A really stunning build and loads of great detail. Keep up the great work.

Regards

Foz

Here's an updated pic with the masts installed. (Just crappy cell phone pics). They are just about perfectly straight. It was a lot to get them that way, but if you don't start out good, it won't end up good. Since this pic I installed the blocks on the fore topmast and permanently installed that. I'll post some more pictures once I get the shrouds rolling.

The "reversed" backstays you see in the picture are actually steel 3/64" aircraft cables that I used as power lines for the LED's in the lanterns. Then the LED and power wiring were soldered directly to them. After which I painted flat black. They look exactly like ropes.

BTW, I ran 6-32 hardened all thread rods through the bottom of the hull and drilled out the mounting posts so they can slip over the rods. The front post is now used for +12 volts and the back post is ground. Inside the hull are individual resistors mounted on a hand made P C Board for running power to each individual LED. There are 15 LED's in all they each have built in flickering circuitry so they flicker independently. Very realistic looking in a darkened room. No visible wiring and the threaded rod makes the mounting of the ship to the base incredibly strong and secure. No worries about that breaking loose. The threaded rods are actually wood glued into the drilled holes. The bottom nuts are just there so I don't lose them. The tricky part was drilling the 1/8" holes in the 6mm wood keel. There's only a 1/32" of an inch left on either side. No room for error there.

Quality work there John, very well done she really is looking fab....

Regards

Alan

Loving this build, it does look fantastic.

Just a small update on the shrouds, etc. I just have to finish lashing the stiffeners in the other 5 locations. Making your own rope is definitely the ticket.

Hello Johncal,
Excellent work keep sending in pictures love the detail great job.
Regards Trev.

Hi
This looks fantastic, really nice. How did you get the shroud thread to look like this? Is it painted or waxed in some way?
Steve

I would say thats actually about right. Also tons of internet photos and tons of research books.

Time for a little bit of an update. I've got just about all of the lower standing rigging complete. All shrouds, ratlines, stays. backstays and some of the bowsprit, etc. I will be finishing the futtock shrouds as soon as I get the hooks in that I ordered all of the futtock staves are already in there just waiting.... Next up will be all of the topmast standing rigging. just carefully working my way up. So far everything is aligned about as perfectly as possible. It's actually a lot of fun to do since you get to learn and do exactly what was done on a Tall Ship!

Sorry for the crappy phone pics.

That's the advantage to winding your own rope, especially if you use the right kind of thread. It responds much more naturally and realistically!

Thanks so much for your kind words.