Frigate Chapter Ten: Rigging Guns
I spent a hefty amount of time looking into the rigging to try and discover the most appropriate method and soon realised there is no one correct way to view rigging. Most ships ar designed with the guns run out - as it looks good. Fine but if the guns are run out then the train tackles should be rigged. Most models do not do this. Equally if the guns are run out then some sails should exist as well. It all got very complicated.
As far as the rigging itself goes I eventually followed the Mastini method. Firstly cut out a length of breaching rope and attach one end to a black painted eyelet with a figure of eight knot. Use a very fine thread to 'stop' the loose end by the figure of eight from flapping.
Take the figure of eight through the forward eyelet on the gun carriage (why 3 most books show 2 yet the kit has you enter all 3..) then wrap it around the end of the cannon in your chosen manner (looped over, looped under r just draped - I chose looped under) then take the other end through the other sides eyelet. Then attach the loose end to an eyelet and tighten by holding the eyelet at the loc you want it to be. Stopper it as before.
Take 3 single blocks and tie thn black thread around the blocks and figure of eight to a eyelet. I found it was easier to double hitch the block first as that is the weaker knot and then attach to the figure of eight mainly becaus the figure of eight s easier to secure and f you hold the block and the eyelet in the figure of eight together when you pull the rope it causes the two knots to come a lot closer. Dab super glue on this and any other double hitch.
Tie the 3 blocks above to the rear eyelet on the gun and the two side eyelets.
Measure and cut another two lengths of thinner rope for he train tackles (I used .0.8 for the breach and 0.25 for the train tackles). Figure of eight one end of each to an eyelet. Now you are ready t go. Dab superglue to any knot that looks like it needs it and then trim all the excess rope from the ropes set - like me it is much easier to leave big excesses to allow the knot tying t become easier.
I now drilled a small hole in the rear axle (on the upper deck use the front as you do not want to see this) and entered a small length of brass rod. Mark the location of the gun in its place on deck and drill a small hole in the deck where the rod will be inserted. Superglue the wheels and the rod and place the gun.
Place super glue gel in the holes on the bulkhead and with tweezers insert the breaching ropes into the lower hole. Then take the train tackle and insert its eyelet into te uper hole.
Once dry thread the loose end of te train tackle rope into the block on the side of the cannon back onto the block at the start of the train tackle eyelet and then attach the remainng loose end to the deck.
Prepare the rope swirls by putting double sided tape on yur work top and then spiraling a measured and cut length of thread onto the tape. I used a needle file to safely place the rope. Once done turn the tape upside down and press firmly. Pull the smooth side of the tape off and then cut around your rope swirl pull of and then stick onto the loose end of the rope on the model.
Repeat on the other side and for the train tackles you want a block and eyelet drilled nto the deck with a single rope swirl.
Though the kit only has you rigging 12 or so of the guns I did the lot. It took sme time but I am pleasd with the result. I also added the stove, lower capstan and pumps at this point...
