YAMATO RIGGING GUIDE - INTRODUCTION

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP
Step 03.02. Cable N° 9 Rigging from Aft Searchlight Platforms to Side Mast Arm Lower Lugs

Gentlemen,
in todays chapter we'll take a look at Cable N° 9 that starts at the (port & starboard) Aft Search Light Platforms and leads to the Lower Side Mast Lugs.
The AFT searchlight platforms are located near the AFT side of the Funnel. See also my previous article: 3.01. Rigging of MC1&4 from Main Yards to Side Mast tips.
Cable N° 9 is the only cable that makes a connection between a searchlight platform and the Lower Side Mast Lugs.
For that particular reason, cable N° 9 rigging gets a chapter of its own.

Let's start at the starboard Aft Searchlight Platform.
See Pic 001 "Cable Nr 9 Overview". The picture's name tells the story. You can see the complete trajectory that cable Nr 9 follows on starboard side, from the rear bracket (stern side) up to the Lower Side Mast Lug.
Needless to say that the same process also applies to the Port-side SLPF and its Lower Side Mast Lug.
From the Aft-bracket (stern side) on the Aft searchlight platform, cable N°9 leads upwards to a lug-rings on the Side-mast arm.
In Pic 001, the following color code applies :
Light Blue arrow + circle shows the place where Cable Nr 9 departs from the bracket on the Aft Searchlight Platform. Yellow arrows indicate the trajectory that cable Nr 9 follows to the Lower Side Mast Lug. The 2 red arrows & circles indicate the presence of qty=2 brown ball insulators on the cable.
Dark blue arrows show the end-station of Cable Nr 9 where it is attached to the starboard Lower Side Mast Lug.
Pic 002 "Departure at Aft SLPF": (light blue circle) shows you in detail where Cable Nr 9 is attached to the Aft (stern side) bracket and the yellow arrows show the trajectory Cable Nr 9 will follow upwards.
Pic 003 " Arrival Side Mast Lug & Insulators" is a detailed view that shows you with blue arrows the trajectory of Cable Nr 9.
The red arrows and circles show the location of the 2 brown ball insulators on the cable.
The big blue arrow & circle shows you that famous " Lower Side Mast Lug Ring" on the where Cable Nr 9 is attached to.
A word more about the Lower Side Mast Lug Ring.
Each Lower Side Mast Lug on the Side Masts is a small double circular ring that has the shape of the digit " 8".
Take a look at Pic 003. The Quality of the pic does not allow to give you a good view but when you push your zoom, you'll see in the blue circle the ''thin '' outlined Lug ring.
Please note that cable Nr 9 is connected to the lower ring of the 8-shaped lug while the upper lug ring is attached to the Side Mast.
For the die-hards : if you look close between Cable Nr 9 and the Mast , you can see ANOTHER cable arriving in the same lug which holds ALSO 2 brown ball insulators. But that cable is not concerned by this rigging chapter and will be treated later.

Question : Where exactly are those "lugs" located to the Mast?

Look at the Pic 004 -005: "Cable N° 9 Rear view & Side view".
Both pictures show you a schematic view from the aft side and right side of the mast that enable you to easy find the location of the Lower lugs. Just compare Pic 004-005 with Pic 003.
Note: The lugs in Pic 004 & 005 are shown oversized and out of proportion for 1 reason: to show the exact location.
The Lug Ring is located on the Side Arms at the same height where the lower reinforcement beams of the mast are attached.
Also note that the Lower Reinforcement beam of the Mast is installed in-line and with the same angle as the Side-Masts.
That's why you see the Reinforcement beam in the Rear-view of Pic 004 but you can NOT see it in Pic 005(Side view).
A very good reference for the Cable-Lug's location is Pic 001( Cable Nr 9 Overview). In the blue circle on top of the picture you'll notice that the Lower Reinforcement beam is installed on the INNER side of the Mast, at the same height where the Lug-Ring is attached to the OUTER side of the Mast.

About the Lower Reinforcement beam on the Mast: this subject will be treated in another, separate chapter.
Recommendation : Use your zoom to discover the details and the real shape and proportion of the lug rings.

