Thanks Rui!
Now, I could install some of the rigging that leads from the topmast top all the way down to the channels: the topmast tye falls and the backstays:
Port and starboard each have one topsail tye fall and three topmast backstays. On each side, one of the backstays was shot through and is hanging down:
The deadeye and lanyard assemblies for the backstays were made as described here:
https://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/v ... 5#p1080925
Starboard side, finally again with a matchstick!:
The matchstick reminded me that maybe I should post an overview photo, with something to give a sense of scale (I haven’t done that in a while…):
The topgallant mast has been shot through, but I wanted the top part of it to hang down from the mast, with (a part of) the royal yard and sail.
So, I constructed these as much as possible as a separate assembly. Of course this was test-fitted on the model constantly.
Several lines were already attached, some of which were left straight and overly long.
The entire assembly was then glued in place on the model:
Next, the attached lines were bent in place, cut to length, and glued if needed.
Afterwards, I added more lines, like the topgallant shrouds, an extra piece of sail for more effect, and the flag (sorry Rui, this flag was already in place before your last comment!
).
We touched on the fragility of copper wire rigging before. And here I had a good example!
When retracting my tweezers after gluing some other line (that’s always the most dangerous moment! Because the attention is fully on the new line and not on the ‘old’ ones around…), my tweezers hooked behind the starboard lift and kinked it badly.
This photo shows it after trying to push and prod it back into shape and position (always the first recourse):
Mostly, that works. But not this time! Although it now already looks much better than the sharply kinked wire it first was, the pull of the tweezers had stretched the copper wire. It is now longer than it was before and can never return to look taut… (which is necessary for a lift!)
So, the only way to fix it would be to detach the line at one side, shorten it a tiny bit and re-glue. But that’s very delicate work, with lots of opportunity for more damage along the way…
Luckily, here I had another option. And one that’s more fun!
I had to add 5 ‘broken’ topgallant shrouds, and they needed to go somewhere. So, I could have one hang over the lift:
In my limited experience, undamaged rigging and sails are easier and less work. But once in a while, battle damage can be used to ones advantage too!
