We have had several threads in recent days on small scale ships including sailing ships. Sure wish the PE accessory people would do more standing rigging (particularly shroud/ratline assemblies) for these. They are so neat looking- it is about the only way you can do realistic rigging in smaller scales like 1:350, 1:400 and 1:600.
I used to like the 1:600 ships that Airfix and Heller put out. Wish there were more of those out there- fortunately they frequently appear in flea markets (no one wants to do the rigging on something that small ).
PE Master Pete Hall (company name Atlantic Models) did a number of ratline sets in scales from 1/350 down to 1/700. They are listed as currently available from White Ensign Models in the UK and BattleFleet in the US. I’ve used the 1/600 version and they’re great, very scale-looking and pretty easy to use. (A tip I learned from another forum years ago–they’re so fine something like a Sharpie works better than paint. Even a fine spray builds up pretty quickly.)
might try model rr EZ-LINE for rigging. comes in black and white and tan. stretches nice and doesn’t put any tension on the plastic, which can’t take it.
I’m familiar with EZ-line, and have some even thinner monofilament stuff. But doing the ratlines in those scales is a real b…h! Tying the knots is painful! That is why I like the PE stuff.
And thanks, Gregg- I had not been aware of the WEM stuff. I’ll take a look- I still have several of those old 1:600 kits in the stash.
I would give it a try. The few PE shroud/ ratline sets I’ve encountered so far didn’t float my boat.
The ones for the rear mast of the Emden, I went through all four in the set and discarded them because once painted they were far too heavy. So the sailors have to shimmy up the mast to get to the searchlights, I guess,
I hadn’t heard about the Atlantic Models shroud-and-ratline sets; many thanks to Mr. Stauffer for pointing them out to us. I tracked them down on the White Ensign website, and they look superb. (Here’s a link to the 1/350 set: www.whiteensignmodels.com/…/1034 .
The gangs of shrouds are big - about right, maybe, for an eighteenth-century ship of the line. But it looks to me like it would be quite practicable to cut them down to any smaller size.
Makes me think about buying one of those old Imai 1/350 schoolships, or the same company’s Cutty Sark.
Thanks again to Mr. Stauffer. If these sets become popular, maybe Mr. Hall can be persuaded to make some more aftermarket parts for plastic sailing ship kits.
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