Pin Rails; Fife Rails; Bilge Pumps & Fire Stations; Deck Prisms - Model Shipways MS2120 Instruction Manual

12. Pin Rails

The pin rails at the shrouds are attached directly
below the main rail to the bulwark stanchions (see
figure 40). The real ship rails hold 19"-long conven-
tional belaying pins. Brass belaying pins are provid-
ed in the kit. The pin rail at the bow is actually a tri-
angular platform. It has two bronze rod pins out-
board, but three cleats inboard since there is little
clearance underneath because of the bowsprit.
There are no pin rails aft, only a single belaying pin
in the main rail itself.

13. Fife Rails

The main and fore fife rails, and the small pin rail for-
ward of the foremast, should be made from wood
strips. The rails should be fitted with pins, not con-
ventional belaying pins, but simple bronze rods 1/2"
in diameter. They should be fixed, not removable.
Drill holes in the rails where required and glue a sec-
tion of brass wire in each (see figure 41).
Winch heads are provided in the kit as Britannia
castings. Two heads go on each of the fore and
main fife rails (see figure 42). No fitting is provided
for the winch pawls. Make them as shown in the
sketch. The real ship winches are operated by
wooden rods. These are stowed below the winches
in front of the masts.
14. Bilge Pumps & Fire Stations
On the real ship, one fire hydrant and hose is located
on the aft side of the crew berthing access trunk. The
hose lays in metal clips. Another fire hydrant is
found aft of the main mast on the starboard side
within the fife rail. For the model, the hydrants are
supplied as Britannia castings, or you can make them
from a 1/16" diameter brass wire. Chuck in a drill,
and file the shape. Then solder a short piece of brass
on the side to represent the side outlet pipe. The hose
can be simulated using a strip of cloth or paper.
Bilge pumps on the real ship, are provided as Britannia
castings for the model, and are located just aft of the
main fife rail bitts, port and starboard (see figure 43).
The metal rod handles for operating the bilge pumps
are found stowed in wood chocks on the forward side
of the engine room trunk. Each bilge pump has a ten
foot length of hose connected so the water can be
pumped directly overboard. You could add this last
detail to the model or omit it.

15. Deck Prisms

The 14 deck prisms of the real ship are simply glass
fitted into a metal frame. They let in light to the
spaces below. The kit provides brass rings and jewel
inserts for the prisms. First, glue each jewel into a
brass ring, then drill the holes in the deck and insert
each unit.

16. Rubber Pads

There are a number of rubber pads along the topside
of the main rail. They are used as step pads for the
crewmen, or as anchor pads to protect the rail from
abrasion created by the stowed anchor (see plan
sheet 3 of 6). These pads are about 1/2" thick on the
real ship. A piece of paper or very thin piece of wood
painted white, off-white, or light grey can be used if
you wish to include this detail on the model.
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