Mini-Mamoli Santa Maria (1:106)

[DWB2025]

First time I built model from established kit. Felt a bit lonely. Eyebolts and "walls" installed before shrouds installed.

 

A. Are we supposed to build in instruction order, or should we think ahead about these things., and think the construction through to the en Very difficult to attach shroud lines to eyebolts with "walls" attached.  I even cut a "window" in the "wall" to help to thread the shroud lines through the eyebolts. This did not work, so I cut off the eyebolts and tried to glue the shroud lines to the deck. This did not work either.

 

B. If we are supposed to build in instruction order, is there a tool (besides tweezers) to help in this situation

 

C. Can we attach the shroud lines to the eyebolts, then attach the eyebolts to the deck?

 

Dan

I Somerville, MA, USA

 

 

I

[ccoyle]

Hi, Dan, and welcome to MSW!

 

Some observations (and you're probably not going to like the first one):

 

• "Established kit" is a very generous description of any Mini Mamoli product. I think most of our members would agree with me when I suggest that these are terrible beginner kits -- poor materials, poor instructions, poor representations of the real-life subjects, and scales that are difficult to work in for wooden ship subjects. To be frank, I'd recommend setting this kit aside and starting over with something that is much more likely to result in success. You'd enjoy the hobby far more by going that route, IMO.
• I can't for the life of me imagine why the kit would have you attach shrouds to the inboard side of the bulwark. That doesn't mimic actual practice at all.
• A modeler is never obligated to rigidly follow instructions. Thinking the various tasks through in advance may suggest to you better ways to get a task completed.
• Modelers use a variety of tools to work in tight spaces, including various styles of tweezers (including some with curved tips), hemostats, and assorted rigging tools that can often be home-made on the cheap.
• Yes, attaching rigging to eyebolts before gluing the eyebolts in is one way of doing things, but it's a terrible way for doing shrouds -- because that method exists only in the minds of Mini Mamoli kit designers, not in actual practice.

Anyways, just something to think about.

[DWB2025]

Chris,

 

The kit didn't tell me to glue the shroud lines to the bulwark.  I can't remember exactly, but I think it was an accident. I couldn't get the shroud lines to glue to the deck.

I have a fair number of tools. I do small woodworking. But maybe I'll have to get rigging-specific tools. I want to do the two other Columbus ships, but that won't be until spring of 2027.

The idea of installing the eyebolts to the shroud lines before installation is mine, not the kit maker's. I thought of that after I was done with the kit.

 

Have you ever used the tweezers with teflon ends?  Could they work? Or is that just a gimmick?

 

Best regards,

 

Dan