JanV

Hi Mates,
 
Here are a couple of full view rigging update views. The sail on the table is a reduced size lower fore. It will be furled - full size furls would have looked too thick
(thanks Frank for that tip)
 
Cheers,

Mark,- Too bad  well 2024 but not to be in your neighborhood at all - 2017 would have been awesome indeed.
Frank - No excuse for you, I don't think? -- ha ha 
Denis - 
Martyn - thanks ! funny as well
 
PS: Installed the first two parrels. 
 
Cheers,

Continuing work on installing sails – now onto  top gallant fore and mains first. Here are some updated pics.
 
My goal is to prepare at least one sail per week;
•Attach yards
•Make sailcloth edge reinforcements
•Make needed edge cringles
•Make head cringles
•Prepare/attach all needed blocks
•Attach all needed lines
•Prepare parrels
=============================
As always thanks so much for your continued and very encouraging support.
 
PS: I need to check my settings – since the software update I’m not getting notices from all of the logs that I also follow. Hmmm?
 
Cheers,

Hi Mates,
 
Finally started installing sails. First effort at this. Lot's of learning going on for me. Also working from three sets of plans is a bit confusing.
PS: I'm now so impressed by builders who breeze right through installing sails (:-)
 
Regards,

 

Hi Mates,
 
Frank thanks – nice of you to comment – much appreciated needed a “pep talk”…Denis Cheers as well !
 
Mates -Apologies for venting on my last post. Not a place in which to do this. Your kindness in following along, posting or just dropping in is not for some builder (me) complaining.
 
That said - after, I decided to go outside, smoke a nice Churchill (along with a Single Malt (or two) of course).  Listen to my baseball team on the radio, and also allow for some introspection. Cigar took care of any TV-  Admiral would have lowered the plank and pulled out her sword. Can't blame her actually...
 
It then struck me that to rush parts that are not “fun” will result, on the backside, with disappointment. Especially given the attention that I have spent trying to build it as best that I can “right” so far. Thanks Frank!!
 
So I will work in this area more carefully spending all of the time that I need to not feel that it is work, but instead as a new challenge in trying to improve my skills.
 
Minor update:
 
Found a way to add those reinforcement bits to the sails. Tea steeped some left over sailcloth to allow for a slightly darker tint.
 
Found that Gorilla Wood Glue is perfect for fixing those little cloth bits, and still allow flexing.
 
Added little dots trying to achieve the stitched look – not sure on that part. Too dark I think?
 
Won’t post until I really move forward – no point in boring you mates any further with this area.
 
As always thanks so much for the likes, posts or just dropping by……
 
 
Cheers,

Hi Mates,
 
Minor update. Working with some sections of the sails has proven to be – well not so much fun (for me)– venting here Hmmm---
 
I got through the boltropes – pleasant enough. Then came the need to add various cringles. Now those are really hard for me. So far the least enjoyable part of this build.
 
I am also not satisfied with the results. And  knowing that a reinforcement canvas wrap should also be included around each cringle has annoyed me.
 
Tried several glues on sailcloth bits and could not find a glue that “disappeared”. Also these cloth rectangles are to be sewed as well – just not happening.
 
I  re-did the martnets after buying some triangular deadeyes from WoodenModelShipKit (one of the vendors that advertises here). After fiddling around several times finally discovered how to lace without lines crossing over each other. Happy with the results.
 
So this area (sail details) is slowing me some.
 
Several of the other sails will not need so much extra work – and it will all be fun again (;-)

Hi Mates,
Well sails are all done. Now for attaching them to the yards, (adding all needed blocks etc.)

 
Here comes more learning. How to actually attach them. Anderson has this. I also looked at the 1/10th and each rope is separate and unto themselves with each having separate knots.
 

 
Then there is the Tack knot.

