Manlines (Now w/Pics for your opinion)

in the fishing supply store or Walmart I guess try looking for SpiderWire and see if that works for you.  WS

Possibly a Craft or Bead Store.  They have Beading Wire.  It is a multi -strand stainless steel wire for stringing beads and comes in different thicknesses.  It may have a plastic coating though that might make it unusable.  I haven't used it, but I see it in the stores.  Just an idea.

Years back, there used to be a braided line called "Squid Line" sold in the fishing dept. of sports stores. It came in a lot of sizes and also came in mostly white but some sizes were available in black too. Don't know if it is still available or not but worth a try. I haven't gone fishing in more years than some of you have been alive. My wife also uses various sizes of braided line in her business making window treatments. It is available at places like Joanne Fabrics, and also on line at supply houses for window treatment supplies. It's called "Lift Cord" and is used for the rollers on window shades. Hope this helps.

Jim

Cat whiskers...

Okay, I just have to ask- what are manlines?

Don Stauffer

Okay, I just have to ask- what are manlines?

Same as manropes I suppose? i.e use of rope to provide a rail- usually on a gangways, or through removable stanchions. I seem to vaguely remember learning a manrope knot, a bit like a turks head, but I might be making that up?

In the Europe 'Mann Lines' is a large ro-ro freight operator!

Anyway- sorry about the silliness!

I would chose whatever material complemented the type of model portrayed. Even if over scale, I would use natural fibre rigging thread on a pre- mid 20th century prototype. For the Late 20th century, I would agree with others that jewellry beading wire is probably a good bet. You haven't said what scale you're modelling at?

Will

Perhaps you mean man rope?

Man ropes

Man ropes are attached to the spanner guy which runs from one davit head to the other. On these ropes at three foot intervals are knots to enable seamen to climb down the man rope and into the boat. The main use of the man rope is for the men who are in the boat while it is being lowered, to hold on to, should the boat capsize when it hits the water, or up end in the process of lowering.

Gold Medal Models, among others, make photoetched spanner guys with man-ropes for the davit assemblies on some 1:350 scale ship models.

You can try twisting 4 or 5 strands of 0.025" piano wire for the right approximate scale. You'll have to anneal the wire by heating it red hot and letting it cool slowly. Any good hobby shop should have the wire. I've done similarly. Looks good.

You should be able to buy the wire already anealed look in the craft section of Hobby Lobby by the beading supplies.

I was going through all my left over pieces looking for something to make cleats out of and lo and behold i came across a spool of tan rigging line from an old Cutty Sark kit (Academy 1/150). 

It appears to be a size I can work with.  So, the plan is to do a dry fit to see what it looks like and go from there. 

I will post a picture and get y'alls opinion.

Before this:  I was using individual wires from a cat5 cable (network cable).  Its thin enough where I can actually spin a 3 strand line out of it.  the only problem is it breaks too easy.  I've gone through quite a few for just a 10 inch line.

I am hopeful that the rigging line will do the job.

Below are two pictures of the dry fit.  What do you guys think (never mind the paint that is still WIP)?

Don Stauffer

Okay, I just have to ask- what are manlines?

Don, I am sorry I missed your question.  Man-lines or more commonly known as life-lines are ship rails consisting of rope, cable, or chain held with stanchions. 

I should have tilted this thread life-lines instead. I appologize for the confusion everyone.

It may be that you could tighten it so that the bends and kinks go away. Then so far as can be seen from your photo it would appear acceptable. Otherwise I would definitely go with wire that would retain its straightness. I don't care for the way it looks as is.

Oh I so agree with you Rich.  I plan on tightening the line all the way across or replace it with wire as you suggeted. The pictures and dry fit were more for scale comparison than anything else.

Thank you for your input Rich.  I value you guys' opinion.

I don't know what specific boat you are modelling, but if the life-lines are (in the prototype) actually rope or nylon, then there should be a slight caternary (downward curve) in between each set of stanchions. Or, if the proto has tight lines, then there would be a half-hitch or some type of securing done with the line around each stanchion. At least, that's the way I have seen them on real boats

stenscience

I don't know what specific boat you are modelling, but if the life-lines are (in the prototype) actually rope or nylon, then there should be a slight caternary (downward curve) in between each set of stanchions. Or, if the proto has tight lines, then there would be a half-hitch or some type of securing done with the line around each stanchion. At least, that's the way I have seen them on real boats

Ah... funny you bring that up (caternary ).  The model is based on old photos of the proto.  Some photos show the rail with cable, tight lines.  Another photo uses nylon, also tight.  Yet another photo also using nylon has caternaries.  The official design prints from the USCG uses tight cable or lines (the look I am going after).

I am building the Glencoe 1/48 US Coast Guard Rescue Boat.  Being that the model is not, what I call, a good model out of the box; I have been making a lot of  modifications.

That said I have to make my own stanchions because the ones included in the kit are wrong and off scale. The reason for the posted pictures was mainly for scale comparisons of the lines. 

I will be really interested ti see the finished build, as I have only just ordered this very same model today.  From what you have said it looks like I will have to be doing a lot of alterations.

Dave

DRJN

I will be really interested ti see the finished build, as I have only just ordered this very same model today.  From what you have said it looks like I will have to be doing a lot of alterations.

 

Dave

Hi Dave, in my opinion this is not a good kit right out of the box.  However, the potential is there, with a little patience and guidance, from these fine folks, this model can look great.

*EDIT - This boat is part of the Official No After Market GB.  You can take a look at that thread of WIP and hopefully the finished product soon.

Depending on the time frame, the lines could be manila line.

"You have to go out, you don't have to come back"

Those are some good pics, thanks