I am working on various parts on and around the mizzenmast. However, I can only assemble and finish them once I have seen the necessary details on the Balder. But the boom, gaff, and sail are currently still covered with protective canvas.
Started measuring and assembling the shrouds. Some compiled information from the Amsterdam restoration specifications and the old ‘original’ specifications:
“The foremast is stayed by 3 main ropes (side stays) on each side, a forestay, and two backstays. For the main rigging, steel cable with a steel core and a diameter of 22 mm was used during the restoration. Although this construction did not yet exist in 1912, this was not a major issue because the cables would be completely covered with tarred rigging twine anyway.
The mizzenmast is supported by 3 main ropes on each side. The forward 2 are made of a single steel cable with a braided loop that has been passed around the masthead and rests on the boom. The aft main rope consists of a cable with a spliced loop at the top. They are finished in the same way as the main ropes of the foremast. The mizzenmast has no backstays. There is a tackle hanging from the front of the boom which can be used as a stay or halyard.”
That's the theory. On the Balder, the single ropes with the spliced loops are set as the forward main ropes. And at the front there are also 2 'bak'-stays, which are secured at the top to the 2nd band above the boom and at the bottom to the bulwark.
A number of parts or terms have already been mentioned by me a few posts or pages earlier. The whole thing is already clear to me, but I can imagine that you really don't have everything ‘in the picture’. Therefore, here are a few photos to clarify things.
View attachment 592452
At the front:
AV = Aapval = ‘Monkey’ halyard, a type of jib in the middle in front of the mast.
BS = Bakstag (stay) = ‘Bak’ is not ‘back’ but more like container / hull / bin.
At the sides:
KL = Kraanlijn = topping lifts to the aft end of the mizzen boom.
Blue arrow 1 = single shroud with tied-off eye splice.
Blue arrow 2 = double shroud rope composed of a single line with lashing at the boom.
At the rear:
P1, P2, P3 = Piekenval = Peak halyard.
KV = Klauwval = throat halyard
Viewed from the deck in wide angle and with the same letters:
View attachment 592453
I cannot clearly indicate the topping lifts and peak halyard in this photo. I show them later.
I suspect that the shroud ropes were swapped when the new masts were installed and the rigging was re-rigged. I am maintaining the current situation.
A shroud rope with covering is 25 mm thick on the Balder. That will be 0.5 mm on my model.
If I tighten the shroud ropes, the model will certainly deform. The Evergreen construction has become quite sturdy, but it will definitely deform somewhat. And the shrouds on the starboard side must be made divisible.
I am going to treat the shrouds with diluted Lineco PVA so that the ropes gain more inherent strength. When covering, I coat the core line first with the diluted Lineco:
View attachment 592454
This line is a bit frayed, but that all disappears during the covering process.
Due to the tension on the covering line (the Serafil 120/2) to be applied, the diluted glue is automatically pushed up by the windings, creating a thin film between the core and the covering. The drop of glue runs automatically to the left:
View attachment 592455
When I have finished a small section, I apply some more glue to the outside and distribute it further along the line with some water.
Once stretched around the mast to dry, it holds its shape quite well:
View attachment 592456
I will work on the weaving lines in the same way later. Then I hope to achieve the desired strength.
The 2x3 shrouds attached to the mast and hung next to the bulwark with some weight:
View attachment 592457
The double rope just below the 'hommer' fitted with the binding:
View attachment 592458
The single rope with the spliced loop with the extra covering in front of it.
Regards, Peter