USS Constitution by Hipexec - FINISHED - Constructo - 1:82

[HIPEXEC]

I'll tell you....It's taking me an awful long time to figure a good sequence of installation for me. I don't want to get trapped and have to un-do anything. Also, even though I've sailed conventional sail boats for decades...I really don't have a feel for these square riggers. There's a lot of lines that make no sense to me. Sheets and braces I understand...it's the miriad of others I can't figure out. Oh well...if it was easy anybody could build these beautiful models.

[Mahuna]

Rich:

 

This site should help clarify a lot of the rigging: 

 

http://sailing-ships.oktett.net/square-rigging.html

 

The site also has a glossary that is very useful:

 

http://sailing-ships.oktett.net/article-index.html

 

I think this is a good topic for our meeting on Saturday.  Bring your plans and maybe one of our group can help answer some of your questions.

 

See you Saturday.

 

Frank

[robnbill]

Rich,

 

Mort recommended this to me along with the AOS. This is a step by step guide with really clear illustrations on the rigging. I think it you would find it very useful in regards to the sails and how the other rigging inter-reacts. Unlike the AOS, this is a general book on how the period ships were rigged so it has a wider applicability but also less specificity than the AOS.

 

 

Rigging Period Ship Models: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Intracacies of Square-Rig Hardcover – November, 2000

by Lennarth Peterson (Author)

 

Bill

[Mahuna]

I second what Bill recommends - I was just going to send you this link - it would be a very worthwhile purchase.  I have his other book and it's great.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Rigging-Period-Models-Step---Step/dp/1557509700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422589479&sr=8-1&keywords=rigging+ships

 

Frank

[HIPEXEC]

Frank,

I will bring my stuff Saturday. The only problem I have is that I have to leave a 11 since an important event originally scheduled for Friday got changed to Saturday just an hour ago.

[HIPEXEC]

Here's what I'm working with to date. One small photo from the Constructo manual. Sail names from another pub. Constructo's prints which describe everything with numbers that have to be cross referenced to figure out what it is and where it goes. I've made my own sketches to assist me in installing all the blocks, etc in their proper place. I've even practiced threading line through installed blocks with my beading needles. They work just fine. After all the Super Bowl stuff dies done I'll start rigging one yard at a time.

[GLakie]

Hi Rich:

 

   It might be a good idea to tie all those blocks on the masts and spars before you attach them together. Notice that sling and parrel on the upper yard in the 3rd pic. Hooking those up when you do get ready to attach the yards, might be a good idea. Trying to do it later after some of the rigging is in place will be harder. You'll be fine, just take your time. 

 

Cheers 

[HIPEXEC]

All my yards are easily removed for detail work on individual yards. That's why I built a workholding jig for the yards. Thanks for all your great suggestions. They all help.

[dragzz]

wow its looking great .rigging will be fun cant wait to see it all done keep up the great work

[lambsbk]

Mahuna...I just ordered it....thanks for the info. Rich, sorry to hijack your log with this stuff. Probably good info for the resources section of the site.

 

BTW - that jig you made on the previous page - does that mean you are working on this from the bedroom?  :)

[HIPEXEC]

Bedroom is my shipyard!

[texxn5]

Looking good Rich, the Conny rigging is a challenge for sure...

[HIPEXEC]

My mizzen sail is partially rigged. I "billowed" the sail to look like a moderate breeze is blowing. I do not want limp hanging sails.

 

At this rate it will take me ten more weeks of rigging to get all sails on.

[GLakie]

The billowing effect looks good Rich!

What did you apply to the sail to make it hold it's shape? Was it watered down PVA or Hair Spray? I've thought of using different sized balloons to use as a form, but I don't know. Maybe I'll just have to experiment. It's the one thing about putting sails on mine, when I get to it, that's been giving me second thoughts about having sails at all. 

 

Cheers 

[dgbot]

Nice sails Rich.

David B

[HIPEXEC]

The billowing effect looks good Rich!

What did you apply to the sail to make it hold it's shape? Was it watered down PVA or Hair Spray? I've thought of using different sized balloons to use as a form, but I don't know. Maybe I'll just have to experiment. It's the one thing about putting sails on mine, when I get to it, that's been giving me second thoughts about having sails at all. 

 

Cheers 

Geaorge,

After I lashed the sail to the yard, I wet it with water and rigged it onto the jig/workholder I created. I set the sheets to the angle I wanted and used a blow dryer to get the shape. As it dried I used my fingers and a brush to get the shape just right....then I used my Admiral's hair spray on it. It's water soluble so I used a liberal amount. When it all dried....it held its shape just fine.

Good luck,

Rich

[Jack12477]

All my yards are easily removed for detail work on individual yards. That's why I built a workholding jig for the yards. Thanks for all your great suggestions. They all help.

Rich, I'm looking for ideas for jigs to hold my yards, can you post a picture of yours here?

[HIPEXEC]

Rich, I'm looking for ideas for jigs to hold my yards, can you post a picture of yours here?

