Re: Hms Victory
 

Gary I'm sure that anything you decide on will come out well.
I retired two years ago and at first it was sort of depressing (nowhere to go sort of thing). Much happier now that I've become accoustomed to it.

Channels are all on; secured the emergency tiller chains. I was thinking of starting on rigging the bowsprit but I need the foremast for that, so next up will be mast and yard arms.

I had planned on rigging the mast as they did on the real ship; First the lower masts, then run the shrouds and stays then tops, then the top masts and yards; But it seems it would be easier to rig the masts and yards off the ship. But, then the shrouds and stays would be a trial weaving them in between the fighting tops.

So my question is, for those that rigged the masts either one way or the other (or both ways) which is easier and likely to give me the least amount of grief?

I'll be shaping and assembling the masts and yards for awhile, so it's no big rush for the answer at this time.

Re: Hms Victory
 

Qucik update:

Got the foremast shrouds and forestays on. Made and hung the spritsail topsail yard . Then managed to break the flying jibboom. After repairing that I got the spritsail yard mostly done but need to decrease the width of the center about 1mm, place the stirrups and rig it (will do that today).

The next thing is to place the king posts,the bumpkins, the bowsprit gammoning, and start the standing rigging for the bowsprit.

Re: Hms Victory
 

Gary:
If you recall, my Vic was a Corel kit.... bashed the heck out of it. Horrible instructions, and the rigging plans really suck.... a challenge but I'm sure, with your experience, you are up to the task.
Jim.... good to see you back in the saddle. Making good progress. Suggestion regarding your wife's hobbies... think she might like to tie a bunch of clove hitches?
Dave

Re: Hms Victory
 

Dave: Not a chance, but she is in the process of painting the figurehead and cutting out and stitching all the sails. She has also promised to paint all the crew for me (even after I showed her how small they are!).

I plan to use furled sails on most yards with the foretop, main course,jib, and driver set (as in getting underway).

I decided not to decrease the yard's center by 1mm after all; I forgot that I had glued the sling cleats on, and It would be too time consuming to start over on a new yard.

Re: Hms Victory
 

Jim

Sounds like good progress. I'm looking forward to the next installment of images.

Jim

Re: Hms Victory
 

Jim:

Plan on hanging all the blocks on the yard today and place a furled sail on the yard, then secure the spritsail to the jib. I'll take pictures once the yard is hung.

After that it will be securing the jib and it's gammoning. Anybody have any tips on how to secure the end of the gammoning so it doesn't show when finally tied off?

Re: Hms Victory
 

Quick update:

Gammoning long since done, and bowsprit glued in place, all bobstays and bowsprit shrouds done.

Hung the sprit sail (furled), hung flying sprit yard (bare), ran all the standing rigging to the flying jib,jib, and bowsprit ran the flying jib and jib stays ,with tackles(technically running rigging), set and glued the gangboard (marine's walk) in place.

Have the bowsprit and jib horses yet to do. After that it will be back to the fore yard, then start on the top mast, yards, and shrouds (probably start that next week).


General note on sail material: Constructo packs an ample supply of material (ducking) for the sails. Once washed it is pliable and works well to form the sails. However, Elmer's glue used to form seams is a poor replacement for sewing the seams. The glue made the seam stiff and hard to work with (surprise!). Future sails will have no glue, the wife will be sewing all the seams for me.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is a learning process when I look at the results and am less than satisfied with my effort. I have learned some valuable lessons, however.

EX: Super glue is easy to work with and fast setting (also gets everywhere at once and sets in the wrong place before it sets where it is supposed to.)

EX: Although I know how to tie many nautical knots, that doesn't mean I can tie them effectively with tiny threads!

Enough crying already! The forward end of the ship does look pretty good with the numerous lines attached (and that's without the running rigging installed). It makes me respect the abilities of the old time sailors who manned and operated these ships so well back in the day.

Re: Hms Victory
 

Update:
Hung bowsprit horses, then found they were run wrong (they have to run through the fore stay collar, on the sides) will have to remove them and re-route after the stays are hung.
The ship's cat got into the act. While walking by the model to her window perch, she knocked a portable hand drill against the rigging and pulled everything out of shape! Had to readjust the rigging and move the model to a safe location.

Started on the fore-yard and have been trying to come up with a way to make studding boom irons. Found the solution with light wire formed around drill bits of the proper size (took me two days to get it right). Will rig the fore-yard this week and the next following Longridge's plans and advice (a lot of work there), hang the yard and start on the fore top mast and yard.

I'm planning on rigging the entire mast before fixing it place. My original idea was to rig it as the real ship, but the idea of bending over the fixed lower mast while fiddling with small parts was too painful (my poor back, not to mention shaking hands!).

I am also planning on rigging the foremast completely before going to the main and mizzen. That way I can do construction for a while and rigging for a while, back and forth. This plan will require positioning temporary back stays for the foremast, but that willl be easy.

I'll submit photo's when the fore-yard is completed.

Re: Hms Victory
 

Here's a valuable link for all Vic builders.... Everything you could possibly need to know.
http://www.pete-coleman.com/forum/
Cheers

Re: Hms Victory
 

Dave:
"Valuable site" indeed! Just spent the last hour registering (had to reasearch the Victory's Captain's name! " Thomas Hardy" for anyone who wants to join) Thank you for the OUTSTANDING site reference.
Here it is again for anyone who wants to check it out.
http://www.pete-coleman.com/forum/