Rattlesnake by KenW - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64 - American Privateer

[russ]

Ken:

For scale purposes, I have heard that it is best to make furled sails about 2/3 of the actual size.

 

Russ

 

 

[JSGerson]

Are the furlough sails full size sails rolled up? Is that what you mean by "full size sails"? I thought most model builders "cheat" and use just enough material to make furlogh sails look realistic. The problem of course is the scale of the sail material; you just can't get something thin enough, with the right. texture, and translucency to match the scale.

 

Jon

[KenW]

Thanks Russ and Jon.

And, yes, the sails are full size rolled up.  Since my last model had sails half size rolled up and seemed small, and this model is full size, then I agree with Russ:  I'll try 2/3 or 3/4 next time.

I also want to try silkspan.

Cheers.

[KenW]

I finally added the fore topmast and its topsail yard and sail.  Everything is the same as the main topsail mast, yard and sail.  I also rigged the fore topsail stay and preventer stay.  I have not rigged the jib stay at this time.  There are a lot of lines to be added to the bow area, and I’m worried that lines will have to be added in a set order, and I’m not sure yet what that order is.  I’ll be doing the main top gallant next and, hopefully, tying of some of those lines that have been left dangling. 

 

[KenW]

The main top gallant mast and yard is installed.  The amount of rigging is getting crazy.  I spent hours trying to insure that no lines were touching or otherwise fouling.  A small flashlight was very helpful.    Anscherl says that top gallant bunt lines were only used on larger ships so I left them off.  Most of the lines are still not tied off yet.

[russ]

Ken:

The rigging looks great. I had the same issue on a recent model and it was not until after the fact, even after checking, that I found a line had gotten twisted around another line. It happens.

 

Russ

 

 

[KenW]

Thanks Russ.  But I don't 'like' the sound of that.

Cheers.

[JSGerson]

Beautiful looking model. I noticed that you haven't documented the building of the ship's boat. Have you made it yet?

 

You might want to think about installing it soon before you have too many lines interfering with a clean installation.

 

Jon

[DocBlake]

Beautiful, Ken!

[KenW]

Thanks Jon.   If you go to the first entries of my log, you will see the building of the ship's boat.

The plan I have in my head includes installing the boat .  Hope it works out.

Cheers.

[JSGerson]

When I wrote the above comment, I did check your log for the construction of the boat but didn't go back far enough. I had forgotten that you indicated that you followed my log in making the boat.

 

Installing the boat requires that you first install the spare masts to support the boat which need to be lashed down first, and then the boat mounted and tied down on top of those. It's the tying of those lines which will become difficult as you add more rigging that may interfere with that process.

 

I tried to work from the inside out, bottom to top. The boat is inside bottom.

 

Jon

[Tigersteve]

Nice work!

Steve

[KenW]

The fore top gallant mast and yard are installed.  I spend a lot of time insuring that various lines don’t cross other lines or ‘foul’.  Some compromises must be made.  So far, compromises only involve a switch between David Antscherl and the kit.  Since an American privateer is not obliged to follow British Admiralty directives, I don’t have problems using the kit rigging plans where necessary.  Now, on to the bow.

 

[usedtosail]

Very nice rigging. I like your furled sails too.

[shipmodel]

Hi Ken - 

 

You are really making good progress on the rigging.  Soon she will be an eye-catching addition to your home.

 

Could you tell me, in the first photo, what are the heavy black lines that seem to run from the topmast cap to the t'gallant yard?

 

Thanks and congratulations, again.

 

Dan

[russ]

Very impressive work. Well done.

 

Russ

[KenW]

Thanks Russ and Tom.

Dan:  I assume the lines you mean are the horses for the top gallant yard.  They are much straighter than I want.  I'll see if I can adjust them.

Thanks.

[DocBlake]

Beautiful job, Ken.

[EJ_L]

Very nice work. Your model is making a strong argument for doing furled sails at the minimal. I've never worked with cloth sails, only the plastic vacuum formed kind and truthfully I have always been afraid I would not do them justice so I don't model them. A furled sail like you have done though, that I feel confident I can do!

[JSGerson]

Oh. very nice!! I sure hope you have plans to preserve your work, when she's finished, in a nice display.

 

Jonathan

[rafine]

She's looking great Ken. Really well done.

 

Bob

[MEDDO]

Those sails look wonderful.

[KenW]

Thanks Dave, EJ, Bob and Mike for your kind words; and thanks for the 'likes'.

Cheers.

[KenW]

I’m still in the process of cleaning up the rigging at the bow.  So far, I re-did the lines from the spritsail and topmast spritsail, but none of the lines are permanently tied off and glued.  It is a good thing that I’m able to re-tie lines because every time I add a new line it seems I have to change the overall rigging positions.  Right now the forecastle deck really looks like a plate of spaghetti.

I also made the fore topmast staysail and attempted to furl it into a ‘bundle’ as shown in the Hegland book.  After a few tries I settled on this interpretation and will probably stick with it.

I’ve started on the jib sail, but will not furl it into a ‘bundle’.  Part of the whole process of these sails (the staysail and jib) also requires that I decide where to place the belaying pins for the halliards, downhauls and sheets.

[russ]

Ken:

Spaghetti was the exact term that came to mind before I read your text.

 

Very nice rigging work.

 

Russ

 

 

[DocBlake]

Tedious, but worth it.  Great job on the rigging thus far!

[Martin W]

Hi Ken -- I'm just catching up.  Wow!  your work looks really good.  The furled sails make your build stand out.  And the meticulous details make me want to look, and look. 

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[KenW]

The spaghetti is gone from the forecastle.  All the lines have been tied up, glued and coils were added.  I still have to finalize the jib and staysail sheets.  But I’m ready to move on to the shrouds, starting with the fore mast and moving aft.

The tip of the jibboom doesn’t look to bad.  I was finally able to make some decent thimbles from 1 mm thin brass tubing.  I see in the photo that I left a loose thread from the topsail spritsail lashing.  That was soon taken care of.

 

Edited August 2, 2017 by KenW

[Jim Rogers]

Absolutely stunning work Ken I wish I had your talent. You are the inspiration for my Rattlesnake build. I admit I stole your Redheart bulwark idea. It adds a different look to the interior. I am currently in hot standby waiting for my custom sails to arrive. I loved the look of your furled sails so I sent the templates back requesting the sails be made 3/4 size with dogears. I also used your Bowspirit idea and repurposed a French and Indian war Iroquois tomahawk wielding warrior as my Bowsprit. I can't wait to see your finished build. Not that much longer. Again STUNNING.

[DocBlake]

Superb rigging.  I love the furled sails!