Kusawa2000

Hello every one and Thank you all for the good thoughts and good will. It has been awhile since  I posted any thing but I finally went back to work on Alfred. At  the moment am working on the upper deck and trying to cut knee's, lodging and hang and getting them to fit. It's a little work but they are getting done. The other thing that I finally got around to working on is the crank handles for the pump's, along with all the other stuff that fit's around the  pump's them self. Hope I can put some photo's up real soon. It is so good to be back to work on her. Who know's maybe just maybe I get her finished before the ship takes me away. Thanks every one. Gary

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).

I'm personally glad to hear you are including a flag package and give some thought to the accuracy of the flags.  I always include a set of flags on all of my models. I find its that added detail that adds a lot to the final look.
 
I also make sure that if my boat has sails that the flags are flapping in the direction that the sails are set. A personal pet peeve of mine.
 
Thanks for including flags! I would have had to make a set when I get the chance to build your Vanguard model of the Surprise. 
 
MIKE

I'm personally glad to hear you are including a flag package and give some thought to the accuracy of the flags.  I always include a set of flags on all of my models. I find its that added detail that adds a lot to the final look.
 
I also make sure that if my boat has sails that the flags are flapping in the direction that the sails are set. A personal pet peeve of mine.
 
Thanks for including flags! I would have had to make a set when I get the chance to build your Vanguard model of the Surprise. 
 
MIKE

I learned that word from The Big Bang Theory!

I'm personally glad to hear you are including a flag package and give some thought to the accuracy of the flags.  I always include a set of flags on all of my models. I find its that added detail that adds a lot to the final look.
 
I also make sure that if my boat has sails that the flags are flapping in the direction that the sails are set. A personal pet peeve of mine.
 
Thanks for including flags! I would have had to make a set when I get the chance to build your Vanguard model of the Surprise. 
 
MIKE

I'm personally glad to hear you are including a flag package and give some thought to the accuracy of the flags.  I always include a set of flags on all of my models. I find its that added detail that adds a lot to the final look.
 
I also make sure that if my boat has sails that the flags are flapping in the direction that the sails are set. A personal pet peeve of mine.
 
Thanks for including flags! I would have had to make a set when I get the chance to build your Vanguard model of the Surprise. 
 
MIKE

I'm personally glad to hear you are including a flag package and give some thought to the accuracy of the flags.  I always include a set of flags on all of my models. I find its that added detail that adds a lot to the final look.
 
I also make sure that if my boat has sails that the flags are flapping in the direction that the sails are set. A personal pet peeve of mine.
 
Thanks for including flags! I would have had to make a set when I get the chance to build your Vanguard model of the Surprise. 
 
MIKE

To be clear, my version of Surprise is depicted post 1801, as per the novels. The quarter davits would not be shown if it were much earlier.
 
This does not stop anyone from changing the model to 1796 spec if they so wished - buy another flag set (or leave them off) and leave off the slightly later innovations like the davits.
 
I did think adding a quality flag set for the first time ever as standard for my kits would be a nice little addition - should have known it would cause a ruckus! 😅

To be fair, those are the people who are retired and now have time to pursue extra hobbies. It's certainly possible younger generations will have different interests, but it's also reasonable to assume that people can develop new interests once they have more time on their hands.

OK, we're back from Blackpool, our first real show, and we have learnt a lot! Here are some pics.
 
Jim was brilliant, building up a Sphinx hull whilst there, which created much interest. We were the only exhibitors with period ship kits, the rest were mainly tug boats, fishing vessels, lifeboats and warships - but I guess we are only one of two companies in the UK that produce this type of model, so not too surprising.
 
We plan to do Telford next year.



 

 

I managed to 'color' this image (texturize) in Meshy6 - that's how far I was allowed to go there free of charge.
 

Chuck: I decided to do some more digging for that Old Masters gel stain and apparently Amazon does sell it.. and its on its way from the sunny Canadian South.. problem solved. And thanks for the finishing tip.. Im just getting my hull full planked. Finished my Woody Joe temple model and now getting the planks on the hull full steam. I will be glad to get that chapter done and move onto the stern galleries. 
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I have been checking out paint shops here in the Yukon and we dont seem to have Old Masters in stock. Minwax seems to have gel stain on the shelf up here in abundance. Any recommendations on a match that would be close to your recommended Old Masters Fruitwood gel stain? I do like the look it gives
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I have been checking out paint shops here in the Yukon and we dont seem to have Old Masters in stock. Minwax seems to have gel stain on the shelf up here in abundance. Any recommendations on a match that would be close to your recommended Old Masters Fruitwood gel stain? I do like the look it gives
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I decided to do some more digging for that Old Masters gel stain and apparently Amazon does sell it.. and its on its way from the sunny Canadian South.. problem solved. And thanks for the finishing tip.. Im just getting my hull full planked. Finished my Woody Joe temple model and now getting the planks on the hull full steam. I will be glad to get that chapter done and move onto the stern galleries. 
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I decided to do some more digging for that Old Masters gel stain and apparently Amazon does sell it.. and its on its way from the sunny Canadian South.. problem solved. And thanks for the finishing tip.. Im just getting my hull full planked. Finished my Woody Joe temple model and now getting the planks on the hull full steam. I will be glad to get that chapter done and move onto the stern galleries. 
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I decided to do some more digging for that Old Masters gel stain and apparently Amazon does sell it.. and its on its way from the sunny Canadian South.. problem solved. And thanks for the finishing tip.. Im just getting my hull full planked. Finished my Woody Joe temple model and now getting the planks on the hull full steam. I will be glad to get that chapter done and move onto the stern galleries. 
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I decided to do some more digging for that Old Masters gel stain and apparently Amazon does sell it.. and its on its way from the sunny Canadian South.. problem solved. And thanks for the finishing tip.. Im just getting my hull full planked. Finished my Woody Joe temple model and now getting the planks on the hull full steam. I will be glad to get that chapter done and move onto the stern galleries. 
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I have been checking out paint shops here in the Yukon and we dont seem to have Old Masters in stock. Minwax seems to have gel stain on the shelf up here in abundance. Any recommendations on a match that would be close to your recommended Old Masters Fruitwood gel stain? I do like the look it gives
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I have been checking out paint shops here in the Yukon and we dont seem to have Old Masters in stock. Minwax seems to have gel stain on the shelf up here in abundance. Any recommendations on a match that would be close to your recommended Old Masters Fruitwood gel stain? I do like the look it gives
 
Mike Draper

Chuck: I have been checking out paint shops here in the Yukon and we dont seem to have Old Masters in stock. Minwax seems to have gel stain on the shelf up here in abundance. Any recommendations on a match that would be close to your recommended Old Masters Fruitwood gel stain? I do like the look it gives
 
Mike Draper

Paddle Wheel continues…














Paddle Wheel completed. 
 
Cheers 🍻 

Nice match, John.