Rigging period ship models

  I literally stumbled across this book at the iHobby show in Rosemont, Il. last weekend. It has everything I need to rig my HMS Surprise (movie version), and I would recommend it as a required addition to any research library. 

Actually, I must commend Revell.  The rigging instructions with the Constitution kit are extremely faithful to what the book shows.  So don't feel too bad.  Where the book comes in handy is for those modellers that are so nit-picky that they have to tie off every line like it was actually done on the real ship.  That means seizing every line like it was really done and whatnot.  I'm sorry, but I just don't have that kind of patience and time, and I'm certainly not that nit-picky...of course, more power to the people who do have that kind of time and patience, but it's just not me.  But the book has helped me with things like shrouds and ratlines, that's for sure, as well as for improving the look of the jeers and stays. 

Grymm

That book is a great reference - it's one of my favorites.  The drawings help to illustrate things that are hard to distinguish in photos. 

But keep in mind that the drawings in the book are based on a model of the 36-gun British frigate Melampus.  While a lot of the rig is very similar to the Constitution, it is not exactly the same. 

For example, the fore and main lower futtock shrouds on the Constitution are anchored by Bentinck shrouds running down to the opposite sides of the spar deck, not the stave and catharpin set up shown in the book.  The Melampus also does not have a solid spar deck like the Constitution and that leads to some other differences, such as with the pin rail configuration.

But all-in-all it's a very useful book.

Mark

 

 

I wish i had that book when i rigged mine..great info thanks

 

Michael

I got the book over the holidays and it is as you said, a wonderful text if you're building not only the Constitution, but as a reference for most of the square rigs, not just Frigates.