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[Lash151]

Hi.. just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on using 1mm elastic cord for the mast rigging on the Waveney I am building. It occurred to me because its white and smooth and the elastic effect will keep the cables taut. There are only a few lines which support the mast.  Has anyone else used this or is it a silly idea!
Lee

[Neil]

I've used it in the past for rigging on other boats, but it tends to go slack after a while leaving very sloppy looking rigging.
neil.

[Rottweiler]

Hi, I agree with Neil it does indeed stretch after a while.I have been yoying with the idea of fly or salmon fishermans backing line,or even shooting line.I know some of this is in a black colour and I am sure it is available in white.I wonder if anyone else has used it?
Mick F

[gribeauval]

I use the elastic quite a lot for rigging and through the stanchions of more modern lifeboats to simulate the coated cable currently used. The secret of stopping it going slack is to only tension it enough to keep it straight. I have rigged boats that still look good after 10 years or so.


Mike

[F4TCT]

Yep it works well as Mike says, dont have it too tight otherwise it does stretch - learnt that the hard way. Thats the first time I rigged my waveney.


The second time I did it was when the damn cat chewed through it all. 


Still, we live and learn...

[Lash151]

Thanks for the replies... I am glad I'm on the right track... I shall give it a go.
Lee

[F4TCT]

Also get yourself some fishing line swivels and some heat shrink. Double the elastic back on itself and glue. Then put heat shrink over and get the hair dryer out.


Heres some pics of my old Waveney. click picture again for bigger size etc..


















I also replace the white metal stanchions with brass rod, cross drilling to allow the elastic to thread through. This is the 1/12th Metcalf Kit.


Dan

[roycv]

Hi, it is Sheering elastic that sags but there are several other elastics that work well.
regards Roy

[Neil]

it was sheering elastic that I used Roy......didn't know there was a difference?
 
that was no good at all to what I wanted.
 
neil.

[Lash151]

How can you tell which is the right one? I bought some off Ebay, it just said 1mm elastic cord.
Lee

[Norseman]

Hi guys
If you are looking for it then spell it Shirring Elastic. This firm only sells wholesale but the page shows it is also available in metallic and many colours.
http://www.trimcraftdirect.com/section.php/246/1/shirring-elastics
Dave

[Netleyned]

Dont buy the shirring elastic.
Goes saggy and is affected by
sunlight and loses all its tension
in a couple of weeks.

Ned

[Norseman]

Ah - just reread posts - thought it was shirring elastic that was wanted. Oops
Dave

[Lash151]

Whats the difference, visually?

[Norseman]

Don't know. 4D Model shop has various stuff you could look at
http://www.modelshop.co.uk/thread--string-267-c.asp

Dave

[gribeauval]

Go to your local knitting/craft shop and ask for elastic cord. They use it for the waist and bottom edge tensioners you get in your waterproof jackets, anoraks etc. It comes in several diameters. The shirring elastic is more like thick cotton and is useless for modelling.


Merry Christmas,   Mike

[Lash151]

Ahh... yes, I got the right thing. 

[roycv]

Hi all sorry about the spelling, the one that sags is a loose cotton covered elastic, which is quite thin.  I have used (supplied in kit, about 1 mm dia.) some black woven covered elastic and this needs to be stretched to stop sagging.  One of my yachts (kit review) was on front page of MMI with sagging stanchion cord, most embarrassing!

There is a white / clear solid elastic round section of various diameters available and this looks fine.  I have not seen it in a thin enough gauge for rigging line.
Perhaps fishing line or similar could be tensioned out of sight?

regards to all, Roy