Rigging sequence for HMS Victory

[JohnReid]

Steps 29 and 30.

Fore and Main Topgallant Shifting Backstays

Hack P65

Long P233 Fig 178


One on each side of fore and main topgallant masts only,not on the mizzen.The pair on the fore are 4" rope and have 7" blocks tied in their ends which connect in a luff tackle by a 2" rope to a 7" becket block tied to the last eyebolt on the forechannel.The fall belays around the base of the next deadeye forward.The pair on the main are also 4" rope ,with a 7" double block and a 2" lanyard,the 7"single becket block being tied by a short strop around the base of the first deadeye on the main backstay stool,lying inboard of it.The falls belay to the base of the same first deadeye.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Step 31

Jib Stay

Long 224-25

Hack P67


Tie a short length of 4 1/2 " rope around the jib boom at its outer end ,as a collar called the "jib traveller".To this collar tie a length of 4" rope and lead this through the top sheave of the starboard cheek block on the foremast head and down behind the mast .Tie a 9" double block in its end just above the level of the lower mast cap.Tie another length of 3" rope to the becket of one of the two blocks installed in the aft end of the foretop.Reeve the blocks in a luff tackle leading the fall down through the after hole in the foretop and belaying as in the belaying diagram.

[JohnReid]

Step 32

Foretopgallant Stay

Long 223

Hack P67

Tie one 8" single becket block to the port knighthead.Tie a 4 1/2" rope at the collar of the foretopgallant mast,knot it around the outer end of the jib boom,lead it back towards the port knighthead ,and tie an 8" double block in its end.Connect the two blocks in a luff tackle with a 2 1/2" rope,belaying the fall around the knighthead.

[JohnReid]

Step 32

Mizzen topgallant standing backstay

Hack P65

Long P223

Note:There are no shifting backstays on the mizzen.

[JohnReid]

Please note: This info that I am recording here would also be quite useful for anyone contempating building the new HMS Vanguard kit in 1/72 scale.(or any other scale for that matter)
It was a ship of the line from the same era as Victory and would have been rigged pretty much the same way.
I really know nothing about this kit good or bad and I haven't even seen the rigging instructions yet.Just a thought! Cheers. John.

[JohnReid]

Step 33

Main Topgallant Stay

A 4 1/2 " rope leading from the main topgallant mast collar,down through the block attached at the rear of the foretopmast head,and tied off to the strop on the foretop behind the mast.

[JohnReid]

Step 34

Mizzen Topgallant Stay.

A 3" rope from the mizzen topgallant mast collar,down through the hole in the mainmast cap.It is tied off to the strop on the maintop behind the mast.

[JohnReid]

The B&W pictures are to help focus on the specific area that I am talking about, without all the other distractions such as color etc....
This is a very time consuming enterprise that I have taken on but I hope to add some info each day before settling down to my own ongoing diorama projects for the Canada Aviation Museum.Luckily renovations there have been delayed which gives me the perfect opportunity to devote more time to this rigging booklet.
Although my primary attention for the last ten years has been aircraft dioramas,I have loved old sailing ships since I was a child and I continue to research and study them.
Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

Step 35

Flying Jib Boom Horses.

Double ,made as the jib boom horses and running from the outer end of the flying jib boom to tie again around the same spar just aft of its support on the jib boom end.

[JohnReid]

[Cadman]

Merry Christmas John and thanks for sharing your craft with us.

[JIM BAUMANN]

This is indeed a valuable resource; the feasible sequence to a rig of this complexity is certainly eased by
your valuable postings--Thank you!

Happy Christmas


JIM B

[JohnReid]

Thanks Jim! Cheers! John.

[JohnReid]

The first 35 steps are complete except for the belaying points of each rope.Somewhere down the road I plan to make a belaying point diagram for each step shown here.
From now on each step will be completed as fully as possible before moving on to the next step.It is just too much of a hassle to come back and edit the information later.
Anyone using my rigging plan would already have many months of work before them just to bring their ship to this stage.
If everything goes as planned I am hoping to add about a step a day on average.
Good luck! Cheers. John.

[JohnReid]

I have added the following to the first post as I only now realized that a beginner would want this important information before starting any rigging.

Please note: the decision to use harbour,furled or full sail rig has to be made very early in the process .I plan to discuss some of the full sail rigging options later.

[JohnReid]

Step 36

Bowsprit Horses (manwalk)

one each side of 5" rope ,one end secured to the marine walk grating and the forward end ties off to the upper eyebolts of the sides of the bowsprit caps.(This is the only set of horses placed above and not below the spar.)They are used as handropes for men walking on the bowsprit.


Long P227

Hack P67

[JohnReid]

Step 37

Flying Jib Stay

3" rope from foretopgallant mast just above the shrouds ,tied off around the flying jib boom close to its outer end.

Long P225

Hack P67

[JohnReid]

Steps 38,39 and 40.

Royal Backstays.

Fore royal backstay -one each side 3" rope tied at the mast truck and leading to the aftermost eyebolts in the forechannels.

Main royal backstay-as above except leading to the eyebolts of the main backstay stools.

Mizzen royal backstays-as above except using a 2" rope ,leads to after eyebolts of the mizzen stools.

Long P233

[JohnReid]