Rigging Ratlines for Airfix St Louis Part 17 using a 3D printed Rat Harp tool is so much easier

I use my custom Rat Harp tool, as previously seen when I rigged The Bounty, to easily install the ratlines on the Airfix 1/144 Saint Louis. The shrouds (vertical dark ropes) were first installed with their deadeyes and channels. which I showed how to make in the previous video. Then I create a 3D printed custom Rat Harp tool to make adding the ratlines (horizontal jute ropes) a piece of cake.
Rat Harp pre-sales:
houdinimodels....
Dead Bug being setup
Merchandise
houdinimodels....
Buy me a Curry with no lock in monthly contract, just donate what you want when you can
www.buymeacurr...
To see my videos advert free and much earlier, plus get more perks, then go to Patreon
/ harryhoudinimodels
Join this channel on KZbin to get access to perks
www.youtube.co...
You can also donate via Paypal
[e-mail]
You can also use Super Thanks in any video
Web Links
www.houdinimod...
/ hhmodels
Web Links
www.houdinimod...
/ hhmodels

[@CharlesFlahertyB]

Thanks!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Super Thanks Charles, much appreciated

[@garylawless3608]

This demo was fascinating Harry! It is clear that these old ships are a favourite with you. Your knowledge of the techniques required to produce an accurate model is evident, and adds to the pleasure of watching you work on these subjects. The ‘Rat Harp’ is an amazing tool that must save hours of work. I would like to see a lot more. Cheers for now, and keep them coming!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

My pleasure Gary

[@basfinnis]

That rigging looks absolutely spanking. Takes it miles away from being a plastic model. Lovely 😘

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks Basil. Yes I think it does give it a lift

[@firemedic105ns]

Holy cow that was pure magic you performed. Thank you

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

My pleasure matey

[@cosmarendy8417]

Not a sailing ship builder but you are inspiring me to pull out my Airfix Golden Hind and Mayflower from the late 70s. Thanks for sharing as always.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Good to hear Cos

[@davidguy6823]

Genius approach to the problem. Amazing…

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Many thanks!

[@MACEWINDULastJedi]

Knots are Riveting! You Nailed it!🤓👍

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Good on you Mace

[@george_364]

A great method and these things really bring the ship to life.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I think so George, thanks for watching

[@nickbutler7935]

Great results with the 'Harp'. It's amazing to watch the transformation. Cheers from Blighty.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks Nick 👍

[@michaelvalenzuela2528]

I`ve been away from your channel for a while, but every time I come back I1m impressed 👍

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Welcome back Michael

[@barrythatcher9349]

St Louis is going to look a million dollars.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Lets hope KZbin thinks so Barry

[@ilovegreattits]

Nice one Harry, really good instructional video. You’ve got a knack for showing how things are done. I feel I could build anything after watching you explain and demonstrate.👍

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Go for it! Nothing I do is hard once you understand the method

[@georgemacgregor5437]

Great Video Harry. I wish I knew that when I built my big KuttySark and my Constitution.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

It sure saves time George and is a lot easier

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

I like model-building tools Harry and that is a brilliant tool. 😍 There should be one of it in every sailing ship kit. If I ever build a sailing ship model I am buying one from you. 😅

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Good on you Ronald

[@splukker]

I have always used a single shroud line that secures with the deadeye on both sides. I don't glue them at the ast head. I also still belay my Ratlines with the old hitch knots. I know I am sad but I like the focus and patience of attention to detailing. Well done Harry. Love it.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Your eyes much be a lot better than mine to do it at this scale, and your fingers not as fat or clumsy as mine.

[@Jeff-cv4qn]

Excellent work!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Many thanks Jeff

[@mirrorblue100]

Looking great Harry!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thank you kindly

[@21EpicFail]

YES! A new HH Models video! I love the tool you designed. I might have to use it when I get into wooden ship building... Cheers!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

It certainly is a time and stress saver

[@goforitpainting]

WOW. So cool technique.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks matey

[@johntreloar8203]

Nice work Harry, they look great.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks 👍

[@finlayfraser9952]

Bravo!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Hooray!

[@JAFKARNAT]

Brilliant video, many thanks

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Glad you enjoyed it John

[@usssaratogacv3lefevre978]

Nice video Harry, good information, thanks.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BobMuir100]

Ye Gods Harry!! And that was the simple version???!!! I will never understand you ship guys and this is yet more proof, I mean one cannot even see their presence.Do they really enhance the model to the average Jo wandering round a show? I think not! I love you Harry, your work is top notch and your charm and character just drip out my speakers matey. Keep it rigged Harry Bob England

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Yes you will notice it… a well rigged ship always looks the best

[@BobMuir100]

@@HarryHoudiniModels I must come to a show in NZ matey! Lol 😆 Still don’t see how I will notice. Love ya mate Bob England

[@山城模型京都人]

とても素晴らしいです。 完成楽しみにしています。

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thank you

[@brenstratters2026]

Very interesting Harry. I suppose that you would have to make bespoke tool for each ship model? Next year I plan to attack a ship kit. Either The Airfix Cutty Sark or new released Great Wesyern so this may be an idea. Splice the main brace mate. All the best.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

In theory as long as it was the same scale and has similar mast heights then the tool will fit.