Insulator Count :
In this Rigging Chapter, we find a total of 4 brown ball insulators attached on Cable Nr 9, on Port & Starboard Side together.
Total amount of insulators used in this rigging step : qty = 4 brown ball insulators

This is the end of step 03.02. Cable N° 9 Rigging from the Aft Searchlight Platforms to the Side Mast Arm Lower Lugs.
Next rigging step : 03.03. Rigging MC2& 3 from the Main Yard 60cm Searchlight Platforms to Main Mast Arm.

Gentlemen,
have a nice day .

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP
Step 03.03. Rigging MC2&3 from Bridge Main Yards to Main Mast Upper Lug.

Gentlemen,
today we will talk about Main Cables Nr 2&3 coming from the Bridge Main Yards at the 60cm Searchlight Platforms towards the Upper Lug on the front of the Main Mast.

To better understand this chapter, allow me to refresh your memory. I want to refer to one of the earlier rigging steps, more particulary : step 02.02. "Rigging of MC2&3 at the 60cm Searchlight Platforms ",published on 01 april 2017.
In that rigging step, we showed the rigging process that happens on the port and starboard 60cm searchlight platforms at the Bridge.
Take a look at Pic 001: Main Cable Nr 3, (starboard side) comes from the bow's flagstaff and arrives at the SLPF : yellow dashed line
Green circle = MC Nr 3 split point at bow side Blue ovals = qty= 4 brown ball insulators on the upper split Pink oval = Support Rod that guides MC3 split Red circle = the point where the splits of MC3 come back together again (stern side)
Blue Dashed line = MC3 leading to Main Mast Upper Lug.
All the rigging actions that take place on the searchlight platform, between the green circle and the red circle have already been treated in april 2017 and will not participate in this chapter.
But because the pictures will prominently show you the searchlight platform(s), I thought it is usefull to know where this rigging step starts and where the previous one ends. QED.

See Pic 002 : Detail of MC 2&3 at Bridge Main Yards. Yellow arrows = the start point of MC2&3. Blue arrows : Trajectory of MC2&3 to Main Mast Upper Lug
See Pic 003 : Total View of MC2&3 Trajectory to Main Mast. Yellow arrows : the start point of MC2&3 in this rigging chapter. Blue arrows : Trajectory of MC2&3 towards Main Mast Blue Circles : Location of Brown-Ball Insulators
See Pic 004 : Location of MC2&3 arriving at Main Mast Upper Lug. Blue arrows : Trajectory of MC2&3 towards Main Mast. Red Circle : Main Mast Upper Lug where MC2&3 arrive. Blue Circle : Location of 2 Brown-Ball Insulators near Main Mast. Pink Arrow : exact location of the Main Mast Upper Lug
See Pic 005 : Yellow stripes : INCLINED Trajectory of MC2&3 towards Main Mast. Blue Circles : Location of Brown-Ball Insulators
See Pic 006 : Schematic Side View. Blue arrows : Trajectory of MC2&3 starting at Bridge Main Yards and ending at Main Mast Upper Lug.

So, at the place where the splits of MC2&3 are brought back together into 1 single cable, at that specific location, our rigging chapter starts. See red circle in Pic 001 and yellow arrows in Pic 002 & Pic 003.
From there, MC2&3 depart each, towards the Main Mast. See Blue arrows in Pic 002 & Pic 003.
They meet each other at the front of the Main Mast, in the Upper Lug. See Red Circle in Pic 004.
Remark : the startpoint of MC2&3 at the Bridge Main Yards is located LOWER than the Main Mast Upper Lug where both cables meet.
To get an idea under what angle MC2&3 travel, please check the yellow lines in Pic 005 : the trajectory goes slightly Uphill to the Main Mast Upper Lug.
Check also Pic 006 : the Schematic Side View shows the (inclined) Trajectory of MC2&3 (between the blue arrows) from the Bridge Main Yards towards the Upper Lug of the Main Mast.
Remark :
The Upper Lug on the front of the Main Mast is the End-station of Main Cables 2 & 3.They simply come to an end at this location.
Main Cables Nr2 & Nr3 are two out of the initial 4 Main Cables that started at the Flagstaff on the bow of Yamato.
See the earlier publication on this site in "Chapter 01, Foreship Step 02 " Main Cables Nr 1-2-3-4 over the foreship ", published on 14 march 2017.

