"Rigging 28mm Ships" Topic

What do you use for rigging 28mm ships? In this case, it is pirate ships. Any pics? THANKS.

I should add that for my purposes I am considering leaving the figures on the ship and may not need to fuss with adding and removing them.

Sky

I don't.
28mm Pirate ships are moving terrain pieces, and not really model ships.
If you are not planning on moving any figures, then why bother with them? You are eliminating boarding actons, swordplay, and all the other "realistic" bits of Pirate gaming.

Rigging looks cool, but gets in the way of using the decks as mentioned above…

If you do any keep it high off the deck, centered, and to a minimum.

I don't. Gets in the way of my big ole hands…

Without getting long winded I am converting ships from "toys" to models. I think these will look good without costing so much. I want to have multiship (6-8) games so the Ainstay ships are out of the question. My ships fit only 6-7 figures with bases. Without movement or figure bases I can add more. Then I will build a full size deck to serve as a battle board for the actual melees. In the meantime the ships should look good too! I do not plan to get carried away on the rigging. Also I have 8 ships (One will be a skelton crew and another an all girl crew) so I will complete one first to see how this all fits together.

So back to the original question.

sky

Most of the ships we use in our games have no rigging. However one of our players makes rigging for his ships. There are wide gaps between the riggings so it does not prevent to move the crew figures.

Another one:

A little rigging, and/or masts and sails look nice.

Check out the 15mm scale Sailpower pics, on their blog, or in Google images to see how they do it. Generally, they recommend just adding masts, which can be removed, to make the vessels look a little different than motor boats.

The sparsely rigged vessels, with some sails look best to me. If you are careful, you can still fight boarding actions on them (another option is to have a separate hull deck printed out on paper or cardboard to do that instead, if desired).

Thanks patrice. That is the kind of thing I was looking for. What model ship is that? I do not recognise it. That holds lots of figures! I'd guess about 16-17" long and maybe 6" wide.
sky

Lovely ships and I can see the need for a less than full set of rigging, but just thought I'd add that (being a ship modeller as well as a wargamer) there is a wide range of different sizes of rigging thread available from model suppliers who deal in model boat kits.

What model ship is that? I do not recognise it.

The ships on these pics are all scratch-built (from balsa, etc).

I used hemp cord I got from the jewelry making section at a craft store for rigging my Viking ship. It's pretty minimal: a line runs from the bow to the top of the mast and back to the stern. Another line runs from one side aft to the mast top and back to the other side aft. Finally, there is a line holding the yardarm to the mast. Pretty minimal actually, but it looks nice and actually helps to hold the mast in place, particularly when the lines are all tight.
Grelber

John,
Do you recommend a specific supplier?
sky

I think that placing the standing rigging (stays and ratlines, as shown adds to the appearance, but agree that any 'running rigging' would get in the way.

BTW reef points are needed. Sails were not rolled up, they were reefed. That is they are pulled up accordion style until a line of lines is reached. These lines are termed reef points and are short lines passing through the sail and knotted on either side of the sail to prevent slipping out. The ends are tied together under the sail to hold it securely.

SkyKing20,
I encourage you to add the rigging you feel enhances the look of your game play. Remember it is your game, your ship and your figures. I do a moderate amount of rigging on all of my ships and transport the them to conventions with very little damage from transit or players. I've never been a fan of flat terrain, empty buildings or ships without sails. Rigging is easy but time consuming. There are a lot of little time saving tricks I would be willing to share. Take a look at some of the ships on my blog: fistfullofseamen.blogspot.com
Most of the ship photos predate August and if there is a method or technique you are curious about email me from the site. I would be happy to share any info.

Wingnut

You might consider some of the line from wooden ship model suppliers as well, depending upon how much you want to do to your model.

They also produce lots of other add-ons as well, e.g. cannons, ships' wheels, lanterns, etc.

Wingnut.
A method or two!!! Are you kidding? An awesome blog makes me curious about everything. But let me study on it for a while.
sky

SkyKing20,
Take your time. I plan on some how-to you-tube stuff in the future but nothing is defined yet.
We have officially been granted table space at the next Recruits convention outside of Kansas City Missouri again. I haven't made an official announcement on the blog but the Giant Pirate game will this year be held in its own exclusive room. If you can, join us. The people granted first ship choices are those who travel the farthest to play and those who come in costumes. The Rum ration unfortunately is on hold in this Venue.
link

Wingnut

Great news Wingnut. I like to hear from your games. :-)

Unfortunately I cannot come because I live on another continent! :-(

Patrice,
You were at Bordeux game right? France I believe holds the title of largest and most elaborate Pirate game currently. That had to be a tremendous amount of fun. Your always welcome to join in someday. You will have that distance-traveled-first-pick of a ship undisputed.

Wingnut

If I come the travel would be 825 miles. Does that qualify for a door prize? :)

sky

Sky,
825 miles definitely gets you into the cast party afterward.
Anyone who plays ends up with at least a pirate miniature. some players took home flags and free old glory discount cards. There is always a "prize ship" for best career and since we're playing in a public School the Bottle of Captain Morgan's has been replaced by a box of Captain Crunch for worst career.

Wingnut

The horror!!!

Cap'n Crunch for Cap'n Morgan – the shame never ends…..

I like the idea of a prize ship though!

Sky – I'm in the UK so my supplier links wouldn't be worth your while, but if Mako11 is in the US, he should know some places (see his 10 Jan post). They'll have the useful extras like blocks and eyelets which you would need to make the rigging look like Patrice's