Harland reflects) this? Last question then, based on the above assumption, I think the thimble and hook would then go on the running end, and a soft eye over the yard arm. Although, as you suggest it may have been shackled (hooked?) cheers Pat

Welcome aboard Arina, we look forward to the results of the forthcoming conversations. regards from Downunder Pat