Insulator Count
See Pic 003 : in the Blue Circles you can clearly see 2 Brown Ball Insulators on each cable : one in the middle and one near the Main Mast.
Remark : the 4 Brown Ball Insulators on the SLPF's : Pic 001 , blue ovals, are part of a previous chapter (02.02. of 01 april 2017) and will not be counted in this rigging step.

Insulator Count :
Total amount of insulators used in this rigging step : qty = 4 Brown Ball-Insulators

This is the end of step 03.03. Rigging MC2&3 from Bridge Main Yards to Main Mast Upper Lug.
Next rigging step : 03.04. Rigging of the Funnel Attachments

Gentlemen,
have a nice day.

[baseballbrat]

Katana, Thanks for continuing your post on Rigging Yamato. Like I said before, you are the only person on the internet to tackle this project. I look forward to following this post to the end. Finally rigging Yamato in detail has become a reality.

Jim

[Dan K]

So, I know that katana's rigging guide was briefly it's own thread and then it was merged back into this one. However, I think that if we leave it here, it will eventually be buried by topics and time.

I believe that it's purpose might be better served if we post it as one of the FAQs, maybe as a sticky so it doesn't move. If agreed, one of the moderators (more accomplished than I) will move it.

What say you all?

[baseballbrat]

Good Idea!

[katana]

Hello Dan,

seems a very good idea to me.

If you post it as an FAQ , even a sticky , do I have to change the procedure for publishing an article or will it still be the same ?

And does the same rule apply to attach max 10 pictures to one text published ?

Just asking because that is what I do now.....

Greetings

Katana

[katana]

Forget to ask : will the articles of 2017 also be moved to the FAQ ?

[MartinJQuinn]

Forget to ask : will the articles of 2017 also be moved to the FAQ ?

Work with Dan to identify which posts should be moved and I'll create a new topic.

[Dan K]

I will search for them and forward to Mr. Quinn.

And, no, the procedure for posting remains the same. Limits as well. It's just another thread in a different location.

[katana]

Thanks a lot , Martin and Dan for the quick response.

Also, thanks in advance Mr Quinn to get that (big) job done.

Will wait for your message to proceed with the YAMATO Rigging Guide.

Gentlemen,

have a nice day

Katana

[Dan K]

You should be able to proceed now, I would think. I mean, you did just post to the thread successfully. As did I.

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP
Step 03.04. Rigging Funnel Attachments

Gentlemen,
today we will talk about the Rigging of the Funnel Attachments.
Indeed, you wouldn't expect the Funnel to play a role in the rigging scheme of Yamato, but it really does!
On each side of the Funnel we see 2 devices that are to be considered as the "Attachments for the Funnel Rigging".
It's not easy to discover them because they are almost completely hidden by the midship fire control tower and the Aft (stern side) Searchlight Platform. See Pic 001 (starboard side)
Let's take a closer look at the attachments.
See Pic 002 (port side).
White arrow : Big Round Lug attached to the Funnel Wall.
Yellow arrow : Bottlescrew attached to the Lug.
Blue arrow : Big sturdy device with a 90° bent which we will call " the Big Tube".
Green arrow: bottlescrew attached to the Big Tube.
For convienience, when we talk about the " Lug and its Bottle screw", we will call it : the "Funnel Lug". When talking about the "Big Tube and its bottlescrew", we will call it : the "the Big Tube".
Yamato Fans among you with a good memory will say : I have seen this "big tube" device once before !. and they are right !
Take a look at Pic 003 & 004 : This is the front side of Yamato's Bridge structure, port & starboard side, right behind the Front 155mm Gun. Here also we see a "Big Tube" at the bridge wall.
This subject was treated in the rigging step of Chapter 01 Foreship step 04. Rigging Antenna Wires to Front Bridge Structure, published on 19 march 2017.
In both pictures 003 & 004 (yellow circles) you can see a similar sturdy Big Tube with a 90°deflection.
I deliberatley said : similar. I did not say : "the same".
Because when you compare the Pic 001 & 002 with Pic 003 & 004 you will notice that on the Funnel, cables are coming out of the flat end-surface of the 90°deflection, while on the front of the Bridge , cables are not entering the flat surface but in the curved part of the big tube.
Small difference but notwithstanding : a difference.
Anyway, this is not relevant for now, so let's proceed.
Each bottlescrew on the Funnel Lug and on the Big Tube, contains 2 different cables departing to a different destination, see Pic 005.

