Cutty Sark 1/96

[Fredratky]

Hi all, 

I'm in the middle of building the Revell Cutty Sark. Have had the kit stored for about 15 years so thought it was about time to take it out of the box.

Basic hull and mast construction is complete and though the colour scheme may not be true to life, many ships changed parts of their colour scheme during their service so I make no apologies.

One of the worst aspects of the model is the amount of flash and the filing that has to be done to remove excess material - very time consuming. However, it's not too much of a problem to get the parts to fit.

This brings me on to sequencing and here I think the instructions could be improved.

For instance, I would do as much rigging work as possible before attaching the spars to the masts. Most of the Standing Rigging is in place including the Ratlines, a lot easier to do than working your way over and under the spars. Incidentally, the ratlines are all hand knotted and the way I did them, setting them up on a frame, prevents the "hourglass" shape which some folk have mentioned.

You can see this in the pictures; I've used the template supplied with the model and stretched the vertical threads using map pins to hold in place. Then again using map pins to hold it in place, I start the horizontal threads with the tension maintained. This way, you can complete the ratlines for one side of the model just by working across the template, then repeat for the second side.

I'm just about to start the sails and running rigging and would appreciate advice on whether to glue the yards to the masts and then attach the sails, blocks, etc.. Or attach the sails, blocks, and so on to the yards first, and then mount the sub-assembly to the mast. I reckon it would also be sensible to work from the deck upwards rather than top downwards.

Any ideas welcome guys, thanks.

[Fredratky]

Hi Bob, thanks for getting in touch. I'll try and upload some decent photos. First one is the quarterdeck; I used a matt black base with timber over the top, then used a steel rule and scribe to score the planks. Pretty pleased with the result.

Second pic is with the standing rigging and ratlines installed. Not the best photo but gives you an idea of the overall scale.

Third is detail of mizzen mast, ratlines and q/deck.

Fourth is a general view forward of the mainmast, and final picture is an overall view but PLEASE NOTE the yards are not secured.

Incidentally, to make the guard rails (first picture) I have melted a spare sprue and stretched it to make a filament which then glues to the stanchions. Easier than trying to play with polyester thread!

Any tips and ideas, keep them coming!

 

[Fredratky]

Hi Bob, thanks for your reply. Most of the photos I have are early stage, but here goes:

[Fredratky]

Thanks for the heads up about the blocks, I'm doing them and installing the sails at the same time. A lot of it is just using common sense and looking at it logically and if I make a mistake, hopefully it can get sorted before too much damage is done.

looks like I'm going to be busy with it for a while!

Had to take an unplanned holiday from the workshop, broke my arm in June so just getting back in to the groove!

[Allan Milne]

Hi, I have purchased a wooden model of the Cutty Sark but as you see from the photo, the masts and rigging have suffered considerable damage. I am trying to get a copy of the masts and rigging plans. Can you assist me? Regards Allan

[AlexanderPyaty]

 

Hi Allan,

If you are still interesting, I'm building a 1:115 Cutty Sark model by Conscructo (a real pleasure btw), I can photo and send to you the drawings I have (4 sheets A1 size).

On 9/19/2020 at 8:55 PM, Allan Milne said:

Hi, I have purchased a wooden model of the Cutty Sark but as you see from the photo, the masts and rigging have suffered considerable damage. I am trying to get a copy of the masts and rigging plans. Can you assist me? Regards Allan

 

 

[IHGeorge]

On 8/19/2017 at 9:55 PM, Fredratky said:

Thanks for the heads up about the blocks, I'm doing them and installing the sails at the same time. A lot of it is just using common sense and looking at it logically and if I make a mistake, hopefully it can get sorted before too much damage is done.

looks like I'm going to be busy with it for a while!

Had to take an unplanned holiday from the workshop, broke my arm in June so just getting back in to the groove!

Hi I am rigging the Cutty Sark Artesania but got stuck at the Mizzen mast Clewlines Not sure where they terminate on the deck or Pin Racks. the drawnings suggest the rigging pin rack

Can you help.

[NoelSmith]

Another extremely good set of plans for the Cutty Sark is by George F Campbell, Marine Architect who I believe was involved with restoration work on the ship.

I bought mine many years ago on the Cutty Sark itself, so try looking at the ship's own website or alternatively try the Cutty Sark Society.

The National Maritime Museum may well sell sets of these plans too.

This is by far the very best set of plans (3 sheets in all) you can obtain.

There are two books that come to mind about modelling the Cutty Sark unfortunately both out of print but really good if you can get them from Ebay or specialist second hand transport book sellers.

One is by C. Nepean Longridge describing how he built the London Science Museum model published by Model and Allied Publications. (MAP)

The second is by Noel Hackney that fully describes rigging and painting the Airfix Cutty Sark and was published by Patrick Stephens back in the 1970's.

The Longridge model is quite large and may well be in 1/96th scale.  The Hackney model is quite small so his recommended rigging will have to be scaled up to suit.

Edited August 30, 2023 by NoelSmith

[VitusBering]

These are the 1974 Revell (kit number H-399) instructions. Running rigging starts on page 18 and is probably the most relevant to your question - there are instructions for the sheets and clew lines and a map of belaying pin locations.

 

Cutty Sark 1-96 Revell 1974-1.pdf

 

These are the 2017 Revell (kit number 05422) instructions. Running rigging starts on page 34. Same deal including belaying pin layouts.

 

Cutty Sark 1-96 Revell 2017-1.PDF

 

There are minor differences for tie points between these versions, you choose.

 

I'm building the 05422 kit now and am starting the running rigging so I'm also struggling with these same issues. I haven't hung the yards yet, I'm just finishing adding backstays, Flemish horses, footropes, blocks, and pulleys.

 

One of the questions I have yet to figure out is how the sheets and downhauls get routed through fairleads on the mast tops and crosstrees to the pin rails. It is quite a puzzle.

 

I certainly agree with NoelSmith that the Longridge and Hackney books are invaluable resources.

Edited August 30, 2023 by VitusBering

[NoelSmith]

I looked on the Greenwich website this morning in the Museum Shop section.

They have a Cutty Sark Collection selling themed items related to the ship.

The George Campbell plans are available from them and are exclusively on sale by the museum.

They are a very reasonable £8.00 each for each individual plan.

The set consists of 3 sheets totalling £24.00.

Very inexpensive compared to other commercially available Cutty Sark plans for the model maker and by far the most definitive.I

 

Their shop carries some really interesting nautical books worth browsing.

Over recent years museum shops have really upped their game with regard to quality gift and reference merchandise.

Edited September 9, 2023 by NoelSmith