Hello all-
after a prolonged absence of any tangible progress on this model
( due to waiting a short(!) 2 months for the 0.047 mm ' Modellkasten' nitinol rigging wire from Japan to arrive,...
I hasten to add .....
the delay being NOT at the vendor / shipper--
but partly attributable to Covid 19, ( it sat in a depot in Tokyo for a few weeks, then sat in limbo for a few weeks
and eventually sat at Heathrow for a few weeks.
The Modelkasten wire is Nitinol... interesting ( expensive! ) stuff, an alloy of Nickel and Titanium
quote from the net;
Nitinol is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium with unique properties,
including supe-relasticity or pseudo-elasticity and “shape memory” properties.
That means Nitinol can remember its original shape and return to it when heated.more here ;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_titanium=====================================================================================================
For our our modelship-making rigging purposes it means that although it arrives in the post with us in a small diameter roll,
when released it straightens out again. ( Bizarre! ) = shape memory
It is also very strong and stiff pro-rata for its diminutive diameter ,
and is quite hard to cut --I use baby Fiskar scissors, which cut in a crisp shearing motion,
more successfully I found than scalpel and Stanley blades.
Its main advantage is that for the use in for example Funnel stays, it can be 'propped' up,
and is very resistant to kinking whilst handling.
However... I can stretch 'Sprue' easily and reliably - to about half of the Nitinol wire, useful for halyards
and antenna.
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I took the time to regroup my thoughts and energy on the Normandie project,
and during the down time also built and completed a scratch-built 1/350 steam tug boat
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=314432But meanwhile -- back to the main course!¬
Having practised with the Nitinol ( Nickel Titanum ) wire on the Tug, I was armed and prepared to get cracking on the Normandie rigging of the two masts
I always wanted to use stretched sprue for the halyards and ariels- ;
although the MK wire at 0.047 mm is pretty skinny by any standards...
it still can be thinner and finer.!
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So the plan was to use the wire for the standing rigging only along with the (minimal ) crane rigging fwd
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and my familiar tried and tested method of stretched sprue
the methodology of which is still unchanged
my step by step of how ..-for those interested ..-- is here at MW.com
link
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37536The standing rigging of the foremast was was first.
Some people like the metallic grey colour of the wire, my view is that ALL rigging looks back against the sky.
I colour it black --without paint build up -- using a 'Pentel' Permanent markers,
drawing the pen along the wire ( secured with tape at one end) on a piece of Kitchen towel--
==> the paper towel soaks up the excess ink and transfers it to the' underside' .
( warning--don't use Sharpie pens for this--they bleed with adhesive, thinners and / or varnish)
==========================================================================================
So as to be able to gauge the
EXACT longitudinal dimensions of each piece of wire,
I used a thicker " measuring " wire .
Once it had been offered up and test-fitted by snipping to size it was then
the 'template' for cutting the EXPENSIVE Nitinol wire
(( ==> ( £ 25,oo for 5 metres ! )
))
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The ship being a fast liner -- there is a fair amount of cable to be rigged.
( alas a 'soft' photo image--shot though the glass case)
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followed by the aft mast
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it all was looking a bit stark--but the thickness is about right--as the wire cable holding those tall masts up were quite chunky!
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The insulators were done with
gentle application of paint on a thin brush--in situ
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I added the 'suggestion' of the turn-buckles at the lower ends with some paint-
==> its an ongoing process-- adding a thin layer a day.
then back to familiar territory-- rigging some of the sprue portions
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so now its onwards with some more halyards, then French tricolour to fly from the aft gaff , some more antenna fwd and aft
and then the bigger challenge...
spanning the fore and aft antenna cables-- spanning from foremast upper yard-arm via centre funnel spreader back to aft mast yard arm
I also needs to be very thin, barely noticeable....
even in 1/700 that is quite a span!
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--- will report in how that goes..!
below image of the real thing!
JIM B
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following Jims master- master class of modelling this outstanding liner. Regarding this huge amount of detail is breathtaking. 
