thibaultron

In the model railroad hobby, they have been saying the same thing for over 60 years! This hobby will also survive.

Yes - and any vexillologist will know the proper manner to display an ensign on a spontoon.

Ditto. All positive news, Chris. Your investment in the pro 3D printers will pay off.
I believe there is an eager person in your vicinity that you can hire and train to help with your growing production needs. The expanding facilities and gear is one thing, a dedicated production person to keep the business humming along is another - as you well know.
So, before-the-fact: Congratulations! I can't wait to open my Jack Aubrey Surprise box next year...even with the 10% import tax (called a "tariff).
 

Chris,
 
I hope the option to build La Tourterelle is still alive... with the French flag....😉
 
We also have people that like vexillology.
Histoire du drapeau français - Société Française de Vexillologie

vexillology - had to ask my wife about that one... (being a classics teacher, she's handy to have around).... logos from the Greek for word, so study... and vexillum from the Roman banner... think the Eagle standard the soldiers marched behind and protected at all costs.... so.... mash latin and Greek together and you get the study of flags. I love the world we live in. Just fascinating. Thanks for the new word, Chris, and all the best with this stunning new model 

Well said and well done. The decisions are made and we’re moving forward. Great news that you’ve outgrown your current space, despite the effort involved to locate a new one 

When I started Surprise, I had a choice to develop her as she was for her very short real career, or more like as per the novels. I decided that the majority, I suspect well over 90% of builders, would like to depict her as per the novels, so this is what I focused on for the main kit. There will be an optional armament for the 32-Pounder carronades and the different figurehead, so there is a choice.
 
I shall reiterate, Surprise is developed with the fictional version well and truly in mind, and most, if not all of that action was post 1801 - this is why, when I was asked by the supplier of the flags, which period would I like to go for, I told them the later version. As these sets are quite expensive, being of very nice quality, I thought it best to go with the version that I strongly suspect most modellers will build her as. I could not get either/or, as the costs are too prohibitive to have one set gathering dust on the shelves for years to come.
 
The only area that I have left alone is the main mast, there will be no 36 gun frigate main mast in the kit. I think this is fine, as that mast wasn't stepped upon Aubrey's command, but later.
 
As for what I am doing now, I am trying hard to complete the plan sets. I suspect now that I will have them done in the next 4 weeks, or just before Christmas. This has taken much longer than I anticipated due to having to stop frequently and focus my attention on production for orders. I have yet to start production for Surprise, but this is normal. I usually start when I am 100% sure the parts I gave Jim are all fine. If I started before this, and Jim came accross a problem, it would be a disaster, as all of that expensive pear wood sheet would have to be scrapped and re done - so production of laser cut parts is usually the final job for me once I am 100% sure all parts fit as intended.
 
We are now actively looking for a unit to rent, as we have well and truly outgrown the space we have here, so hopefully we can find somewhere where we can expand a lot more.
 
Finally, I am looking into purchasing better 3-d printers, (commercial grade rather than consumer grade) and have been looking at FormLabs products. I think these would be better suited for my needs going forward, as the print tolorances are much tighter, although quite a large investment (FormLabs 4L package is quite an investment, plus the resin required).

The flag Chris has produced looks great, very like contemporary paintings.

If you want to show a flag on a model, check surviving examples.  This is a pre-1801 white ensign at the National Maritime Museum: https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-937
In 1784, Lord Howe had a Union Jack with similar 'errors' in the saltire, about 5:7 (h:w ratio), see p70, Flags at Sea, Timothy Wilson, Chatham Publishing.
 
I doubt any business would offer that style, but it would make a good talking point at a show or exhibition.

To flap or not to flap, that is the question. The true Vexillologist can also choose to drape.

As I seem to have touched a raw nerve and so accidentally hijacked Chris' topic, I ought to make amends -- starting with thanks to Chris, not only for providing flags in his kit but for taking the time to get them right! (Why the flags for an Admiral of the White in the kit of a frigate model, though?) 
 
Beyond that: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, so when I wrote "getting the vexillology wrong is a quick way to ruin an otherwise-excellent model", I should have added "in my eyes". (And I could also have added, along with @Kusawa2000, that the flags need to conform to the wind in the sails, however those are set, if the model shows the effects of the wind at all.)
 
