How do you cut model ship rigging?

To some extent, how you cut model ship rigging will depend on a number of issues including the material that is used for the rigging, the scale and the historical time period of the model.

Ship models representing vessels from the 'Age of Sail' are frequently referred to as period ships. The rigging arrangements for these vessels are often very elaborate and as such modellers will wish to work with a very forgiving material. To that end, many modellers will choose to use a specific rigging thread often produced by the kit manufacturers themselves. These are often cotton or polyester and have the specific advantage that they are often wax treated which reduces the likelihood of the material splaying or burring when worked. When creating ratlines, many modellers may opt to use a rigging jig. This helps keep the tension of the ratlines whilst allowing the modeller to easily tie knots. There are advantages of using snips in this case as they offer great precision and control when working in a tight space and will offer a clean cut that will reduce the likelihood of burrs and splaying of the rope.

Due to issues of scale or a particular colour, some modellers may opt to use a non-waxed cord. This has a higher likelihood of fraying or burring, and as such, one of the best options for cutting are modelling snips as they will offer the cleanest cut. Additionally, it may be advantageous to seal the ends of the cord with a small amount of cyanoacrylate or PVA glue to prevent fraying or burring.

Most cords are between 0.25 and 1 mm in diameter and may not be the correct scale for modellers working with injection-moulded plastic kits. One potential option, in this case, would be nylon. The high tension of nylon thread can make it difficult to take tight turns and to knot but it has the advantage of maintaining its tension over a very long time if it is correctly rigged. As such, it may lend itself very well to certain scales. Its high tension also ensures that fraying and burring are far less likely than cotton and polyester threads and as such can be cut easily with the use of a sharp hobby knife and a cutting mat.