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You can rig shrouds on the upper masts before placing them on those below. No tackles are required. The main topmast has 6 shrouds on a side; the fore topmast 5, and the mizzen topmast, 4. Nos. 30, 35 and 60 thread sizes are suitable. The bottom deadeyes are made with a wire stop sufficiently long to pass through holes at the outer edges of the top flooring and to be formed into eyes just below; this applies to all upper masts. The topgallant and royal masts take deadeyes, shroud and lanyards one-half the diameters of those on respective masts below. They also require one-half the numbers of shrouds. Let the heel of each mast come below each top not less than 1/8 in. and glue in place before rigging.
Beginning with the highest, the shrouds are rigged as noted. The assembled upper masts are glued on the lower masts. Using No. 20 wire, we now seize futtock staves, made from it, across the main shrouds about 1 in. below the main top and, from the eyes of the topmast shrouds (under the top flooring), the futtock shrouds are run downward to be seized around the futtock stave. This step is repeated on all masts except the uppermost, using proportionately smaller wire for staves and reducing their distances under the tops likewise. The futtock shrouds are the same diameters as those above. Running backstays are then rigged. The pendants are shroud thickness; the tackle falls of the fore and mizzen are smaller than those specified at the main. The blocks at the lower ends hook into wire eyes set into rail posts on the inboard sides. Blocks for the upper mast stays begin with 1/8-in. size, then 3/32-in. and 1/16-in. The spritsail-topmast backstay uses a series of 3/32-in. blocks, and four special boxwood blocks, if you decide to make the latter as detailed. If not, ream out the sheave holes in four 3/32-in. blocks and pass the crowfeet and running lines through the same oversize holes. The running lines are the same as used for the fore topgallant stay; all crowfeet are No. 50 cotton thread. You can use fore-shroud line for the garnet guy, main-shroud line for its pendant, and the other thread sizes for runner and tackle. The mizzen-topmast stay tackles, one on each side, are duplicates of the arrangement of the main-topmast stay. As a general rule, all lines, clocks, deadeyes, etc., are about one-half the size of those immediately below, and all rigging for the mainmast is largest, the foremast smaller and the mizzen smallest.
For halyards, use No. 50 cotton for all except the ensign, which uses No. 60 linen. The plan gives the mainmast ratline sizes. The fore ratlines are No 35, and the mizzen, No. 60. The fore topmast ratlines are No. 60, and mizzen, No. 70 linen. No ratlines are rigged to the topgallant and royal masts. The ratlines are all started about 3/16 in. above the lower deadeyes and continue horizontally across the shrouds, upward with the same spaces between them. Use clove hitches to attach to shrouds. The futtock shrouds, attached to lower and topmasts, are also "rattled down." Note that ratlines do not join the aftermost main, fore and mizzen shrouds. They do cross all topmast shrouds, but to avoid obscuring other details, are not shown.
As a final caution, before you begin, thoroughly wax all lines you use, or they may shrink or expand with disastrous effect on your mast alinement.
Copyright, © 1933, by Popular Mechanics Company
