Let me please introduce myself

[RH-J]

Since I was in short pants, I have always enjoyed making things. When I retired some 14 years ago, I embarked upon an ambitious model railway. Health issues brought that project to a screeching halt at the beginning of this year so a radical rethink was required.

 

The first book I ever read, when I was 7 or 8, was Dana's 'Two Years before the Mast' and my love of boats and the sea was born. Given my enjoyment in sailing (when I was younger!) and my interest in Nelson's Navy, it seemed logical to build model sailing ships. Practicality dictated I bought a beginner's kit to learn how to build these fascinating yet complicated machines so I bought OcCre's Polaris kit with every intention of building it as per the instructions. However my pedantic nature intervened - there were simply too many discrepancies between the kit and how things were done in the real world of tall ships.

 

Unfortunately this has meant my simple beginner's model has morphed into something well outside my comfort zone and is now HM Schooner Cockle: a vessel loosely based upon the 'fish' class of dispatch boat built for the British Navy between 1805 and 1807. Line drawings of the hull exist but I can find nothing that shows the deck fixtures and fittings or any details of the standing and running rigging. All I do know is they were gaff rigged schooners. I have many, many questions but one of the most fundamental ones is, did only the running rigging go to belaying pins with the standing rigging going to the chain plates and Samson posts? Any advice would be most welcome.

[Dave_E]

Welcome RH! 👍😀

[Keith Black]

 RH, welcome to MSW. As far as I know standing lines never terminated at belaying pins. Glad to have you aboard. 

[allanyed]

2 hours ago, RH-J said:

there were simply too many discrepancies between the kit and how things were done in the real world of tall ships.

First, WELCOME ABOARD.  No matter kit or scratch build based on other than as-built contemporary plans, research is your friend.   Building a small library as you move along, such as a good rigging book like Lees' Masting and Rigging as well as others is a good investment.  There is no need to go crazy, but acquire books as you find a need.   In the meantime, never hesitate to ask questions here in the appropriate forums and/or start a build log.  .

 

Allan

[druxey]

Welcome aboard, RH. There are plans of the Fish class in the Royal Museums Greenwich collection:

 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-85908

 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-85907

 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-85909

[Bill Morrison]

Welcome aboard.  I believe that we have each shared similar experiences with models. Good luck!

 

Bill 

[mtaylor]

Welcome to MSW, RH-J.

[Ryland Craze]

Hi RH and welcome to Model Ship World.  It sounds like you have a love for the old sailing ships and their history.  The research can be an important part of building a good scale model.  We are glad to have you as a member if this forum.

[Jim Lad]

Hello RH, and a warm welcome to the forum from down in OZ.

 

John

[flutlo6180]

Hi RH. Welcome aboard!

Edited September 17, 2022 by flutlo6180
typo

[RH-J]

Many thanks, one and all. As you all point out, research is the key. That task is made more difficult because, unlike modelling a 1920's railway, the camera had yet to be invented 😪! But I am sure patience will be rewarded and I have already learned a lot from you guys.

[Edwardkenway]

RH, welcome to MSW 

[HardeeHarHar]

Greetings RH, and welcome to MSW!   Please post some pictures of your build!  =)

[Baker]

[petervisser]

Hi RH and welcome to the site. Rigging a model ship/boat can be the most challenging aspect for a newly minted model builder. A book I can highly recommend for your gaff rigged schooner is Lennarth Petersson's "Rigging Period Fore and Aft Craft". This book gives an easy to learn, step by step guide in the art of rigging. It's available on Abe Books for less than US$20! Check out their website.

Happy modelling!

Peter

[RH-J]

5 hours ago, petervisser said:

Hi RH and welcome to the site. Rigging a model ship/boat can be the most challenging aspect for a newly minted model builder. A book I can highly recommend for your gaff rigged schooner is Lennarth Petersson's "Rigging Period Fore and Aft Craft". This book gives an easy to learn, step by step guide in the art of rigging. It's available on Abe Books for less than US$20! Check out their website.

Happy modelling!

Peter

Many thanks for the heads up, Peter. I will, most certainly, look for the book. I do have to confess, the rigging was the one part of building model ships that scared the pants off me and still does! The rest is just a question of transferring modelling skills from one interest to another plus loads of research!

 

@ Brian.

I will, most certainly, post photos of my build as soon as I can but not here; probably better on my build log. 😉

[Knocklouder]

[Wawona59]

Welcome to Model Ship World RH.  In response to your question:

 

 I have many, many questions but one of the most fundamental ones is, did only the running rigging go to belaying pins with the standing rigging going to the chain plates and Samson posts? Any advice would be most welcome.

 

In my limited experience, I've only seen running rigging go to the belaying pins.  On this and many other questions; research is your friend.  Welcome aboard!

 

Wawona59

 

[Bob Cleek]

Because running rigging "runs," and moves, the "bitter end" always has to be tied off to something. It's belayed to belaying pins, generally, during the period after which belaying pins came into use, but also sometimes to cleats and cavels and occasionally posts. Standing rigging is generally fastened permanently, shrouds at their lower ends to chain plates or sometimes pad eyes on deck and to bowsprit irons. There really aren't hard and fast rules, though. There are many different rigging arrangements which can vary from ship to ship, and even vary on the same ship from time to time in the ship's life.

 

Standing rigging did not go to Samson posts, actually. Samson posts are for towing the ship or making an anchor cable fast when the anchor is set, or to belay mooring lines when alongside a wharf or quay. Here again, things can vary from ship to ship and time to time. You really can't say for sure what general rigging practices were without specifying the type of vessel, it's nationality, and the time in history that's applicable.

[BMT]

A very late starter to this craft, I am looking forward to the learning experience. I just finished my first ship. 
Lowell Grand Banks dory. It was a good experience for me, and I look forward to my next building the
Norwegian Sailing Pram.

BMT