Blue Ensign

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-eight.
 
 Building the Launch
 This is the heavy work boat of the set.
Lacking the elegance of the Pinnace it does have interest to commend it and I’m looking forward to having a go.
 
The kit includes a simplified davit and its supports, but for some reason is lacking the windlass which is the other important feature of Launches, as it was with the Longboat.
 
I compared the kit launch with the drawings in the Pandora book for a 24’ Launch.
The book drawing does indicate the windlass  and has  two less thwarts (including the stern sheet ) compared to the kit version.

8107
The stage after fitting the ribs provides the  first opportunity for revision.
 
The kit provides a brass etch version of the keelson and footwaling which I thought was perfect for replacement with a more authentic boarding.
The kit also provides brass etch gratings for the stern-sheet and bow areas.
Looking at Launch plans and those for Longboats, gratings did not seem to feature on these boats, and it makes sense that the stern-sheet footwaling was solid to form a stable base for the Davit step.

8110
Replacement footwaling, which at least saves me the trouble of trying to turn brass into wood.

8109
The Keelson is a slightly wider and thicker board that runs down the centre of the footwaling to support the mast steps and lifting rings.
 
The number of thwarts in the kit version is eight including the  the one adjoining the stern-sheets.

8119
I am using the design for a 24’ launch in the AotS book Pandora.
 

8120
I will be using six thwarts which allows for a slightly wider main thwart at midships, and provides room for the windlass.

8111
With the stringers in place temporary thwarts are used to get things ship-shape.

8114
Once again my dockyard figures ensure the thwarts sit level and at the correct height, don’t want their feet dangling in mid-air.

8118
I still get a satisfaction seeing tiny feet planted on the footwaling, all down to Chris’s excellent scaling of the boats.
 
Still a fair bit of fettlin’ to do and a Windlass to make.
 
 
B.E.
 
22/08/2022
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
 The Launch – cont’d
 Fitting the stern sheets
 The kit provided  part includes the stern-sheets and adjacent thwart as one unit. There is no bench on the aft side against the transom.

Victory Launch - note the dis-mounted Davit
This may be a design feature to allow easier fitting, which it does, but I am aware that the current launch with HMS Victory  also has no transom bench.
 I chose to include a Transom bench between the two side benches, as per the drawings in the AotS books, Pandora and Diana.

8173(2)
The individual seating parts were split up and the cut-away shape  common in side benches, was formed.
 
The Davit
The kit provided Davit is of a simplified form lacking the sheave in the outer end. I also thought it looked a little under weight.
 
The Davit was used to support the handling of anchors I doubled up on the kit pattern to create a sheave in the outer end, this gave an overall width of 2mm.

8177(3)
The Davit supports were re-made using 1.5mm  square stuff,
I also re-made the thwart adjacent to the stern-sheets, onto which the Davit supports are bolted.
 

8168
The Breasthook is fitted at the bow along with the first thwart.  The remainder will be left until the Windlass is fitted.
I made the Fore mast clamp on the thwart  with  black card rather than use the provided etch.
 

8170(2)
This is also an opportune time to add the wales which further strengthen the hull for handling.
 
More work is required cleaning up the inner hull, these macro shot fill me with horror.😬
I prefer scraping with a wetted sharp blade rather than sanding, the thinness of the planking always has to be borne in mind.

8177(2)
The mast steps have been fitted and the Main Thwart made. This is wider by an inch than the other thwarts at 10” (4mm)
 
Before moving on, there is a windlass to make, an interesting little exercise.
 
 
B.E.
 
24/08/2022
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

Post One hundred and Sixty.
 The Launch – ongoing
Detailing continues; the thwarts are in place along with the Windlass. The lifting rings have been added to the keelson.

8220
Still to add the thwart brackets.
 
Fitting the brackets is an exercise in frustration; they are incredibly tiny items, seemingly smaller than those for either the Pinnace or Yawl.
The only saving grace is that brackets are required for only three of the thwarts, which allows a margin for the inevitable escapees.
 
Before I move onto the wash strakes I needed to decide whether to paint the bottom of the launch up to the waterline.

8221
I had intended to leave the whole hull bright across the range, but I quite liked the effect on the Pinnace, so ivory bottom it is.
On the kit the hull is painted white overall up to the wale, but I prefer a bright hull between waterline and wale which provides a nice contrast.
 Wash-strakes
These are formed using planking strips allowing for the oarlock spaces.
The blurb says  add more lengths of planking along the bulwark top for the oar positions.
Easy to say, not so easy perhaps to achieve.
There is nothing to support these thin strips and they should follow uniformly the curve of the hull.
 
The kit arrangement is a simplification, presumably due to scale. In reality there would be tholes to secure and take the pressure of the oars, and against which the temporary wash boards would be secured.

8224
To try and add a tad more realism to the set up I fitted strips  between the frames along the inner hull to support the tholes.
 
Admittedly I am doing this as an exercise to see if I can, and it does extend the build time which means I don’t have to think about another one.🙄
 
The thole positions are marked and the process can begin.

8234
The wash strakes at the Bow are attended to first, these are heat treated to follow the hull before fitting against the first thole.

8244
With that done the next thole can be fitted with a 1.25mm spacing, and so on.
 
8241

8250
I will continue to fit the wash boards and hope it all turns out ok. The danger will be when I come to clean it all up, whether these delicate pieces will hold in place.
 