 
 
I did find this online
 

 
Along with this link
 
http://www.survivalworld.com/knots/manrope-knot.html#.WWJu_tPyuV4
 
That’s about it for now – glad that I went for the sails – very satisfied (well they are not installed ha ha)
 
Cheers,

Traffic is at this moment 5GB/month. so I don't expect any problems with that.
(provider is webreus.nl)

Hi Carl, the gallery is made with PIWIGO a standard application provided by my provider. I have free storage of 10GB, so this can be workable for years now.
It is not doable to update all previous postings in MSW, as when opening for editing I cannot see the original filenames quickly.
 
But this gallery is a good alternative.
 

Thank you WBlakeny Your praise pleases me ..

Built anchor buoys made of ramin wood..

Ropes tied to anchors ..

Stowage of anchors at sea ..

Hi Mates,
 
Minor update–working on finishing up the first sail (lower main)
 
Then noticed (first pic of 1/10th) that a shoe block is used where I had already laced two deadeyes with a single block in-between.
PS: I know that you know where that is, just having fun adding red circles here and there……
 
Looked at Syren, and elsewhere could not find this type of block – so trying to make some. Prob. too much time spent here – may just use the single block instead. A work in progress ----======================
PS2: Joachim thanks for the post. I remember that extra extension. I saw it when I bought the lathe, but passed on it. I looked again at Proxxon and elsewhere no longer seems to be available (even eBay did not have one)
 
Cheers,

 

mates,
 
Thanks for all of your very nice posts and likes !
 
Frank (Riverboat) SO nice to see you active again - we've missed you on your build logs! - welcome back indeed. thanks as well for your continued visits, and super nice compliments. 
 
Buck - You're the best always - Thank You
 
Frank - this is the lathe that I have. For longer yards see note.

Hi Mates,
 
I had mentioned that I slightly tweak Chuck’s (Syren) already super excellent blocks. This how I do it. The changes are very subtle, but for me make it worth it.
 
1) enlarge the pre-drilled holes (I’m sure most of you already do this anyway)
 
2) using the same drill bit I now angle it to “round out” and deepen the pulley look further.

 
Using a file I add grooves to the upper and lower edges

 
Using a small sanding block I sand the four side edges a bit inward.

 
Last bit I just started “now” after going to Chuck’s site to order more rope I saw his new blocks that included the four pins that attach the two block sides together. Hmmm – that looked so great.
 
Granted his blocks are larger but nonetheless wanted to add that look as well.
 
Using a tiny drill bit just drilled eight holes.

 
Here are some comparisons. AGAIN absolutely NOT implying anything at all missing regarding Chuck’s super perfect blocks down to the smallest scale.

 
 
This pic is a perfect example of how amazing his super small blocks actually are without any of my obsessive tweaks (;-)

 
PS: whatever these are called I have to pull them all off. Again a novice with rigging when I made those it did not occur to me to be sure that ropes will be able to loop through – well they can’t – did not leave enough space grrrr.
 

 
Cheers,

Update;
 
Moving onto lathing the yards. First looked for dowels that had visible rings, in order to better replicate the yards looking as if they came from in scale real trees.

 
Example of sailcloth and initial stitching, as well as first turned yard. It looks thinner than 8mm – but it is as Corel sized it.

 
Returned to sewing center to finish up the sails. I’m so glad that I met Ivy – she was awesome. I did the cuttings. She (thankfully) did all of the machine work. The resulting stitching, and the hemming is 100% her great work. She also used an industrial steam iron to fold the double hems, then perfect stitching. Came out so well.
 
All of the following photos highlight her great work. Sewing center also had perfect cutting tools
 

I used an unbleached cotton muslin, that has those little black specks here and there - adds to the unrefined look too the sailcloth IMO - Last two are how I decided to add the reinforcement to the lower main sail. Copied what I saw on the 1/10th - As always thanks for dropping by
 
Cheers,

Russ – Thanks for your kind words much appreciated – thanks for dropping by as well.
 
B.E. Noted – I am now on your page understanding your posts, thanks. Eventually I may need to add these. I did actually follow how you included these on you last build.
PS: I’m still learning the vocabulary (:-)
 
======================
 
So moving forward to the sails.
 
