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| San Felipe Rigging Project | ||
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Moderators: Winston, aew, bikepunk
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| Author | Post | ||
| catopower |
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 Registered Member #247 Joined: Tue Aug 25 2009, 01:57amPosts: 213 | Since my other projects are more or less on hold until this project is complete, I figured I might as well post what I'm doing. This project began in October of last year (October 2012) when I contacted a gentleman who had a ship model kit of the San Felipe that had all of the wood construction done, but needed it rigged. He had found someone to build the kit for him, but that builder got too sick to finish it. So, I took on the project. When I got the model, I wasn't quite prepared for the size of it. Mantua's San Felipe kit is a 1/75th scale 3 decker ship of the line. So, the model is quite enormous. It is also extremely ornate. It's a very nice model kit and the original builder had put in a lot of work on it. But, there were several indications that showed that he must have had trouble the kit. For instance, the gun ports are framed like pictures, some of the later details are very rough and the gun ports are too low on one side, causing the cannons on that side to point down. Also, there were a lot of extra holes in the channels and the mast tops were separating from the cross trees. So, the scope was expanded from purely a rigging project to a bit of a clean up project plus rigging. In addition, I was asked if it was possible to add rigging to the cannons. While the masts were already in place and the shrouds and stays were on it too, there were challenges. But, it's a big model and there a lot more room to work than if it had been a smaller scale. So, I agreed to rig all the cannons that were clearly visible on the deck, but there would be a few cannons that I could not reach and therefore could not rig and you'll be able to see they're not rigged if you're looking for that. But, most people will not be able to tell and this has been built as a decorative model that will go into a glass cabinet. I'll be pretty much rigging this from the kit plans, which seem very simplified. But, it should look nice in any case. I'll post more on already completed steps later. Sadly, about a month after I received the model. The original builder passed away. So, I also feel like this is a way for me to help him finish the project he started. Clare  The San Felipe model dwarfs my 1/8" scale USS Saginaw model.  The shrouds were slack, whereas some of the stays were tight. Some kind of soft, rubbery glue was used, causing the tops to separate from the cross trees under tension. There were a lot of assembly done using this same soft rubbery glue, so I ended up re-gluing or replacing a number of items.  Looks like there was a problem with the deadeyes in the channels that didn't get cleaned up before I got the model. | ||
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| aew |
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aew   Registered Member #1929 Joined: Wed Nov 30 2011, 03:05pmPosts: 2582 | It looks to be quite a nice model and it certainly deserves completing. As you say the picture frame gun ports look a bit odd, but you can't rebuild everything. Looks like he also got the lower deadeyes upside down!  | ||
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| catopower |
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| Registered Member #247 Joined: Tue Aug 25 2009, 01:57amPosts: 213 | Yeah, I had to redo the deadeye lanyards because the shrouds were too slack – tying ratlines is hard enough to do when the shrouds are tight, but I couldn't image trying to do that when they are loose. I tried to reverse the lower deadeyes, but they were glued in too well. The same thing happened with the few blocks that were rigged as part of the stay tackles. But, I fixed those. Like you said, Arthur, I can't rebuild everything. I really have to keep that in mind as I go. I did redo a few things, but I've been trying to do that only where necessary. However, I did break down and redid the seats of ease which looked very rough. I hope to finish it up in the next couple months. Got a lot of work to do, but I saw how quickly Gene scratch built his San Felipe model, so that's inspiring me to keep it up. Clare [ Edited Mon Feb 11 2013, 06:39pm ] | ||
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| teleman |
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 Registered Member #1925 Joined: Tue Nov 29 2011, 05:32amPosts: 1254 | Hi Clare, thats some project you got there. is that your Saginaw in the background there. if it is then wow that is a big model you be working..... | ||
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| catopower |
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| Registered Member #247 Joined: Tue Aug 25 2009, 01:57amPosts: 213 | Yes, it's a big model. Kind of refreshing, actually. Also, it's nice to be working on something from kit plans where I don't have to do a lot of research. Unfortunately, I'm starting to learn about the late 16th/early 17th century ship rigs and finding things in the plans that I may modify to make them more in line with what I believe should be correct. Oh, it never ends! More pics are forthcoming. Clare [ Edited Tue Feb 12 2013, 05:38pm ] | ||
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| catopower |
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| Registered Member #247 Joined: Tue Aug 25 2009, 01:57amPosts: 213 | I've never tied so many ratlines in my life... I knew it was going to be a major part of rigging this model. More than 2700 clove hitches. I put in some marathon knot tying sessions to get it all done. One of those things you just can't think about, you just do it. After each session, my body ached, but it was a great feeling to have it all done. Clare    | ||
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| teleman |
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| Registered Member #1925 Joined: Tue Nov 29 2011, 05:32amPosts: 1254 | That looks great Clare..........good going man. You make consider me a sicko, but I like doing ratlines. Kinda give my brain a rest from thinking while I am doing them. Oh a little advise next time you do them. dont count how many you have to do, then it wont seem so long of a boring part of building. | ||
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| catopower |
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| Registered Member #247 Joined: Tue Aug 25 2009, 01:57amPosts: 213 | From one sicko to another... You know, I actually enjoy tying ratlines too. I like the challenge of powering through something that I don't really have to think too much about. You just do it until it's done. Kind of like running a marathon, though I've never done that myself. Clare | ||
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| Highwingpilot |
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 Registered Member #4099 Joined: Tue Jan 08 2013, 12:42pmPosts: 91 | Beautiful work! Question for you from a newbie, what are the forceps for that appears to be suspended from beneath the mizzen's crosstrees? Is that to help keep tension on lines while you're tying? I was debating when I finally get to the shrouds on my Hannah, if it would be easier to tie them off the ship, then tension them up to the lower deadeyes? Really nice looking model! Jim | ||
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| teleman |
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| Registered Member #1925 Joined: Tue Nov 29 2011, 05:32amPosts: 1254 | Hi Jim you guessed right. Forceps, alligator clips, clothes pins, even small clamps, they kinda work like a third hand. you will find that out a lot when rigging comes into play....hope this helps... | ||
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