Order of Rigging

I put all the lower mast's in , then your fore, main , mizzen stay's , then the shroud's , fore to mizzen , and rat line's , I find this give's you a very steady base , then work up , fore to mizzen .

What Steve mentioned is stuff called the standing rigging.  It is permanent and usually tarred, so it is the black rigging.  The white or tan stuff is called the running rigging, which are the lines used daily to run the ship.  The normal order is to do all the standing stuff first, then move on to the running rigging.

This will not prevent all tricky conflicts- the lines for a lot of the running rigging terminates near the mast on the decks, and this area can be a little hard to get to when the standing rigging is in place, but the general rule above does simplify life.

I fully concur with Steve and Don. I also recommend having good references for rigging.  The rigging plans usually provided by kit manufacturers are frequently very general and incorrect. Also, it is important to understand that different nations generally had their preferred techniques, and that techniques varied between time periods. But, there are general similiarities as well.  For example, British and French parrels differed in detail, but a parrel had the same purpose in both navies. Running rigging often attaches to belaying pins in the 18th and 19th centuries, but belaying pins were not common in the 17th century and before.

There are many references that you can use for rigging, but be sure to match references to the period and nationality of the ship you are rigging if possible.

Bill Morrison

Good tips.
Thank you all!

Jim,

I will send a list or references if you would like later today. I have one book that contains detailed drawings of all aspects of rigging.

Bill

Add to the above a very general rule that it helps on ships to work "up and out", and that a lot of folks work "front to back".

So that'd be standing before running, up and out, front to back. Got it?

Hmm;

 Good advice " G "  Even on modern ships there's a way to do this .Hull , deck , Houses and then Hardware . Then What rigging there is . Now , there is the step of rigging the lifeboats .That is only for ships before rescue Pods !

warshipguy

Jim,

I will send a list or references if you would like later today. I have one book that contains detailed drawings of all aspects of rigging.

Bill

 

bill

 could I ask what book would that be please .

Okay, here goes . . .

1. Historic Ship Models by Wolfram zu Mondfeld

2. The Rigging of Ships in the Days of the Spritsail Topmast, 1600-1720 (mostly text with limited pictures)

3. The Art of Rigging by George Biddlecombe (mostly 19th century, text and illustrations)

4. Rigging Period Ship Models by Lennarth Petersson (all detail drawings - MOST Highly Recommended)

5. The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War by James Lees (Text and illustrations)

6. Eighteenth-Century Rigs & Rigging by Karl Heinz Marquardt (Text and illustrations)

I hope that this short list helps!

Bill

Thank you Bill.

I vary abit from Steve.

I set shrouds first, then stays going forward.

This emulates the way the lines lay upon the mast.

So, I'm actually going bottom to top.

I also do not set the ratlines in the shrouds, as that leave the spaces between the shrouds more free to set running rigging through. 

I also set running rigging "backwards," starting from the belaying pin and then going aloft to the bitter end of the line.

Just my 2¢

Shipwreck

So when is a good time to install the masts?

That's going to get a bunch of different answers.

Ideally, after you are finished fiddling about with the hull and after the uppermost deck is installed.

For me, the masts are in and out through out hull construction.  This to check rake of the masts, and also to track how much the chainplate reinforcements moulded into the hull are off line (some is pretty typical).  Also, stowing the masts in the hull between building sessions is a handy way to kepp them out of mischeif.

My 2¢

If the design of the kit allows it, erect the masts in steps.

Mast (lower if there are multiples), top and topgallant.

GMorrison

If the design of the kit allows it, erect the masts in steps.

Mast (lower if there are multiples), top and topgallant.

 

Definitely.  Keeps the more fragile upper masts out of the way while you work the lower ones.  Rig the standing rigging on the lower masts before you add the topmasts, etc.

I always try to get the standing rigging done before installing the yards and running rigging.

Bill

Good day, 

Shipwreck,

by my experience , better do it as You suggested -first, standing rigging, than  ,yards installation...I would like to add - with sail and all possible blocks and running rigging attached to the yard in advance!

All the best!

ps

personaly , I used to rigg masts one by one ...everything ...standing ,sails,running rigging ,try to rigg as much ropes as possible...when one mast entire completed  , than next could be started....

this rigging sequence  provide more free space around mast for rigging works...

Kirill

Jim,

There is a fantastic thread over on that www.modelshipworld.com of a scratch build of HMS Pandora in which the builder has just started his rigging.  May I recommend that you check it out?  He is doing a wonderful job.

Bill

Bill,
Your link does not work and I can't find anything searching for it. Would you have a better link?
Thank you

Jim,

I don't know why the link isn't working. I tried it and it doesn't work for me either.  However, it does work if you simply type it in a web search.  You can also access it by doing a search for the Nautical Research Guild and click into Model Ship World Forums at the top of the page.  From there, simply click into the Scratch-Built section and the  Pandora.

Please let me know if you still can't find it.

Bill

Bill,
I may have found it, however, whatever I found it says that I do not permission to view there.

Jim,

You might have to create an account.  If you like, I'll try to find out for you.

Bill

warshipguy

You might have to create an account.

This is a much needed post,a lot of us,myself included,  get frustrated at rigging because there is so much to do and its the monotony of it also. I will keep a close eye on this!

Bill,

I'm not sure if this is the thread you are talking about but give this link a try.

Steve

https://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/7073-pandora-by-marsalv-152/&

Jim,

There is no membership fee to access and use the forums. The $50.00 fee is to join the Nautical Research Guild.  The Forums are associated with the Guild, but it is not necessary to join in order to create an account for the forums.

Bill

OK, got 'er done! That was like pulling eye teeth! 
Thank you all for your patience.