HMS Bellerophon, 1786 (alternative build of Amati Victory Models HMS Vanguard 1:72)

Took well over 1000 hours over 26 months to build.

Main additions/alterations to base kit:

-Upgraded sail material (unbleached fine muslin from Joanne Fabrics in US).

-Modified sail construction (see details below).

-Cannonballs replaced with ceramic silicon nitride ball bearings which are naturally black.

-Added cannon shot racks along bulwarks.

-Added scuppers.

-Upgraded rail around stairwell in front of binnacle.

-Stole Flyers method to improve the transom here and here

-Stole Flyers method for creating false gun carriages for lower guns

-Stole Flyers method to rework upper and deck guns

-Stole tedrobinson2000's method to make hammocks from fimo here, had to make over 300 of them!

-Added a crew (mix of Amati figures and Artesania Latina's HMS Endeavour crew set)

-Lamps added under fore and main crows nests

-Several barrels added (may not be entirely realistic to have them on the deck - but it adds visual interest)

I thought long and hard about how best to display it. In the end I found a showcase that is almost perfect in size. The case is shown in one of the pics, it is the Infinity Wall Display Case from Store Supply Warehouse with the top two shelves removed. Both fore/aft and vertically there is about half inch to spare. In depth it is slightly too small for the main yard as shown in plans. I had to build the main yard about half an inch shorter, and also shorten the main yard stunsail booms so they can be almost fully retracted. There is also room for maybe two smaller ships in the lower half - so room for future builds!

Sail Construction:

-Sails were marked out with pencil for outline and panel seams.

-Then whole sail 'painted' with 50% dilute PVA.

-Once dry, cut out with hobby knife with 3mm border.

-Hem created by applying more dilute PVA to border, folding it over thin jewelry wire, and ironing to quick dry it.

-External loops created with the wire at each corner to create cringles.

-Cringles then served with 0.1mm natural thread.

The all over dilute PVA gives the sail almost the feel of parchment. It will greatly increase the strength, longevity and ease of cleaning.

The wire sewn in the hem allows the sail to retain curvature, allowing a dynamic appearance of wind in the sails.