Senior ole salt

Scratch model of the sloop Providence is coming along. Thanks to a member here that loaned me with the plans of the Virginia Armed sloop, . I'm using it as a rigging guide. Add to Post In the image is a jig I made to rig up the top mast shrouds. A similar one was made for the main mast( see above post ). I found it easier to tie in the rat lines off the actual model.(fat thumbs get in the way ) Add to Post Add to Post In the other images( with sails showing) the main shrouds are in place on the mast. but the dead eyes lanyards not reeved. This allows me to place the entire shrouds P&S out of the way to access the various lines of the running rigging to be belayed to their pins near the mast and the bulwarks etc. Near the finish of the running rigging the deadeyes will be rigged. Having the sails hoisted up for me needed a different approach to rig the model as they get in the way otherwise. Notice in the images the yards are not braced. When finished they will braced like the sloop is on a close reach and the display will have the vessel healed on the port tack. The top sail is just in place. It will be lifted off to enable me to place the topmast shrouds on the top mast as well as the jib stay. BTW I did find some (to me) errors in the V.A. Sloop plans.Like the orientation of the dead eyes ( sheet 5 middle deadeye holes reversed) and on sheet 4 showing possible rig with sail. plan shows the bunt line on the back of the sail and the clew line in the front. To me it should be the other way around. SOS

In conferring with an ex skipper( who commissioned the model build) of the Sloop Providence (Same rig as the Armed Virginia Sloop ) The " brace" pair intended for the spreader yard leading aft were not used to brace the yard. They were used as a "utility" line, like to board cargo or cat the anchor etc. In the image one can see the utility in a stowed position not bracing the yard. To brace the spreader yard, the pair leading to the bowsprit was used. I wonder if the Armed Virginia sloop skippers did the same ?? SOS

Virginia Armed sloop ? I'm using these plans to rig my model of the Colonial Sloop Providence as no plans of this vessel exist, presently, only a wrecked replica. The Virginia Armed Sloop plans make me ponder a bit. On sheet 7 detail 7A shows the view of the jeers. The parrel goes around the "horse" securing the spreader yard to the horse. My concerns are : When sailing off the wind, Is this sufficient to hold the wind filled topsail sheets, and spreader yard strongly to the mast. considering there is a pair of braces from the spreader yard to the bowsprit, further pulling the spreader yard forward. Another pair of braces are shown aft to each quarter of the vessel. It seems to me that only one brace aft would be effective, on the windward side. The leeward brace would have to be un shipped or else it would cut into the main sail. So what was the practice in the days of Colonial sailing vessel ? I would rig up another parrel around the yard and the mast , especially if it came on to blow, and strike the spreader leeward brace. ( I might be sailing for a prize or escaping a superior enemy Man o war) BTW I wonder how often the spreader yard would actually be lowered back in those days. The Providence replica for all practical purposes had it's spreader yard fixed. in position. But unfortunately failure to strike it when on the hard and lower the top mast probably contributed to the Providence replica to be blown over during a winter storm. Thanks for any imformed response. SOS

Still working on my scratch built sloop "Providence". I'm rigging it with sails and on a close reach. This means that some rigging needs to be slack, like running back stays on the leeward side, windward jib sheets, foot ropes etc. Achieving this with a uniform curve would make the model look really under sail. Any ideas here on how to do this ? Thanks SOS

Thanks Michael . I'm glad you enjoyed the video. On my scratch built model of the Sloop Providence I rigged up the shrouds and rat lines in a way new for me. Rather than doing this delicate job on the model, I decided to make a"rigging station." That is a scrap wood duplicate of the beam and locations of the lower dead eyes P&S., the mast located in the middle of the station by means of an appropriate hole in the wooden "rigging station." After seizing the upper dead eyes to the shrouds separately I then placed the shrouds on the model The Sheerpole was now seized on to the shrouds to hold it all together. Now by means of a tagged bent shallow wire U , marked as to which one is which ( notice in the photo ) both upper and lower deadeyes held all to the hull, mast and shrouds. At this point the whole thing ,mast, shrouds, and deadeyes can be removed from the model and transferred to the rigging station to enable the ratlines to be more easily tided in. I tagged each shallow U wire for reinsertation later on the model . The deadeyes are held in position on the rigging station by means straight pins. I used the usual ratline spacing guide made from scrap paper etc. For me this method of tieing in the rat lines off the model was worth the trouble of transferring the rig back and forth and making a"rigging station." It also has the advantage of being able to take all off the model once again to more easily bend on the main sail via the mast hoops and do some of the running rigging aft of the mast without the encumbrance of the standing rigging in the way. When the running rigging is in place I can then rig up the lanyards of the upper and lower deadeyes. PS the rigging station is shown minus the rig unfortunately I didn't take any images of it in use but i hope viewers get the idea. Well time will tell if this works as planed. SOS

