USS Cape (MSI-2) by Dr PR - 1:48 - Inshore Minesweeper

[Javelin]

That is looking marvellous Phil. Very realistic in any case. 

 

Were there really ropes wound around those rings on 4 places? Just wondering since I'm from the reflective SOLAS tape era and don't know about Navy habits on this... 

[Dr PR]

Roel,

 

I don't know if any Navy manuals said to wrap ropes like shown here, but we had it on both the Cape and Oklahoma City. I suspect it was a bosun's thing - they killed time by applying small stuff around life rails, stanchions, ladder rails and just about everything else that didn't move. Fancy knots, braiding and such were normal. 

 

For example, here sailors are removing horizontal threads from a sheet of canvas. The vertical threads will be bunched together and braided to make "McNamara's Lace." It was a decoration that was hung around the quarter deck in port and on other things to make them look fancy.

 

The braiding around hand rails and stanchions actually served a purpose. It made it easier to grip, especially if things were wet.

Edited 6 hours ago by Dr PR