Halifax by rafine - FINISHED - The Lumberyard - 1:48 - semi-scratch schooner

[cookster]

Beautiful work as always Bob!

[rafine]

Thanks so much Wes.

 

Bob

[rafine]

Ratlines completed. The good news: ratlines are not really that hard to do once you get in the rhythm of tying clove hitches; I only have to do them about once a year; Halifax has ratlines only on it's lower shrouds and has only three shrouds per side on each of it's two masts, thereby cutting down the number of knots to be tied. The bad news: doing ratlines is undoubtedly the most tedious, boring and annoying task on any build.

 

Having said all that, they are now done and attention can be turned to the spars and running rigging.

 

Bob

[zappto]

Hi, this is very neat rigging! i like it is all black color, it fits to the boat. Did you use special black line, or it was painted?

[MEDDO]

Ratlines look really good.  Nice and even.

[mobbsie]

Hi Bob,

 

Embrace the Ratlines mate, don't arf make you appreciate the rest of the boat, for not liking them you made a awful good job on them.

 

Good luck with the running rigging, no doubt you'll do your usual superb job.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[popeye the sailor]

nicely done Bob.......very clean and neat   

[gjdale]

Very nicely done Bob - a tedious but rewarding job nevertheless.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Zappto, Michael, Mobbsie, Denis and Grant for the generous comments and thanks also to the "likes. I was just kidding guys, I really love to do ratlines.  

 

Zappto, the standing rigging is all black rope from Syren.

 

Bob

 

 

[rafine]

I started off the week by making the gaff and two yards for the foremast. I then mounted and rigged the gaff and did the rigging for the headsails.

 

The gaff was made from a dowel, tapered and shaped at both ends. Cleats were added, made from strip wood. The jaws were cut from strip and shaped to fit the mast .The parrel is made from beads strung on a piece of wire and glued into holes in the jaws after mounting (not correct, but a good simulation and the best I can do at this point). None of the gaff rigging is finally tensioned or permanently tied off at this time. 

 

The plans show rigging for a forestay sail and a jib, and reflect the halyards and downhauls, and those are what I've done. As with the gaff rigging, these lines are not finally tensioned or permanently tied off.

 

Next up will be mounting and rigging the two foremast yards.

 

Bob

[bigcreekdad]

Bob...love following this build. Wonderful job.

 

I have to ask...there is a blue tint to your masts and spars. It's got to be the lighting, but I actually kinda liked it.

[rafine]

Thanks so much bigcreekdad and the "likes". Any tint is the result of lighting and poor photography. The actual color is definitely black.

 

Bob

[Old Collingwood]

Lovely work bob  - really high standard.

 

OC.

[rafine]

Thanks so much OC for the kind comments and thanks also for the "likes".

 

Bob

[NMBROOK]

Fabulous work BobI am trying my best to catch up after a long period of absence.You have completed one build and Well on the way with another

Kind Regards

Nigel

 

[rafine]

Thanks so much Nigel. All your catching up is just a reminder as to how long you've been away. I love your work and appreciate your interest in mine.

 

Bob

[alde]

Bob,

 

Your work and posts are encouraging me to get back at it. I have not been in the shipyard for a few weeks due to some health issues but I think I will push myself a little bit and get back at it.

[popeye the sailor]

rigging looks Awesome........nicely done at the bow   

[rafine]

Thanks so much Al, Denis and the "likes.

 

Al, ironically, I have had some issues that have kept me from playing golf and forced me to work more on my shipbuilding. If it's not bad for you, push yourself a little. I've found that the modeling has kept me from getting even crazier than usual.

 

Bob

[alde]

4 hours ago, rafine said:

Thanks so much Al, Denis and the "likes.

 

Al, ironically, I have had some issues that have kept me from playing golf and forced me to work more on my shipbuilding. If it's not bad for you, push yourself a little. I've found that the modeling has kept me from getting even crazier than usual.

 

Bob

Bob, I will for sure take your advice. It's something I love and it keeps my mind off  the pain though that's not too bad right now. I have that Halifax kit calling my name but she has to wait in line just a while longer.

[rafine]

I've completed, mounted, and partially rigged the fore lower and topmast yards. 

 

The lower yard does not have a sail (at least as shown on the plan) and was given foot ropes, blocks for the topsail sheets, blocks for the lifts, a truss and a sling. The sling contains two bullseyes and a lanyard. The topmast yard has foot ropes, lifts, a parrel, a halyard and topsail clew blocks. The parrel was made using beads and trucks shaped from 1/32" boxwood strip. To shape the trucks, I lightly glued six pieces of strip in a stack, shaped them with files, drilled two holes, and then separated them with alcohol.

 

After mounting the yards on their mast pins, I partially completed their rigging. I tied off the truss, sling and parrel and then I did the lifts and the topsail halyard, clews and sheets and bowlines. I didn't finish these lines because, in my haphazard fashion, I had run out of needed blocks, which are now on the way to me. I also didn't do the braces for either yard, because I believe them to be best added later.

 

I'm now working on the main gaff and boom, while waiting for the delivery.

 

Bob

[donrobinson]

Fine work Bob, those trucks really shine(look good)

[Mirabell61]

Excellent rigging job Bob,  

 

one day we might perhaps also see sails ?

 

Nils

[usedtosail]

Beautiful work on those yards, Bob. May I ask how you got such nice curves on the footropes? I am struggling with them on my current build now.

[rafine]

Thanks so much Don, Nils, Tom and the "likes". Always appreciated.

 

Nils, I'm not a fan of sails and there definitely won't be any on Halifax.

 

Tom, the simple answer is that I cheat. The foot ropes are made from wire. The stirrups are done with rope. I know of many who do it the other way round, but I have found that I can control shape and durability best this way.

 

Bob

[Jim Lad]

A very workmanlike job on that rigging, Bob.

 

John

[usedtosail]

I wouldn't call it cheating - it is ingenious. Thanks.

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work - such attention to detail.

 

OC.

[rafine]

Thanks so much John, Tom, OC and the "likes".

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

I get really thin wire like that from appliance cord....never though of using it for that Bob.......great idea     well done on the rigging!