hollowneck

Hey Mike,

Thanks. It's great to hear from you. We've stayed in-touch for many MSW years. I hope this PM finds you and your growing family well, happy and prosperous.

I loved building this "old school" kit from Chris Watton (Caldercraft, circa early 90's). Plywood bulkheads and keel former; CNC cut parts; bundles of walnut and "Tanganyika" strip wood as well as walnut doweling for masts and spars. All the instructions were in prose (no photos) and the large format plans ("D"-size) were drafted by hand, not CAD-generated unlike the current plans provided in Vanguard's kits.

On the stern, the figure and decorative relief is a combo of cast metal and PE, included in the kit. In the recent "upgrade" to my Grand Dame I built in 2013/14,  I painted all the  decorative elements with a metallic red gold hue, including the nicely cast figurehead.

In my expanding home model ship gallery, Diana remains a favorite. But, then again, isn't the model one's now building one's favorite?

Can't wait for the HMS Surprise, Mike. I know I'm in a long line. I'm hoping to place Surprise in her Royal Navy Caribbean service with her tender, Ringle - close to starboard - that is, two ships in a diorama. I'm genuinely excited about this build for next year.

Take Care. Stay Cool in these Hot Times.

Ron

😳

Thank you @Landlubber Mike & @AJohnson kindly. I really enjoyed making this model. Unlike many of my other builds, I chose to not place it in a diorama, nor mount sails with their attendant rigging. I invested about six months of total shop time which was a nice “break” for me. There are many fun names for these ships to choose from!

Ron

Thank You, much appreciated.

I do feel honored, especially to be a part of a celebration of the Pastor's wonderful legacy of care to his community. A few years ago and after visiting churches in Scandinavia, the Pastor asked me if I could create a "votive nave model ship." I had similar experiences in Europe and had some knowledge about the subject so I became interested, and committed.

I admit that it is a good feeling to know that others might feel the positivity the model represents, that it helps them navigate their life's journey - the metaphor of navigating one's spiritual existence by their faith.

My sincere Thanks to everyone here for your comments. Chris Watton gives us all superior kits to work with. 

Lucky You! Nice collection of photos, Eric. You've hit the 17th-C Maritime Motherlode! Head on over to the Rijksmuseum and see more amazing models - and an unforgettable viewing of The NIghtwatch.

Thanks for sharing.

Holy calamari!… very kool Kraken project.

Thank you kindly, Montaigne. Much appreciated.

Ron

Thanks, @robert952. Much appreciated. I built this model years ago but only recently have I gotten around to taking good quality photos in my studio. Thanks for looking and commenting.

Ron

Kind thanks to everyone who has commented here.

This larger model (still in my favorite 1:64-scale) created a larger challenge to put into a waterline diorama; to say the least, there was an exponential increase in the surface area of the seascape required to present her. Thinking about this aspect is giving me pause on considering building Vanguard's HMS Indefatigable and presenting this model in a diorama. Of course, I don't need to do this. But, I take immense pleasure depicting my models and fashioning their seascapes, the challenges involved in this work and the many different ways to portray their service.

(I also like to do the photography when they're completed!)😉

As @AJohnson said, very well done for only your second model. I have built a couple of the Caldercraft kits and they do offer an excellent model making experience - as your photos show. Your photo work is also quite well done; the expertise is quite evident and a pleasure to view.

Cheers & Congratulations!

I like it! Even the gray plinth base which is highly unusual.

Very kool.

21 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Wow! Great models all.

Indeed! This is a growing consensus, here on the forum and elsewhere (Instagram).

Every model that I had the privilege of photographing is beautifully executed. The subject choices are also from a wide range of vessels and impressive in the scope of the work. The Philadelphia Ship Model Society's, Spence Delin, is truly a "master ship modeler," and has been for many years.

Ron

Thanks Mike - and Theodosius. My 5 y/o granddaughter told me that this one is her favorite. She doesn't have an on line life yet.😲

Ron

Very nice. Love the concept as well as the execution.

Ron

Nice work! One of the better builds of this excellent kit designed by Chuck Passaro.

Thanks, Scott. This is not your Xbox!😆

This ship build was challenging (particularly the Japanese manual!), but I had a lot of fun doing the entire project. After fabricating the main build for the ship, there was not very thorough information about how the single, immense sail was handled, so I had to try and figure this out with logic. Which explains why in some of my photos there are still mini-alligators dangling from a couple of the sail control lines! I did fix these eventually.

Doing the village setting brought together my different interests (as well as experimenting with a host of different diorama materials) in placing this period ship in a real-world, historical setting.

I give credit to WoodyJoe (Japanese kit company) for a superbly-designed kit, and assistance on the "Higaki Kaisen" build from MSW'er, Clare Hess (catopower).

Ron

Thanks Captain! A little late here on my acknowledgement, but 2020 COVID put quite a few things on the back burner! Haven't checked into my gallery in a while.

Ron

Excellent. I like the diorama, the added detail (especially sails and sail rigging) to make the ship more resemble it's larger wooden cousins. Very impressive.

You appear to be a photographer (D300 and proper lighting), yes?

Ron

Kool model, Chris, well done...I like it! Master/Korabel is making some superb kits.

Ron

Thanks Cadence! I do like the sounds and the smell of the ocean.

Even the taste! (love fish, shellfish)...

Ron

Oops! Sorry, I meant to say "Thank You" to you too, Viggen.

Ron

Bob,

Thank you; I am humbled by your praise. As I've previously posted, I am hooked on sailing ships being depicted in seriously fun sailing settings. Say that five times, fast!

Ron

Thank you.

Your excellent work, certainly David's and all the other superb efforts of MSW members were an inspiration for me to tackle this project.

I've written a second installment of my current Swan article as a "How-To" piece that will appear in a future NRG Journal. It focuses on how I made my Swan's set sails and also how I created the diorama's water (and base).

Ron