MrBlueJacket

Last night finished the port main ratlines.

Keith, thanks for the tip. I wet the last inch of thread in CA glue, which makes it stiff, like a needle threader. Works great.

And of course it's time to start the ratlines.

Here's the 3/32 deadeyes on the fore top. Really tough to get them nice and even. I spent 1 1/2 hours on it.

Attached blocks around the foremast.

And finally able to attach the fore fife rail. It's going to be difficult to get to those blocks.

More layers. Almost to the top.....

Congratulations, Tim. Beautiful job. Your customer file now shows 10% off the next kit you buy from us.

Nic

Next, I did the main stays. they end under the fife rail, so I had to thread them through the fife rail.

After re-doing them, I felt much better.

Al has a picture of an eagle on his door with the saying "excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude" - why do I mention this?

So after doing the foretop shrouds, I was not happy with them, they were uneven.

So you guessed it, I ripped them off. Now mind you, these are only 3/32", our tiniest ones. The shrouds are .015"

Doing another layer of bricks every few days.

OK, got the last 2 shrouds done, now working on the foretopmast stays.

Nice joinery!

Nic

Over the weekend, got 6 shrouds finished. Very important that the upper deadeyes are even with the waterline. Sometimes I have to re-adjust several times to get close. the for final adjustments, I can twist the shrouds to raise or lower the deadeye, and also vary the tension on the lanyards.

Nice clean work!

Good job! Your customer file now shows a 10% discount on the next kit you buy from us.

Nic

Great job. As promised, your customer file shows 10% off the next kit you buy from us.

Nic

So after a short pause, thread happens!

Regarding the mizzen - Noted modeler Steve Wheeler ( died last year) always said "your best tool is the wastebin"

Looking very crisp!

Nic

Now all 4 channels have their deadeyes and the backing plates have been painted. Main fife rail installed. Now I can finally start using thread!

The aft end of America has a"shelf" outside the timberheads that fades to nothing around frame#25

Well done!

Mamma Mia, atsa some shiny boat!

Besides burnishing the tape edge, you can put some clear paint on the edge to prevent bleeding.

Nic