Hi Larry & Jimmy,
Haven't had a chance to work on my "Black Rose", or do any further drawing, and it will stay that way until further into the new year. Just to much on at the moment, unfortunately.
I do my deadeyes similar to Jimmy, except that I use sheering elastic to thread them, which gives a bit of tension and also a bit of give if knocked.
The shrouds/stays (correct me if I=that's not what they are called, but the wire/rope from the top deadeye to the mast), I use black linen thread. This is about the same diameter at the sheering elastic.
I did try making the stays out of sheering elasic but over time they sag a bit.
I made my own deadeyes (punched from two different thicknesses of card thinner for the outer parts and a thicker inner piece. I drill the 3 holes at least 1mm dia and apply a bit of glue to the end of the thread to form a sort of needle to the end of the fhread.
One difference to how Jimmy does it (his is the correct way), is to put a cleat on the niboard side of the bulwarks, just above the deack and hitch all the deadeye lacing to these. Then they can be tightened up as needed. I also have a couple of pairs of tweezers hand as my large fingers keep getting in the way.
Jimmy, I think you could be right re the aft mast sails, and like your sail set on the Fire Drake, very nice boat.
With the "Black Rose" I encourage everyone to use their imagination and do their own thing to make it "Their Boat", as long as everyone posts plenty of photos, please.
cheers
HarryD