Hi all

Just thought I'd pass on a nice tip I picked up a few years ago when I first got into ship building, this relates to the ratlines and how to build them correctly using knots.

Build the shrouds as per the instructions then get yourself two lolly sticks and on each stick glue a piece of fine rubbing down paper to one side only. Work out where the first row of ratline go and place the lolly sticks each side of the shrouds so that the rubbing down paper sides face each other in effect pushing against the shroud lines. Ensuring the sticks are level and where you want them clamp the two sticks together at either end with small plastic clamps so the lolly sticks are as such attached to the shroud lines.

Once you have them in place start the rat line on the first shroud using a knot of your choice and using the edge of the lolly stick as a straight line, The lolly sticks keep the shrouds tight so you can do the knots. Once the first ratline is done put a tiny bit of pva glue on each knot then move the sticks up to the next ratline and so on and so on.

Although the instructions show the ratline pushed through the shroud this is not correct and the model will look a lot better with knot tied ratlines.

You can make the ratlines loose if you wish to show they are stepped on, Hope this has helped.

Great tip.

Congrats on your "Turquoise" medal for a Model Making Know-How idea.

Maybe you could enhance the idea with a couple of pics.

Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)