Category Archives: Techniques

Bare Clamps on Strake Ends

Here I’m applying the Bare Clamp (no Rubber) onto the ends of the Strake applying pressure to the wood in the shape of the Stem.

Stem

Stern

Pre-Bending Planks at Stern

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I soaked these 2x5mm Planks for 12 hours in 2 parts Ammonia and 8 parts Water in my Soaker. Now I used both heat and gentle bending of Planks around this steep bend. I have already broken several Planks while trying to perfect this technique. Heat and Gentleness is key. 👍

Just dabbed some Super glue to the rubber to hold it

Pre-bending

Clamping the Clamp

I am able to get the large Clamp to push down on the Plank by clamping it against a Bulkhead… 🙄🤔👍

Pushing down

I don’t like to use the “Plank Bending” tools that break the grain of the Plank. IMO, it doesn‘t look as smooth. 🙄

Saw Dust

Collected Sawdust Sappelle

Basswood Saw Dust

The reason I collect Sawdust is because I use it in conjunction with White Glue for making Putty to fill in gaps.

Treating Basswood with Ammonia

I only realized this. When you soak the Basswood Strips in a Combination of around 1:10 Ratio of Ammonia to Water, this treatment changes the color of the wood to this beautiful patina…

Wood on left before treatment. Wood on right after.

Looping Line To Belaying Pin

I had to experiment around with a few different techniques to be able to tie the line around the Belaying Pin. This is the method that works for me.

First I make a Loop on the string and pinch it between some Surgical Clamps… Unclamped

Then I hook the Loop underneath the Belaying Pin and at the same time, gently pulling back with my other hand on the String while slowly letting go the Clamp

String pulled back after hooking underneath the Belaying Pin

Then I put a Clamp on it to add tension to give me time to add the Transparent Wood Glue

Just a drop in the end of a Wooden Skewer

I dab it underneath the Belaying Pin to hold it

Sometimes a Grab Hook helps in looping

I have done the looping on the top side of the Belaying Pin both with some Tweezers or a Grab Hook.

I cut the String and dab a bit of CA Glue to the outside of it and push the string against it

Footropes

This is the way that I make Footropes…

Completed Footrope on Port side of Fore MainSail Yard

I first cut a length of Line. I use this brand of String because I like how the Nylon soaks up the Superglue.

Make a Loop and tie a Clove Hitch with some Black Sewing String and loop around it.

Clove Hitch around Loop

Put around 4 or 5 Loops around it and a dab of Superglue

Clove it to Spar

Make a couple sets of Line with Midshipman’s Knot/Figure 8 Loops on the ends…

Slide through the Footrope Line…

Figure Eight Noose

I continued on with the Line and made a Clove Hitch on the end…

I put this Block on the end of the Line.

Gun Port Making Process

Drill 2 Holes above Gun Port where the Wire that simulates Rope goes through…

1mm Drill for Pull Ropes

Around 1mm up and 1mm in

Then, I sand the Gun Port Door so it it the same width as the Gun Port Hole.

I cut a strip of wood… 1mmx1.5mm to act as a “Hinge”… Then I apply Dap Weldwood Contact Cement to both sides.

In the meantime, also put some on the Gold Wire that will simulate a Hinge.

Make sure the Gun is in there first. I use Aleene’s Rapid Dry. Apply to both sides and wait around 2 minutes.

Gun in…

Drill holes through…

Make 2 Eye Bolts with Thin Wire…

I use a combo of Contact Cement and Super Glue

Gold Wire to simulate Hinges

Deadeye Rigging / Channels / Shrouds

This is from Rigging Period Ship Models

Crowsfeet Technique

Rigging Ratlines

I made this short video on YouTube on Rigging the Ratlines to the Shrouds.