Sure Andy, I can do that for you.
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Sure Andy, I can do that for you.
I finally ordered ratlines for Wave 1 :happy:
Hey Keith. It's me bugging you about the brass ratlines (again). According to your 4-17-14 post you should have them in hand by now? If not, might you be expecting to ship fairly soon? I know you're working a lot of hours so it might be a couple more weeks before we get them in the mail. Thanks!
I just talked to the company yesterday via email and there was a delay. Looks like another two weeks possibly before I get them :sad:
Thanks for the update Keith. The main reason I'm asking is it's finally warm enough to start spray painting outside so of course I want to get those ratlines on some of the pirate repaints.
I wont ask again for a couple of weeks at least. :sly:
Wouldn't it be ironic if we got the Wave 2 ships before the ratlines? :shock:
Looks like irony became fact. Any news on the ratlines?
They started shipping out yesterday ;)
Thats great news Keith!
Thanks for the great news, can't wait to see them.
Thats even better news :beer:
The AA site upgrade that crapped out on me has held up the shippments. I can't actually process the orders from the backend. I hope to have that solved tonight or tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me on this.
I managed to get a lot of orders processed yesterday. A bunch of Ratlines are now on their way to a port near you.
Jim, your ships did ship :happy: The way I did the refund for the missing ship caused the site not to send out the shipping notice on yours. I corrected my process going forward with the rest of the ship orders that went out.
They turned out great. I've not had time to use them yet, but the detail on this is mind blowing. Makes the Langton lines look bulky.
Well, my current supply is a little messed up. The factory did not ship my entire order to me. So, I'm currently sold out right now because I have no more of 102. The missing ratlines land here in the US on Tuesday, and then will be sent to me. Once I have those, I'll still have some stock left.
Hi Keith,
Should I put in an order for ratlines now, or is it best to wait until you are restocked?
Thanks.
Keith, if I didn't receive a notification from you, does this mean my preorder wasn't filled? Don't want to anticipate if my order isn't coming yet.
I'll wait until you inform us it is a go. No hurry, here.
Wishing you the best on resolving these problems.
I just sent you an email with the order number and the details of the order.
My many sets of brass ratlines arrived. They are works of art. After peeling oof the plastic film they blacken perfectly with Blacken-It. But which goes where?
Hi Michael,
Check out post #31 in this thread (on page 1). If I'm reading the diagram correctly. One is the lower foremast, 2 is upper foremast. 3 is the lower mainmast and 4 is the upper mainmast. 5 is the lower mizzenmast and 6 the upper mizzenmast. The ratlines at each number are for both the port and starboard sides of the mast. Post number #130 also in this thread (page number 3) shows the orientation with the straight or nearly vertical edge going towards the bow of the ship.
If this doesn't make sense, or I'm getting it wrong, hopefully Keith or others will correct me.
Are 5 and 6 correct? 6 looks like it might be lower mizzen....
Thanks you for the clarification. As beautiful as the frets are, they will require very careful cutting and handling. Properly done, they should transform the Ares models.
First impressions:
1. I dipped the fret in Blacken-it. First mistake: I left the fret in the solution too long.
2. I was worried about how to cut the ratlines without breaking anything. I needn't have worried. The individual ratlines just fell from the fret. This is probably because the Blacken-It corroded the tiny threads that kept the ratlines attached to the fret.
3. They are as delicate as spider webs. Do not touch the shrouds or ratlines except at the very apex of the shrouds, with a very gentle touch, using fine tweezers. Do not use your fingers. I of course learned this the hard way, breaking numerous delicate connections of the spider web. First attempt, I ruined 50% of the individual parts.
I will press on, having learned a thing or two. However as beautiful as these ratlines are, they are so delicate that they will not survive heavy handed assembly or later game play. Maybe the Blacken-It weakened the brass too much. However paint would destroy them altogether. I will try a quick application of Blacken it next time and then neutralize the chemical reaction. I think a water bath would do this.
It will be interesting to see how others are finding them. At this point, I fear they may be too good for the Ares models, and just too fragile. A more robust approach along the lines of Rod Langton's brass shrouds might be the answer. I love them, but.....
I've never used Blacken-It but from what I just read on some model ship forums it can destroy small brass parts pretty quickly?
I haven't received my brass ratlines yet, but I do appreciate your posting some warnings and advice. They do look rather delicate, which was the real attraction for any of the ship models I've been working on; Ares, Langton or GHQ. Are the sheets protected on both side with a peel off film? I'm wondering if some work should be done before the second film is removed from the frets? If there's only one side of film then working of the clean brass side first?
There is film on both sides... and they are delicate so handle with care. Once on, I don't think there will be any issues with them. I guess if people pick up your ships by the upper part of the hulls, there is a chance they will damage them.