Tips for making lines look loaded

[Cast Off]

Hi,

 

I fairly new to this and I am working on the Model Shipways 18th Century Longboat, 1:48. It's a really great little kit 🙂 

I bought some upgraded lines and blocks from Chucks' Syren company and they are absolutely beautiful. Great detail in them. The first line I was rigging was the topping lift for the boom and the line hangs nicely, but there is no load or resistance in the topping lift to force it to be a nice taught line. I looked at a bunch of posts and it seemed like the technique is to make a 50-50 mix of white wood glue and coat the line under a bit of tension. I tried that and it seems like I lost a much of the definition in Chuck's nice ropes and a bit of fuzz was raised up. Have others seen this, and is there a better way to make a line appear to loaded, or even to artificially create some (permanent) sag? I tried to take a photo, but my phone didn't do close ups very well.

 

[popeye2sea]

There is also the fact that all these lines work as part of a system. Where one line is pulling upwards or outwards, an opposite line is pulling downwards or inwards.  You get your tension set up automatically that way. For instance, your boom probably has a sheet line at the end of it that will add a downward pull.

 

Also, if you can arrange it while prepping for your build.  Try adding weight to the parts by incorporating metal inserts or fittings. That might just add enough weight to snug up a line.

 

Regards,

 

Henry

[Cast Off]

@popeye2sea Good point about the opposing lines... I was thinking I would have the boom vang slack, since it will be off to the side of the tiller, but if I made that taught it would tighten the topping lift. 

[wefalck]

I soak the lines in organic solvent-based quick-drying varnish. While the solvent evaporates, I coerce the line into the desired shape. A drop of acetone will reverse the process, if needed.

 

[Cast Off]

Thanks, I have some minwax wipe on, water based poly. Would that be considered "organic solvent based" ?? what do you use?

 

[wefalck]

Well, water is not an organic solvent. I don’t know the composition of Minwax Poly and whether it would dissolve in Acetone. Rather think of nitro-based or good old nail varnish - not the modern acrylic variety.