1)From the 2 cables at the Funnel Lug (bottlescrew) : One cable departs to the Main Mast Lower Lug. See schematic view in Pic 006
The other cable leads to the Side Mast Outer Tip Lug. See schematic view in Pic 007.

2) From the 2 cables at the Big Tube (bottlescrew) : One cable departs to the Main Mast Lower Lug. See schematic view in Pic 006
The other cable leads to the Side Mast Lower Lug. See schematic view in Pic 007.
A combined schematic view of all those cables can be found in Pic 008.

Detail Pictures:
Pic 009 : wirings coming from the Funnel Lug (port side).
Yellow arrows = cable from Funnel Lug bottlescrew to Side Mast Outer tip Lug (port side).
Red arrow Side Mast : arrival point on Side Mast Outer tip Lug.
Blue arrows = cable from Funnel Lug bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug ( port side)
Red arrow Main Mast : arrival point on Main Mast Lower Lug.
Pic 010 : wirings from the Big Tube (port side).
Green arrows = cable from Big Tube bottlescrew to Side Mast Lower Lug.
Red arrow Side Mast: arrival point on Side Mast Lower Lug
Pink arrows = cable from Big Tube bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug.
Red arrow Main Mast: arrival point on Main Mast Lower Lug.
Pic 011: wirings from the Funnel Lug (starboard side).
Light blue arrows = cable from Funnel Lug bottlescrew to Side Mast tip Outer Lug.
Red arrow : arrival point on Side Mast tip Outer Lug.
Dark blue arrows= cable from Funnel Lug bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug
Pic 012: wirings from the Big Tube (starboard side).
Green arrows = cable from bottlescrew Big Tube to Side Mast Lower Lug.
Red arrow = arrival point on Side Mast Lower Lug.
Pink arrows= cable from bottlescrew Big Tube to Main Mast Lower Lug

Pic 013: Port & starboard cables from Funnel Lug & Big Tube arriving at Main Mast Lower Lug.
White arrows : cable from Port-side Funnel Lug bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug.
Light Blue arrows : cable from Port-side Big Tube bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug.
White circle: Port-side Main Mast Lower Lug.
Dark Blue arrows : cable from Starboard-side Funnel Lug bottle screw to Main Mast Lower Lug.
Green arrows : cable from Starboard-side Big Tube bottlescrew to Main Mast Lower Lug.

Pic 014: Port & starboard cables from Funnel Lug & Big Tube arriving at Main Mast Lower Lug.
Yellow circle: Starboard-side Main Mast Lower Lug.

Pic 015:
Blue arrows : cable from Big Tube bottlescrew to Side Mast Lower Lug ( port side).
CAUTION ! Yellow arrows : this is NOT a cable of the Funnel attachments ! This is Cable Nr 9 going to the Aft SLP.
See rigging chapter 03.02. "Cable Nr 9 from Aft SLPF to Lower Side Mast Lug".

Insulators on these cables
See Pic 016 : you can clearly see that on each cable that departs from a bottlescrew at the Funnel, we see 2 Brown Ball Insulators.
See also Pic 017: Port Side Insulator locations.
Yellow circle : insulators on the 4 Funnel attachment cables.
Green circle : 2 insulators on cable from Big Tube to Side Mast Lower Lug.
Pink circle : 2 insulators on cables from Funnel Lug and Big Tube to Main Mast Lower Lug.
Blue circle : 2 insulators on cable from Funnel Lug to Side Mast tip Outer Lug.
Pic 018:
Yellow circle : all 8 insulators ( PORT side) on the 4 Funnel attachment cables.
Blue circle: 4 insulators on cables from Funnel Lug and Big Tube to Main Mast Lower Lug ( PORT side).
White circle : 4 insulators on cables from Funnel Lug and Big Tube to Main Mast Lower Lug (STARBOARD side).

