Knots to Use (or not!) in Rigging

[GGibson]

My current Ballahoo build has a lot more knot tying than my previous boats.  I am to the point now where the ropes for the carronades and all the rigging are my main focus.  What knots are appropriate, for example, when tying simple knots to eyebolts?  Should the knots used be similar to what would have actually been used on the ships? 

 

In doing some of the initial knots on the eyebolts for the carronades, I've just done some simple double overhand knots and hit them with diluted glue.  Would using, perhaps, a halyard hitch be a more accurate knot for tying on rings and eyebolts?  Granted, some of these knots would be a bit more challenging at our scale level, using tweezers and magnifying glasses to assist with the line feeds, than on actual ships.

 

Appreciate the advice and education.

Gregg

[Dave_E]

Hi Greg,

 

 I’m certainly not the expert, but I tied all my lines with whipping, just like the real thing. No line is just tied in a knot to an eyelet. I mean I guess you could if you wanted to. There are tons of examples here on the forum about any and all aspects of rigging and how to do it.

 

[allanyed]

Hi Gregg

Couple drawings below that may help.  The first is a contemporary drawing from the Royal Academy library. The second is redrawn from Dupin's Voyages dans la Grande Bretagne and can be found on page 205 of Caruana's English Sea Ordnance volume 2.   Hope this gives you a little help.  Allan

 

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by allanyed

[BenD]

I have a video tutorial on sezings. He got me making them successfully in a few minutes. I can now do them now on the model without tools, just takes some practice.

 

 

[allanyed]

Thanks for posting the video.  The video is very clear and shows an old but still very effective method used by many members.    It is a shame to see him use what appears to be CA glue after each line is secured.  The result is a brittle join and for tan lines, often a lot of discoloring.  I know there are advocates of super glue, but even many of those that use it for wood, frown on using it on rigging. 

Allan

[glbarlow]

I am one of those advocates of using CA for aspects of building, like planking.  However, I don’t use it for rigging for the reason Allan describes. Diluted white PVA, matte varnish, or clear acrylic paint are much better solutions. Learning to tie a figure 8 seizing will serve you well, it can be used extensively in the rigging stage. A Quad Hands (Amazon) is essential to be able to seize lines easily and effectively. 

Edited June 29, 2022 by glbarlow

[GGibson]

Thanks for all of the feedback/info, fellas!  This shows a bit of my naivete in the model ship building world yet, but I guess I was thinking the seizing was used primarily for deadeyes, and some type of knot was used for things like the eyebolts.  I have done seizings on some deadeyes already, so will continue that practice.  And, yes, I am using diluted PVA to finish.  

 

Thanks again!

Gregg 

[wefalck]

Knots and hitches are only used to temporarly fasten a line. In most cases eye-splices are used or seizings, when the rope would be too stiff to tie a knot or a splice would weaken it (as in the example above of the breech-rope).

 

There are many specialised knots/hitches, but depending on the scale, they may be difficult to tie. In most cases I seem to get away with half- and clove-hitches, if required.

 

A real splice would be a challange at most scales, but fake splices are easy to do.

 

Personally, I prefer a fast-drying clear solvent-based varnish for securing rigging, as it can be easily softened with the solvent, if needed.