Karl thanks SO much for your log sail measurement details. Super helpful indeed.
 
Frank I have decided to follow your sail presentation – I will also furl all lower sails, and have reduced the sail sizes per your log suggestions.
 
Karl and Frank your build logs will also continue to be invaluable when it is time to add blocks, rig the yards and sails all together.
 
Monday the sails get started in earnest; I go to the sewing center for stitching.
 
Cheers,
 

B.E.,
 
Thank you - as always - for your kind thoughts. For me this is such a compliment as well given your absolute mastery of this hobby. (:-)
Regarding the crows feet (I assume you meant those ropes used by sailors to straddle yards?) - I have looked into this, checked with Anderson, checked on the Vasa specific site per Fred Hocker, it seems that Vasa did not rig these.
Now I am indeed thankful. Also all of the models that I have seen, including the museum's 1/10th preclude rigging these as well.
 
That said your advice will stay with me for future reference. Thanks for your post.
 
So searching (too much) tend to bring up things that I did not want to really know about Grrr ha ha
 
Regarding those euphroe blocks that I was so proud of - well this came up. So much for my accuracy (will not go back to revisit this)

below from Fred Hocker (copied and pasted)
 
We have three different sizes of euphroe found on the ship, a 4-hole, 5-hole and 6-hole. The number and find location of the 6-holers indicates that they were used for the martnets on the fore and main courses. The locations of the others are less clear, but could have been used for the dead ends of a number of different lines attached to the stays, or for crowsfeet at the forward edges of the lower tops. There is no sign on the main tos of dedicated holes for the legs of a crowsfoot, but they caould have been tied to the rim or railings.
 
Again Mates thanks so much for all of your encouraging comments, likes, and visits.
 
Cheers,

EJ - Glad to be of help (:-)
 
Patrick - thanks for the hint, but I'm committed to try to do sails.  Booked a sewing lesson for next week.
Met the teacher - she said that this would be her first teaching lesson for some "dude" making model ship sails.  
This should be fun. I hope. Super cool sewing machines indeed.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 
 

Denis – thanks, yes that does now look as it should. Also thanks for your continued support and kind thoughts.
 
Yup sails keep me up at night J  Would definitely add a big “bang” to this project.
 
EJ – just a thought; I had difficulty trying to properly scale the euphroe block threads taught. A bow seemed to always stay visual coming from each side of the blocks
 
I went from Chuck’s  .018 to his .012 and that helped a bit. But the real solution was to use a routing bit and add indented grooves to the blocks themselves. This allowed the rope bends to be better hidden within the block.
 
Now when pulled the ropes take on a better scaled toughness through the blocks to their respective shrouds.

Cheers,

Hi Mates,
 
Continuing with standing rigging;
• Changing out the bowsprit lashing to correct – tarred ropes
 •First attempt at making Euphroe blocks, Found a more contemporary looking example online. May also incorporate  blocks with needed Euphros for mainmast backstay (as seen on that photo)
Funny PS; Word saw spelling error and wanted to change spelling to euphoria or euphoric ha ha
•Also making more fiddle blocks
Pics are self explanatory – so brief text here.
I can see that eventually tensioning all of these lines against each other will be complicated to get them all looking “right” That bridge is for later.
 
Cheers,

Hi Mates,
 
Minor update, in a diff area, I’m still waiting to receive needed ropes from Chuck (snail mail –grrr J  )
 
So installed one of the anchors. Positioning will evolve as will - how they are attached.
 
Found a jpg that visually showed how to attach the rope.

 
Used Landström’s drawings as my guide from his The Royal Warship VASA.
 

 
Some general pics
 

 
Here are the new tools that I now use to make the needed rings. This has thankfully evolved from my early attempts at making these rings. Now so much easier. Using aluminium 
tubing that is much softer than brass - though I do like this tool for brass works very well. Both tools found on eBay. 

