Photo Etched Brass Ratlines

[Nightmoss]

Interesting, i vaguely remember a discussion about that here some time ago. How did the french rig there mizzen masts?

Chris, if you don't have the Langton book for the step by step guide to mizzen mast rigging for non British ships you should check out Rory's guide that's currently up on Vol's blog:

http://volsminiatures.blogspot.com/2...-guide-to.html

The ship he rigged is a Russian one and he does mention that British mizzen rigging is different. By the way if you ever rig an American ship you'll want to rig that like a British one. Back when I was working on the USS Constitution I asked Rod Langton about US ships, being rigged like British or the rest of the world. He told me that US ships are rigged like the British.

Curiously enough someone on TMP just rigged a French ship exactly as you did (Le Formidable): http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=350152

[Nightmoss]

The rest of my Wave 1 ratlines showed up while I was gone. I've not had a chance to open them and check that all is okay yet. Hopefully today.

I'll start designing Wave 2 ratlines some time this month. I've just been to busy dealing with things since the actual ships showed up. I'm not sure if I'll stick with brass or switch to SS for Wave 2, but I'm thinking a ever so slightly thicker metal could be used with out ruining the great looks of these lines. That would make them a little easier to work with I think.

Keith, you're probably still trying to catch up and/or recover from Origins, but will the rest of the ratline stock go up on the Anchorage store soon? Or, did you sell out again? Thanks much!

[Devsdoc]

Interesting, i vaguely remember a discussion about that here some time ago. How did the french rig there mizzen masts?

Hi Chris,
Only the Brits Royal Navy and I have heard the U.S. Navy too. Rig this way. All the rest and Merchant Fleets rig as so:- The bottom 2 arms go to the Main mast fighting tops. the top arm goes to the next top up. Hope this helps. See Rod Langton's book on rigging
Be safe
Rory

[The Royal Hajj]

Keith, you're probably still trying to catch up and/or recover from Origins, but will the rest of the ratline stock go up on the Anchorage store soon? Or, did you sell out again? Thanks much!

Still behind schedule. Look for them mid to late next week.

[Capn Duff]

I have just tried attaching the ratlines to my first ship. It takes a lot of patience, as these are super delicate, but they do look good when on.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10254

Nice model Chris, I have yet to try this on my models, but looking at yours it is the way to go

[The Royal Hajj]

Ratlines stocks have been updated on the site. There are plenty of the frigate lines left, but all of the 74s are sold out except for in full Wave 1 sets.

[Nightmoss]

Well, I've wanted to try this since the Wave 2 ships and the AA brass ratlines arrived. I was hopeful that the Wave 1 ratlines might work on the Wave 2 ships and in the case of the SGN102 ratlines they work almost perfectly with the French 1st Rates. Very little trimming needed. The only "iffy" area was the lower mizzenmast ratlines and they still look OK to me. Enjoy!

[Jack Tar]

It looks pretty ace to me! I want!

Is that stock paint or have you modified it? I have not seen any of the 1st rates yet.

If it is stock paint then they did a great job on the sails...far better than wave 1.

[Nightmoss]

It looks pretty ace to me! I want!

Thank you!

Is that stock paint or have you modified it? I have not seen any of the 1st rates yet.

Everything is repainted and in this case it's the Orient repainted as the Austerlitz, but with 'home water' masts.

If it is stock paint then they did a great job on the sails...far better than wave 1.

Sails and deck are 'Bonewhite' (brown ink wash), the hull is black and a blend of purple/brown paints I have on hand and the stern is a bronze/gold paint pen I just discovered at Michael's. The AA ratlines really make the ships stand out. Amazing!

[Jack Tar]

well it looks great, nice job!

[fredmiracle]

Amazing work!

[Gunner]

Excuse the pun but, a 1st rate job Jim.

[Arakus]

Hello,

any news about the ratlines for the wave 2 ships?

Btw, what do you think about brass sails and metal masts for the sgn ships.
Julián from "Model J" use atm langton brass sails and metal masts for the conversions but he must use the parts from a greater class to mach the size.

But it would be much easier with the items fitting for their size and atm he can't convert the 1st rate ships because their are no parts which have the size, and the ships would look much better with this sails.

[Nightmoss]

According to the banner up on the Aerodrome, Keith is about to leave for a vacation/business trip that's going to last about one month. So, unless he's already sent something on I don't expect we'll see any new brass (or stainless steel) ratlines for some time?

As for the custom sails and masts for any SoG ships I don't think there's enough of a market to make this kind of production viable? I could be wrong, but I think the major appeal and selling point of the game is the pre-painted/out of the box play advantage. Custom work and modding is probably a very small number of 'gamers', but that's just me speculating.

[The Royal Hajj]

Jim is spot on with both accounts. Ratlines for Wave 2 ships in still in the distant future.

[TexaS]

How distant a future is now?

I really would like at least a dozen ratline sets for 74:s and half a dozen more for 1st rates.

[Bligh]

Another very useful article Jim, and I will give you more rep once I have spread some around.
Rob.

[Bligh]

I can see that this is an area into which I must venture Keith.
Rob.

[The Royal Hajj]

They are getting closer. Still a few months out though.

[Gunner]

Has the stainless steel vs brass question been settled yet?

[Nightmoss]

Has the stainless steel vs brass question been settled yet?