Should this be rigged on the inside of the shrouds or the outside? Thanks SOS

After a summer of sailing Carrianne, I figure it's time to continue work on the Sloop Providence. So I pinned on the sails to see how they might look. OK but not full of wind. So I made forms to kind of mold the wind in. This worked pretty good. But attaching the sails to the model and coping with the rigging might prove a problem for me, i decided to do some of the standing rigging off the model like the P&S shrouds etc.then attach the main sail and top sail, deal with their running rigging and then do the head sails Time will tell if this works. I'll post pix as I go. S.O.S

Here is a fascinating video and information about a Revolutionary war vessel that was a part of Benedict Arnold's fleet. http://www.lcmm.org/shipwrecks_history/shipwrecks/spitfire.htm

I noticed in the plans of the Virginia armed sloop There a detail 7–A on sheet 7. It shows the sling for the jeers behind topmast. Is this correct?? It depends on the top mast to hold the sling in position. If crew wanted to lower or house the top mast there would be a lot of friction on that mast as well as the spreader yard going down a bit. Or is the spreader yard lowered as well as the top mast. The way it is shown, the lowering of the topmast would hit some portion of the spreader yard and or it’s tackle. I noticed others here have built the model as shown on the sheet plan. S.O.S.

US Navy aircraft gunner is buried at sea still aboard his duty station. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMWz10jaK0g

Thanks Frankie and Henry, I'm thinking I just might put the reef points in between the seams as they might just stand out more. I made a mock up of the Providence sails just put into position with thread. I wanted to get an idea of how the model would look. Of course it all comes down to actually do the rigging. I just might work from the inside out . That is do some running rigging for the main sail then do the main shrouds and fore stays after the main sail and all it's gear are belayed into place. Tying those mast hoops on the sail luff /mast would be easier with the mast off the model. IMHP SOS PS the top sail will also have reef points as well. .

Thanks Henry, by two reef points in each sail cloth , does that mean 1 every foot or two? I'm assuming each cloth is 2' wide. And is the point sewn in on the seam or in the middle? SOS

Perhaps some one here could tell me the distance between reef points in a given row. This would be for my Sloop Providence 18th century sloop of war. First ship in the Continental US Navy. Thanks SOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Xezns1nEE SOS

1.Sunk in battle USS Lexington, USS Yorktown 2. Sunk by friendly fire as in target practice USS Eaton 3. Scrapped USS Coral Sea, USS Roosevelt 4. Forgotten and rusted away 5. Converted to a museum and or kept in commission USS Constitution USS Midway USS Intrepid HMS Victory. Of course their are many other's so you can add to the list. So fire away. SOS

Overall she did pretty good in her long career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Eaton_(DD-510) SOS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Trout_(SS-202) May her crew rest in peace. SOS

....or the downward curve some jib booms have. Is it just to create more tension on the jib stay or is there another ulterior motive ? Thanks SOS

Thanks Chuck. Yes after following your suggestion I have come to the same conclusion. looked at that build here on the forum and it more closely resembles the rig and period of the Sloop Providence. Apparently there a few A.V.B build logs here some finished and posted. I was wondering if any finished builders of the Armed Sloop would loan out the rigging plans so I could make a copy. I managed to obtain the instruction booklet on the internet but that doesn't show just where all the lines go. It's more involved to the sequence of things. I also made the mast and spars for my Providence to the basic spar plans furnished by an ex skipper but they only give the sizes and or dimensions. I feel I can adjust the A.V.B rig to suit my Providence build quite nicely. I'm sure John Paul Jones would approve. Thanks for any help. SOS

Again congratulations Sal. And thanks to that Wacko Wolf alias Joe for posting all the pictures of the outstanding models exhibited at the show. The chow was good too. SOS

Looking forward to seeing the model in New London Sal. BTY beautiful work. SOS

Thanks a lot Dave. That's the kind of info I can really use. Now I just have to figure out my list appropriate for the Sloop Providence. Full sail ahead SOS

I decided to use the rigging and block sizes shown on the Virginia Armed Sloop kit made by Model Shipways 1/48 scale, to rig my scratch model of the Sloop Providence. The scale and rig are similar. I understand from the instruction booklet ( available on the internet ) that a sheet or plan exists showing the size of blocks and rigging diameter that's included in the kit. My question is directed to those here that have built this model Virginia Armed Sloop kit in the past. and if it is possible to post this sheet or plan pertaining to the block and rigging sizes. For now my progress on the model of the Providence( see this thread ( http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10774-sloop-providence-by-senior-ole-salt-148-scale-1776/?hl=%2Bsloop+%2Bprovidence ) has slowed considerably due to lack of the above plan. Thanks for any postings or info. S.O.S.

I can only add what Waco said in 614 post, but I also like the quality images. Bravo. SOS

Sal, you're making great progress and your craftsmanship is outstanding. I hope you put a few crew aboard. SOS