 
 
Also working on making needed Euphroe blocks (Thanks EJ for your help on this)
 
Cheers,
 
 

Buck - you have had one beer too many THANKS so much - that said (;-) your detailed work is so over the top. Enjoy everyone from buck's log (I need to share). You have been one of my visions
indeed. I hope to realize your detail work eventually - probably not !! 

Hi Mates,
 
Continuing by installing the bowsprit mast. While deciding what size rope to use noticed my novice lack of rigging planning ahead. Easy fix (;-)
 
Also needed to decide if I should use tarred rope or not. There seems to not be a right answer with this.
The 1/10th installed tarred, and the 1:1 not. Clayton’s also did not use tarred. That said; the rope that I installed has a “shiny” tinge to it – not too comfortable with its look.  Here are some preliminary shots of the work so far.
 
PS: It would seem that these mast lashings, given the amount of moisture they receive, should be tarred?
 
Cheers,
 

Hi Mates,
 
B.E.  thank - made those just not installed -
 
Finished all of the ratlines,

Happy to leave clove hitches behind  - Now continuing with the various needed stays. Started with the mizzen topgallant stay.
 
Needed a mouse – (according to Corel), then a double block is attached at the end of the stay – which then slips off to port and starboard main lower mast shrouds with four blocks. So served a line added a loop and then the mouse bit.

But then decided to look at the 1/10th Hmmm (not before ha ha)- NO it’s a double line from the top of the mizzen topgallant top. Grrrr
Then looked at the Billings sheets that Karl sent – seems to be missing altogether. I then reviewed his log and these are in fact on his build.

So the work bellow was a waste of time (though these “mouse” bits are getting easier (;-)

So back to square one with this bit.
PS: The mouse can’t be saved – I already had cut the rope – too short for the fore topgallant stay.
 
Cheers,
 
 
 
 
 
 

I guess that will come down to how fast you think the Dutch caught on to English ideas. The English were by far better at record keeping during this time period and therefore, a lot of building and rigging for models has been based on their work regardless of nation being modeled. Also as almost all the seafaring nations eventually put into practice the same methods it then comes down to not if they used them but when. The next issue is some ships adapted new practices faster than others based on the shipwright, captain and refit schedules. Many shipwrights were set in there ways and would not change unless the Crown ordered them too. Captains could often be the of the same mind of if it's not broke don't fix it. Ships could remain the same for many years even through rebuilds with out improvements just replacements. This made changes come slowly and sporadically and could make 3 ships within the same 10 year span have practices dating from the past hundred to the past 6 months with no rhyme or reason as to why one has the upgrades and the other does not.
 
In regards to the Vasa though, I would think that there would not have been too many English improvements. Both master shipwrights were long entrenched in their own practices of building ships. Also, with all the delays and problems that came about I would guess that there was a pressure to complete her and get her launched and so the tried and true practices would most likely have been implemented as they would save time by not adding new and unfamiliar elements to an already difficult build. The final thing I would say is while they may have been implemented later, she did not last long enough to have a beginning much less a later for improvements.
 
On the 1/10th model, I would guess was built off of common practices of the time. Many things were changed and put into standard practice after Vasa and so while Vasa herself probably did not have many of the rigging features learned from the English, following ships did and were considered the standard which is what much early research was based off of.
 
Or I could be completely wrong and you need to make lots of changes!   I think I will join you in that drink though as I have a lot of studying and planning on my own builds to do!

Hi Mates,
 
Reaching a sort of dilemma. Thinking of also rigging catharpins. So went to my files and saw these two jpg’s. Both of the 1/10th (early and completed versions)
 
Both have lower catherpins added to main lower shrouds in different forms. So went to Anderson – it seems that the 1/10th (completed) is using an “English design” from the early 1600s. Hmmm??
 
The Dutch, according to Anderson, did not use these for the lower shrouds, but were limited to only English ships – or so it seems – until later.
 
Well it would be much extra work (I would rig them English style with the blocks) Looks nicer ha..BUT---
 
It is Sat – so I will enjoy a Single Malt and think about it for tomorrow, or not....

 
 
 
Cheers,