Neill

Whether I'm sanding wood or MDF, I wear a mask. Both aren't good for you in the slightest.
 
I've never experienced any problems in strength when it comes to sanding. Of course, if a piece looks more fragile, then just be cautious. The stuff used is high grade as I'm sure @chris watton will attest to. You certainly don't need to coat it in anything to strengthen it, hence no reason to mention it. 
 
Paranoid? 😆 Possibly!

Will do.
 
I did almost miss this post so if anyone wants me to sort this for them, please PM me. 

Chris, sounds like you are indefatigable at selecting projects  ... I razee glass to you! 

Bristol is a great choice.
 
 

Ok, done.
 
You also have a button in your profile which you should activate if you are an NRG member. There's a field to put your membership number into also. Only staff will be able to see the number. 
 

 
If members here can switch that button on and add their number, I can also add the badge as I see your number online. It makes things easier for staff.

That certainly is on the list, but as it will be a 2 year development, and carvings will cost a small fortune, I have to wait.
 
Next big one - Phoebe (36), Indefatigable (need I say more..) or Bristol?

A large part of that is down to James hatch, who has helped build the final prototypes and taken all pictures for the construction, plus text. This really does help with continuing new developments while that last one is still being worked on.
 
Regarding larger kits in the future, today, this is one giant step closer, as I have ordered a second laser machine. This is not cheap, but I know it is exactly what I want, and I did promise that any money from sales is invested straight back into the business. The laser machine has a larger bed, so I can cut material of 800x600mm, rather than 600x400mm, and it is twice as powerful, being 80w. It is due for delivery in October, after the refurbishment of our garage next month, to make it into more of a proper unit that dilapidated hell hole..
 
On the Sphinx front, my wife, Chantelle and made up the 50 kits (that's a lot of boxes)! and now we wait for the printed manuals, plans and box label to arrive.
 
I would have loved to have a full printed box for all my kits, but the costs are frankly comical, and no way worth it when considering they would add £100 to kit price! What Sphinx does have is a very strong double walled box, which will keep the parts safe during shipping. That, coupled with Chan's careful packing of the parts should ensure the kits arrive in perfect condition (We have learned a lot since our first Alert kit..)

Bristol is a great choice.
 
 

Can you tell us some of the threads?  

Looking forward to following this.  I will build mine dockyard style as well, again due to display space, and matrimonial harmony.

Looking forward to following this.  I will build mine dockyard style as well, again due to display space, and matrimonial harmony.

Yes, and i can reply to this, but not some other threads.

I contract it to professionals. Anything that I am not comfortable with, or know that someone would do a much better job, I sub contract. Master carvings are very important, so the one off cost of getting a pro to do them is perfectly acceptable to me. I know well how to design the kits, but have never really tried my hand at real carvings.
 
So Bristol carvings have already been paid for.

HMS Bristol, a sister to the later built Leopard, was to be my second kit in the range. However, things changed a lot after Alert. You see, I was going to have all my laser cutting done in Italy, using ply, MDF and limewood, and castings in white metal, again, all from Italy.
 
When the fist Alert parts arrived, I knew immediately that this is not the way I want to go, looking forward. The laser cut lime was about as robust as tissue paper, and the white metal castings looked nothing like the masters I had made. This is when I decided to use much better materials for all future kits, and since then, I have been establishing more contacts for suppliers. This did mean I needed a rethink of immediate developments, and the decision to purchase my own laser machine, as sub contract costs would have been crippling for the type and amount of cutting I had in mind.
 
The reason Bristol was put back is because the cost of the materials alone would have cleaned me out (at that time). The second reason is that I really need 2 laser machines before starting this, and one needs more power and a larger bed, for the thicker materials needed. I am now in a position where I could carry on with this, but my real love/yearning is for a large frigate before this. But all of Bristol's carvings have already been done, as is the armament, plus bulkheads, decks and all general hull lines already worked out.

Cheers! 
 
For the next big one (and it will be big), I am torn between three possibilities, and flit between them depending on mood..
 
I do know that next is two English West Country fishing vessels (and very pleasing lines they have, too), and then a medium sized kit of a detailed 18 gun brig (20 foot longer than Flirt/Speedy Class). Then, I have to make up my mind on the big kit.

OK, we have released the final 5 Sphinx kits to stock. Once these are gone, that is it for this production run. I will not be able to get more PE until next month at the earliest, as Italy is now on holiday. And I thought I had enough to last a while!
 
I think I have already mentioned this, but the photo etched sheets were changed at the very last minute to include all PE part numbers etched on the sheet, which should make identification easier..

James did an article in the latest Tamiya Model Magazine, for anyone that's interested.

