Pioneering spar and rope colour coding

On another forum Liam asked whether anyone had any thoughts or sources for standardized lengths and colour codes for ropes and spars when doing pioneering projects.

I have never heard of anything as detailed as this. Spar lengths of 8', 6' and 4' are certainly common ones I've seen. However, I've also seen different diameters used as well, depending on exactly what is being built. For example, I've seen thicker diameters used for the bottom of towers. I've never seen any kind of standardized rope lengths. I can't actually think of why this would be needed. Again, using different diameters of spars would mean that differing lengths of rope would be needed, even if creating the same lash, with the same number of turns, the same amount of frapping, etc. Even different diameters of the rope itself would require differing lengths.

Of course, if you had standard projects that you built all the time then having the spar/rope lengths and diameters selected and colour coded would certainly make projects go faster. Pioneering projects or competitions at a weekend camp, for example. It would be like building a kit.

Speaking of kits, a few years ago I purchased some lashing kits for making small, toy versions of pioneering projects. There were a number of kits (bridges, towers, catapults, etc.) and each scout got to make one. The kits came with pre-cut dowels and string although the instructions were sometimes hard to understand as there was little English. Later, after the kits were built, we used the pattern to make larger scale versions. Each scout built a kit and this contributed towards their Modeller and/or Pioneering Challenge Badges. They learned knot skills and had something cool to own later. They then transferred those skills to the larger scale projects to finish off their Pioneering badge (I didn't count the kit building towards Pioneering requirement 3).

Unfortunately, the source web site (lashingkits.com) appears to be gone now but it is referred to here: http://scoutmaster.typepad.com/my_weblo ... _kits.html

I've attached one of the instruction sheets from a spare kit I have. I have three kits left over (counterweight bridge and two Roman ballistas) if anyone would like them.

Garth

Counterweight Bridge kit.pdf

(422.05 KiB) Downloaded 75 times

http://scoutmaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/06/lashing_kits.html

Works for me Garth. Nice site.

I've never seen any kind of standardized rope lengths. I can't actually think of why this would be needed.

I need them because I can't look at a coiled rope and know how long it is. If I am building something or putting up a tarp, I will have a sense of how long of a rope I need. I want to be able to go to my rope bag and know that the red ropes are 4 m and the blue ropes are 8 m or whatever. As well, I don't want to have to have a different set of ropes for every pioneering project. I want ropes and spars from which I can build a wide variety of things.

The practical question that I needed answered right away was what to do with the big spool of 4 mm nylon rope that we just bought. We ended up cutting it into 4 m lengths.

OK...I understand the need for rope coding by what you've mentioned. Do you ever work with different diameters of rope for different purposes? I'm just trying to get an idea of how many permutations and combinations would be needed.

Let's put together something. Did you colour your ropes or purchase coloured rope?

Spars
4 foot
6 foot
8 foot

Ropes
4m
6m
8m

Would it make sense to have all items with the same numeral be the same colour (ignoring the units)? So, 4 foot spars and 4m ropes would be yellow, 6=red, 8=blue, etc.

We have knot training ropes of different kinds, but all about 11 mm diameter and 2 m long. For general camping use, putting up tarps, pioneering, etc. we have 4 mm by 4 m ropes. The new rope that we just bought is static climbing cord with a bright braid pattern consisting mostly of red and yellow. I have not found a source of decent quality braided nylon rope where there is a choice of colour.

I like the idea of colour code sharing between ropes and spars. The question for the spars is what are the lengths that are needed to build a wide variety of introductory pioneering projects?

Did you try a marine store for the coloured nylon braided rope? They typically have a number of colours for each diameter.

Color coding the ropes and spars is an intersting idea.
If we can get enough groups to follow the same standard then we can incorporate the colors into the field guides that give sample projects. (It would at least work for the spars)

Since it is hard to get supplies in just the right color I would sugets keeping it basic and only indicating length.


On the topic of defining standards: My group uses a star rating system for our tarps. In each cornor of the tarp next to our name we put stars to indicate how healthy the tarp is.
One empty star indicates that it is a new tarp which has been rated.
Five full stars indicate it is time to replace it.
After each use we add/fill in stars as needed.

It is nice to know at a glance which tarp to use for your wood pile vs shelter.

One of the todo tasks for my Venturers is to measure each of our tarps and write the size on each corner. So when sorting through a pile you can see the size without having to open it up to find it is too small or too big.

Oh right. I forgot to mention that we have the sizes in the cornor as well.

If this is the same kits http://joychain.webdiy.com.tw/?lang=2 seems to be the ones