I think Keith was leaning towards the stainless steel as more durable for application, but he may not have reached a final decision which would be dependent on the cost? Brass works fine, but it is much more sensitive to damage. If given a choice I'd go with stainless steel as it would be easier to handle and add a bit more support for the plastic masts.

[Bligh]

I am inclined to agree with the stainless option as long as we can cut it off the sprue easily.
Rob.

[Nightmoss]

I am inclined to agree with the stainless option as long as we can cut it off the sprue easily.
Rob.

Good point. I think Keith mentioned that stainless might not be as pliable for working with. Cutting off the sprue might be an issue.

[Bligh]

Side cutting pliers will do the job, but I'm not sure how long they will last.
We have to remember that Stainless steel is actually failed armour plate. I have seen it burn out High speed steel drills.
Rob.

[Gunner]

My preference is stainless. Thin brass damages too easily, at least with my ten thumbs.

[Diamondback]

My preference is stainless. Thin brass damages too easily, at least with my ten thumbs.

Another one with that problem, huh? LOL )

[7eat51]

How much would adding ratlines and rigging strengthen the masts on Wave 2 ships?

[TexaS]

Nylon sewing thread superglued does add some strength to the ships. I have done so and it feels more stable when carefully pushing the masts. I have also dropped a rigged ship from waist high without damage. Not sure if that was thanks to the rigging though.

It was the Royal George, by the way.

[Gunner]

How much would adding ratlines and rigging strengthen the masts on Wave 2 ships?

I don't think the thin brass helps strength at all. But stainless steel might.

[Gunner]

Nylon sewing thread superglued does add some strength to the ships. I have done so and it feels more stable when carefully pushing the masts. I have also dropped a rigged ship from waist high without damage. Not sure if that was thanks to the rigging though.

It was the Royal George, by the way.

In my experience in dropping ships, (which is extensive) if it lands on or near the base chances are it's OK. Drop it on or near the foremast or mizzen, you'll have a problem.

[Bligh]

I'm sure that any form of extra support enhances the chances of less damage, but stainless is by far the best simply because it is more rigid.
Remember though that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so your glue line is the most vulnerable part of any reinforcement.
Rob.

[TexaS]

That's why i knot the thread before superglueing it.

[Devsdoc]

Hi All,
Its not the strength of the material but the stopping of movement. As long as the material does not stretch. Cotton will stretch. As in life this is what makes them stay up-right. O.K. dropping them will not help. It is the opposite action of the pair that makes it all work. A rigged ship no matter how badly is always better than a ship with no rigging, in looks and strength.
Be safe
Rory

[Capn Duff]

I am looking to make Ratline for my ships, currently using some black netting, once done
I'll post a pic to show, not sure if it will work but we will see

[Gunner]

I am looking to make Ratline for my ships, currently using some black netting, once done
I'll post a pic to show, not sure if it will work but we will see

Is that the netting that was sold by Langton?

[Gunner]

They are getting closer. Still a few months out though.

Is there any word on ratlines for SGN106 & 108? You would be the only one producing them for 1st rate 1/1000 ships.

[The Royal Hajj]

It's a project that I've been working on... it just keeps getting pushed to the back burner for other things and life in general :(

[The Royal Hajj]

Actually, if someone has a digital caliper, PowerPoint and some time on their hands... I'd be willing to work with them to get these done much faster.

[Gunner]

Wish I could help. I hope there's someone on this or the WOG site that could.

[Northern Wolves]

This is holding me up as well, I don't even care to match up the ratlines exactly, I'd just be happy with some more of the 74 size in general.

[The Royal Hajj]

I'll get them moved back towards the top of the list mates.

[Kentop]

I'll take one of each, too. Rory is right, the ratlines shouldn't come to a sharp point. They should be flattened at the tip maybe just the width of the mast itself. It will make it a lot easier to glue for us old salts. It will also make each ratline more distinct from the others.

[Gunner]

I'll get them moved back towards the top of the list mates.

Much appreciated. Crews are complaining about making them shimmy up the masts to change sail settings.

[Nightmoss]

Keith, that would be great. Will you stick with the brass or might you move to stainless steel? As we discussed some time back brass is much more fiddly while stainless steel will be less prone to damage while painting and applying to the ships. Thanks.

[Gunner]

Stainless for me if you're still deciding

[Gunner]

[ATTACH=CONFIG] . It will make it a lot easier to glue for us old salts.

I'll second that

[The Royal Hajj]

I looked at going to stainless, but we'd have to give up a lot of the detail that we get with the brass. They would basically have about half the number of ratlines as the brass. Not sure I want to give up the great detail we have now.

[Gunner]

Is it possible to go with brass a bit thicker than the last lot?

I also like Rory's & Ken's suggestion about the upper tip of the ratlines being flat instead of pointed.

[The Royal Hajj]

Is it possible to go with brass a bit thicker than the last lot?

I also like Rory's & Ken's suggestion about the upper tip of the ratlines being flat instead of pointed.

The brass I used was .1mm. The next step up is .15mm and that would require the ratline line thickness to be over 50% thicker... again, losing about half the number of ratlines on each part. Bottom line, if we want a thicker material, we have to settle for cruder looking ratlines :(

Blunting the points is something I think can be done though.

[Northern Wolves]

I'm happy with the current brass myself, but will take stainless if they are made. I'm good for 5 ships worth as I have a French 74 done and waiting on ratlines in Toulon, the Royal George sitting in Plymouth and the USS United States enviously watching her sister sail around from Philadelphia, plus a few more two deckers yet to be laid down for want of timber