B.E.
27/08/2022
 
 
 
 
 

very nice work B.E.
 
Nils

I like the round pedestal table Chris, any thoughts of creating a seated figure to grace it?
 
B.E.

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
 The Launch – cont’d
 Fitting the stern sheets
 The kit provided  part includes the stern-sheets and adjacent thwart as one unit. There is no bench on the aft side against the transom.

Victory Launch - note the dis-mounted Davit
This may be a design feature to allow easier fitting, which it does, but I am aware that the current launch with HMS Victory  also has no transom bench.
 I chose to include a Transom bench between the two side benches, as per the drawings in the AotS books, Pandora and Diana.

8173(2)
The individual seating parts were split up and the cut-away shape  common in side benches, was formed.
 
The Davit
The kit provided Davit is of a simplified form lacking the sheave in the outer end. I also thought it looked a little under weight.
 
The Davit was used to support the handling of anchors I doubled up on the kit pattern to create a sheave in the outer end, this gave an overall width of 2mm.

8177(3)
The Davit supports were re-made using 1.5mm  square stuff,
I also re-made the thwart adjacent to the stern-sheets, onto which the Davit supports are bolted.
 

8168
The Breasthook is fitted at the bow along with the first thwart.  The remainder will be left until the Windlass is fitted.
I made the Fore mast clamp on the thwart  with  black card rather than use the provided etch.
 

8170(2)
This is also an opportune time to add the wales which further strengthen the hull for handling.
 
More work is required cleaning up the inner hull, these macro shot fill me with horror.😬
I prefer scraping with a wetted sharp blade rather than sanding, the thinness of the planking always has to be borne in mind.

8177(2)
The mast steps have been fitted and the Main Thwart made. This is wider by an inch than the other thwarts at 10” (4mm)
 
Before moving on, there is a windlass to make, an interesting little exercise.
 
 
B.E.
 
24/08/2022
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
 The Launch – cont’d
 Fitting the stern sheets
 The kit provided  part includes the stern-sheets and adjacent thwart as one unit. There is no bench on the aft side against the transom.

Victory Launch - note the dis-mounted Davit
This may be a design feature to allow easier fitting, which it does, but I am aware that the current launch with HMS Victory  also has no transom bench.
 I chose to include a Transom bench between the two side benches, as per the drawings in the AotS books, Pandora and Diana.

8173(2)
The individual seating parts were split up and the cut-away shape  common in side benches, was formed.
 
The Davit
The kit provided Davit is of a simplified form lacking the sheave in the outer end. I also thought it looked a little under weight.
 
The Davit was used to support the handling of anchors I doubled up on the kit pattern to create a sheave in the outer end, this gave an overall width of 2mm.

8177(3)
The Davit supports were re-made using 1.5mm  square stuff,
I also re-made the thwart adjacent to the stern-sheets, onto which the Davit supports are bolted.
 

8168
The Breasthook is fitted at the bow along with the first thwart.  The remainder will be left until the Windlass is fitted.
I made the Fore mast clamp on the thwart  with  black card rather than use the provided etch.
 

8170(2)
This is also an opportune time to add the wales which further strengthen the hull for handling.
 
More work is required cleaning up the inner hull, these macro shot fill me with horror.😬
I prefer scraping with a wetted sharp blade rather than sanding, the thinness of the planking always has to be borne in mind.

8177(2)
The mast steps have been fitted and the Main Thwart made. This is wider by an inch than the other thwarts at 10” (4mm)
 
Before moving on, there is a windlass to make, an interesting little exercise.
 
 
B.E.
 
24/08/2022
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022
 
 
 

Post One hundred and fifty-nine.
 
The Windlass
 This is a tricky fitting to make, the actual length of the Windlass is a mere 28.4mm which has to contain both square and octagonal sections.
 
Steel records  the Windlass for a 24’ Launch as being of 8”ø which equates to 3.2mm at scale.
I will be using 3mm Boxwood Square stock for the makings.
 
How to begin.
 When in doubt refer to Chuck;
 Chapter four of his Medway Longboat Monograph explains the process and fortunately I have his wonderful Medway Longboat at ½” scale, and in the plans is a template for making a windlass.

8184(2)
Reduced to 1:64 scale it provides a guide that should prove very useful, provided my eyesight is up to the job.
I have made windlasses at 1:48 and 1:64 scales previously but that was some years ago.
 
The templates are glued to the faces of the square stock and it’s then down to how well the octagons can be formed.

8186(2)
The stock is supported  in a simple ‘V’ jig.

8187(2)
I use No11 scalpel blades and micro chisels to form the octagons.

8190(2)
I use the No11 scalpel blade to form the rebate.

8195(2)
The template certainly simplifies shaping the windlass particularly at this scale, as marking with pencil lines is not so easy on this small area.
 
With the template removed  a little more definition is given the the octagonal areas, and the ends formed.

8198
Trial fitting of the windlass into the support chocks.

8201
The Main Thwart is checked against the Windlass position.
 
The remaining thwarts can now be made and put into place.
 
 
A final thought, given that the windlass is an important feature of both Longboats and Launches, I think a resin version of the Windlass would be a good ‘optional’ fitting for the Vanguard  Launch kit.
 
 
B.E.
 
25/08/2022