James H

Ok, the HMS Sphinx Manual is now available for download.

About 950 photos. This has been intense!

https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-1775/

In a week, and the 35 available Sphinx for pre-order are now down to EIGHT LEFT!!!  😁

Incredible! 

I've been in touch with Amati's boss man, and I can tell you that after Italy's August hols, that Victory part production should be starting again.

2 minutes ago, chris godson said:

As a follow up to my previous message, I received an email today from Modellers Central advertising the Amati Bismark kit at £773.00.

The same kit (as far as I can tell, dimensions and description) is on sale through CMB at £493.00. They have both used identical photos of the kit as well.

Surely there is a difference somewhere? I will be shocked if it's just one company charging (a lot) more than another for the same kit!!

I presume you are UK (your email addy), so if the Modeler's Central is the Aussie one, that could be a reason? I presume shipping costs and distribution will affect overall price at various global retailers. Plus if you are UK, CMB is the obvious choice to purchase from.

That looks ok to me! 

Don't beat yourself up. When sanded, you'll have a nice surface to add the second layer.

Welcome back to the hobby, and of course to MSW 😁

31 minutes ago, Peanut6 said:

The gentle mineral spirit rub down has been completed and it worked better than I could have hoped.  The pieces are already dry and feel exactly as they should.  I could have lived with the extra dark hue my mistake created but just enough stain was removed to really high light the wood grain.  I think I'll give them an over night rest before I move on with them, I'm sure they have to be as traumatized as I was.  I can't tell you how much I was dreading spending the next 2-3 days to replace what I had redone from my first go around on my little Jolly Boat.  Johnny and Roger thank you so much for your guidance, it is greatly appreciated.

Glad that worked for you. Had loads of probs in past with stuff remaining tacky for a while but thankfully a little white spirit always relieves the pain 😁

5 hours ago, Razorbill said:

Vanguard Model’s Zulu looks lovely, but it seems more like a great second project.

Not at all. It's aimed at a total beginner, as is the Fifie  

Welcome to MSW!

Is the timber walnut?

I know when I add poly varnish, it can take 2 or 3 days to fully dry as it the walnut seems impervious.

Maybe leave it another 48hrs and see. You could use some rag dampened with white spirit and gently wipe them down, then leave for a while. 

As it says, if you have anything useful to our community, both to laser cut or 3D-print, add it to this topic and I'll add to this initial post  

3 hours ago, Kevin said:

hope you had a nice holinobs

Way too much rich food, so I need to trim down a little.

With regards to the Sphinx stand, this is the one supplied. I left the blue film on for assembly shots, but there will be pics of it without that film when done.

Such a shame, but if something is sapping your enthusiasm, then shelve it until you feel differently, and then maybe use as a filler project between others. 

Perhaps after Badger, maybe the Sphinx kit? (no, I'm not on commission earnings! 😂)

5 minutes ago, BobG said:

Will this model be fully rigged?

Yes, fully masted and rigged as per other VM kits.

I'm fresh back from hols only 2hrs ago and already working on the prototype again.

Ooh, what's this?

I built that 1:72 Matchbox kit about 20yrs ago as a prelude to starting wooden ships, and I loved it.

Amazing to see something in 1:48 like this. 

2 minutes ago, Nirvana said:

Seems like you, James and Chuck have found the golden source to extend the day.

I only wish. 

I'm now on starting Sphinx shroud pendants and my room is blistering hot. It's almost unworkable for I need to stay in there for as long as I can before it makes me feel drained and sick. 

NEW AT VANGUARD MODELS! - 'BUY NOW, PAY LATER' (Pay In Three) from PayPal.

I've been helping Chris with his website and PayPal have really been bugging us with rolling out this system for VM customers. VM satisfies their criteria which allows customers to make purchases from £30 to £2000 using a three-payment system. 

Once you go to PayPal checkout, you will have an option to choose this. The total cost is split into three equal payments at 0% interest, and then the remainder is paid on the due dates over the following two months. 

The great news is you of course get your items shipped straight away as you would if you'd paid up-front.

That'll help break up some of those costs we all have when it comes to buying our kits and stuff!

https://vanguardmodels.co.uk

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/paypal-payin3/faq

There are some territory restrictions, but can't remember them at moment!

Here's my last update before the final completion images.

The masts are pretty straightforward. Cartridge paper is used for the iron banding, the battens then fitted over these. When complete, the masts are varnished and then sections painted black before then fitting out with rigging blocks etc. For this model, I've used the optional pear blocks (except for deadeyes as the pear weren't in stock when I started). 

All yards are then built, including mizzen gaff, ensign pole etc. These will be fitted out as soon as the paint is dry.

Whilst waiting for paint drying, I fitted the bowsprit and rigged the shrouds and stays after first adding the gammoning. Boomkins are also rigged.

And this is the result so far.

Catch you when she's finished...

Beautiful stuff 🥰

Love the heavy metal to hold stuff down and all those clamp forceps! 😝

Seal the filler using a varnish or primer before painting. Painting on top of filler will generally mean a bad finish.

This is a whole world away from the Hachette partwork now. Quite a different beast.

Bismarck is now shipping to retailers etc. with Amati's own online store carrying it from around September, so not long to wait now.

MSW will be having its own in-box review here too.

This is the box-art for the kit:

Slightly off topic, but for those who were asking about Bismarck, this is now shipping to retailers, with Amati's own online store carrying it from September. That now moves a lot of the blockage with Victory, so hoping this can continue this summer 🤞 

1 hour ago, Kevin said:

thank you Jason, i stopped doing it when i was slated on a FB group, comments like how i should have left it to someone who knew what they were doing etc, kind of upset me in a way, im not sure if the confidence will return, and if it does i certainly will think twice before showing others

And we all know better than to listen to that sort of folk on FB

I was really liking your work on this and was surprised when it stopped. Please restart this one. Plenty here will like to follow it, including me.

I'm still beavering away with masts and stuff, but the lanterns have arrived, and they are now fitted.

These are 3D-printed ones with the correct rake and acetate internal glazing. Very nice!