Going for Broke

I’m happy about the way things are going. It’s been a long slog (considering that construction of this model started two and a half years ago). I’m finally beginning to see that this will be finished and put on display. I’m happiest about the sails. They look great, to my eye. They look like they’re billowing in the wind, and that to me is the real test.

I have an opinion on things I should not have an opinion about, and this is yet another one of them. I think that sails on ship models should be full of wind and straining at the rigging. If they just hang there, that’s not OK. The idea that a model ship with sails “looks wrong” may be true for the genuine sea dogs, but I’m not one of them.

Revell’s old kit built up pretty well. As you can see I’m using the original flags. I LIKE them. They are an important part of this “nostalgia” model that no sail hand-made in Japan using the finest silk could match.

This is the view of the starboard main mast and associated rigging and sails. It’s as complete as it’s going to get.

The port side remains to be done.

Here’s a shot of the over-sized Revell blocks on the main top sail. They did a fine job and are essential to the look of the model. Even though I had two kits, I ended up with more than one kit’s worth of blocks “left over.” Revell actually included spares. I think. If I ever build that Airfix Mayflower in the stash, these will come in handy. The rigging plan between the two ships is about the same.

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Closeup of the main sail.

The furled mizzen sail is out of the way to allow for more efficient sailing with the wind at the cost of less efficient steering. In today’s language we’d call this “going for broke.”

Still some rigging to do on the starboard side, but things are going well so far.

My biggest worry, right now, is painting the crew. I’m not a great figure painter. We’ll see how it goes…