Hi all. Can anyone tell me which size rope/cotton to use on the build. Im thinking 2.5mm and 0.5mm for the block and tackle on the carronade, from either cornwall models or ive also read somewhere that calderdraft models are very good.
The blocks looks a bit big as well. What sizes are other people buying as a replacement. Its my first build, but i would like more authenticity. I love a challenge. I struggle to find the info i need when i need it. Could the answer be put into the 'index of topics' section please, as thats where most people(newbies like me) will look first.
Thanks for all the great pics and advice. I depend on you all.
Piot

Thankyou Zeptrader. Im sorry, but I didnt wait for advice and bought from Cornwall boats. Who have a very impressive stock line and keen prices.
I bought 100x 3mm natural doubled holed blocks (7p each) and rope/twine in the following sizes 0.1mm, 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1.0mm, 2.5mm. Hope they are all the right sizes. At least ive got a good spread selection. Ive also bought sanding sealer. Paints and W+D paper and cutting mat also turned up today. just waiting for the W+N brushes. Then I can crack on with the build.

Okey Dokey karl,
Majority of my money has been spent so far on paints and preping for painting. Only bout 35 quid. Gonna start slow with it. I got absolutly no clue as to when i'll need which ever tool is required so 'as and when' is the case for me.
Also, with the gggrrreat advise on money saving tips i.e soldering iron instaed of plank bender, I should be fine.
Do you think the tool kit provided will suffice?

Your thick 2.5mm thread could come in handy around the house or in the garden - besides which, most modelmakers tend to keep all manner of odds and ends in special 'whatchymicallit' boxes.

As for a camera, I got great results with a simple 4MP Nikkon Coolpix camera (which I still use occaisionaly even though I upgraded to a Sony DSR) - whatever you go for, check that it has a macro facility and you'll be fine.

After the camera, the most important thing is lighting - a couple of decent, well positioned daylight bulbs (see the brushworks thread for more details)will make a HUGE amount of difference to your pics.

As for the thicknesses of rope, I tend to use the MK I eyeball to judge the most appropriate size - look at a picture of the real thing and hold up various gauges of cotton to your model, selecting the gauge that looks most appropriate - if it looks right, it probably is.

Does anyone know where to get twine/cotton at a smaller size than 0.10mm.
Yep, I know thats thin but MK1 eyeball says 'Make it so'

Hi Piot007

I have also purchased some 2.5mm twine and yes it's big but I got mine purposely for using on the bower anchors as I didn't like the twine that came in the kit.

Hi andylangtree!

Look to be about right! the rope used is slighty smaller that the width of the anchors shank as you can see from the picture.
Hope this helps!

No!!!!! Not hairy ropes

The anchor cable needs to be large for a ship like Victory. It isn't the anchor which keeps a ship moored in one place, it is actually the weight of the cable as well as the anchor holding one end of the cable to the sea bed. Therefore the larger the ship, the larger the cable.

Mike T

Sounds about right! All my knowledge is from books, trouble with living in Leeds is that there is not a lot of sea to practice on! Taken aback means that the ship is essentially facing the wrong way and the wind pushes the sails back against the masts. Therefore when anchoring, the anchor is dropped and the ship allowed to drift back paying out the cable until there is sufficient scope to keep the ship steady. The cable is then secured to the 'riding bitts' which are significantly large timbers on the deck of a sailing ship just forward of the foremast.

Mike T