Help on rigging

[Guest]

I've just finished putting together the 1:125 Revell Ocean Exploration Vessel (05101).

The instructions suggest using black thread for the rigging, but I'm concerned about how easy it will be to thread given the size of some of the holes.

Any suggestions for other options?

[Dave W]

I would use monofilament fishing line secured with superglue.

[Guest]

Very thin brass wire makes an execellent rigging set up, cut to length and superglued in place you do not have any problems with sag, I used it on the Tirpitz I built and photographs are on the forum. Give it a whirl if you think it will work

[Ian M]

A good tip: NEVER use cotton thread for ships rigging. It will look good the first day, then every speck of dust in the house WILL hang in the threads and once its there its there.

I would go for the fishing line (can be had in Black if you look around for it).

As an alternative you can used stretched sprue. Black ones are great, silver or grey is good for 'wire'.

Get the fishing line/sprue where it needs to be. It does not need to be 100% tight. Get hold of some josh sticks, you know those scented things women light to make the house stink.... Light it blow it out and they smolder away for ages. The good thing is they are very thin and can be poked into all the small spaces- Most of all the heat is very low and local. This means control. Just hold the josh stick a couple of centimetres away from the line you wish to tighten and the heat will make the sprue contract. Its a good idea to do it gradually, a bit here and a bit there. This is to prevent the masts and yards and booms and what not from being pulled over. You will be surprised how much of an effect a couple of bits of sprue can have on the radio mast of a ship!!!

Try it out on a couple of 'masts' made from scrap sprue and practice on that until you get the feel of it.

Ian M

[BarryW]

Good tip that using joss sticks, I was going to use a heated screwdriver on my next aircraft aerial wire.. I will get some of those now!! Thanks Ian...

[Guest]

I have head of the heated fishing line technique before, but never heard of using josh sicks for the heat application. A tremendous idea!

[Guest]

Personally I would use Black Rigging Cord 0.25mm dia, used various diameters throughout my recent Trawler. Derek

Amati Model Ship Fittings - Rigging Thread from Cornwall Model Boats