At this point the standing rigging should be up but not permanently tied down,so that if need be you still should be able to get good access to just about any point on the model.Now would be a good time to do a checklist of all the required belaying points ,eyebolts,sheaves and cleats on the shrouds etc....( tie down the standing rigging only as required to complete the running rigging.)
After finishing the running rigging, I will make up a diagram of the required belaying points on the decks.
It is at this point that the final decision will have to be made on whether to use full sails or not on your model.Harbour rig (like mine) furled sails or full sails? The position of the yards on the masts will depend upon your decision now.
If you are doing a harbor or furled sails rig, the yards will be correctly positioned low on the masts ,while at full sail they will be in a much higher position.
After finishing the running rigging I will do a limited sail rig for those who are interested in putting up some of the sails.None of the rigging for the stay sails will be covered as they are hardly ever put up on ship models of this type, as they tend to hide a lot of the ships details.
Now may also be a good time to think of whether or not to put your model on a stand or in a sea-type kind of diorama setting ,maybe even using a few figures.
My opinion is that a fully rigged ship, sitting on a stand, sailing to nowhere with no crew, is a little beyond believability.The sail rig that I would envision would be for use in reasonable winds ,set to catch a fair wind from the port quarter .A wind such as this would result in the ship being slightly down by the head and heeling very slightly to starboard.
It would not require a lot of crew ,a few on deck and a couple in the rigging and of course one at the helm would be enough to bring it to life.
If you are planning to do such a ship it would be advisable now to wait until I get to the sail rig before doing your final checklist of belaying points etc...
This first checklist may not be as complete as I would like it to be and is in no specific order but it should help you avoid trying to set up an eyebolt,cleat or other rigging at a more awkward stage down the road.
For those who intend to press on now with a harbour rig it is advisable to rig your yards as completely as possible before attaching them to the masts.
Questions or comments? Good luck! Cheers. John.
