Thanks Peter, but be careful what you wish for. I will post a picture of each and every ratline knot just to help share the painYou now have built up ‘experience’ with these ratlines. It looks neat and tidy. Watch out, it's getting faster and faster. What you posted yourself about the ratlines by Dean and Rich: on the next picture it is done.
) and most of the local hobby shops are out of stock. So it may be a little while before I can crack on with the remaining shrouds, but in the meantime I might start work on the display stand that will eventually hold the completed ship. Even this wasn't as straightforward as I thought, and some fellow SOS modellers set me right in a thread I started called Display Base and Pedestals 
Always happy to help. ContactI completed all the shroud rigging on the foremast's starboard side to make sure I could get through a complete set without too many mistakes, and to develop a system that I can apply to the remaining three sets of shrouds. Each set includes lower, futtock and topmast shrouds and all those nasty little ratlines in between. The futtock shrouds were the easiest of these, and I maintained the same 6mm spacing between ratlines that I applied to the lower shrouds.
View attachment 301263
The 6mm spacing also applied to the topmast shrouds, which yielded a total of twenty-one ratlines. Getting the ratlines installed correctly is a cinch once you get the hang of it, but maintaining a constant tension across the ropes is another story. Tie just one ratline too tight and your outer shroud lines are out of joint, and likely to collapse the tension in ratlines already installed. I tried rattling up and rattling down but found no real advantage either way. Ulimately, I think it just requires a lot of patience and tolerance
View attachment 301264
With one set of shrouds complete I can reflect on a few lessons learnt, and hopefully carry them forward to the remaining sets. Unfortunately AL does not provide enough .15mm black thread for this exercise, especially as I am creating twice as many ratlines as stipulated (thanks Johan and Sasha
View attachment 301265
Always willing to help, just ask for it...especially as I am creating twice as many ratlines as stipulated (thanks Johan and Sasha
She does look beautiful, doesn't she?I completed all the shroud rigging on the foremast's starboard side to make sure I could get through a complete set without too many mistakes, and to develop a system that I can apply to the remaining three sets of shrouds. Each set includes lower, futtock and topmast shrouds and all those nasty little ratlines in between. The futtock shrouds were the easiest of these, and I maintained the same 6mm spacing between ratlines that I applied to the lower shrouds.
View attachment 301263
The 6mm spacing also applied to the topmast shrouds, which yielded a total of twenty-one ratlines. Getting the ratlines installed correctly is a cinch once you get the hang of it, but maintaining a constant tension across the ropes is another story. Tie just one ratline too tight and your outer shroud lines are out of joint, and likely to collapse the tension in ratlines already installed. I tried rattling up and rattling down but found no real advantage either way. Ultimately, I think it just requires a lot of patience and tolerance
View attachment 301264
With one set of shrouds complete I can reflect on a few lessons learnt, and hopefully carry them forward to the remaining sets. Unfortunately AL does not provide enough .15mm black thread for this exercise, especially as I am creating twice as many ratlines as stipulated (thanks Johan and Sasha
View attachment 301265
When I ignore all the flaws that only I know about then yes, it is beautiful
That's exactly it, isn't it, only you know about the "flaws" or imperfections.When I ignore all the flaws that only I know about then yes, it is beautiful
Don't remind me... In a couple of months time I'll be doing those darling ratlines again...I thought you were joking about the 'three weeks to get them done' but I absolutely get it now
Step by step and line by line she is getting well rigged masts! She is looking more and more impressive and the lines have a nice contrast with the sails.I completed all the shroud rigging on the foremast's starboard side to make sure I could get through a complete set without too many mistakes, and to develop a system that I can apply to the remaining three sets of shrouds. Each set includes lower, futtock and topmast shrouds and all those nasty little ratlines in between. The futtock shrouds were the easiest of these, and I maintained the same 6mm spacing between ratlines that I applied to the lower shrouds.
View attachment 301263
The 6mm spacing also applied to the topmast shrouds, which yielded a total of twenty-one ratlines. Getting the ratlines installed correctly is a cinch once you get the hang of it, but maintaining a constant tension across the ropes is another story. Tie just one ratline too tight and your outer shroud lines are out of joint, and likely to collapse the tension in ratlines already installed. I tried rattling up and rattling down but found no real advantage either way. Ultimately, I think it just requires a lot of patience and tolerance
View attachment 301264
With one set of shrouds complete I can reflect on a few lessons learnt, and hopefully carry them forward to the remaining sets. Unfortunately AL does not provide enough .15mm black thread for this exercise, especially as I am creating twice as many ratlines as stipulated (thanks Johan and Sasha
View attachment 301265
Good morning Mark- ahh yes our flaws... I always view them as a reminder that “I built this.” Without them we would not have our personal “stamp” on our ship.When I ignore all the flaws that only I know about then yes, it is beautiful
Still going with the ratlines though. Lower and futtock shrouds all done, just the topmast shrouds to go. Keeping an even tension is a constant challenge for me, and your words ....
