Rigging thread – authentic rope for the rigging of historical ship models

Rigging thread is the key material when it comes to creating realistic, true-to-scale rigging for historical ship models. Whether it's a sailing ship, cutter, frigate or ship of the line: as soon as shrouds, stays, halyards, sheets and the many small fastenings on the rigging need to be represented, there is no way around special rigging twine. It is not simply ‘a thread’, but model-suitable rope that is visually and mechanically tailored to the requirements of ship model rigging.

Where is rigging thread needed on a ship model?

Rigging thread is used wherever lines, ropes or cables run or are attached on the original – i.e. in both standing and running rigging, plus many small details.

1) Standing rigging (supports and stabilises masts & yards)

Dark (black/brown ‘tarred’) yarn is usually used here, depending on the era and model:

• Shrouds (lateral support for the masts)
• Stay (forward/aft support, e.g. forestay, mainstay)
• Backstay
• Pardunes / support ropes
• Jungfern & webbing (ratlines): Thinner yarn is often used for ratlines, as it can be knotted cleanly

2) Running rigging (everything that is operated, set and moved)

Light/natural-coloured or slightly tinted yarn often dominates here:

• Halyards (for hoisting sails/yards)
• Sheets (for adjusting the sails)
• Braces (for turning the yards)
• Geitaue / downhaul / reefing lines
• Liektaue and lines on sails (depending on design and kit)
• Bändsel, Zeisinge and Belegleinen on nail benches/beleg nails

3) Detailed work and ‘small stuff’ that brings the model to life

This is where the quality of the yarn really comes into its own:

• Bändseln / Seizings (wraps to secure connections)
• Lashings (ties, e.g. on blocks)
• Block slings and suspensions
• Ladders, nets, railing braces (depending on model)
• Anchor line, boat ropes, load securing, flag lines

What is special about rigging yarn compared to normal thread?

Normal sewing thread or craft thread is usually only suitable for ship model rigging to a limited extent. Rigging thread is optimised in several ways to look like real rope and to be easy to work with:

True-to-scale appearance instead of a ‘sewing thread look’

• Defined, uniform thickness over the entire length (important for realistic shrouds/stays)
• Matt surface instead of shiny ‘artificial thread sheen’
• Typical rope appearance due to appropriate twisting/twist (looks like miniature rope, not thread)

Clean processing without lint and ‘fluffing’

• High-quality rigging thread is low-lint and frays less.
• It remains dimensionally stable even after threading through blocks, fairleads and eyelets and does not look ‘worn’.

Knot strength and controlled behaviour

• Rigging thread can be precisely knotted without knots shifting or coming undone.
• Depending on the material and design, it has low stretch (important for keeping the rigging permanently taut).
• Many model builders appreciate yarn that can be easily waxed (e.g. with beeswax) so that it lies neatly and behaves in a controlled manner when tensioned.

Prototype-accurate colouring

Historical rope is rarely ‘pure white’. Rigging yarn is typically available in realistic shades:

• Natural / beige / hemp
• Light brown / brown
• Dark brown to black (tarred) – typical for standing rigging in many eras This makes the model look harmonious and less ‘toy-like’.

Different manufacturers, colours and thicknesses – the right choice for every model

Rope is available in different thicknesses (diameters), colours and qualities, often depending on the manufacturer. This is important because:

• every model has a different scale,
• different models use different rope thicknesses,
• and the desired appearance (new/used/‘tarred’) varies.

Thicknesses (diameters)

Several thread thicknesses are usually required for rigging – e.g.:

• thin for zeisinge, small blocks, reefing lines, webbing
• medium for sheets, halyards, braces
• thicker for stays and shrouds (depending on scale)

Practical tip: For a convincing result, do not use ‘one roll for everything’, but rather a graduated set of thicknesses so that standing and running rigging can be clearly distinguished.

Colours

• Dark yarns are ideal for shrouds/stays and anything that was often tarred or heavily protected on the original.
• Natural-coloured yarns are ideal for running rigging and lines that appeared lighter on the original.
• Depending on the manufacturer, the nuances can vary significantly (e.g. ‘hemp’ tends to be more yellowish vs. more grey-beige). These subtleties make a big difference in the model.

Manufacturer differences

Depending on the manufacturer, the following may vary:

• Surface (very matt vs. slightly shiny)
• Twist (visually ‘rope-like’ or smoother)
• Fibre content/material (e.g. cotton, polyester blends, etc.)
• Colour fidelity and consistency between batches

This is not a disadvantage – on the contrary: it allows you to specifically choose the yarn that best suits your model, scale and style.

Conclusion: rigging yarn is the basis for convincing rigging

If you want to rig historical ship models realistically, you need yarn that looks like real rope, can be fed cleanly through blocks and fairleads, is knot-stable and is available in colours and graded thicknesses that match the original. This is exactly what rigging yarn is made for – and that is why it is clearly superior to normal thread for ship model rigging.