Geoff Matson

I also have the Byrnes Ropewalk. I am presently making my line for the Constitution. Here is what I have learned so far. Do some experimenting. Scale will make a difference. The larger the scale the larger the line. The finished line will only be as good as the inital line you are using. If you want a morope type of line use nylon, or any synthetic type thread. I have found that this type will be a little shinny and you need to CA the ends so they won't unravel. I have decided to use the cotton type of line. I am using Coats and Clark cotton thread in sizes of 30wt,35wt and 50wt. With the cotton line it dosen't unravel like the synthetics, it is more of a flat or natural color and you can dye it to the color you want. You can glue it with dulited white glue and the glue will soak in and not show. Others have used DMC cotton, silk, and linen. As for the ropewalk itself you need to get familar with its operartion. You need to wind the line tight on the spools so you have an even takeup of the line. Tension is the key part. You are supplied some dyes where the line will go through. Don't have too big of an opening. Most thread comes with a right hand twist or clock wise twist. So when you make your inital twist be sure to twist it the opposite way or counter closkwise. Make small amounts of line to see how you like it. It is kind of like using a sewing machine without the needles. The one thing I do with the line is harden it a little by stretching it with weights. It give the line a tighter twist and less likely to unwind With the ropewalk you can make many sizes of line with the same inital thread. Just a combination of twists from single to two to three and son. Right now for the Constituion I am making some charts of the sizes I will need. My main reason for making my one line is the sizes I need. The kit provides you six sizes of line and a lot of them are not to scale. When I check the plans I came up with out 15 or more different sizes of line. So I am still in the process of figuring it all out. Most of all have some fun and see what you can come up with. It is a great machine and well built and Jim and Donna are great if you have any questions. Hope whis helped.

I am sure things well get better with time. So.....Put a smile on and go make some sawdust

Wow Steve thats a bummer. I guess it could have been a lot worse, but just knowing some things were taken really sets you back. Hopefully your modeling well help you get back at ease.

With Coats and Clark 30wt black cotton thread here is what I came up with: Coats and Clark 30 wt Cotton Thread 1 Strand 1 strand .007" or .17mm 2 strand .014" or .36mm 3 strand .017" or .43mm 4 strand .020" or .51mm 2 Strands 2 strand .014" or .36mm 4 strand .024" or .61mm (cable laid) 6 strand .028" or .71mm (cable laid) 8 strand .030" or .76mm (cable laid) 3 Strands 3 strand .017" or .43mm 6 strand .030" or .76mm (cable laid) 9 strand .035" or .88 mm (cable laid) With Coats and Clark 50wt black cotton thread here is what I came up with: Coats and Clark 50 wt Cotton Thread 1 Strand 1 Strand .006" or .16mm 2 Strand .015" or .38mm 3 Strand .018" or .46mm 4 Strand .021" or .54mm 2 Strand 2 Strand .015" or .38mm 4 Strand .023" or .58mm (cable laid) 6 Strand .027" or .68mm (cable laid) 8 Strand .032" or .81mm (cable laid) 3 Strand 3 Strand .018" or .46mm 6 Strand .030" or .76mm (cable laid) 9 Strand .035" or .89mm (cable laid) 4 Strand 12 Strand .043" or 1.09mm (cable laid) As you can see you have alot of combinations out of two sizes of thread. I have been happy with results. I am going to give it a try with some lighter color thread for the running rigging.

Looks like you are still having fun with boats. Also looks like you are becoming a good kit basher.

Here are some examples of the rope cards that I am making All the lines on the card are made with Cloats and Clark 30 wt cotton thread. I know it might hard to see but that is what my camera gives me.The twist detail is really good. You can see by the thread sizes you can get a lot combinations by increaseing the number of strands you twist. Still a lot more experimenting to do before I start to rig.

Great tip on forming the bow plank. Nice to see it all coming together for you.

Anything that helps rigging is a great idea. Thanks for the post

Jay I will be taking your advise and checking out the general finishes and see how they work out.

Jay Thanks I am in the process of putting some rope cards together. When I do I will post them. What I have been doing is making the rope in about 20 foot lenghts,(the width of my room), and then harding the line with some weights. Seems to work prety well. RIght now I have an assortment of plactic bags with different sizes of rope in them. A lot to keep track of.

I have been using my Byrnes Ropewalk and experimenting with making rope. So far I have I had good succes with Coats and Clark Cotton Thread. I like the Cotton for several reasons. You can dye it, when you glue it the clue soaks in and is not seen, and it is not shinny like the synthetic threads for starts. Here is the thread I am using: With one strand of 0.007" thread I am able to make sizes of thread 0.007", 0.014", 0.017", 0.021", 0.024", 0.028", 0.037", 0.039", and 0.043" This is done by twisting strands from two to 12 strands. Sounds more complicated than it really is.

I liked your tip on the gratings. I will be sure to file it away for future use.

Glad to have your build log posted. Great job so far.

Outstanding carving details. The finish is really great. NIce job

Great discussion, I have learned a lot and plan to make some.

What an undertaking. Great job so far.I am amazed you could sort all the stuff out.

David I agree with you and do my in a very similar way. In the end they are pretty even. My dividers are a tool I use alot. I use them to adjust my ratlines instead of a card. Thanks for the post.

Hey Robin Go to any good gun shop and ask for( Birchwood Casey Brass Black Metal Finish). Works great and easy to use.

Sorry about the accident. Those thing happen. Hopefully you will retry another Conny at a later date.

Boats are looking good. It is amazing how many details you can include in these little boats. Can't wait to see more.

Ulises Just came across your build and was greatly impressed with you rigging of the Vasa. Great Job!. I also have a Byrnes ropewalk and I am going to make all my rigging for the Constitution. I have been experimenting will all sorts of line. DMC, Guttermann, nylon, cotton, etc. I need to make some choices. I was wondering what material you used to make your line with? And also did you dye any of it and if so what stain did you use. Thanks.

I really like your last post. So all this rigging has finally drove you off to the mountains, or are you looing for a little shine to calm your nerves

+Thanks for the tip on the neeting. Looks like a real labor of love but the results were really woth the effort.

Harvey, if you have any questions I will be glad to help were I can. In Harold Hahns book (Ships of the American Revolution and their models) he gives some great information about making scale rope. Well worth the read. In going over the Riggins sizes off the plans. The line goes form .005 all the way up to .049. About 21 different sizes. Most of them only .001 to .005 difference in sizes. In the kit you have six sizes of black thread and three sizes of tan thread. Here is what the kit says to do in reguards to Rigging line: Kit Rigging Line Because more line diameters are shown on the plan provided in the kit, use the following guide: Lines on Plan Lines in Kit Less than 0.009" 0.005" thread 0.009" to 0.015" 0.008" 0.016" to 0.026" 0.021" 0.027" to 0.036" 0.028" 0.037" to 0.046 " 0.040" 0.047" to 0.055" 0.051" To enhance the model's scale like appearance, use every available diameter or purchase more separately. I plan on using the same guide lines but will make my own line. Basically .005,.008,.021,.028,.040,.051 out of DMC or Coats and Clark or some other material. I know you can go nuts over this so I am going to try to keep it as close as possible. I will be making some rigging cards showing what I came up with for my sizes. Will let you know what I came up with.

Looking good Bob Thanks for sharing with us.