rigging help needed

tomee

Just finishing 2 sailing ships (morgan  constitution)and will start 2 military that  i received for xmas.  North carolina 1/700  soya 1/350.   Sounds like I should stick to thread.

    Read a few of your past posts about taking breaks while threading ,good idea  .  i have been practicing stretching sprue this a.m. and it is coming along.  Video on YOUTUBE( BasicModeling) shows another idea.  

 Tying neat knots and getting a tight line are not easy, my age im sure is a factor.  Anyway thanks for the prompt response and Ill just keep modeling and checking back for more tips as they come.

                      tom

   Not sure age would be an issue (I am 73).  Lines on old sailing ships do not need to be all taut. On prototypes, many lines did sag.  With synthetic thread (not cotton) sometimes a heat gun can shrink lines, but this is a form of brinkmanship as you might hit lines already taut, and the'd break.  I use a stamping gun from a craft store which is less heat and blast than a hair dryer.

One problem with tightening lines on plastic models is that yards may be too thin and flex a lot if you tighten lines. I sometimes replace kit yards with brass stock on modern warships.

 

 

 

Just finishing 2 sailing ships (morgan  constitution)and will start 2 military that  i received for xmas.  North carolina 1/700  soya 1/350.   Sounds like I should stick to thread.

    Read a few of your past posts about taking breaks while threading ,good idea  .  i have been practicing stretching sprue this a.m. and it is coming along.  Video on YOUTUBE( BasicModeling) shows another idea.  

 Tying neat knots and getting a tight line are not easy, my age im sure is a factor.  Anyway thanks for the prompt response and Ill just keep modeling and checking back for more tips as they come.

                      tom

I have used fine wire on a few very small scale models with very simple rigging.  Don't see how you could use piano wire on most rigging- very hard to tie knots with piano wire :-)

What specific problems are you having with thread?  Is this for modern ships where we are talking just antennas and a few stays, or sailing ships with lines and standing rigging?

I have used monofilament thread on a lot of smaller scale models, and even on quite a few 1:350.  Looks great but it is a bear to do- again, very hard to tie knots for terminating lines, but possible.

For very small sailing ships, 1:600 and 1:700, I wish someone would make PE shroud/ratline assemblies.  Bought a set at Nats, but that is only  one set and will fit some ships, but it would be nice to see sets for specific models.