.... really did come back to haunt me! I thought you were joking about the 'three weeks to get them done' but I absolutely get it now
Johan, I just came across a post by Paul (@dockattner) where he talks about his ratline experience, a most worthwhile read, although you may have seen it alreadyDon't remind me... In a couple of months time I'll be doing those darling ratlines again...
Thanks Peter, I can see light at the end of the tunnel now. I'd better hurry up as well before you catch up with me
Spot on Heinrich, I have to keep reminding myself. It kinda goes against the way life works, where everything is a hurry and needs to be completed yesterday. Like when I was supposed to mow the lawn. Amongst so many other things, ship modelling has certainly taught me a lot of patience. And is still teaching me. I've lost count of how many times I've nearly cut through shroud lines when snipping away the excess ends of my ratlines
Thanks Grant, much appreciated
Yeah, saw his post. Will use that most definitely as starting point.Johan, I just came across a post by Paul (@dockattner) where he talks about his ratline experience, a most worthwhile read, although you may have seen it already
Click here to see the post.
Good morning Mark. Well done! She is a model you can be proud of for sure. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. It has been a pleasure to follow your progress to this end point.And just like that, after the better part of a year, my Bluenose II build finally came to an end. It was something of an anticlimax really, and it is strange to think that I no longer have anything on the ship to tinker around with. Perhaps it really is all in the journey
View attachment 304818
The ratlines kept me busy for at least a couple of weeks, and while I don't think I got them altogether correct, and had to re-do some of them more times than I care to remember, I'm glad they finally came to an end. All that remained was a dash of clear varnish to all the numerous blocks and dead-eyes around the ship, and, last of all, the coup de grâce, to affix two small wooden trucks to the very top of the masts.
View attachment 304819
I still need to create a stand for the ship as the one supplied in the kit is very flimsy and unreliable, and will either attempt to mount it on a wooden base with pedestals, or simply fashion a new stand based on the same design as the supplied one.
View attachment 304820
It has been a most rewarding experience building the Bluenose II schooner, and I recommend it highly for anyone starting out with this hobby. It has also been a great pleasure conversing with like-minded people on this SOS forum and I hope that it will continue in future builds. A big thank you to all those who took and interest in my build and kept me on the straight and narrow, your help and assistance is much appreciated
View attachment 304821
I am assuming that most ship modellers can't wait to begin their next model and in this I am no exception. I ordered Amati's HMS Fly from a hobby shop somewhere in Cornwall in the UK a few weeks ago, and, for the sake of keeping focused on the final stages of the Bluenose, resisted every urge and temptation to open the box just yet. Hopefully I can start a new build log with this magnificent ship in due course as well
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Congratulation Mark, with this beautiful build Bluenose. You can be pround of this result. The sails made her more impressive.And just like that, after the better part of a year, my Bluenose II build finally came to an end. It was something of an anticlimax really, and it is strange to think that I no longer have anything on the ship to tinker around with. Perhaps it really is all in the journey
View attachment 304818
The ratlines kept me busy for at least a couple of weeks, and while I don't think I got them altogether correct, and had to re-do some of them more times than I care to remember, I'm glad they finally came to an end. All that remained was a dash of clear varnish to all the numerous blocks and dead-eyes around the ship, and, last of all, the coup de grâce, to affix two small wooden trucks to the very top of the masts.
View attachment 304819
I still need to create a stand for the ship as the one supplied in the kit is very flimsy and unreliable, and will either attempt to mount it on a wooden base with pedestals, or simply fashion a new stand based on the same design as the supplied one.
View attachment 304820
It has been a most rewarding experience building the Bluenose II schooner, and I recommend it highly for anyone starting out with this hobby. It has also been a great pleasure conversing with like-minded people on this SOS forum and I hope that it will continue in future builds. A big thank you to all those who took and interest in my build and kept me on the straight and narrow, your help and assistance is much appreciated
View attachment 304821
I am assuming that most ship modellers can't wait to begin their next model and in this I am no exception. I ordered Amati's HMS Fly from a hobby shop somewhere in Cornwall in the UK a few weeks ago, and, for the sake of keeping focused on the final stages of the Bluenose, resisted every urge and temptation to open the box just yet. Hopefully I can start a new build log with this magnificent ship in due course as well
View attachment 304835
