Sweet! Yeah, it's funny how much activity we're seeing on this thread....I confess, most of the posts are from me...I tend to go on at times! :)
Your kit is looking pretty good, Paul!
Tell you what....don't even worry about going slow....two of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard from experienced shipbuilders are 1- take your time, and 2- have fun. I tend to get caught up in making progress sometimes, and I've made serious mistakes because of it...I always remind myself to take a couple day off here and there, and to wait until I fully understand the how and why of a step before I make it. Better to move slowly and enjoy the process, than to hurry through it, and then regret it later.
Anyways,
I agree about the gunport door support pieces...take them out and drill holes for the line. For one thing (and I didn't do this, or notice it until after), once the channels are on, some of the chain plates (that run below it) are SUPER close to the aforementioned gundoor supports...I think a few of them are actually touching the I 22s...I don't know that I'll even be able to tie a line around them now....possibly, I'll just leave the gunport rigging off, unless I can find a way *around* the chainplates.
Running the line through the hull would have been a simpler alternative, especially if I'd considered it before assembling the hull halves...easy to tie them off from inside (like the anchor cord) and then just attach them to the gundoors later. I'm on step 31 now, and that gives me 5 steps to figure out how to approach the "gundoor conundrum"....has a nice ring to it, eh? :)
Meanwhile, I've been practicing some Bowsprit gammoning on a little rig I made from some sprue parts, but I can't seem to get the *X* looking just right...maybe I'll get it tonight...then it's on to the little boat! Ladders, sculptures, and a Swan...then it's gundoor time....won't be long before mast assembly, and then
(dramatic pause)
....Some Standing Rigging!
You'll be SOOO glad you got the wax, man....you should try to rig a line without it first, just so you'll know how much better it can be!
And Kudos for going back to the ship club....wish I had a local club, wood-builds or not...I'd totally show up!