Just keep plodding along Han's, that's all I do. I'm sure you'll soon be at this stage.

seeing the sail go on makes me realise how "little" we have left........only another 21 issues to go darron.

on the subject of the sails, when rigging the thread to the pinrails, i found it easier to wrap the thread round a bit, then put a dab of pva to hold the thread in place, then go back to it once the pva dries and finish off wrapping the pinrail. i've also been thinking about making some separate "loops" of thread to hang over the top of each belaying pin to simulate the extra coils of rope you some times see. i am sure a more proficient builder could do this without having to make separate coils. look at magpies san fran 2 diary to see what i mean.

Shes coming along real smart there Saint. A real credit to you.

Regards

Foz

Cracking build you have there, and something to be really proud of.
I can read by your updates that you are satisfied with the progress you have made over the series!! And long may it last.
Best wishes Steve..

Great job All coming together now

Well done Bob, she's looking splendid!

thanks for the nice comments guys , here are a couple more pictures. the first is just a general view of the ship, the jib sils are just hung on by some brass rings, no rigging, i just wanted something on the front so that the family would avoid hitting the bowsprit, the second is a pic of the ratlines and where i am at the moment.
i have tried the needle method as described in the magazines, but found it too difficult to pushh the needle through as i don't have the strength in my hand to do it, so i am tieing the ratlines.
i have used different thread, my daughter had some left over from her hms badger build so i am using that, it's caldercrafts .25mm thread and as i hope you can see, their .25 is thinner than the supplied .25mm, so have ordered some from corwall boats to complete the job, i think you could even go down to .1mm to get a better scale against the shrouds.

still doing ratlines, only the mizzen top shrouds left. after i have trimmed the sides i plan to paint all the knots black, as i believe these were tarred on victory, so pics to follow once that's done.

i don't know if you can see it at all, but on the second last picture the top of the beakhead shines a bit more that the rest, that is the only bit i have put the gold leaf on to.

as posted previously all ratlines are tied and then black paint applied over the knots. this took ages to do as i did both the front and back of the knots, some paint has got onto the ratlines, but i put that down to the sloppy sailor who spilled some tar while doing the job.

hi steve, i'm collecting the akagi for later.............if admin are reading.i'm still waiting for my replacement parts............ and i believe i've got the amati/hatchette titanic sitting upstairs in my son's bedroom, which is for my 50th birthday in may, so only a couple of months before i can get my hands on it.


i have attached a pic of artesania latina's la ninta, i did this a couple of months ago, and can recommend it as a great beginners build, the other pic is of artesanias santa maria, which is still ongoing, i plan to get la pinta at some point to complete the set of columbus's ships.