Having built a few warships I have never rigged a model. So my question is there a standard way that navies used? Also how or what was the rigging secured too at the base? I've looked at some pics but I'm still unclear as to where I should fasten the rigging at the base.
Hope I've made my self clear.
Rigging 1/700 ships
Moderator: JIM BAUMANN
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biggles2
- Posts: 1980
- Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 1:50 pm
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Rigging was secured with eye-bolts and turnbuckles, but these details are far too small to depict in 1/700. To anchor the lower end of the rigging, I just bore a shallow hole in the deck with a sharp needle, dip the tip of my piece of stretched sprue (the rigging material) in CA, and, using fine tweezers, position the stretched sprue into the hole. Hold the length of rigging a few seconds at more or less the right angle until the CA sets. Snip the rigging to just slightly longer than needed and glue the upper end to the mast or yardarm. You'll have a sagging line but using heat (Jim Baumann's method) will tighten it up. It will take a few tries to perfect this technique, but it's worth it. You can add any necessary pullies, insulators, etc. with a tiny drop of white glue and paint it later. When using stretched sprue for rigging, antennas, etc. never use styrene glue to secure it as that kind of glue will melt through the very finely stretched sprue. 
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speedbird
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:37 pm
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Rr
Last edited by speedbird on Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- JIM BAUMANN
- Posts: 5680
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:30 pm
- Location: Nr Southampton England
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
hello Tan 63
Biggles is correct, that in 1/700 any depiction of eybolts or similar is likely to be way over-scale.
so a 'butt-join to the deck in small scales will be close enough
Signal halyards( which are in effect usually endless via clip-to-flags on the other hand were often secured to the railing with a clove hitch knot
again in 1/700 mere contact with the railing will be within scale
My rigging method was mentioned earlier--I use stretched sprue
Have a look here at the step-by-step
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37536
Stretched sprue is about as thin and fine as you can get.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... na_006.jpg
more here
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
do feel free to ask further questions -
specifically which ship are you building?
best wishes
JB
Biggles is correct, that in 1/700 any depiction of eybolts or similar is likely to be way over-scale.
so a 'butt-join to the deck in small scales will be close enough
Signal halyards( which are in effect usually endless via clip-to-flags on the other hand were often secured to the railing with a clove hitch knot
again in 1/700 mere contact with the railing will be within scale
My rigging method was mentioned earlier--I use stretched sprue
Have a look here at the step-by-step
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37536
Stretched sprue is about as thin and fine as you can get.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... na_006.jpg
more here
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
do feel free to ask further questions -
specifically which ship are you building?
best wishes
JB
....I buy them at three times the speed I build 'em.... will I live long enough to empty my stash...?
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
IPMS UK SIG (special interest group) www.finewaterline.com
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
IPMS UK SIG (special interest group) www.finewaterline.com
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Tan63
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:16 pm
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Thanks for the pic and may I say a lovely looking model.
I'm sat here now thinking what have I let myself in for,lol.
I'm sat here now thinking what have I let myself in for,lol.
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Tan63
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 12:16 pm
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Thanks Jim for the advice it was a great help.
- LeeF
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2016 8:43 pm
- Location: Walton, KY
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Thank you for posting up these pics and suggestions. I echo Tan63's concerns...what have I gotten myself into? I'm working on the 1/700 Italeri Lutzow and I think I'll go blind with all of the super small wires/lines to replicate!
Many thanks,
Lee
Many thanks,
Lee
Current builds:
1/700 Aoshima Mutsu
1/720 Italeri Lutzow
1/400 ARII USS Enterprise
1/700 Aoshima Mutsu
1/720 Italeri Lutzow
1/400 ARII USS Enterprise
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djandj
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:46 am
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
I'll throw in my two cents on this (as I have done before) Honestly , the "1/700" rigging suggested above is just too thick. Look at Jim's ship. The rigging is much finer. The rigging on your ship should not be visible from more than a couple of feet away. Otherwise it's just over scale. At the end of the day, work with whatever you are comfortable with and what your skill level (and eyesight) can cope with, but remember - when it comes to rigging, less is more.
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biggles2
- Posts: 1980
- Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 1:50 pm
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
I just got some Caenis UNI size 08 fly thread. Still suitably fine, but at least I can see it! 
- mmaresm
- Posts: 502
- Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 12:26 am
Re: Rigging 1/700 ships
Hello ship-builders!!
I have been building ships for awhile ( and even before being a part of 'ModelWarships' ), but I would like to share a YT link on a "How To..." on rigging ships!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6e-A1tiIOo
This video, I hope, will be Helpful for those who are wondering about the different types of rigging lines for ships. I used two (2) different brands... Mig rigging and ModelKasten, both have been useful in my (at the time of this post) three (3) ships that I have used these products.
I show how to attach lines to make signal flag lines through narration and stills and with the help of my daughter using video.
Let me know what you think.
M. Mares
I have been building ships for awhile ( and even before being a part of 'ModelWarships' ), but I would like to share a YT link on a "How To..." on rigging ships!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6e-A1tiIOo
This video, I hope, will be Helpful for those who are wondering about the different types of rigging lines for ships. I used two (2) different brands... Mig rigging and ModelKasten, both have been useful in my (at the time of this post) three (3) ships that I have used these products.
I show how to attach lines to make signal flag lines through narration and stills and with the help of my daughter using video.
Let me know what you think.
M. Mares