35
smallest chain provided.
6. Footropes, Furling Stops
and Fixed Lifts
As noted earlier footropes, and even the
ends of fixed lifts, are easier to install
with the spars in hand. Like the ratlines,
footropes may require some work
before they hang naturally.
Add the footropes on the jibboom.
Furling stops (tan lines) should be
added before seating the jibboom.
7. Manropes and Bow Netting
When the standing rigging is completed,
add the netting over the bowsprit. The
rigging plan shows the net. Use fine
thread and tie knots, or just glue the
threads to form a net. Or, look for netting
in a craft or florist shop.
8. Running Lights
Add the Britannia running lights on the
mizzen shrouds. Make the box from
stripwood. File the casting flush on one
side to fit against the box. This is actual-
ly a bow light and, consequently, not
the correct shape.
Examine the model before moving to
the next stage. Is a mast or the bowsprit
and jibboom out of alignment? Now is
the time to correct these mistakes.
Running Rigging
Decide whether or not to rig with sails.
The following discusses both choices
and how to rig them. Each sail, along
with its spars, is presented separately so
one group can be finished before mov-
ing to the next. Although the sequence
isn’t critical, we recommended starting
at the bow with the fore-and-aft sails,
then adding the square sails.
1. Head Sails
For simplicity, the forestay sail, fore top-
mast staysail, jib, and flying jib can be
called head sails. Add the halliard,
downhauls, and sheets to the sails
before installing on the model. Leave
enough extra line for belaying after
reeving through the various blocks.
Morgan
has metal hanks for bending
the head sails to the stays. A detail is
on the plans. For the model, use a sim-
ple brass ring.
If sails are not installed, attach the hal-
liard to the downhaul and run it to the
end of the bowsprit (Figure 9-1).
Halliard runs are identical to a ship with
sails, except for the head block’s loca-
tion. Sheets are removed with the sails.
2. Staysails
Staysails between the fore and main-
masts and main and mizzenmasts are
treated like head sails. If rigging with
sails, notice on the plans that the
mizzen topmast staysail sheets pass
through a fairlead block, or thimble, on
their way down to the deck. Lower
staysail sheets go directly to their
STAGE 9
