My wife has people come to deep clean the house periodically and they seem to hate ship models (they aren't too fond of my lighthouse models either). I have a couple of rigged boats that aren't in cases and I think they flog them with the duster or knock them over trying to dust underneath, despite asking them to stay away from them. As a result, I get some practice fixing up damaged models.
I've noticed that the lines typically break where they are knotted. During building or repair, I usually add a small drop of PVA glue on the knots to avoid slippage. In fact, they seem to break more often than I think is common, unless the house cleaners are really giving them the business. I have also seen lines that have fallen away with time. Twenty years ago I built a beginner rigged model on a lark and then didn't build anything again for some time. I have found it far from the cleaning action and I find lines that have broken and they always seem to fall apart at the knots or tackle.
Are knots or glued sections of lines more vulnerable to breakage? Is there something unique that I could be doing wrong? I have used both the nylon rope from the kit (the 20 yo model) and high quality aftermarket line from a reputable vendor. The lines are rigged taut, but not bending anything. Is a little shellac on the knots and maybe the lines themselves a better way forward?
I just started a kit for a brig with more extensive rigging and really don't want to have to pull out the belaying plan frequently to figure out where the lines go or untangle a fallen yard from the lines to completely redo a section.
I know. Strange topic. Advice, input, information, experience, and speculation would all be appreciated. And if that brig I started turns out, I'll be sure to put in a case, maybe with some plexiglass panels, located in a room that can be locked when the cleaners come.
Thanks in advance.
I've noticed that the lines typically break where they are knotted. During building or repair, I usually add a small drop of PVA glue on the knots to avoid slippage. In fact, they seem to break more often than I think is common, unless the house cleaners are really giving them the business. I have also seen lines that have fallen away with time. Twenty years ago I built a beginner rigged model on a lark and then didn't build anything again for some time. I have found it far from the cleaning action and I find lines that have broken and they always seem to fall apart at the knots or tackle.
Are knots or glued sections of lines more vulnerable to breakage? Is there something unique that I could be doing wrong? I have used both the nylon rope from the kit (the 20 yo model) and high quality aftermarket line from a reputable vendor. The lines are rigged taut, but not bending anything. Is a little shellac on the knots and maybe the lines themselves a better way forward?
I just started a kit for a brig with more extensive rigging and really don't want to have to pull out the belaying plan frequently to figure out where the lines go or untangle a fallen yard from the lines to completely redo a section.
I know. Strange topic. Advice, input, information, experience, and speculation would all be appreciated. And if that brig I started turns out, I'll be sure to put in a case, maybe with some plexiglass panels, located in a room that can be locked when the cleaners come.
Thanks in advance.
