29
5. Belaying Pins,
Cleats and Their Lines
Sheet 6 includes a complete belaying
pin plan. Each belaying point and its
appropriate line have the same number.
Some lines reeve through fairleads
before they belay. Sketches on the plans
show which lines have fairleads.
As rigging progresses, belaying points
may open up and expose more accessi-
ble pins or cleats. This happens when
only a few sails are installed. Because
every ship's captain had his own idea
how lines should belay, no set rules
exist. Therefore, it's permissible to alter
the plan's belaying points provided
sound judgment is applied.
6. Rigging Tools
Some homemade tools are essential for
the rigging process (Figure 7-2). Similar
shapes are commercially available.
7. Blocks, Hearts,
Bullseyes, and Deadeyes
The kit may substitute a deadeye for
a bullseye. If so, ream its center to a
single hole.
The largest hearts are laser-cut. Cut or
file the stropping groove around the
heart, then round the inside hole a bit.
Only the anchor cat block isn't rope
stropped. Stropping blocks at 3/16"
scale is difficult, so some alternatives
are shown in Figure 7-3.
8. Sailmaking
Choosing the proper material is critical.
Sailcloth must be lightweight, yet fairly
opaque. Tightly woven cotton is accept-
able and available from Model Expo.
Although linen is ideal, most is too
heavy for 3/16" scale models.
Wash sailcloth several times to preshrink
it. When dry, iron the cloth, but be care-
ful not to scorch it. Lightly draw seam
and hem (tabling) lines in pencil, then
sew the seams using light tan cotton
thread. A sewing machine makes fast
work of the project. Practice on scrap
cloth. Balance the needle thread tension
so it doesn't pucker the material. No
reinforcement patches are required.
Instead, simply stitch two lines to repre-
sent reef bands (Figure 7-4).
When done, iron the sails. Be careful not
to burn them. Next, cut the sail shape
Fig 7-1 Seizing Methods
Fig 7-2 Homemade Rigging Tools
Fig 7-3 Stropping the Blocks
Wood handle
Brass rod
Flatten end
and file shape
Make several lengths
File out head of a needle
to make a hook (steel or
plastic crochet needles)
Visit a sewing store to
look for ready-made
model rigging tools
Push
Pull
Twist
2.
Glue & cut off ends
1.
Thread seize
Tie a slip knot, then glue
Strop with beeket
Rope Strops
With hook
Constricter knot
(will not loosen)
Clove hitch
1.
Begin the
knot
2.
Wrap
3.
Tuck
and glue
Regular procedure
Starter knots
Eye splice
1.
1.
2.
Wrap
Glue
Substitute Wire
