chris watton

Same as the old boss....

The figure set is being reworked, so should have an update within the next few days. In the meantime, I am busy producing Harpy fittings, laser cutting kits parts for orders and still working on Harpy CAD drawings in between everything else. We have now become so busy that my wife will be working full time for Vanguard Models from September, as it is neither fair or untenable for her to have a full time day job, and then to come home and work again until late putting kits together. My accountant confirmed the validity of this today. Our house is up for sale, as we need a larger premises, but no bites as yet, dammit....

Cheers guys. My problem is that the carver I have used from the start seems to have vanished, I can only think that they may have passed away. He was responsible for all natural and carved decoration, both figures and stern/figurehead 3-d prints. I prefer to stick to just one person or company for each discipline used, that way they know exactly what I want and know what they can do. Problems arise when you have to find a replacement for the previous person or company. To try a new sculptor out, I thought the best thing to do was to give them a figure or two to work on. This is the main reference I suplied, along with another two references for the period clothes, from head to foot. I thought at the time that this would be a very nice addition to my figures range: Now, if something is not right, I will not waste my time producing them (the 3-d prints do take a lot of time) and selling something I am not 100% happy with - even though at my main scale, these details will be barely seen, more so when in their cabin with deck beams obscuring a lot of the view. This was to be a 5-part set and would take a lot of time to produce and post process, so if there are doubts about this set, I have no problem abandoning it and turning my attention to kit design, the one thing I do know well and have complete control over. I will give this carver one more chance to get the problems highlighted sorted - so the fat lady hasn't broken into song quite yet.

For this kind of work, I have to rely on others who are conversant in such disciplines, as digital sculpting is akin to alchemy for me. I this case, I have now decided to take the loss and scrap this project, files have been deleted.

This is what I got from the first run using a new 3-d printer. Am sure my standard printers are better, or I need to look at settings.. Bases never came out, and a few other bits, so this is what I was left with. Carver is changing the figures for smaller hands and a few other little things

OK, have asked my sculptor to do something with those hands, and beef up the collars and lapels, as well as chair legs, to help with printing. Just finished first print, only half of the items printed (new printer, so trying again), but I did get a seated and standing figure and table in 48th and 32nd, and the sitting officer and table in 64th.

I think I give up on the figures

I am printing a set now, will see how they come out, and if needed, changed again - but won't really know until the parts are actually printed.

The main scale will be 64th, but also 48th and perhaps 32nd.

Looks great, you should be proud of that!

I always do the lower shrouds, then futtock staves, catharpins, futtock shrouds, upper shrouds and upper shroud staves and catharpins. Then ratlines and last of all, topgallant shrouds. I always used to dread rigging, thinking I would spend the same amount of time on that as with the hull. However, I soon learned that rigging is done at a much quicker pace than the hull, which is in reality around 90% of the total time spent on a model. I remember spending over a year (full time) building the Amati Victory hull, yet the rigging took less than 3 weeks from first shroud to final bowline. And that had a lot of shrouds and rats... For the the distance between the deadeyes I think they be at least 5mm, but absolutley no more than 7mm apart for 5mm deadeyes. For 3mm deadeyes, 3-5mm apart.

You are doing a wonderful job, Glenn, well done.

I now have machined block sets back in stock for Indefatigable. They are walnut and look very nice indeed, but do cost me more than the machined pearwood blocks I got from Russia, so are a little more expensive. HMS Indefatigable CNC Machined Walnut Block Set – VANGUARD MODELS I will order sets for the other kits in time.

I commissioned the whole scene to avoid any ambiguity relating to how the figures would fit in with other parts. If they are done all together, I know they will work with all the parts supplied.

Cheers We need to figure the best way to print them, to minimise breakages when in transit. The sitting figure may have the bottom half attached to the chair.

Changes to figures made, I said keep the epaulettes as they are shown on the source pictures my carver used.

I gave my carver more pictures of the uniforms, and asked to change some aspects. As for me, I am doing the Harpy plans in CAD, which will take perhaps another 6 weeks (I find this aspect a slog, probably because I am now so used to the drill and know the very long hours involved...). All cut files are now done (21 separate laser cut sheets), with part numbers added to each part, and will send a set to Jim soon, so he can start his build log. Amati are in the process of doing the sample PE for Harpy for me (3 frets in 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6mm), so I shall have that in the next 2-3 weeks, I hope. I think this one will be a breeze after Indy...

Thoese slots were just for my benefit when designing the kit. I usually remove them for the final production files, but decided to keep them, in case any modeller found them useful for any reason.

OK, thank you, I have sent better details to the carver.

Needs to be shorter?

Yes, these are the very first renders, to see if I am happy with them. I am, but there will need to be small changes based on the best way to produce them.

He was a bit, wasn't he!

Just received some first renders of one of the series of boats I have commissioned to be done for me. This is the progress of the 24 foot cutter, and I am quite happy with that. Am looking forward to seeing the rest when they're done. Oh, and no bomb vessels planned! lol