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Clear Rigging instructions for the plastic 1/96-1/120 scale Cutty Sark

Steve777

Steve777

Joined
Feb 11, 2026
Messages
8
Points
3

Help! I am having a terrible time trying to find good, clear rigging instructions for my 1/120 IMAI Cutty Sark. The kit instructions are terrible and incomplete. I have George Campbell's drawings I got while I was at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, but they are hopelessly complex and I cannot use them....I don't see how anyone could. I bought the book "The Cutty Sark, the Last of the Famous Tea Clippers" by C. Nepean Longridge, but it would take a couple of years of study and work to try to figure things out how he has written about the rigging, since there is not much on diagrams. I bought the Mantua Model kit rigging instructions ($70 USD) and they are much clearer, but they too are far from complete. I have the book "Rigging Period Ship Models" by Lennarth Petersson, but that is not specific to the CS. I have the booklet titled Modelling the Cutty Sark by Edward Bowness, but that has ONE 5" x 8" entire ship rigging diagram and a few tiny 2" x 2" faded black and white pics. I have the Revell instructions, but they generally only cover only one side of the ship and they are not very clear either.

Isn't there ANY good running rigging instructions for this scale Cutty Sark? Anywhere?!
 
Hello Steve, I'm also currently building a 1/96 scale model of the Cutty Sark from Revel. I'm having the same problem. Even though I bought the full set of accessories from HIS Model and downloaded the instructions from their website, I still can't figure out the rigging. For example, I want to pre-install blocks on the yards and masts before installing them on the ship, but I can't figure out where to install them or how many. I'll have to resort to trial and error. And don't search online, because it's pointless. Unless someone from this forum decides to help us. I wish you success on your difficult journey.
 
Steve777 said:
Isn't there ANY good running rigging instructions for this scale Cutty Sark? Anywhere?!
Click to expand...
It sounds like you have a lot of documentation for sailing ship rigging.
The purpose, function and run of a particular line would be essentially the same no matter the ship. There would be little if anything that would be unique to the Cutty Sark. I would extrapolate from all of the information you have and do your best with regard to execution.

A common problem with kit rigging instructions is they are often wrong in some respects anyway, so using all those sources you have is your best approach.

When people ask for help, I am reluctant to send them off to spend more money, but if you want the best reference on Clipper rigging it would be:

MASTING AND RIGGING, The Clipper Ship & Ocean Carrier​

 
B.Bayramov said:
Hello Steve, I'm also currently building a 1/96 scale model of the Cutty Sark from Revel. I'm having the same problem. Even though I bought the full set of accessories from HIS Model and downloaded the instructions from their website, I still can't figure out the rigging. For example, I want to pre-install blocks on the yards and masts before installing them on the ship, but I can't figure out where to install them or how many. I'll have to resort to trial and error. And don't search online, because it's pointless. Unless someone from this forum decides to help us. I wish you success on your difficult journey.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's exactly where I am! Before installing all of the yards, I want to install blocks on them. I've concluded I'm just going to have to guess about number of blocks per yard. Now, since I posted my question about rigging, I did find one book that supposedly has better rigging instructions, called "Cutty Sark, Classic Ships History", by Hackney. On eBay in the U.S. it costs as much as $120.00 though. But I did find it on eBay in UK for 20 pounds, so I ordered it and awaiting its arrival. I'll try to remember to let you and others know how helpful it is.
 
TheGatzby said:
It sounds like you have a lot of documentation for sailing ship rigging.
The purpose, function and run of a particular line would be essentially the same no matter the ship. There would be little if anything that would be unique to the Cutty Sark. I would extrapolate from all of the information you have and do your best with regard to execution.

A common problem with kit rigging instructions is they are often wrong in some respects anyway, so using all those sources you have is your best approach.

When people ask for help, I am reluctant to send them off to spend more money, but if you want the best reference on Clipper rigging it would be:

MASTING AND RIGGING, The Clipper Ship & Ocean Carrier​

Click to expand...
Gatzby, thank you for this helpful suggestion. I did download this book and am looking through it.
 
The Masting and rigging of the Ocean carrier is by far the best all around book for clipper ship rigging.
I usually tell folks that ask that you need lifts to hold the yards level.
Braces to hold the yards at a sail angle or in most static display straight across the ship.
And sheets to hold the sails in place and for working just the sails.
That is all I usually put on any given clipper ship model.
More than that and it becomes a jumbled mess of lines, and frankly know one will notice if something is missing if just those aforementioned are rigged.
One little tidbit, the higher the yard the more aft the line goes to be belayed on deck.
That’s a pretty basic overview.
The Masting and rigging of the Ocean carrier book goes into much deeper knowledge than can be conveyed here.
it’s readily available used online.
 
Steve777 said:
Help! I am having a terrible time trying to find good, clear rigging instructions for my 1/120 IMAI Cutty Sark. The kit instructions are terrible and incomplete. I have George Campbell's drawings I got while I was at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, but they are hopelessly complex and I cannot use them....I don't see how anyone could. I bought the book "The Cutty Sark, the Last of the Famous Tea Clippers" by C. Nepean Longridge, but it would take a couple of years of study and work to try to figure things out how he has written about the rigging, since there is not much on diagrams. I bought the Mantua Model kit rigging instructions ($70 USD) and they are much clearer, but they too are far from complete. I have the book "Rigging Period Ship Models" by Lennarth Petersson, but that is not specific to the CS. I have the booklet titled Modelling the Cutty Sark by Edward Bowness, but that has ONE 5" x 8" entire ship rigging diagram and a few tiny 2" x 2" faded black and white pics. I have the Revell instructions, but they generally only cover only one side of the ship and they are not very clear either.

