Hey Steve-
Let me start by saying that if you're looking for strict adherence to scale, I may not be the best person to ask! I think it's pretty well-known that I don't generally bind myself to 100% accuracy....I'd estimate my ambition to be more like 60% :)
Anyway, that said, it's pretty easy to calculate scale for a 1/100 model. I *think* ratlines were spaced about 18 inches apart (though someone else may be better informed than I)...so at 100th scale, you're looking at .18" (18 divided by 100)...for me, I would round that up to .2, or 1/5th of an inch, and from there I would aim for just under 1/4"....Boom! That's what I'll be doing, and I won't lose any sleep over it. I think at 5mm, you're pretty darn close to right on.
Also, you could check the *ratline loom* or whatever that weaving contraption is that they include in the box, and see what they spacing is for the ratlines on it? Not that I would expect it to be 100% accurate, either. But now I'm interested, so I'll probably check through Anderson and Mondfeld's books this afternoon and see if 18" is correct or not. Hope that helps you somewhat?
Also, it's worth mentioning that I got a reminder post from Facebook yesterday that it was 4 years ago that I got my first ship model in the post from Amazon, it was a Revell Bonhomme Richard. Seems funny to think it's only been 4 years since I built my first ship...think I've done 7 or 8 ships since then, and it seems like a lot more time has passed.
Also, I'll have a progress update soon, I've gotten the mainstay and forestay assembled, and now I'm working on foremast shrouds and deadeyes...got a neat little jig made up to keep the deadeyes spaced, I'll post some pics soon.
Thanks!
DavidK
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Current Project: Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2
Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark
Next Up: ???