Jack,

just look on my page 107 and I already posted a picture of it. Let me know if you want to see different angles. It's just a post with a fairly strong clamp screwed to the top. It holds my yards very tightly.

[HIPEXEC]

Help!

 

How do I attach halyards to fife rails?

 

On my first model all went to cleats which I knew from actually sailing how to do.j

[GLakie]

   First, a disclaimer Rich! I can tell you the general way, but there's a "right" way to do it and until I find the post, or someone else who knows more than me tells you the "correct" way, don't commit by gluing. 

   The way I read goes kind of like this:  First, bend the line in half and make a U shape and hook it around the bottom of the pin, then cross over and loop it around the top of the pin, then repeat one more time, like a figure-8, and tie it off with a half-hitch on top. Then coil the remainder of the line and hang it over the pin. 

   Like I said, this is NOT entirely correct, but I'll try to find where I saw the info, and get back to you.  It might have been a You-Tube video I saw, but I can't remember. ----Senior moment! 

 

Edit: I found the info. The video says 3 wraps, but for modeling, I think 2 would be enough. Note the fall starts on the right and loops to the left.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awiFzE5SXzU

 

Cheers

Edited February 5, 2015 by GLakie

[Jack12477]

Rich, Thanks ! Guess I scrolled right by it when I was searching you log. Easy idea !

[robnbill]

If you can get to all your pins to tie them that way it is great. I used the method a number of others on this site used. I would fish the end of the line through the appropriate belaying pin hole in top of the rail. Once I was satisfied with the line, checking where it ran down through the rigging and I could sufficiently tension it, I would put a small amount of Thick CA on the end of a belaying pin and push it down through the hole. This would lock the line into the rail. Once the glue was set, I would snip the line off as close as possible to the pin rail. Later I would come back and add the coils over the top of the belaying pin. These were made off ship and could be set so they looked good. Then I would loop these over the pin and glue the back of them to the rail.

 

This was what worked for me. I tried loping the lines over the pins like they actually do on a ship, but I could not do it and make it look as good as the above method.

 

Bill

[augie]

The method suggested by Bill works very well.  An additional benefit is that the line going through the hole doesn't stick out in front of the pin rail and make it hard for you to attach the pre-made coil.  Just be absolutely sure you have the right tension on the line before you glue in the pin.

[Modeler12]

I'll tell you....It's taking me an awful long time to figure a good sequence of installation for me. I don't want to get trapped and have to un-do anything. Also, even though I've sailed conventional sail boats for decades...I really don't have a feel for these square riggers. There's a lot of lines that make no sense to me. Sheets and braces I understand...it's the miriad of others I can't figure out. Oh well...if it was easy anybody could build these beautiful models.

I felt the same way when I was at the stage you are now. The book that Robnbill recommended was an eye opener for me. Hardly any words but great pictures that clarify the rigging. 

 

Sometime ago someone mentioned that there is not a redundant line on one of those old ships, Now I understand why that is true.

In California we have a public library system that allows us to get books from many libraries in the state as well as Nevada and Utah. I have been able to get all sorts of good books that way. You might check that out for Arizona. Your local library should be able to help.

[Modeler12]

Rich, I don't know how far back I have to go in your log, but I am curious how you attached the netting on top of the rail and what you used to simulate the hammocks.

Your plans are probably a bit different from mine, which did include some nice brass etched pieces for the stantions but nothing about the hammock storage.

[Modeler12]

Help!

 

How do I attach halyards to fife rails?

 

On my first model all went to cleats which I knew from actually sailing how to do.j

Perhaps the following video might be of interest:

[GuntherMT]

Rich - Constructo had a small drawing on the plans of the Carmen showing how to tie off the rigging to the belaying pins, and it is what I followed for the Carmen.  Here is a scan of that drawing:

 

[usedtosail]

Rich, I thought you were asking how to tie a line directly to a rail, without a belaying pin. I have had to do that a few times and I don't know if there is a right way to do it. Maybe someone else knows?

[HIPEXEC]

Rich, I don't know how far back I have to go in your log, but I am curious how you attached the netting on top of the rail and what you used to simulate the hammocks.

Your plans are probably a bit different from mine, which did include some nice brass etched pieces for the stantions but nothing about the hammock storage.

I made the hammock cranes or stanchions  out of flattened brass stock I bought at a hobby shop. Constructo only gave me round wire to made them and I didn't think that gave me much gluing surface. After I shaped the flat stock I glued them on to the rails with CA glue. I used some soil cloth I had laying around because it naturally wanted to curl up in the shape of a rolled hammock. I tied each one (ugh!) and slipped them into the netting. Getting the netting nice and straight is a pain. By the way, the brass etched pieces they gave you should have a nib sticking down that will help holding them in place. Mine just depend on the CA glue which seems fine for now.

[HIPEXEC]

Perhaps the following video might be of interest:

Thanks for the great video!