Isn't there ANY good running rigging instructions for this scale Cutty Sark? Anywhere?!
Click to expand...
I was going to recommend the Revell instructions but you say you already have them. To me the Revelle instructions are the best ones I have ever seen, However I don't know which set you have. There are two different sets for the Cutty Sark and one set is quite clear I think. I built that model back in the seventies and although it was confusing at first, it cleared up as I got more practice with it. Can you post a picture of the plans you have and the copyright date on them? Norgale
 
Norgale said:
I was going to recommend the Revell instructions but you say you already have them. To me the Revelle instructions are the best ones I have ever seen, However I don't know which set you have. There are two different sets for the Cutty Sark and one set is quite clear I think. I built that model back in the seventies and although it was confusing at first, it cleared up as I got more practice with it. Can you post a picture of the plans you have and the copyright date on them? Norgale
Click to expand...
Try searching the used bookstore market for C N Longridge’s book The Cutty Sark. It is a two volume set that describes building a model from scratch. The first volume covers the hull, the second covers the rigging.
 
Martin By Eye said:
Campbell's plans are not "hopelessly complex", they are just accurate. I find it a bit of an insult to such a fine draughtsman.
Click to expand...
I know he is renown as a draftsman, and I certainly did not mean any disrespect. But there are so many lines that crisscross across his drawings, I don't see how anyone could figure out where each line begins and ends.
 
Steve,
Just to give some examples of drawings in Masting and rigging of the ocean carriers.
Book is by Harold Underhill.
A very well detailed book.

IMG_5343.jpeg

IMG_5342.jpeg

IMG_5341.jpeg

IMG_5340.jpeg

IMG_5338.jpeg
 
Steve777 said:
I know he is renown as a draftsman, and I certainly did not mean any disrespect. But there are so many lines that crisscross across his drawings, I don't see how anyone could figure out where each line begins and ends.
Click to expand...
you are american so i believe you can read English. You have to read what is written on the plan. The routing is written in naval terminology , but i fail to see how it could be otherwise. You also have the immense bonus of having every single block and rope size clearly marked, which is of extreme rarity and value if you wish to learn something about accurate rigging. If you thought that the Cutty Sark would be a piece of cake to rigg then you are about to learn a lesson in patience and attention. Please be aware that there are myriad photo's available of this ship and it's rigging on the internet as it is still in existence, which largely simplifies the task of research.
 
Jerome said:
The Masting and rigging of the Ocean carrier is by far the best all around book for clipper ship rigging.
I usually tell folks that ask that you need lifts to hold the yards level.
Braces to hold the yards at a sail angle or in most static display straight across the ship.
And sheets to hold the sails in place and for working just the sails.
That is all I usually put on any given clipper ship model.
More than that and it becomes a jumbled mess of lines, and frankly know one will notice if something is missing if just those aforementioned are rigged.
One little tidbit, the higher the yard the more aft the line goes to be belayed on deck.
That’s a pretty basic overview.
The Masting and rigging of the Ocean carrier book goes into much deeper knowledge than can be conveyed here.
it’s readily available used online.
Click to expand...
Jerome, your reply is really helpful, because it guides me on the level of rigging that is practical. Thank you!
Martin By Eye said:
you are american so i believe you can read English. You have to read what is written on the plan. The routing is written in naval terminology , but i fail to see how it could be otherwise. You also have the immense bonus of having every single block and rope size clearly marked, which is of extreme rarity and value if you wish to learn something about accurate rigging. If you thought that the Cutty Sark would be a piece of cake to rigg then you are about to learn a lesson in patience and attention. Please be aware that there are myriad photo's available of this ship and it's rigging on the internet as it is still in existence, which largely simplifies the task of research.
Click to expand...
All good input, thank you. I certainly did not expect easy rigging installation....but that is part of the beauty of the ship.
 
First of all, do you intend to build the model with or without sails? This is important as there was much rigging that would be stored below decks when sails were not rigged; when the ship was waiting for cargo.

Without sails, each square sail yard would have: a halyard to raise and lower it. A pair of braces to swing it, and a pair of lifts to rotate it vertically. This is where a piece of paper instead of a computer screen comes in handy. Make Xerox’s copies of drawings in your chosen reference at the largest possible size without losing resolution. Get some colored pencils; a different color for each line. Trace each line that you intend to include on your model.


Roger
 
A few more for you Steve.
Note the yards are steel yards not wooden as would be on you model.

IMG_5334.jpeg

IMG_5335.jpeg

IMG_5336.jpeg

IMG_4205.jpeg

IMG_4206.jpeg
 
You’re most welcome Steve.
I strive to make everyone comfortable rigging a clipper ship type model.
Once you get it and understand how and why certain lines are there it makes it so easy to do.
I always try to have no lines twisting around other lines while leading down to the deck as well.
That takes patience and numerous redo’s but looks nice and neat upon completion.
If you have any questions please get in touch.
A side note:
I do restorations for a modest living.
I’ve rerigged many Flying Clouds and Cutty Sarks models of all shapes and sizes over the past couple decades and have learned a lot about clipper ships and there rigs.
 
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