Rigging Calculator

[BRadek]

Hello everyone,

we would like to share a new free online tool we have just released at HiSModel.
It is a Rigging Calculator that helps modelers determine the correct rope diameters and block sizes for historic ship models.

When is it useful?

• Especially when the ship plans do not provide information about rigging dimensions.
• It gives orientation values that can serve as a practical guide when choosing ropes and blocks.

What do you need?

• The scale of your model.
• The diameter of the main mast at the deck level.
• The historical period of the original ship on which the model is based.

How does it work?

• Enter the required values.
• The calculator provides rope diameters and block sizes suitable for your ship model.
• The calculations are based on the authoritative reference:
  Wolfram zu Mondfeld — Historic Ship Models.

We believe this tool will be useful both for beginners (who may lack access to detailed rigging data) and for advanced modelers (as a quick reference). All the funcitonalities are described in the help section of the app.

click to try RIGGING CALCULATOR

We would be glad if you try it out and share your feedback!

We are fully aware that this calculation provides only rough values and that there are additional criteria needed for more precise data. At the moment, these are not available to us and we prefer not to “make up” any numbers. If you know of any literature containing detailed tables that could help refine the calculation, we would greatly appreciate your recommendations.

 

[AllanKP69]

Nicely done! Thank you very much for sharing your work.
Allan

 

[serikoff]

I think this will be useful for you to compare results.
The Table is prepared according to book by Mr. Mondfeld - The Historic ship models too.

 

[BRadek]

I think this will be useful for you to compare results.
The Table is prepared according to book by Mr. Mondfeld - The Historic ship models too.

Yes, this is the table we created years ago and which we used as a basis for creating this application, so the values should be correct. In addition, we have added a conversion to the size of blocks/deadeyes.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Great app, makes it easier than reading the big excel file.

 

[RogerD]

Well laid out and easy to use. This is going to be very useful, thanks.

 

[Baco]

Many thanks!

 

[AllanKP69]

• The diameter of the main mast at the deck level.

Which deck would this be? The mast tapers to a smaller diameter as it goes up and it also gets smaller in diameter as it goes down after passing through the area of the upper deck and continues to get smaller in diameter at the lowest decks.
Thanks
Allan

 

[BRadek]

Which deck would this be? The mast tapers to a smaller diameter as it goes up and it also gets smaller in diameter as it goes down after passing through the area of the upper deck and continues to get smaller in diameter at the lowest decks.
Thanks
Allan

Yes in the HELP section of the app it is specified that mast diameter is measured "at the foot of the mast on the main deck".

 

[AllanKP69]

What is the main deck? There are many decks, including the orlop, gun deck, middle gun deck, upper gun deck, quarter deck and forecastle depending on the rating of the ship. I have not found any scantlings in the Establishments, Steel, or other contemporary sources that call anything a main deck, at least on English ships of war. The foot of the mast is at the mast step on the keel and is much smaller in diameter than where it passes through the decks. I realize this is all about terminology thus the confusion. I am guessing it is supposed to be the upper deck. Thanks
Allan

 

[BRadek]

The term “main deck” on historical sailing ships is fairly well-defined, but its exact meaning can vary slightly depending on the type and size of the ship:

On smaller ships (frigates, brigs, corvettes, schooners, etc.):
The “main deck” is simply the highest continuous deck – the one you walk on, where the guns are mounted, and from which the masts and sails are operated.

On large ships of the line (e.g., three-deckers):
The “main deck” usually refers to the highest of the gun decks – the one that runs continuously from bow to stern. Above it, there are the quarterdeck (aft deck) and forecastle (forward deck), which are raised and do not extend the full length of the ship.