Pic 019: Starboard side Cable from Big Tube.
Blue arrows : (starboard side) Cable from Big Tube arriving at Side Mast Lower Lug.
Blue circles : 2 Brown Ball Insulators on that cable
Red Circle : Side Mast Lower Lug

Pic 020: Starboard side Cables from Funnel Lug & Big Tube.
Yellow Circle : Funnel Lug & Big Tube Cables with Insulators
Blue Circle: 4 Brown Ball Insulators on Starboard Funnel Lug & Big Tube Cables
Green Circle: Arrival of Cables from Funnel Lug & Big Tube at Starboard Main Mast Lower Lug.

Insulator Count
There are 4 Funnel attachments: 2 on port and 2 on starboard side. Each attachment contains 2 cables, which makes a total of 8 cables.
Each cable shows 2 insulators near the bottlescrews, and 2 insulators at their destination = 4 insulators per cable.
Total amount of insulators used in this rigging step : qty = 32 Brown Ball-Insulators.

This is the end of step 03.04. Rigging Funnel Attachments.
Next rigging step : 03.05. 2 Cables from Side Mast Arm tips to Main Mast Lower Lugs

Gentlemen,
have a nice day.

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP

03.04. Rigging Funnel Attachments

Gentlemen,

this is the second load of pictures for this rigging chapter.

[baseballbrat]

EXCELLENT!!!

Hey guys! While all this great rigging information is being produced here, does anybody here have knowledge about 3D printing and owns a printer please consider this............

I've been in search of 3D rigging parts in both 1:350 & 1:200 scale for all the Yamato kits available. No manufacture has thought of doing this for all the modelers out there. Rigging is the last part of a fantastic build and it would be an extra detail for the ones would want to make their kit authentic. Just gluing string or wire to some where on the part doesn't do it justice, nor make it accurate. Having 3D rigging parts like turnbuckles and hooks to attach the wires to, then attach it to the proper area on the ship would make a great difference. A rigging kit could be made up with the rigging cord or wire with attachment parts used with this wonderful rigging diagram to make your build standout from the others out there. Just a thought!

Jim

[katana]

Hello Baseballbrat,

Fantastic idea.
It would be a nice thought that modelers use the Yamato Rigging Guide to conceive a rigged -up model of Yamato !
That's by far the best reason why I'm doing this journey.
I can only speak for 1/200 scale, but I'm dreaming of getting those Brown Ball and White Bar insulators on Yamato in a 3D print version. And let's not forget : pulleys.
Just to give you an idea : on Yamato you need qty = 140 Brown Ball Insulators and qty= 38 White Bar Insulators. Not to mention the qty= 3 Lantern shaped insulators right above the rear range finder.....
Problem is: they will be very small in 1/200 , but with todays techniques and capabilities in 3D printing my guess is that it is possible to conceive those with a correct shape.
You once published a picture of such a Brown Ball Insulator : Even with this picture , I have absolutely no idea what the exact dimensions are from this ball.
The same goes for White Bar Insulators and pulleys.

So, if someone feels called and has a fantastic 3D printer (and is interested in Yamato model kits ) ....there is a market for this subject .

Katana

[baseballbrat]

The ball insulators could be printed showing the wire wrapped around it for detail. Then you just add a drilled hole through the ball where you just slide the wire or thread through to get the affect of wrapping around the insulator. Turnbuckles could be made for most of the attachment points elsewhere. I have an idea once you complete your project where I can possibly request this being made into a rigging kit, but can't guaranty anything, but can give it a try. Anyone interested, please comment with ideas making this project into 3D parts for our 1:200 or 1:350 kits.

[katana]

Thank you for the suggestions, Baseballbrat.

Good new ideas.

Shows also if you didn't step on the train of 3D printing ( like me , yes Sir) there are plenty of surprises.

greetings

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP
Step 03.05. Rigging 2 Cables from Side Mast Arm tips to Main Mast Lower Lug

Gentlemen,
today we will talk about the Rigging of the 2 cables from the Side Mast Arm tip Inner Lugs to the Main Mast Lower Lugs, port & starboard side.

