Other Tools and Accessories

Every build needs more than the headline tools. This section collects the supporting items and the small parts that get used, lost or broken.

Fittings and rigging

Brass and cast fittings, blocks and deadeyes, rigging thread and cord in several weights, eyebolts, pins and small metalwork. These are worth buying separately for two reasons: kits sometimes supply fittings of a lower standard than the rest of the box, and rigging thread is the item most often exhausted before a tall ship is finished.

Consumables and bench items

• Spare blades and saw blades, drill bits and pin vices
• Tweezers, pliers, pins and needles
• Abrasives, sanding sticks and wood fillers
• Rulers, squares and marking aids
• Cutting mats, bench protection and magnifiers
• Brushes, applicators and mixing materials

Treat these as part of the build cost

A blunt blade tears timber instead of cutting it, worn abrasive burnishes rather than sands, and a missing drill bit stops a rigging session dead. Order consumables at the same time as the kit and the bundle, since paying separate postage for a packet of blades is an avoidable annoyance.

Common questions

Can I upgrade the fittings supplied with a kit?

Yes, and on older or budget kits it is often the single biggest improvement available. Replacement blocks, deadeyes and brass fittings are stocked here.

What weight of rigging thread do I need?

It depends on scale and on whether the line is standing or running rigging. The kit plans specify it, and it is worth buying a spare of the weight you use most.

Do you sell model ship plans separately?

Plans are stocked where available. For a vessel we do not list, a bespoke build may be the better route.