HMS Fly Build (Amati) 1:64 by Nomad

Hi Mark,

Super job on the masts so far. It all looks really impressive. Looking forward to seeing the rigging going up - I guess next up will be the main braces and shrouds.

Dom
 
Super job on the masts so far. It all looks really impressive. Looking forward to seeing the rigging going up - I guess next up will be the main braces and shrouds.
Thanks Dom. When I finished the hull (mostly, anyway) I just assumed the next step would be the rigging. I had no idea the masts and particularly the yards required so much attention and I have been poring over many videos of how best to attach blocks to spars without it looking like a dog's breakfast. It has been slow progress for sure, but I don't mind too much when I consider the sure-fire trials and tribulations of the rigging yet to come Redface
 
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_1.jpg

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_2.jpg

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_3.jpg

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_4.jpg

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_5.jpg

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_6.jpg

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_7.jpg

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black-and-white and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_8.jpg

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_9.jpg

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

20241123_sydney_darling_harbour_oosterschelde_10.jpg

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
 
Last edited:
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

View attachment 486487

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

View attachment 486488

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

View attachment 486489

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

View attachment 486490

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

View attachment 486491

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

View attachment 486492

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

View attachment 486493

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black and white, and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

View attachment 486494

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

View attachment 486495

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

View attachment 486496

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
Wonderful pictures of a wonderful trip on a wonderful (Dutch) schooner, Mark. Thanks for sharing!.
Regards, Peter
 
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

View attachment 486487

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

View attachment 486488

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

View attachment 486489

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

View attachment 486490

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

View attachment 486491

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

View attachment 486492

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

View attachment 486493

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black and white, and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

View attachment 486494

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

View attachment 486495

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

View attachment 486496

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
Super pictures Mark, The Oosterchelde is a really nice looking ship - what a great way to spend a day! Really like the James Craig, very similar hull lines to the Cutty Sark and they would have certainly been together when the Cutty Sark was sailing down to Australia on the wool runs.
 
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

View attachment 486487

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

View attachment 486488

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

View attachment 486489

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

View attachment 486490

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

View attachment 486491

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

View attachment 486492

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

View attachment 486493

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black and white, and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

View attachment 486494

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

View attachment 486495

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

View attachment 486496Good

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
Good morning Mark. I'm glad to see you are alive and kicking. I know the feeling, my Bounty has also been in the doldrums for the past few months. I thought that was a pic of you riding the horses out on the yard and then realised it is a youngster not a "toppie" ROTF. Cool trip and photos. Cheers Grant
 
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

View attachment 486487

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

View attachment 486488

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

View attachment 486489

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

View attachment 486490

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

View attachment 486491

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

View attachment 486492

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

View attachment 486493

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black and white, and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

View attachment 486494

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

View attachment 486495

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

View attachment 486496

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
Great Pictures Mark!
 
The HMS Fly shipyard has been in sad neglect over the past couple of months on account of numerous other unimportant things, but I do hope to get back on board as soon as possible.

I did however have a chance to sail on the Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde in Sydney Harbour this past weekend. It was a memorable experience and only cost me an outing to a musical with the Admiral the night before :)

For the history buffs the Oosterschelde is a three-masted schooner from the Netherlands, built in 1918, and currently on a cruise around the world. She is apparently the only remaining Dutch three-masted topsail schooner. Her home port is in Rotterdam.

I have attached a few pictures of my cruise in Sydney Harbour ...

View attachment 486487

Trying to throw an experienced-mariner pose. It failed.

View attachment 486488

Seen behind the Oosterschelde is the James Craig, a three-masted, 19th century iron-hulled barque.

View attachment 486489

I desperately wanted to climb the ratlines and skirt along the footropes, but I was obliged to leave that to the real sailors.

View attachment 486490

It helped that we had picture-perfect weather in Sydney for the occasion.

View attachment 486491

Study it as I might, I still could not work out how all the rigging worked. They did however allow me to help hoist three of the ship's sails, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be and I had to nurse an aching arm or two at the end of it all.

View attachment 486492

An inland breeze carried us along at about 4 - 5 knots apparently. Quite slow in comparison to all the other glitzy boats in the harbour, but none of them were nearly as impressive looking :cool:

View attachment 486493

The Oosterschelde and James Craig cross paths. Take away the skyline, reduce the colour to black-and-white and we'd be right back in the 19th century.

View attachment 486494

Returning to the point at which our cruise started, with the replica of the Endeavour at the far end of Darling Harbour.

View attachment 486495

The Oosterschelde is something of a working ship, despite the touristy cruises they offer to supplement funds, and I spent a lot of time watching, in admiration, the crew who by force of habit knew exactly where to go and what to do. A most worthwhile experience :)

View attachment 486496

Thanks for checking in :)

Mark
Can't say I'm not jealous...
 
When I noticed barnacles forming under the hull of my much-neglected HMS Fly I knew that I'd been away from the shipyard too long, and I was relieved to pick up where I'd left off a couple of months ago and continue with the rigging of this fine vessel.

Of course, I thought that the completion of the hull was the starting point for all things rigging, and that I'd be laying all manner of lines and ropes that make up the cobweb of rigging on this ship, little thinking of all the numerous blocks that first need to be fitted to the yards and masts :oops:

1330_20250401_hms_fly.jpg

Rigging the blocks to the yards and masts was reasonably straightforward. I discovered various techniques for fastening a block to a spar, most of which attempt to do two things: to minimise the size of the knot or seizing around the block so that it does not look ungainly, and to ensure that the block aligns appropriately with the rope to which it is seized.