Here is the box label for the first 50 kits - at least you can overall dimensions of the model.
 
Just weighed the laser cut wood pack, almost 3kg, more than a whole Duchess kit!

I am stunned, thank you all for your support. I never thought I would sell so many. I did enough for 50 in total, as I always order 50 PE sets (which weigh in at 20kg for Sphinx). But castings, thread and anything else non PE and laser cut, I ordered 100 kits worth.
 
I will add a couple more to stock, but damn, thank you!
 
I have put in a repeat order for the photo etched sets, and will start another production run of laser cut parts, each kit takes well over 6 hours cutting/engraving time..
 
And again, thank you!

I have written only recently that the era of building large 18th century square rigged warships was over for me, feeling perhaps 75 was too old to start such a project, coupled with where to put it issues.
 
However, despite my best resolve I have once again fallen victim to the siren song of Chris’s latest offering.
I spent yesterday evening looking at the eye candy photo’s provided by Chris’s fellow conspirator, James, looking for reasons not to wing £665 across to the Forest of Dean.
 
 All to no avail, even Mrs W said stop messing about and press the button.
 
So, Sphinx will be my next project, but there will be compromises; I will build her as a Navy Board Style model without masting and rigging, and with much of the decking left off to reveal the wealth of detail provided by Chris.
 
At least with this model, Chris has thoughtfully designed all the below decks detail so I won’t have to gut the innards as I did with Pegasus.
 
In the meantime, back to figure bashing for the barge.
 
B.E.

Am always tempted do a Caledonia or Commerce de Marseille, just to see the look on my wife's face as the skeletal structure grows on the dining room table...

Yes, Sphinx is rigged - all standing rigging, and running rigging has all yard associated rig, tie, jeers, lifts and braces. Other rig included sheets, clew's and tacks if you want to go that far.
 
For future reference, I have never designed a period ship kit that does not include rigging. For Sphinx, there are 8 50x70cm plan sheets dedicated to masts and rig, plus quite a few pages in the manual showing mast and yard assembly.

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.

AIM OF MY BUILD LOG
 
My aim with this build log, as with all my previous build logs, is to show how I have implemented the build instructions & plan sheets and to also share any tips, problems, etc. which may help others with their build. It will probably repeat / show several of the processes / instructions detailed in the official build manual and plan sheets. I really appreciate comments and likes on my build.
 
BUILD LOG INDEX
 
I have also set up a build log index to help you (and me!) locate the different sections of my build. Simply click on the links of the completed tasks to be taken to that post of the my build log.
 
TASK
TITLE (Click link on done tasks)
STATUS
1
MDF Build Cradle Assembly
Done
2
Stern Bulkhead Assembly
Done
3
Bow Bulkhead Assembly
Done
4
Bulkheads & Lower Deck Assembly
Done
5
Longitudinal Gun Port Assembly
Done
6
Lower Deck Coaming Assembly
Done
7
Gun Deck Support Beams
Done
8
Stern Counter Frame Assembly
Done
9
Gun Deck, Gun Ports & Filler Blocks
Done
10
Fitting Inner Bulwarks
Done
11
Painting Inner Bulwarks
Done
12
Cabin Seat Assembly
Done
13
Adding Patterns to Bow
Done 14
Building the Bulwark Jig(s)
Done
15
Fairing the Hull
Done
16
Adding the Upper Side Panels
Done
17
First Planking - Part 1
Done
18
First Planking - Part 2
Done
19
First Planking - Part 3
Done
20
First Planking - Part 4
Done
21
Sanding 1st Planking
Done
22
Fitting Outer Planking Patterns
Done
23
 2nd Planking - Stage 1
Done
24
 Fitting wales
WIP
25
 Fitting wales
WIP
26
 Fitting wales
WIP
27
 
 
28
 
 
29
 
 
30
 
 
31
 
 
32
 
 
33
 
 
34
 
 
35
 
 
36
 
 
37
 
 
36
 
 
39
 
 
40
 
 
 
OTHER HMS SPHINX BUILD LOGS 
James Hatch's Prototype Build Log - A must read build log
Blue Ensign's Build Log
Jasseji's Build Log
Mark Taylor's Build Log
myxyzptlyk Build Log
 

I think three weeks.
 
I could get plans and manual printed right now, but prefer to wait until the model is complete - but I do want the actual release to be no later than three weeks.
 
I will show you work in progress box art, some pics and text are just placeholders, and the bar code is for Duchess...

 

PRE-ORDER KIT HERE: https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-1775/
PRE-ORDER PEAR BLOCK SET HERE: https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-pearwood-block-set/