But, without detracting from the right of every model builder to show his (or her) model as they choose, I would add that flags play important roles in seagoing culture -- part tradition, part the opportunity they offer for a bit of pageantry, formerly often (and still to a degree) a means to communicate with other vessels or the shore, and maybe something deeper in the psychology of seafaring. It's an important enough topic that books are written about "flag etiquette" to help amateur sailors avoid embarrassing gaffs. There's the ensign, of course: Simple signal of the nationality of the vessel but, beyond that, a statement of pride and patriotism (and a symbol that is dipped to honour passing warships, though not by US vessels encountering USN ships for some reason). And because watercraft are inherently mobile, they get to carry their national symbol into the harbours of other nations, which brings a need for courtesy ensigns in the starboard rigging (and woe betide the yacht skipper who acknowledges the wrong host authority!). Then there's the jack and pennant that proclaim the status of a commissioned warship, company houseflags for merchant vessels, yacht-club burgees, owner's private flags, all expressing the pride of owner or ship's company. When there is cause for celebration, it is proclaimed by "dressing overall", with signal flags from bowsprit cap to masthead and all the way aft to the taffrail. And those signal flags are still used for signalling, even in the era of ubiquitous VHF radio, though primarily for signals that have to be maintained for a while: The red swallowtail of the International Code "B" for "I am loading, carrying or discharging dangerous substances" (or some such wording), seen fluttering from the radar masts of tankers as much as ammunition ships.
 
I could go on and on. Suffice to say that, if the miniature people who might live and work aboard a model ship could speak, they would care very much about the presentation of flags. There's every reason to model just one part of a ship, such as the hull with no spars or rigging. There's every reason to include bare spars, all neatly squared but without sails, the running rigging simplified and no flags at all. But if you aim to show a vessel as she would be in use, the flags need to be there and need to be the right ones in the right places. Or else your model is going to look wrong, in the eyes of those who know!
 
Trevor

No going to lie, I initially read that as "spittoon" and did a double-take. Spit-take, even.

Coming along really nicely Biggles.  The Chipmunk is another cool subject - great start!

So I’m still waiting to get this file sorted and then send it to a printing place to print and then see how well home made decals go. But in the meantime time I started on the chipmunk that is the second aircraft I’m making for them. 
 



Made quick progress over the last few weeks and then went on a few weeks holiday, so was good to relax and recharge. 
tonight I put the primer on. So over the next few weeks can do the paint job which I’m still waiting on photos so I can see some details but pretty sure it’s will be grey with a black nose area and of course its own custom decals! 
 

Might be another few weeks before my next update. Hopefully these decals get a move on… which is up to me! 

One thing I have been able to fix is the flat spot on the wheels.

It seems to be set up for being level and not sitting on the ground which seems abit odd. 
So I sanded them down alittle and added some filler at the front and touched up the paint and now it sits perfectly flush.
 

Hey, just doing the finishing touches on the decals. I have a few different types of decal paper but have to do the design work at a friend’s place and it’s taking awhile to get it sorted and life happens sometimes so it’s just waiting. After that’s done I’ll need to find a place to print it. 
I tried making my own stencil as I’d prefer to paint them on, but it’s almost impossible to make crisp lettering stencils free hand even with a brand new blade in the knife. So decals it will be! I’m so close but it’s really starting to drag out now! Hopefully get some progress in the coming weeks! 
it will get completed as someone is waiting for it, but they were told my one condition was there was no time limit as it’s a hobby for me. After this I’ve got the chipmunk to do and then I’m thinking about trying my hand at a wooden ship.

It is, Keith. Not sure where I want to start, every side is a challenge.

Sawdust - getting exciting! 👍

I know. 

Yeah, that plank bending line was meant as tongue-in-cheek. As was the editor comment.

John, it's only complication is trying to add all the components required in a 1.8 x 3.5 inch space. 
 
 Thank you, James. For me, research is the necessary bane of scratch building subjects never modeled before.  I'd much rather just start building a thing with an eye to the finish. 
 
 Thank you, Paul. A man, wife, mother- in-law, and six kids living in a 14 x 19 foot space, looking happy and in seemingly in good health.  What every happened to a simple existence and the happiness derived from it?  
 
 I'm about to order a copy once I finish complete this post. Thank you for the tip, Eric. 
 
You know what I mean. 
 
 Thank you, Eric. There's no plank bending or rigging on Billy with the exception of the wheels and arches, it's all straight lines. That's why these workboats are perfect subjects for a hack like myself. 

Anyone interested in shantyboats should find a copy of Harlan Hubbard's classic book "Shantyboat", which recounts how he and his wife built a shantyboat and spent years working their way down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Full of humor, close observation of river life, and just plain good writing. More than a little Engel/Billy in that book, in terms of the creative/iconoclastic thinking both employed.
 
As a professional editor, I feel attacked!
 
Great looking hull, and as always a startling perspective on your tiny work size. I guess we now know why this one is called "billy". I hope you didn't have too much trouble with all the plank bending, that's usually what trips people up on hulls.
 

Great start to the deck structures Keith and what a wonderful photo in Post 123

Very fine deck! I very much enjoy seeing all the work/research going into each step of this. 

Keith's right. From  a few drawings on a screen to a ship in the blink of an eye!
 
John

It all happens very fast doesn't it. Not blinking in case I miss the finish.