24
Mast and Spar Construction
1. Shaping and Tapering
Masts and Spars
Dowels are provided for the masts and
spars, but require shaping and tapering.
Spars with square or octagon sections
are sized to their corners across the
square or octagon. After cutting the
dowel square or octagon, file or sand
the rest of it round.
Since
Niagara's
lower masts and yards
have octagon sections, this is an ideal
place to start. Sand or file the entire spar
eight-sided, mark the octagon portion,
make the remainder of the mast or yard
16-sided, then sand round (Figure 6-1).
This is how spars on real ships were
shaped. Although the process may
sound difficult, it's much easier than
tapering a dowel.
Those electing not to include square and
octagon sections can use the oversized
dowel as is or sand it down a bit.
Sheet 4 shows the masts and spars to
scale with critical dimensions given at
maximum diameter and at the ends.
Experienced modelers make masts and
spars from square stock. Doing so allows
them to select and cut their own wood,
and marking octagons and tapers is easi-
er. Applewood is excellent for masts and
spars, because its dense, twisted grain
resists splitting and breaking.
2. Building and Installing
the Masts
Fore and Mainmasts:
Both lower masts
are octagon at the deck, round above,
then square at the doubling. After
squaring the heads to their proper
widths, cut the tenon for the mast cap.
Heads have chamfers on each corner
(Figure 6-2).
Topmasts are square at the heel, then
octagon, round, octagon near the head,
and square at the head. The heel has a
rectangular slot for a
fid
] (iron bar pre-
venting the topmast sliding through the
top). Drill a hole and shape it with a file
(Figure 6-3). The fid should be a press-fit.
Topgallant/royal masts are similar in
shape to the topmasts.
Fig 6-3 Topmast Heel
Fig 5-16 Hammock Rail and Stanchions
Fig 6-1 Shaping a Mast or Spar
Fig 6-2 Lower Mast Head
STAGE 6
Wood rail
Glue
Glue
Line
Metal Stanchion
Real Ship
Model
Simplification
Wood strip
1/64" x 1/32" Brass bar
1.
Mark 8 equally
spaced lines
around dowel
2.
Cut octagon
4.
Sand round
16 Sided
Mark guide
lines
Octagon cut
where taper
is required
Chamfer
Octagon
Octagon
Metal
Fid
Pad for fill
between
trestle trees
Square
Tenon for
mast cap
Square
Round
3.
Cut corners of octagon
at start of round section
to form 16 sided shape
