The shipyard was re-opened again after a very extensive break, and after a few foggy moments I remembered where I'd got to and resumed work on the three masts of my HMS Fly. The topmasts were cut and filed to shape, bolstered into the topmast trestletrees and fitted with fids to secure their position on the mast assemblies.
With the topmasts in place the various blocks and cleats could be installed and the paintwork completed. A dull black paint is applied to the sections between the bottom of the bibs and mast caps of the lower masts, and between the lower end of the hounds to the topmast caps of the topmasts.
The masts and everything attached to them are only dry-fitted at this stage. I am not entirely sure whether I will need to detach the topmasts in order to sling the loops of the lower shrouds over the top of the masts, or whether I will be able to do all that with the full masts in place. These are decisions that wear me down and can wait until another day
I followed a prescribed method of attaching the blocks and deadeyes to the masts which worked quite well, although a fair degree of patience is required especially for those elusive little 3mm blocks
The bowsprit, lower masts and topmasts go a long way to making my Fly look a lot more like a ship now
Thanks for checking in.
Mark
With the topmasts in place the various blocks and cleats could be installed and the paintwork completed. A dull black paint is applied to the sections between the bottom of the bibs and mast caps of the lower masts, and between the lower end of the hounds to the topmast caps of the topmasts.
The masts and everything attached to them are only dry-fitted at this stage. I am not entirely sure whether I will need to detach the topmasts in order to sling the loops of the lower shrouds over the top of the masts, or whether I will be able to do all that with the full masts in place. These are decisions that wear me down and can wait until another day
I followed a prescribed method of attaching the blocks and deadeyes to the masts which worked quite well, although a fair degree of patience is required especially for those elusive little 3mm blocks
The bowsprit, lower masts and topmasts go a long way to making my Fly look a lot more like a ship now
Thanks for checking in.
Mark
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Nothing too serious, I hope?
Hi Johan ... no, just the after effects of a very long holiday
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Hey Mark,
For my Bluenose I first pre-assembled the masts, before stepping them and starting the rigging process. Still clearly remember being anxious about the vulnerability of these fragile looking masts. Maybe look ahead into the build instructions and identify any issues you might encounter with either option.
For sure Johan, I think that's the most sensible approach. I also remember with my BNII that sequence was everything when it came to the masts. Thanks!
Hi, It looks well, but I hope that you have NOT glued the mast together at this moment, as you will have a lot of difficulties adding the Throuds glued the mast parts- only Dry fitted - if not you will have a lot of problems ADDING the SHROUDS to each mast- mainly the lover mastsThe shipyard was re-opened again after a very extensive break and, after a few foggy moments of memory loss I resumed work on the three masts of my HMS Fly. The topmasts were cut and filed to shape, bolstered into the topmast trestletrees and fitted with fids to secure their position on the mast assemblies.
View attachment 461779
With the topmasts in place the various blocks and cleats could be installed and the paintwork completed. A dull black paint is applied to the sections between the bottom of the bibs and mast caps of the lower masts, and between the lower end of the hounds to the topmast caps of the topmasts.
View attachment 461780
The masts and everything attached to them are only dry-fitted at this stage. I am not entirely sure whether I will need to detach the topmasts in order to sling the loops of the lower shrouds over the top of the masts, or whether I will be able to do all that with the full masts in place. These are decisions that wear me down and can wait until another day
View attachment 461781
I followed a prescribed method of attaching the blocks and deadeyes to the masts which worked quite well, although a fair degree of patience is required especially for those elusive little 3mm blocks
View attachment 461782
The bowsprit, lower masts and topmasts go a long way to making my Fly look a lot more like a ship now
View attachment 461783
Thanks for checking in.
Mark
Hi Mark, she is a fine looking model! On the Vasa I installed the shrouds before adding each subsequent (higher) mast segment. The shrouds are generally doubled so it is easier to install the 'loop' over the top of the mast than it is to do that work in situ.
Your work looks wonderful ! I hope my Fly turns out half that level of quality !
JUST COME BACK AND ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS - API
A very good morning to you Mark. Good to see you back in the shipyard. Your FLY is quality. Each of us have our own ways of doing the mast assembly. On my Victory I assembled them off the ship after doing as much of the preparation and blocking as possible. Personally I struggle working with detail when parts are on the ship and I found getting the alignment easier off the ship. Paul is correct about the shrouds tho if you want to finish the loops off accurately. Good to have you back. Cheers GrantThe shipyard was re-opened again after a very extensive break and, after a few foggy moments of memory loss I remembered where I'd got to and resumed work on the three masts of my HMS Fly. The topmasts were cut and filed to shape, bolstered into the topmast trestletrees and fitted with fids to secure their position on the mast assemblies.
View attachment 461779
With the topmasts in place the various blocks and cleats could be installed and the paintwork completed. A dull black paint is applied to the sections between the bottom of the bibs and mast caps of the lower masts, and between the lower end of the hounds to the topmast caps of the topmasts.
View attachment 461780
The masts and everything attached to them are only dry-fitted at this stage. I am not entirely sure whether I will need to detach the topmasts in order to sling the loops of the lower shrouds over the top of the masts, or whether I will be able to do all that with the full masts in place. These are decisions that wear me down and can wait until another day
View attachment 461781
I followed a prescribed method of attaching the blocks and deadeyes to the masts which worked quite well, although a fair degree of patience is required especially for those elusive little 3mm blocks
View attachment 461782
The bowsprit, lower masts and topmasts go a long way to making my Fly look a lot more like a ship now
View attachment 461783
Thanks for checking in.
Mark
It’s good to see new activities on the yard, Mark. With the masts she showing her appearance very well.The shipyard was re-opened again after a very extensive break and, after a few foggy moments of memory loss I remembered where I'd got to and resumed work on the three masts of my HMS Fly. The topmasts were cut and filed to shape, bolstered into the topmast trestletrees and fitted with fids to secure their position on the mast assemblies.
View attachment 461779
With the topmasts in place the various blocks and cleats could be installed and the paintwork completed. A dull black paint is applied to the sections between the bottom of the bibs and mast caps of the lower masts, and between the lower end of the hounds to the topmast caps of the topmasts.
View attachment 461780
The masts and everything attached to them are only dry-fitted at this stage. I am not entirely sure whether I will need to detach the topmasts in order to sling the loops of the lower shrouds over the top of the masts, or whether I will be able to do all that with the full masts in place. These are decisions that wear me down and can wait until another day
View attachment 461781
I followed a prescribed method of attaching the blocks and deadeyes to the masts which worked quite well, although a fair degree of patience is required especially for those elusive little 3mm blocks
View attachment 461782
The bowsprit, lower masts and topmasts go a long way to making my Fly look a lot more like a ship now
View attachment 461783
Thanks for checking in.
Mark
By the Bluenoses the most of use installed the shrouds on the full masts. Each order has his pros and cons.
Regards, Peter
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Good to see, that you are back on your model - looking very good
Thanks for the tips and diagrams El Capi, much appreciated
Thanks Paul, that sounds like very good advice to live by
I'm sure it will Jeff! I'm just good at hiding all the flaws
Thanks Grant, advice much appreciated. The Fly's rigging looks like macrame on steroids and I think I'm going to battle with the rigging either way, on or off the ship
Very true, thanks Peter