RATLINER COMBO

[Papa]

Has anyone used ModelExpo's ratline jig, MS7200CB.  It is on sale today.  I thought i saw a review here some time ago but the search function is coming up empty.

 

Ron Gove

[VTHokiEE]

Is this similar to loom a line type tool? That is listed in the tools not to bother with pdf (http://modelshipworldforum.com/resources/materials_and_tools/ToolsNotToBotherWith.pdf)? Yopu can navigate there from the Articles Database at the top, then Materials and Tools.

[Papa]

I seem to remember some folks thought it worked pretty well. It seems to be quite different from loom-a-line

[VTHokiEE]

Oh okay, looked close to me.

I did a search and found a few threads and this one seemed potentially the most relevant: 

 

[toms10]

I am tying ratlines right now... about 2000 clove hitches.  I don't see any advantage with this.  It would seem that it would be more difficult to attache the whole thing to the model and have it fit properly.  How to you keep everything straight and aligned if the shrouds are not in place yet.  Definitely seems more trouble than it's worth.  Just my 2 cents.

Tom

[Gregory]

Here is a post I made a while back about ratlines.

 

Notice how fine the rope and  knots are on those actual ratlines are.

On an otherwise nice looking model, clove hitches at a scale size of tennis balls can be very distracting.

 

I can't seem to find the post from Jersey City Frankie about gluing ratlines, but it is an option to consider.  let me know if you would like more info about how to do this..

 

My favorite example of tied ratlines is from JesseLee's Syren

 

 

[wefalck]

Personally, I can't see the advantage of putting the ratlines on off the ship. It is going to be messed up and pulled out of shape. Nicely install the shrouds and then with them securely and finally in place work your way up with the ratlines. Draw the pattern as it should be, shrouds and ratlines, on a piece of card that you hold/fix behind the shrouds for guidance. It shows you the correct distances and also, whether you are pulling the shrouds out of line.

[reklein]

When I was a young modeler I thought "there must be a bunch of tricks to make things easier to do to get those kind of results" as I've gotten older I realized that while there are a few things one can do, with ratlines you just have to tough it out. Its what makes these fine models valuable.

[Papa]

8 hours ago, wefalck said:

Personally, I can't see the advantage of putting the ratlines on off the ship. It is going to be messed up and pulled out of shape. Nicely install the shrouds and then with them securely and finally in place work your way up with the ratlines. Draw the pattern as it should be, shrouds and ratlines, on a piece of card that you hold/fix behind the shrouds for guidance. It shows you the correct distances and also, whether you are pulling the shrouds out of line.

I agree with you.  Doing them off ship will probably lead to more problems than on ship. I was hoping there was an easier way than what I’ve done in the past.  Wishful thinking I guess.  When I get to rigging my Charles W Morgan I will just stick with the old fashioned way.  2000 clove hitches or not. 

[wefalck]

2 hours ago, reklein said:

When I was a young modeler I thought "there must be a bunch of tricks to make things easier to do to get those kind of results" as I've gotten older I realized that while there are a few things one can do, with ratlines you just have to tough it out. Its what makes these fine models valuable.

I guess, when I was in my teens (back in the late 1960s/early 1970s) and did my first ratlines, these gizmos were not around or I was not aware of them. So I did it the 'right' way without asking questions about short-cuts

 

[mtaylor]

Ron,

Have another model on standby to break up the monotony.   Ratlines are tedious and one needs breaks.

[Bob Cleek]

13 hours ago, ragove said:

When I get to rigging my Charles W Morgan I will just stick with the old fashioned way.

You'll be happy to learn that the Morgan has "rat battens" on her lower shrouds, at least, not ratlines.

[Papa]

8 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Ron,

Have another model on standby to break up the monotony.   Ratlines are tedious and one needs breaks.

I always have several models on standby 😁. Right now I am painting a 1/144 scale B-25, and shaping the hull of an old “yellow box” Gjoa from Model Shipways. I am waiting on some scribed sheets from Model Expo to make the hurricane house etc. at the stern on the Morgan.