Iron Stropped Blocks - Kate Cory Whaling Brig

[Capt. Kelso]

My current build is an old Model Shipways (yellow box) Kate Cory 3/16" whaling brig, built 1856. I have just begun the masts and have been researching rigging. When I bought the kit, I also purchased a set of comprehensive plans developed by Erik Ronnberg from the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The kit plans make no reference to the application of Iron Stropped Blocks whereas the Whaling Museum Plans contain details regarding the use of both rope and iron stropped blocks. I made the decision to stick with historical accuracy and plan to use iron stropped blocks. However, I found only one supplier that sells them. Fortunately, they have the sizes I need and placed my order. 

 

It appears the use of iron stropped blocks became fairly common in the 19th Century, yet I find little specific information regarding them and I'm not aware of any manufacturers aside of Bluejacket that includes them in their kits. I thought maybe I could just make my own, unfortunately, I could not find any "how to" posts on any modeling forums.

 

Our hobby in many respects prides itself on detail and accuracy yet I can find almost no information on the application of iron stropped blocks. Am I overthinking this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CPDDET]

For me, it's a struggle to keep a balance on how far to go with authenticity. I can tend to overdo.

[BANYAN]

Try Chuck's "Syren" online site (Rigging Blocks for ship models - scale boxwood blocks- swiss pear-2mm scale rigging blocks|3/32" scale rigging blocks and pulleys) as he had a range of internally iron bound blocks available. They are not shown on the  page above, but I bought quite a few from him a few years back.  He may be able to help you if you contact him (he is a MSW admin if you were not aware of it)

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited August 7 by BANYAN

[Capt. Kelso]

Thanks Pat. I did search Syren when I ordered some rope stropped blocks but found nothing in the scale I needed. Ordered some from Bluejacket.

[wefalck]

Are you referring to externally or internally iron-stropped blocks?

 

The latter have been in use at least since the 17th century for specific heavy-duty applications, such as cat-tackles, but were not used much in the rigging as such - the external strop could cause damage to sails etc.

 

Internally stropped blocks are much more complicated to manufacture for both, the prototype and the model. Hence, they were only used, when higher load-bearing capacity was required. They have to be attached to spars or rigging with either a hook or a ring that was forged as part of the strop. This restricts their use to certain locations.

 

Hooks were used e.g. for blocks attached to masts or where they were constantly under load. Otherrwise their is a risk that they became unhooked, even when a musing was used.

 

I gather blocks with rings only became more common when chain and wire-rope were introduced into the running rigging. They required shackles, which in turn only became more common once thread-cutting became standardised after the middle of the 19th century. With wire-rope only internally stropped blocks can be used, as it would not be possible to make safe strops from wire - the radii required are too tight around the block.

 

From a mechanical perspective internally stropped blocks are a much better proposition than externally iron-stropped blocks, as the strop supports the axle just outside the sheave and is not separated from it by the wooden shell. The wooden shell is only there to prevent chaving and hooking in rigging and sails.

 

Making internally stropped blocks in small sizes, say below 2 mm length has been bugging me for decades, as there is very little material for attaching a hook or eyebolt.