chris watton

There are the very first cut parts for Grecian - what is there may not reflect the end kit, though...

I thought I would start a new thread, as the original was getting a little too big. OK, for at least the next 5 years, I have my developments more or less already mapped out. The subjects cover a wide range of vessels from the 17th to early 19th Century. For 2023, I have three confirmed. The first is Indy (of course). I may add as an optional extra cistern/chain pump housings. This has been my largest development to date, taking well over a year of full time work, and having Jim make the prototype and taking the manual photo pics and text. If I were to do this, then Indy would have been a 2 year development. After Indy, I will have the American schooner Grecian (1812) almost ready, which I anticipate releasing in April/May. I have almost finished the mast and rig drawings, and profiles, so this may come together pretty quickly once Indy is released. From Wiki: Thomas Kemp of Baltimore designed Grecian with several innovations. She was pierced for 20 guns, though she never carried that many, and her gunports were unique, designed perhaps to save weight. She had a long, curving stem, and a shallow, less convex bow. Grecian's first captain was James Phillips, and under him she had made one voyage to France. She received letter of marque No. 944 in December 1813, under Captain Knapp. Not sure how much of that can be trusted, though, as she was not pierced for 20 guns, she has 18, with the fore-most being next to useless due to the distance between port and starboard (very sharp bow, so 7 per side being usable, in my opinion). It seems she had a mix of guns, being more standardised when in the British navy. What I have done is give enough guns for carronades, 6 and 4 pounders. I am sure the 4 pounders were used at the front, due to space issues, with the 6 pounders being nearer the middle and rear - so the modeller will have a choice of what to fit where. After this, I will start on HMS Surprise, and this should be released this year, assuming all goes well. And that's it for now.... ETA - My real love is frigates, as I have said before. If I had my way completely, the next five or six releases would be frigates from 32 guns upwards! But I cannot....

I have always said that when starting my own business, designing and producing new stuff, the subjects would be models that I have always wanted to do. Most are famous, can be found in most books on the subject and have good histories (although Surprise only had a action packed career in fiction). There are only a couple of subjects I would eventually like to revisit, but for the most part, I like to concentrate on stuff that hasn't been kitted before, from the 17th to early 19th Century. When a model is developed, you have put a lot of time into this one subject, at the very least months, if not a year or so of your life, and a lot of money. You have to really like the subject to go through this. Almost a labour of love..

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That looks great!

As I said, I had to go on the only contemporary evidence I had. It was a tough decision, but felt the best one. I know that Pellew had a lot of control when fitting her out, I figured that perhaps he insisted on hand pumps for some reason, instead of the main type. The plans of the two decker Indy shown chain pumps, the plans for the razee do not, I could not ignore that. I do suspect that if I went with my first gut instinct and replaced them with the main type, then people would have pointed out that the plans show hand pumps, so whatever I did, it wouldn't be right to some...

Nope, there is no evidence of chain pumps. I was so sure she had them that I brought in drawings of them into my main Indy file, in anticipation of adding them. But when concentrating on that area, it became clear the old chain pumps were changed for standard hand pumps. I did find this strange, but, absent of evidence to the contrary, I have to follow the contemporary drawings.

I have had a few drinks tonight, so cannot say definitively, but you're probably right. If that is the case, there will be enough dowel to make a slightly longer topgallant. But the kit will show the standard yard config.

Thank you for all your comments, they are appreciated. I did state from the start that I finally wanted to develop stuff I always wanted to do, for the main developments at least, and the scale would be constant. When working for others, there were so many developments that were started but never finished, or finished but never released. At least now I can state with 100% certainty that what I now start, it is finished to the bitter end and released. I have enough subjects in my 'Future Projects' folder to last at least a decade. I have to be mindful of the very large models, as a 1st to 3rd rate is a 1.5-2 year development cycle, a lot of time and money, more so if they are designed with full deck/s detail, and not the standard fare of block models and dummy barrels (If the latter, I have little doubt I could develop 8-10 kits like that per year, and make more money - but no fun and not bringing kit fidelity/design quality forward) After Indy, I have this US privateer schooner, and after that, I may do a small kit before Surprise, which should be complete next year. Anyway, that is my plan for the next 10-12 months.... ETA - I haven't forgot Bristol, it is another large kit, so I need to wait just a little longer - I shall probably have a figurehead and stern decoration made for her sister, Leopard, too, so you can have a choice.

Never say never! My 'Future projects' folder is quite large, and there a couple of ancient vessels in there.

Vanguard is 72nd, and a 2006 vintage design with dummies for the lower gun tier.. I have Bellona earmarked for a 64th scale 74, but that's not set in stone. Depends how well the larger kits sell, as they take a long time to produce and use a lot of materials. A 74 with full 32 pounder lower gun deck would be cool, though.

I did used to dream of doing a full Trafalgar line up, but realised they'd all look more or less the same for each rate! Always wanted to do Spartiate, though, and the 36 gun Phoebe almost beat Indy for the 12th kit...

I just said I will do no yachts, and another large pic of a yacht is posted... lol

No yachts, there is already a plethora of yacht kits for people to choose from - plus they do not interest me, although undoubtedly beautiful. Amati have a whole range of the things!

I decided to go for a Spartan, the figurehead is in fact an altered drawing from the French 74 Spartiate. I figured a Spartan warrior would be the very definition of indefatigable.

I agree

Yes

You may be right, and I know Surprise did not have the mast of a 36 until a later date. As far as I know, when Aubrey was first given command of her, she had a standard main. Perhaps adding the larger mast in the drawings would be a better alternative, then the modeller can make their own choice.

I am currently working on an American schooner!

I think at 64th, it will be a perfect size for most. If I went 48th, it would get very expensive and perhaps too large for most.

I have that, too!

Kind of, but that ship is actually a replica of HMS Rose.

OK, HMS Surprise, the Jack Aubrey HMS Surprise, with the 9 pounders and 36 gun frigate main mast is a definite for next year.

I did actually do a design for a 72nd scale Surprise way back in 2006, but, as with so many other developments, never materialised, instead having to move on to magazine part work fare. (Sigh...). If I do go ahead, the new one would be 64th (of course) and a lot more refined than my original designs. (Didn't have any stern cabin detail) Not interested in Beagle (as there are more than enough kits of that already), but may do a Cherokee Class (Coffin Brig) at some point, and will definitely do a classic Royal Navy 18 gun brig Cannot remember the name of the books, they were in audio form, which I listened to when I had my day job. I have Royal George earmarked, so no 90 gun ship, and if I were to do a 60 or 70, that would be Centurion or an Elizabeth Class from the first half of the 18th Century, and as for a 50, I already have Bristol lined up to fill that gap.

I have read a few of these books, and they are fine, but not of the same calibre as the Hornblower and Aubrey series, I think. Plus the name of some of the ships is highly questionable - Buzzard for a frigate, or Caligula for a ship of the line!