The same applied to the footropes installed under the yards. The trick here being to give each footrope a reasonable amount of slack to make it look authentic, and to ensure that the same amount of slack is applied to each footrope on either side of the yard.

1335_20250401_hms_fly.jpg

All of the masts and spars are still very loosely attached at this stage; one good shake and it'll look like a game of pick-up-sticks :)

Each yard has been fitted with a brass pin in the centre to connect it to its mast. This was done to confirm the arrangement and positioning of the yards, although I suspect they will become a permanent feature later on to provide stability during the rigging process.

1340_20250401_hms_fly.jpg

Thanks for checking in :)
Mark
 
When I noticed barnacles forming under the hull of my much-neglected HMS Fly I knew that I'd been away from the shipyard too long, and I was relieved to pick up where I'd left off a couple of months ago and continue with the rigging of this fine vessel.

Of course, I thought that the completion of the hull was the starting point for all things rigging, and that I'd be laying all manner of lines and ropes that make up the cobweb of rigging on this ship, little thinking of all the numerous blocks that first need to be fitted to the yards and masts :oops:

View attachment 511015

Rigging the blocks to the yards and masts was reasonably straightforward. I discovered various techniques for fastening a block to a spar, most of which attempt to do two things: to minimise the size of the knot or seizing around the block so that it does not look ungainly, and to ensure that the block aligns appropriately with the rope to which it is seized.

The same applied to the footropes installed under the yards. The trick here being to give each footrope a reasonable amount of slack to make it look authentic, and to ensure that the same amount of slack is applied to each footrope on either side of the yard.

View attachment 511016

All of the masts and spars are still very loosely attached at this stage; one good shake and it'll look like a game of pick-up-sticks :)

Each yard has been fitted with a brass pin in the centre to connect it to its mast. This was done to confirm the arrangement and positioning of the yards, although I suspect they will become a permanent feature later on to provide stability during the rigging process.

View attachment 511017

Thanks for checking in :)
Mark
Hi Nomad
She looks very nice and is an excellent presentation of your patience and workmanship.I also started with the rigging of La Couronne therefore I studied your detailed photos but i couldn’t get rid of the question why you attached a dead eye instead a normal block to the yard ends on the bowspirit shown in attachment with an arrow. Amati model ia normal block attached
Regards

IMG_7118.jpeg

IMG_7117.jpeg
 
When I noticed barnacles forming under the hull of my much-neglected HMS Fly I knew that I'd been away from the shipyard too long, and I was relieved to pick up where I'd left off a couple of months ago and continue with the rigging of this fine vessel.

Of course, I thought that the completion of the hull was the starting point for all things rigging, and that I'd be laying all manner of lines and ropes that make up the cobweb of rigging on this ship, little thinking of all the numerous blocks that first need to be fitted to the yards and masts :oops:

View attachment 511015

Rigging the blocks to the yards and masts was reasonably straightforward. I discovered various techniques for fastening a block to a spar, most of which attempt to do two things: to minimise the size of the knot or seizing around the block so that it does not look ungainly, and to ensure that the block aligns appropriately with the rope to which it is seized.

The same applied to the footropes installed under the yards. The trick here being to give each footrope a reasonable amount of slack to make it look authentic, and to ensure that the same amount of slack is applied to each footrope on either side of the yard.

View attachment 511016

All of the masts and spars are still very loosely attached at this stage; one good shake and it'll look like a game of pick-up-sticks :)

Each yard has been fitted with a brass pin in the centre to connect it to its mast. This was done to confirm the arrangement and positioning of the yards, although I suspect they will become a permanent feature later on to provide stability during the rigging process.

View attachment 511017

Thanks for checking in :)
Mark
Good to see you back, Mark. Nice rigging and pictures with a great perspective!
Regards, Peter
 
.... but i couldn’t get rid of the question why you attached a dead eye instead a normal block to the yard ends on the bowspirit shown in attachment with an arrow. Amati model ia normal block attached.
Hi Korsan,

Wow great eyesight to pick that one up! :)

I re-checked my ship plans and sure enough, the instructions call for a deadeye at either end of the spritsail yard...

spritsail yard.jpg

Mind you, there is a normal block next to the deadeye on either end of the yard as well, which is visible in the diagram above but not in the photo that I took. Perhaps the confusion lay there...

Cheers,
Mark
 
Looks great Mark and your photos really show off your excellent work. I’m hoping to get into pre-rigging soon so I’m presently heavy into reading various books. Can’t find much on attaching barnacles though ROTF.
 
Assuming these are the standing lifts, they had deadeyes rigged at times, but they were not at the yard arm as in the drawing above. They were about a quarter of the way in from each yard arm according to James Lees' The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, page 100. In Steel's The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship page 196 he states the standing lift has an eye spliced in one end, and lashes to the yard one-fourth from the slings; the other end has a thimble spliced in, and is set up with a laniard to a thimble spliced in a strap that goes round the bowsprit within the bees. Whether you go with the deadeyes or thimbles, they would have been farther in from the yard arm than the drawing above if Lees and Steel are correct.
Allan
 
Assuming these are the standing lifts, they had deadeyes rigged at times, but they were not at the yard arm as in the drawing above. They were about a quarter of the way in from each yard arm according to James Lees' The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War, page 100. In Steel's The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship page 196 he states the standing lift has an eye spliced in one end, and lashes to the yard one-fourth from the slings; the other end has a thimble spliced in, and is set up with a laniard to a thimble spliced in a strap that goes round the bowsprit within the bees. Whether you go with the deadeyes or thimbles, they would have been farther in from the yard arm than the drawing above if Lees and Steel are correct.
Allan
Hi Allan
Is it possible to attach a picture of that mentioned assembly
 
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