Masts
Having resolved (excuse the pun) the problem with the oversized dowel, I have now (almost) completed both masts.
The tapering of the upper parts was a bit hit and miss but the id's of the various mast rings was a good guide. Once again, there was a lot of white metal, but I was able to file most of it down to get a reasonable finish.
The rigging diagrams were okay, but it would have been most helpful if the lengths of thread could have been indicated on the plan, particularly where things like double blocks were used. I have ended up ordering more thread to be on the safe side. However, it was good to be able to use the blocks and belaying pins in the way in which they were intended!
During my many visits to youtube and other build blogs of Resolve, I found a noticeable lack of cross trees on the foremasts. I had almost decided not to go ahead with the crosstrees when I realised that all the other boats were built as civilian vessels. They had not the same requirements for signal halyards and flags as my RN version? (RNinMunich - what do you think Doug?)
There are a total of eight lamps on both masts , which I intend to electrify and will be including in a separate block for lighting.
There are ratlines on both masts which I thought would be quite easy to make. The plan says to fix the ratlines to the shrouds using clove hitch knots. As the ratlines are no thicker than cotton thread, no messing with knots fo me, I would use superglue! The vertical shrouds would be laid on A4 lined paper and the lines would indicate where to glue the ratlines. When finished any surplus glue and paper would be tweezered off leaving a perfect finished item. What a load of b******s ! Glue and surplus paper everywhere - in the bin!
I built a wooden frame on top of A4 lined paper and being careful to keep the shrouds and ratlines away from the frame and paper ended up with a reasonable result. I propose to source some 'climbing' figures to attract the eye to them and not the ratlines.