See Pic 001: Schematic View. You can see the trajectory the 2 cables follow down to the Main Mast Lower Lugs on Port and Starboard side. Each cable contains a pair of brown ball insulators near the Side Mast, in the middle and near the Main Mast.
Pic 002 & 003 is an overview of this rigging step, taken from different angles.
Yellow arrows = trajectory of cables from Side Masts to Main Mast Lower Lugs.
Green arrow = departing point on Side Mast Inner tip Lugs
Red Arrows = arrival point at Main Mast Lower Lugs ( port & starboard side).
Blue ovals = double brown ball insulator locations.
Pic 004: Detail of the arrival at the Main Mast Lower Lug(s)

May I refer to a previous rigging chapter : 03.00. Main Mast Assembly Part 2, step 9.A.3. Main Mast Lower Lug ?
In this step I explained at which location you can find the Main Mast Lower Lugs and also that each Lower Lug is not a single lug but in fact it is a device with 2 attachment rings, one on the upper side and one on the lower side.
Yellow arrows = cable from Port Side Mast Arm tip arriving at Main Mast Lower Lug.
Red arrow = Arrival point at the Upper Ring in the Main Mast Lower Lug.
Blue ovals = location of 2 lower double brown ball insulators.

Pic 005: is also a picture of the Lower Lug rigging on the Main Mast Assy Part 2.
It shows the Port side Main Mast Lower Lug detail with a distinctive difference between the Upper part (textbox A), where only 1 cable arrives from the Side Mast tip, and the Lower part (textbox B), were we have 2 cables arriving from the Funnel attachments : the Funnel Lug cable and the Big-tube cable.

Insulator Count
On the 2 cables from this rigging step, we see on 3 locations a double series of brown ball insulators : near the Side Masts, in the middle of each cable and near the Main Mast Lower Lugs. This makes six insulators per cable.
Total amount of insulators used in this rigging step : qty = 12 Brown Ball-Insulators.

This is the end of step 03.05. Cables from the Side Mast Arm tips to the Main Mast Lower Lugs.
Next rigging step : 03.06. Rigging of the Connection Cable between the 2 Side Mast Arm Tips.

Gentlemen,
have a nice day.

[katana]

CHAPTER 03. MIDSHIP
Step 03.06. Rigging of the Connection Cable between the 2 Side Mast Arm tips.

Gentlemen,
Today we will talk about the Rigging of the Connection Cable between the 2 Side Mast Arm Tips.
Like the title says : this is one simple cable that runs from the Port Side Mast Arm ((Inner tip Lug) to the Starboard Side Mast Arm (Inner tip Lug).
The Connection Cable contains 2 Brown Ball Insulators and we also notice 3 attachments with White Bar Insulators.
The next 2 pictures will show you details from different angles :
Pic 001:
Yellow arrows : Connection Cable between the Side Mast Arms.
Blue Circles : 2 Brown Ball Insulators
Green Circles : attachments with 3 White Bar Insulators.
Pic 002 :
Yellow arrows : Connection Cable between the Side Mast Arms.
Blue Circles : 2 Brown Ball Insulators
Green Circles : attachments with 3 White Bar Insulators.
Pic 003 :
Yellow arrows : Connection Cable between the Side Mast Arms.
Blue Circles : 2 Brown Ball Insulators

Remark : when looking at Pic 001, 002 and 003, you will notice that rather than having a beautiful straight line, the Connection Cable is slightly curved.
This can be caused by the big distance between the Side Mast Arms and the tension on the cables with the 3 White Bar Insulators.

Insulator Count
On this Connection Cable, we see 2 Brown Ball Insulators at a certain distance from the Side Mast Arm Lugs. See blue circles in Pic 001, 002 and 003.
Notice : The 3 White Bar Insulators attached to the Connection Cable are not involved in this Insulator Count because they are already treated in another rigging step of the RRF.
Total amount of insulators used in this rigging step : qty = 2 Brown Ball Insulators.

This is the end of step 03.06. " Rigging of Connection Cable between the 2 Side Mast arms".
Next rigging step : 03.07. White Flag Cord from 60cm Searchlight Platform to Main Mast Pulley.

Gentlemen,
have a nice day.

[JIM BAUMANN]

@ Katana

what an Opus Magnum !

...alas Yamato is not a ship on my horizon per se

but what an interesting and well illustrated piece of work.

I was fascinated with the clear imagery and descriptions

BRAVO !!

Jim Baumann