First ship for my Anglo-Dutch War (17th c.) fleets

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Seen worse. 

IanS

[Techno]

This is probably a completely daft idea....I've never even tried painting any of these wee ships, in all my time in this hobby.

But, I'll throw this out to you....Then you can all mock me, for my stupidity !

Would it be possible to 'scratch' the rigging with the point of a very fine scalpel....Maybe even a pin, or needle.
Paint the whole of the 'triangular' section black/dark brown.
Then drybrush a lighter colour, leaving your (now) darker rigging 'showing through'.

As I say.....Just an idea...And probably useless.

Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

I knew someone who bought a type of mesh and stuck it on, with excellent results. But that was in 1:2000. Shouldn't rigging be a darker, tarry shade, by the way?

[d_Guy]

I knew someone who bought a type of mesh and stuck it on, with excellent results. But that was in 1:2000. Shouldn't rigging be a darker, tarry shade, by the way?

Yes the rigging (including the ratlines) should be tarred and therefore very dark. I looked at a couple dozen different examples by various wargamers and this is how they are done (and the Tumbing Dice instructions say to do that also) - I first tried that in various combinations - I think seven different attempts - didn't like the results. SO -painted all the ratlines ivory then inked in the spaces between with a fine pen - not well executed - but that is simply my skill level  . I keep learning in small scale stuff that authentic colors don't always work - for me at least.

@Techo the TD models do have the ratlines inscribed in (roughly) so the dry brushing does work - fiddling with this is how I came up with the decision to just reverse the procedure and use ivory as base.

Obviously I used thread to put on some of the major features of the standing rigging - but most of the standing rigging is missing (and all the running rigging). I went near insane with even the part I actually did😀

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Rigging 1/1200th ships is a VERY good way to learn new swear words.

IanS

[mollinary]

I keep learning in small scale stuff that authentic colors don't always work - for me at least.

You are not alone!  I paint all my pikes (ECW an Ancients) and spears (Ancients) a light buff colour, not far off from your Ivory. Why?  Well I have seen some 28mm Macedonians that way and liked them, but actually the reason is that masses of brown pikes really act as a depressor on figures, no matter how well painted.  Particularly for small scales figures, which need all the light they can get. For what it's worth, I really like the look on your model!

Mollinary

[d_Guy]

Thanks Mollinary!

When I did 25mm ECW I also used light colored pike shafts - in part because they looked better and part  to keep from  pranging myself on them! (Given my current eyesight I would have to paint them neon green or international orange!  )

[Roy]

I only do an approximation of the standing and running rigging on 1/1200 models.
For the shrouds I now just use three lines of thread, not bothering with the  "rattlin's".
In the past I've used that mesh stuff, or there's brass-etched shrouds/ratlines, but now I can't be bothered. Life's too short.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Roy - Langton make etched brass ratlines, I use net curtain painted black.

IanS

[Ithoriel]

All this talk of rigging miniature ships makes me glad I chose 1/2400 stuff that comes with shrouds and ratlines cast on!

[paulr]

I had similar thoughts about my choice to go with 1/4,800 from Tumbling Dice