San Felipe Mast Shrouds, Ratlines and Tackles Size of Thread

[arizonasun]

Hi

 

I am about to start the main Shrouds on my san Felipe

 

What size thread and colour do you recommend for the following

 

• Main Shrouds
• Rat Lines
• Tackles
• Bindings

 

Any help much appreciated

 

Feel free to have a look at my blog on the build so far

 

http://sanfelipe1690.blogspot.co.uk/

[twintrow]

Arizonasun.  What scale??  Beautiful build by the way.

Tom

[arizonasun]

Thanks for the comments the ship is a mantua model scale 1:75

[JerseyCity Frankie]

Color of line gets debated a bit but its safe to say the shrouds should be black or very dark brown. In fact all standing rigging will be black or very dark in color since on the real ships they were repeatedly painted with pine tar, which was used to keep water from penetrating the rope fibers and causing rot. The ratlines ( the horizontal foot ropes the sailors tread upon to ascend) are also dark in color but there is some debate about weather or not they were just as dark as the shrouds, some modelers leave them "natural" colored. I tend to think they were slightly lighter but still darker than the running rigging.As for the "bindings" you mention I assume you mean the lashing holding stuff together. This would be dark too but I like to use it as an opportunity, on the model, of introducing some variation of color and I use a different shade-slightly lighter or slightly darker than whatever it will be viewed against but not too contrasting- to suggest a different material in use and to allow it to catch the eye.

Edited August 8, 2013 by JerseyCity Frankie