As I said in my holiday Report, I had the opportunity to be on aboard the Passat, one of the last working Windjammers, and one day would like to model this ship. Well that day has come allready and I am busy with, not only the rigging on the Walrus, but on the sub assemblies that make up such a ship. It is lots of fun, I can tell you!
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Is this a kit?
If so whose?
yes it`s a kit, from Revell in 1:250. Loadsa little bits of plastic. here is a piccy of the real thing:
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Should be very impressive.
not being a nautical man myself, it certainly helps that I have been aboard this vessel and taken plenty of photos while I was there. I`ll do my best.
Can't wait to see this finished.
Haddock.
No pressure eh!
Much respect, as a bit of a ship modeller myself I can't think of a more complicated subject as a first ship.
Just a word of warning, if you intend to apply any rigging, it's highly unlikely that plastic masts will stand the strain without bending so will need replacing with scratch-built brass items, either rod or tube. I prefer tube.
Fishing line is great for rigging but even better is a product known as " EZ line ". Its not cheap, £12 for 100 feet. The railway modellers use it for the wires strung between telegraph poles. It responds well to super-glue,( the instructions are in the packet). Best of all, it stretches to seven times it's free length so the tension on the spars is minimal, better still, if you are clumsy like me, when you have an accident, you don't instantly un-rigg the ship or pull the masts down.
I've evolved a few tricks for attaching rigging, just ask.
Haddock.
This is not strictly my first ship. I have allready build the Revell model of HMS Victory over a period of about two years, you know how it goes, a bit here....long pause, build an aircraft, a bit there and so on. This model was build from the box and i agree, plastic masts are not the hit but I manged to get it somehow rigged without too much damage. For the rigging I used the supplied awful thread which I have treated with beeswax to prevent fluffing and give a heavier appearance. For the Passat I can`t say that I can be bothered with brass masts or EZ Line (is it really worth it he asks nievely?) so I will probably stick with what is in the box. Through my experience with Victory I will however ignore the rigging instructions and rig mast for mast to avoid having to install eg running rigging after all the fixed rigging is in place. I didn`t enjoy having to work between lines and having the expected result of pulling lies off, breaking off mast tips and generally not having the room to work. I will take a piccy of Victory and post it in "my first attempts" for those who are interested. Your advice is and will always be gratefully received.
So, a bit of progress on this ship. The deck is busied up somewhat and I have made a start on the plastic masts. Not long now and then I will have to start rigging. This ship will be, as was the case with Victory, out of the box. If ever I get half as good as Tony then I will give twice as much out for my models.
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Stop doubting yourself and get stuck in, it's lookin' good.
Haddock.
I know how you feel, but it looks good, lets see the rigging.
Never mind Tony, he is after all only an engineer!
I usually include some words of abuse with the term engineer but thought that I had better behave on the web.
I am also an Engineer, build ships and biplanes and my name also begins with a "T". So be careful, there are two of us now. ;)
Engineers of the world .....unite! especially those beginning with T.
Haddock.
Yes engineers of the world unite - even those beginning with "C". Just you lot wait till we are in charge.
My worst fears have just been fulfilled.
What now I ask?
Engineering mayhem at its best.
Perhaps a bit of decorum and common sense might prevail?
You must be joking, with you engineers present.
The rigging has begun, and on this ship there is an awful lot of it. This could take some time.
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Heart like a dustbin lid!
?????
Big hearted brave bloke!
Thanks