SketchUp for Scouts 3: quick lashings in SketchUp

The drawing for this camp couch has a simple square lashing modelled in SketchUp. This tutorial follows on from the previous tutorials on using SketchUp for scouting. If you are new to SketchUp, download it (for free), read the first tutorial on this site and then get going with the square lashing:

Start in Sketchup with 2 poles (at right angles to each other in this case).



Use the rectangle tool to draw a rectangle underneath the 2 poles, then use the PushPull tool to extrude the rectangle up into a box. Using the PushPull tool, resize the box until all six faces if the box (4 sides, the top and bottom) are just touching the poles, like the image on the right above.


Drag a selection window around the box, and then right-click and on the menu that pops up, choose 'intersect with model'. This will add a 'seam' where the poles pass through the box.

Select the two poles and right click to bring up the context menu, then choose hide. (The poles in this image are surrounded by boxes because they are components. Read the first tutorial to see why components are important)


Now that the poles have been hidden, you can concentrate on the rectangular block, which is what your lashing will be made from. Using the erase tool, remove all the lines that are unnecessary, following the steps above to produce a simplified sketch of a square lashing.


When you are done, go to the 'Edit' Menu and unhide 'Last' to show the poles again.

Zoom out and take a look. The lashing wraps around the poles. but is missing frapping turns. Use the line (pencil) tool to draw in the frapping turns, joining the centrepoints of the 4 vertical lines together (the square snap indicator will turn light blue when your mouse is over a centre point)

Select the face created in the middle and hit the delete key to finish your lashing. This sort of lashing might seem very simple when viewed up close but when you zoom out it is quite effective. It is possible to model a lashing in SketchUp with 3 full turns of rope and 3 frapping turns, but aside from the time it would take to make that model, it would also slow your computer's performance down a lot. The method demonstrated here is very kind to your computer, causing almost no loss in speed when working with a model.


A similar technique can be used to make round lashings- the two photographs above should give an indication of how this works.

Quick Model Pioneering - elastic band lashings

This post at Scoutmaster blog reminded me about a very fast way of tying lashings for model pioneering. Instead of using string for the lashings, use elastic bands:

First, lay the two dowel sticks out and hook a rubber band over the end of one of them.

Run the band over the top dowel and under the bottom one, back round the top of the top dowel. PULL the band all the time so that it is tight when you are wrapping it around.


After one circuit, take off for frapping turns. Wrap the band around the lashing, making sure you pull it tight all the time. Go around at least one full circuit, and keep going around until the elastic band has been used up.


Stretch the elastic around and slip the end loop over the end of the dowel (ideally not the one you started on). That's it- lashing tied.


I was first taught this method in 1997 at Gilten PLTU in Johannesburg, but I suspect that it is much older than that- probably going back to the 1940s or 1950s. A single lashing takes around 15 seconds using this method, compared to around 5 minutes for a real lashing, so the time saved makes it possible to include model pioneering as a patrol activity in a troop meeting.