St Roch by Lecrenb - 1:48 scale - RCMP Schooner rigged as schooner c. 1930/35

[Lecrenb]

Making foremast rigging continues...

While waiting for the paint to dry on the jib sail sheet blocks I completed the bottle screws for the foremast shrouds, and the foremast back stays which are now ready to go onto the model after a bit of line trimming.

The insulators on the back stays, and that will be on the rest of the standing rigging, are dark brown single sheave plastic blocks. These were donated by someone who gifted a bunch of goodies to another model club, and they look exactly like porcelain wire line insulators!

 

A while ago I appealed for a very small propeller for St. Roch's motorboat... a member of another model club stepped up and offered to 3D print one for me!

Also, since scaling is easy with 3D printing, he cranked out a larger one that I can use as St. Roch's ship's prop, which saved me the time and trouble of making a brass prop like I did for HMCS Chicoutimi!!

 

These parts recently arrived despite Canada Post's best efforts, and the small prop and plastic blocks can be used as-is... the larger prop got some final sanding to shape the blades. Both received a coat of brass paint, then a dry-brushing of semi-gloss black. Going over the paint with a drop of thinner on the brush smoothed out the colours. I am hoping to get a bronze look... if successful then they are also ready to be mounted onto the model.

 

All these parts are shown in the picture...

 

I must say how much I appreciate all the positive feedback I have received so far during my build of St. Roch, and also the fellow modelers who have stepped up with offers of 3D printing and donating parts I couldn't make or find... Thank you so much for improving my model!

Bruce

 

 

 

 

Edited November 21 by Lecrenb

[Lecrenb]

Running rigging at the forward end of St. Roch is now complete, and work continues to prefab the shrouds and stays...

The previous picture shows the back stays being built together on a template that I made on my silkspan frame.

This picture shows the stays finished and the shrouds started.

This is a clearer shot of the template... the jib sheets (ready for paint) are also seen in this picture. 

The template started out as one line for the back stays, with the insulator locations marked. Holes are drilled for pins to hold the turn buckle, insulators, and at the top eye location. The two stays already made are shown, ready to be installed.

Then I added the second line to make the shroud template, moving the insulator and eye locations, and indicating where the ratlines (which are wooden slats) will go.

Here is the shroud partially made...

Note the running light will also be fastened to the shroud. Once the shrouds are completed I will adjust the top end of the template for the longer stays and shrouds required for the main mast. Thus the template evolves while the lower end turnbuckles remain constant and properly spaced.

 

Moving on, the jib sheets got installed... consultation with my museum contact and sailor friend was required, since photos do not show them rigged to the clew while the sail is furled. Consensus is that they were still rigged on the ship and not stowed away, so they would be handy if the sails needed to be set. I accordingly belayed the ends to the pin rails just aft of the fo'c's'le break, and mounted the blocks to rings on the cap rail as shown on the rigging plan. They may have been mounted lower down, on the staghorns, but there is no consensus for this, so I went with the plan. The horns may have been used to belay the running end of the sheet when in use, again, not sure, but makes sense...

I ran the sheets out to a pair of rings near the bow. Whether or not these were installed for this purpose I do not know, but their presence was too convenient to ignore, so the jib sheets were hooked to them. This arrangement keeps the rigging from fouling the deck while being ready to bend onto the sail.

Here is the port side jib sheet...

The next picture shows the starboard jib sheet, and the foresail sheet as well.

This last picture is a clearer shot of the foresail sheet, which was made up on the model after the blocks were prepared and painted.

The boom is posed over to port to allow the cargo handling to be shown. I wasn't sure what to do with the extra line, since there was no obvious place for it, so I placed the coil between the cleat and the horse... I could move it if a better option presents itself, we'll see.

 

That's it for now, back to the foremast shrouds... once the standing rigging is on the foremast I will repeat everything done over the last few weeks on the main mast.

Regards,

Bruce

 

 

Edited November 25 by Lecrenb

[druxey]

Those furled sails look very convincing. But why is the deckhand rolling around on the deck?

[Lecrenb]

2 hours ago, druxey said:

Those furled sails look very convincing. But why is the deckhand rolling around on the deck?

Ha Ha... good question! Because he was posed on the plank athwart the hold, and I knocked him off!

Once I get the main mast and derrick on, he will be pushing a load of cargo to the side of the ship. I wasn't going to show this, but I wanted an open hatch, also he gives scale to the model.

[Lecrenb]

Taking a break from tying shrouds... can't imagine the fun y'all are having rattling down a square rigger like a tea clipper or Victory!!

I'm satisfied with the prop colour, so St. Roch now has motive power!

And so does her motorboat!

This prop just fit... but I didn't want to shave down the blades because they are so delicate, so I hope it is posed convincingly!

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Rick310]

Looks really nice!!

Rick

[Lecrenb]

14 hours ago, Rick310 said:

Looks really nice!!

Rick

Thanks Rick, I appreciate that!

[KeithAug]

On 11/25/2025 at 8:11 PM, Lecrenb said:

he was posed on the plank athwart the hold, and I knocked him off!

Any old excuse will do, but we all know he was at the rum! Lovely work.

[Lecrenb]

On 11/30/2025 at 12:10 PM, KeithAug said:

Any old excuse will do, but we all know he was at the rum! Lovely work.

Thanks very much Keith!

[Lecrenb]

Well, it has been three weeks since my last update, and I was hoping to have had the foremast completed before now... but the empty calendar filled up with commitments that took a higher priority, and here we are!

The running rigging on the foremast had already been completed. As you can see in the first picture below, I have been making stays and shrouds...

The ratlines are iron bars, I used balsa wood, because when it is tied to the shroud the thread takes a small bite into the balsa and holds the ratline where I want it.

The next three pictures are different views from around the ship... 

The main yard and main mast are posed... the yard had to go on now since the forestay is over top of it. It does not belay to the main mast, but to a spreader that will be under the crow's nest.

The sailor has gotten over his hangover and fall into the hold, and is back on his plank awaiting the cargo derrick.

The running lights were modified the same way as the masthead light.

 I have been able to make some progress on the main mast and spars, which consist of the main sail boom and the cargo derrick. I also have made the main sail...

This last picture shows the derrick and boom posed on the main mast. I made the derrick's goose neck from styrene bits and bobs. Most of the bands are installed and then will be ready for the spray booth!

If I don't get back to the forum before Wednesday I hope Santa is good to all of you, and my wishes go out to everyone for a Merry Christmas!

Regards,

Bruce