FALLS OF FOYERS

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob’s method of rigging is a fine example of lateral thinking Robin. It completely sidesteps all the problems associated with tiny multiple knots and keeping lines taut etc. It is also much more durable than using thread or hair. As well as being particularly suited to the scale at which Bob builds you can also apply some of his ideas to larger models. I have successully used rigid wire for funnel stays on my modified Deans kit of the steam yacht Medea, it looks much better than my initial efforts with thread and I will certainly do the same thing where appropriate on my future models.

 

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I began miniatures and rigging with wire in the early 1970s, following in the footsteps of Donald McNarry.   From the very start, I found it much easier than building at 8’=1″.    I simply don’t have the patience to mess about with knots!

Bob 

[Andy BaileyParticipant @andybailey80218]

I think you must have the patience of a saint Bob i am truly amazed at the detail in your model its a real pleasure to see!!

Regards Andy

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Andy,

Thanks.         I am afraid I have very little patience.   I like to see the job up and running within the first hour and completed in a few weeks.      I have lost count of the number of modellers who tell me they have neither the time, nor patience to scratchbuild and then go on to tell me how many hundreds of hours they have put into a kit over many months or even years!

 

Here are the building details on FALLS OF FOYERS.     All the work is timed on a stopwatch and if I stop work for any reason, I stop the watch.   

 

Work began 11th October, 2009.

In the first 40 hours, the hull was complete and the display case and carrying case was assembled. 

 

The masting and rigging has so far taken 14 hours.     

 

I do not work on it every day and the longest I have spent on it in one day was 3 hours!

 

Today, I will probably complete the carrying case and display case before making and fitting the 25 yards together with their furled sails.    I hope to have it all finished by the end of the first week in December.

 

Bob

[Robin LeeParticipant @robinlee31938]

Hi Bob, I must confess that I also keep a log of the time I spend each session and what I have done in that session. I find the record of what I have done useful for later work – if I don’t write it down a few months later I will have forgotten what I used for a particular job etc. Looking at your timescales I think I take much longer to do things than yourself. I like to fiddle around a lot, stare at the birds on the bird table, play a few CDs etc – time flies by.

 

Another factor of course is that as you say yourself a lot of this hobby is technique – I am relatively a newcomer to this hobby so information gleaned from forums like this is very useful, everything else has to be learnt the hard way by trial and error which is of course very time consuming.

Robin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Robin,

That is quite correct.   Most of it is simple techniques.     Fortunately for me, ships like the FALLS OF FOYERS are seldom modelled because of their supposed complexity.     Actually it is not complex at all, or simple seamen would not have been able to sail them.    One square rigged mast is the same as the next and a large amount of rigging is “standing rigging” that does not move, but just holds the masts up!     But apart from that, the courage, strength and stamina of the men who sailed these giant iron and steel sailing ships  should never be underestimated.     It comes as a great sadness to me when I hear them often referred to as “boats!” 

Today, I completed and painted the 25 yards.   The four lower yards were of brass rod, the topsail, t’gallant and royal yards were copper rod, whilst I had to resort to silver steel for the skysails beacuase they were so fine!

I am now ready to start fitting the yards with their furled sails.

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 24/11/2009 19:18:54

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now fitted and rigged the four lower yards.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now set and rigged the four lower topsail yards.   Only another 17 to fit and rig now!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very Nice, Bob!

 

 Do you find that you are making an extra neat job of your model, these days……Because us lot are looking over your shoulder?

 

I certainly do!………Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks Bob,

I hope each one is better than the one before.     On a Ship Model forum, there have been 3,842 visits to the FALLS OF FOYERS build, on another Boats forum, there have been 367 visits and here 427 visits, so I think it appeals more to the modellers interested in ships rather than boats! 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now completed the rigging of the 8 topsail yards and fitted, but not yet rigged, the lower t’gallants.     The model is now approaching completion.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Another Wilsonian, Masterpiece!

 

I don`t know how you can part with these little beauties……..Afterall, they take up such little space!

 

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

That is true, but don’t forget this is the 237th!     We have a complete photographic record and one or two favourites still here.

Bob

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