Vane

The only downside is that MDF is quite fragile. When i dryfitted the deck i managed to break two of these. I glued it back together so no problem in the end. However these really smal parts probably had been better in the pearwood.

Working with MDF lasercut pieces makes it really easy. Its also much quicker to sand.

Just look at the difference between my Diana kit and the Speedy! Lasercut pear is the way to go :-). You basically dont have to trim anything. It just fits making the build so much faster.

This is progressing quite Speedily...

Thats insane! That coin must be at least 10 times as large as a normal one…. ;-)

Yep, now i got 5 in the shipyard... and i definitely will spend this weekend with Speedy. 🙂 Yes its a very exclusive kit and its something completely different than my other kits 🙂

The first step is quite easy so i wont describe everything. Just cut out the skeleton from 3 sheets and glue it together. It just took me a couple of hours. Its in MDF and very precisely lasercut. I am used to work with ply so MDF is completely new to me. You dont need to trim anything. Its like laying a puzzle. Just be careful since MDF is not that strong and you dont want to break anything.

Lets start...

I am not really sure where to begin when describing this kit. I am not that experienced kitbuilder but its very different from my previous builds from Caldercraft and Corel. Even though I know Chris has designed many of my other kits, this definitely something else. So far I think my Granado from Caldercraft is the most welldesigned kit i come across, but Speedy outperforms her in many ways. Plans, instructions, material and also in design. One thing that might surprise you when seeing it in reality is that even though its in 1:64 scale its a small boat. Quite smaller than the Granado and compared to a Victory in the same scale it would almost look like a lifeboat.... but its very detailed.

HMS Speedy – 5th build I got too many kits in the shipyard, but I have been really curious on Chris Watton's new line of model kits. I also very much wants to support the establishment of Vanguard Models so when I got the opportunity to order one of the first boxes of the HMS Speedy I didnt hesitate. It will come in 3 different version and I picked the "no compromise" edition called Master Shipwright which is limited to 20 kits. https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/ . The HMS Speedy will make a very nice addition to my other ships from the "Nelson era". History According to Chris Watton, HMS Speedy was a 14-gun small brig and one of the first generations of new naval brigs, and her lines were more of a hybrid between a sleek cutter and brig. She was a small vessel for her class, but what she lacked in size and raw gunpower, she more than made up for in character. Speedy had a very active history, being captured in 1794 by French frigates and then recaptured in March the following year. After Cochrane lost her (in an unwinnable battle), Speedy was renamed Saint Pierre and presented to the pope by Napoleon himself. It is while commanding Speedy that Cochrane made his name. This was his first command, and the combination of this aggressive commander and Speedy ensured that they would be a thorn in the side of the French and Spanish navies, culminating in the remarkable exploit of taking the Spanish 32-gun frigate Gamo (with xebec hull and rig form). Cochrane led 48 of his crew (almost all of them) up the sides of the frigate, which had over 300 men and eventually took the ship. The kit The first impression of this kit is simply "wow"! Everything packed very nicely and protected. Other kits I have bought has been quickly packed with sawdust and manuals with folded paper etc. Here you can really see that someone has made an effort in protection and layout. I have just briefly looked at all the wood and the parts and its simply way beyond what I have worked with previously. Only problem is that if I get used to this level of quality I wont be able to go back to my other kits. This particular version includes Laser cut MDF, 0.8mm ply and pearwood parts and high-quality boxwood strip for second planking. Machined pearwood block and deadeyes The book Cochrane the Dauntless: The Life and Adventures of Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 1775-1860 More details on the kit will come soon.

Vanguard Models Master Shipwright kit of HMS Speedy!! I will put up a thread very soon on this with all details… but the first impression of this kit is simply "wow"! Everything packed very nicely and protected. Other kits I have bought has been quickly packed with sawdust and manuals with folded paper etc. Here you can really see that someone has made an effort in protection and layout. I have just briefly looked at all the wood and the parts and its simply way beyond what I have worked with previously. Only problem is that if I get used to this level of quality I wont be able to go back to my other kits.... And also a big thanks to Chris who let me order a kit before the official release and it was delievered very quickly to Sweden where I live!

What's in the box? What's in the box? Whaaaat's in the boooox??? :-P

These tiny holes takes forever to carve out....

I cant get wait to get mine! :-)

I am into the master version!

2nd planking done!

Working on the gunports before adding the last planks...

Thanks I will test that. Once i completed my 2nd planking on my Granado i will start Working on the Diana again 🙂

Thanks alot, it wouldnt had been possible without your help and introducing me to the "Chuck-method" for pre bending planks. Tanganyika is a bit softer than walnut and you have to be really carefull when bending it in the "wrong" direction so it dont splinter or even breaks. After sanding the surface feels extremely smooth. Not sure yet exactly how it will look. It will be interesting to see it after I painted the lower hull white and applied poly.

2nd planking is going quite well. I have been using thick CA to avoid pinholes. It took some practice to get used to it but now i find it easy to work with.

I was thinking the same thing. Shouldnt the shrouds be one of the first things to assemble before adding everything on top?

Thanks för the update. That will be one of The more interesting buildlog för this whole forum. My heart wants you to work quicker so it can be released next week.... but my brain tells me i Will likely not be able to take on a larger project for several years due to what i am already building 😛

I did start with the 2nd planking from the bottom just to see how it will look like with Tanganyika. Its abit different to work with this Wood. I will paint this White in the end so i can still change my mind. So should I continue with this?

Thanks, first time I do this. Its not perfect but i am ok with the result.

Still have some finetuning to do, but next is to start the deck planking.