I’m considering a couple of different configurations… In the end I’m going with the configuration that looks the coolest I guess
Preventer Stays – It is a large strong rope extending from the upper end of each mast and running down towards the deck of the vessel in a midships fore and aft direction. The shrouds serve a similar function but extend on each side of the mast and provide support in the athwartships direction.
Here, I’m making the Loop by Seizing a Loop…
I wish I had somebody to talk “Ship-Talk” with. Preferably an Old Timer who has been doing this awhile and who I can watch work.
Anyway… Lacking that… I do this blogging. I know… It’s not the same thing. But I also follow some really talented Model Makers in the Groups I belong to.
So, I’m looking at these Shrouds and I am beginning to suffer the “Modeler’s Regret”… You know… When you think that you should have done something a certain way???… I guess that’s the nature of it. I’m not going to redo it all. Definitely not. But I’ve seen guys who do it.
A prime example are the Seizing on Shrouds that wrap around the Deadeyes.
I started off like this…
I especially love the one all the way to the left. I wish they were all like that and uniform. Hmmm… 🤔🙄🧐
For whatever reason, I lost my .7mm Hemp line somewhere so I decided to try these Stroud’s with my new Griffin Synthetic Line that I bought from Model Expo.
At first, I was skeptical because I liked how the Hemp line bends and stays that way while the synthetic line doesn’t bend at all.
So… I had to change my technique.
First thing I did was to put a line around it to hold it while I’m getting the measurement with my spacing jig.
I used a Clove Hitch because I don’t have to redo it… I just keep tying French Loops until I get the desired Seizing.
I then use another String to Seize the Deadeye into place and use French Loops to tighten up on it… And on the bottom, just do a Half Hitch to hold it in place.
Then the top one, I pull down on it and add a couple more half hitches.
I finish it a drop of PVA glue on the knots… Which are translucent and invisible. Then… I like to put a small drop on the black part between knots to hold it.
Listening to Mozart
Putting in the Main Mast Burton Pendants. Basically the same process as the Fore Mast ones. Burton Pendants are always the first to go on in the series.
I put the small Deadeyes to the Main Mast Top. Then I went ahead and stepped the Mast. I used Gel Superglue for the bottom and liquid for top.
I am using this new .7mm Griffin Synthetic Line for this Fore Preventer Stay. All the pictures always show this one to be thinner than the Fore Stay.
I started off with a Seized Loop…
Installed the Fore Stay using 1mm Black Hemp line… That I had Pre-Stretched already.
I made a Seized Loop on one end and tied a Stop Knot at the portion that loops around the Foremast.
I used the 8mm Heart Blocks for the end that connects to Bowsprit.
Continuing on with the Foremast Shrouds… I’m getting into a rhythm with these things.
Here’s the 2nd and 3rd Pairs done.
What I normally do for these is to first put the Distance Measuring Tool that I made.
I put the Deadeye on it, then I measure off where the Shroud bend around it. I then take it off and squeeze it so that a bend takes place in the Hemp line. That’s why I like Hemp for this work, because it holds a bend. The synthetic line won’t do that.
I then put the Deadeye in and I use a Clove Hitch and squeeze it as tight as I can up against the Deadeye.
Then, I loop it a few times towards the Deadeye and end it with a double half-hitch to close it off and lock it in place.
Then I use French Loops going down and finish it with a Double half-hitch. It ends up looking like this…
After that, I put a drop of PVA White Glue on it to fix it.