[@EdM-td2jl]

Very nice work that. A very pretty ship. If I may offer a note .... the ratlines are a part of the standing rigging and so they, too, were tarred. There are several notes in captain's journals complaining how the clean, holystoned decks were often messed up by the tarry footprints of sailors coming down from aloft, particularly in warmer climates.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Actually the ratlines did have water protection in the form of molasses or a light tarring, but never to the extent of the shrouds or any other fixed rigging. I’m sure even the small amount of gunk on them stained the decks, but from a distance and on a model, the ratlines will appear lighter than the the shrouds.

[@EdM-td2jl]

Well, not so sure about that. The Stockholm tar applied to the standing rigging would have also been put onto the ratlines if for no other reason than who wants to worry about keeping it off the ratlines when the shrouds needed a reapplication of the tar. I've never seen a model or a photo of a model with light ratlines. A similar situation exists with the deadeye lanyards ... tarred standing rigging or untarred running rigging? In any case, we'll have to wait until your 3-D printer spits out a time machine so we can go back and see for ourselves. An infobit about ratlines ... in the Royal Navy and the early American sailing navy, they were spaced 14-15 inches apart, more like a ladder than a staircase. Don't know about French practice.@@HarryHoudiniModels

[@ejharrop1416]

Brilliant tool mate. What if you added small posts to allow the cord to wrap on the back side and then return for the next line? Just a tiny bit of printer plastic and it might give a place for an extra loop to help with tension. Thank you for another interesting and dare I say educational demonstration. Inspiring work laddie. Cheers!!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I used saw tooth cuts on the trailing side and they allow looping back on the teeth… which worked well until one came loose and the whole thing unravelled. Much safer and sturdier to just loop around the harp. Also helps its softly push up against the ships rails and hull. Other wise any protrusions on the back may scratch the model. What I didn’t show was that the tool is reversible, so posts would be on both sides and in the way. Believe me, I have tried many variations over the years that I have been developing this tool.

[@ejharrop1416]

I completely understand and you are by far a much more experienced and knowledgeable model builder than I will ever be. The ship is looking amazing. Cheers.

[@xsveron1287]

noice

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

thanks

[@doogledog1740]

The rat harp is great, Harry. Still a bit of work but, as you say, the shrouds are already there fitted and tensioned. Just a thought, which you may already have considered, but if you glued the ratlines when wound onto the harp, at the V notches perhaps, could you apply and cut one side and then still have the other side of ratlines on the harp ready to mount on the opposite shrouds, rather than let them fall to waste?

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Then how would I reuse the harp for all the other ratlines needed each side on other masts? You don’t waste much, about 1/3 what gets thrown away with the Heller tool.

[@doogledog1740]

Perhaps a soluble glue could be used that could be wiped off the harp allowing it to be reused. Or, maybe a pad could be incorporated into the 3D print design midway between the riser and the v-notch where the threads could be glued, thus not affecting the v-notch. It wasn't so much the wastage of ratline thread, but the time and effort savings in making extra use of the windings already threaded onto on the harp - using both sides rather than just the one. Anyway, it was just a possibility that struck me.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I have a 3D printer that can print another harp, facing the other way, for the other side. Plus a smaller pair for the upper mast ratlines. 4 done in one go. No need to complicate things with soluble glue. I have also revised the notches so the thread can be wrapped around them on one side negating the problem of cordage on the back of the harp. Simple solutions.

[@JohnDavis-ik6ve]

Looks great Harry 👍 By the way when is Stingray coming back?

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

The Stingray is on my list, along with painting the SchnellBoot camo. Trying to get both done this month.

[@sammy_dog]

I hope there was no friggin in that riggin on the good ship venus n no rootin on the ratlines

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Sadly there has been no frigging around here for many years, not even in the rigging

[@christophe.parodi]

hello, bravo ! do you sell your systeme, or the STL file ?

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I will be selling the new 3D RatHarp soon. It is scale and ship size dependent. Which ship and what scale did you need?

[@christopheparodi1]

I m building the royal louis at 1/200 by Heller, and other boats at 1/200...and other

[@crisslastname9417]

Have you ever built a ship in a bottle?

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I tend to build them in my Hobby Room… hehe No but I have a book on how to do it

[@crisslastname9417]

😂👍@@HarryHoudiniModels