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BALDER, Vlaardingen Herring Lugger from 1912, scratch build scale 1:50 Plate-On-Frame

I study this indeed. I looked into Steel, Anderson, Lees, Yk, Witsen and blunt. Because I also was interested in the subject. What I found was that it where not big ropes, they didn't have to carry a lot of weight (the sailers in that time doesn't look like me) and a small rope will be keep better in place on a big shroud line. This is wat I found:
Ratlines are in most cases made of 1.5-inch circumference rope (See Lees and Steel). The diameter would be a little less then a half inch. This was for almost every yard in history common use. Ratlines on scale 1/50 to 1/75 will be somewhere between 0,2 and 0,15 mm. in diameter.
On the model it will look better to go for the smallest rope you can find. So 0,15 looks better then 0,2
The distance between ratlines is between 13 and 15 inch (same Lees and Steel). In cm. between 33 and 38 cm. on scale 1/50 to 1/75 between ~7-4 mm.

I hope this answer helps in this case.

ratlines.jpg
 
I study this indeed. I looked into Steel, Anderson, Lees, Yk, Witsen and blunt. Because I also was interested in the subject. What I found was that it where not big ropes, they didn't have to carry a lot of weight (the sailers in that time doesn't look like me) and a small rope will be keep better in place on a big shroud line. This is wat I found:
Ratlines are in most cases made of 1.5-inch circumference rope (See Lees and Steel). The diameter would be a little less then a half inch. This was for almost every yard in history common use. Ratlines on scale 1/50 to 1/75 will be somewhere between 0,2 and 0,15 mm. in diameter.
On the model it will look better to go for the smallest rope you can find. So 0,15 looks better then 0,2
The distance between ratlines is between 13 and 15 inch (same Lees and Steel). In cm. between 33 and 38 cm. on scale 1/50 to 1/75 between ~7-4 mm.

I hope this answer helps in this case.

View attachment 593513
Thanks for the quick reply, Stephan.
The question related more to the 'international nautical' designation of rope measurements in circumference. Which can cause confusion if the diameter is 'sometimes' mentioned. Do they also refer to 'circumference' in the old Dutch documents?
Regards, Peter
 
Do they also refer to 'circumference' in the old Dutch documents
In Yk, for example, he sometimes refers to the circumference and sometimes to the diameter. He also mentions the thickness around the round or the thickness at the cross, referring to the circumference in the first case and the diameter in the second.

Screenshot 2026-04-20 at 11-23-28 De nederlandsche scheeps-bouw-konst open gestelt vertoonende...png

Witsen is talking about the thickness around (circumference) when he mentioning rope thickness

witsen.png
 
In Yk, for example, he sometimes refers to the circumference and sometimes to the diameter. He also mentions the thickness around the round or the thickness at the cross, referring to the circumference in the first case and the diameter in the second.

View attachment 593518

Witsen is talking about the thickness around (circumference) when he mentioning rope thickness

View attachment 593521
Thanks, Stephan. In any case, it is clear that they not only state the size number but also whether it is circumference or diameter.
Regards, Peter
 
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