Model Ship Builder

I am following up on the suggestion that I received from Mike that I rename my log of the Bluenose, and improve the photo delivery. I think I have done the latter. Unfortunately when I restarted this project I had not learned of this web site & the value of photos to monitor my progress, but I am catching on slowly.

To re-iterate, I started this build years ago and progressed to the point of having the hull very nearly complete with much of the deck furnishings. In addition, I had the masts constructed to the point of adding deadeyes and standing rigging, but not stepped to the hull.

Because the stand for the hull is rather flimsy I made a berth with plaster of Paris, lined it with Saran to protect the hull & allow a tight fit. That has worked rather well while I have progressed with the rigging process.

I quickly learned that the plastic deadeyes in the Billings kit were not up to even the minor tensions required in a static display model. Finding a replacement solution took some time as none of the shops in my area seem to carry much in the way of model ship supplies. I ordered them on line from Billings, they have wooden deadeyes (7mm as opposed to 5mm plastic) & they were quick to send them. These had to be stained & a bite of rigging line attached. I found that the overlap of the bites had to be changed to accommodate whether the deadeye was to be on the port or Starboard side otherwise they would not line up along the gunwales.

I was able to complete the standing rigging, but learned a lesson for future builds, I will do the rat lines (I think that is the correct name for the ladder works.) particularly for the upper masts before I add the rigging lines from the tops of the masts to the gunwales. Also I was too energetic in my use of bees wax on some of the lines.

I decided that the model would be more interesting, at least to me, if i did a full set of sails. I am finding this very satisfying, although as all of you know painstaking.

Thanks to all who have commented.

Here are three more pictures:

With these pictures one can see that I have almost completed the standing rigging and started to mount the sails. i continue to finish the rat lines 7 adjust the standing rigging while I wait for the sails to be ready to mount.

One thing that keeps occurring to me is that in future builds I will try to plan some steps a little further in advance. Mounting this main sail on the foreward mast may have been easier if I had prepared it before stepping the mast, but then the sail may have simply been in the way, however the task of threading a line thru the mast mounts and in the sail was fairly easy.