The Loose Association of Wargamers

I've wanted to have a bash at rigging a sailing ship for years, for wargames rather than to be arty farty, but the thought of saggy cotton and bendy masts has put me off. However, I discovered under the lead pile some Peter Pig 1/450 scale ships from the Pirate range.

Being Peter Pig, the models are designed for the rigours (or should I say 'riggers' - ooh, I've punned) of wargaming and are big lumpy beasts. Lovely. The hull is about 2" long.

So, being a bit bigger that the usual naval wargame stuff, I was able to rig the ship with fine piano wire. The wire is drilled and pinned in place so that the finished model is rock solid. The outer shrouds are also piano wire and the ratlines stuck to them are bits insect screen (I'm not bothered about the vertical lines).

I wanted a particular 'look', so I added a sail to the bowsprit, raised the mainmast a little and raked the fore and mizzen masts to give the thing a rakish look (?). The pins at the top of the masts are for flags and improve the otherwise stubby look. That'll do.



Before and after.



E

That looks pretty good. I like how you've nailed the masts in place.

I can't wait to see them painted up.

Very Shipshape and Bristol Fashion!

Slugbalancer wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 9:54 am I can't wait to see them painted up.

It's painted, but no flags yet. Not sure what to do about that to be honest. Long squiggly things, that'll get ripped off eventually, or cute little flags that look a bit silly. I wish I'd soldered brass flags to the pins before gluing them in place.

Essex Boy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:19 am I wish I'd soldered brass flags to the pins before gluing them in place.

Looking good and fairly wargamer proof, mate. What sort of glue, EB? You may be able to release the nails if you heat them up with a low temperature iron (150°C or so), and even put them back the same way. If you used cyanoacrylate then a dab of acetone-based nail polish remover will sort the glue out.

Spanner wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 11:27 am

Essex Boy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 10:19 am I wish I'd soldered brass flags to the pins before gluing them in place.

Looking good and fairly wargamer proof, mate. What sort of glue, EB? You may be able to release the nails if you heat them up with a low temperature iron (150°C or so), and even put them back the same way. If you used cyanoacrylate then a dab of acetone-based nail polish remover will sort the glue out.

Hello Spanner,

Thanks for that.

The pins are sitting in drilled out holes with just a dab of Super Glue holding them in place. I'd probably be able to break the seal with a bit of a twist with some pliers. I suppose I'm going to have to find out now (note to self.....stop thinking about things you could have done).

Looks like some very good upgrades there Iain. I've got a couple of those ships and was always intending to use them as 'coastal scenery' alongside 6mm games. I may copy some of your approach if I ever get around to them!

World2dave wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 4:12 pm Looks like some very good upgrades there Iain. I've got a couple of those ships and was always intending to use them as 'coastal scenery' alongside 6mm games. I may copy some of your approach if I ever get around to them!

Hello Dave,

Yes, it's always 'if I get round to it' these days I find. Although Peter Pig make some very small figures to crew the ships (4mm?), I wonder if Heroic and Ross 6mm would look better. As the H&R guv'nor, what do you think?

E

That looks great, it's definitely better.
Raking the masts and adding ratlines and the Spritsail are huge improvements.

I like the idea of Naval games but, unless kept simple and "cartoony" they're never much fun

Now get a fleet or two done

Essex Boy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 20, 2025 4:35 pm Hello Dave,

I was wondering why that sounded a bit sinister then I remembered it was one of Papalazarous's catch phrases in "The League of Gentlemen".
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r ... &FORM=VIRE