chris watton

I did think about doing the main wale, but in the end, decided against for a couple of reasons. The first is the length of pear required, well over 800mm. The second is that it is very wide, and one piece laser cut part would have been a nightmare to glue down flat in all areas. I did think about having separate planks laser cut, but I know for some this would be a disaster, as everything would need to align perfectly around the bends, with wide gaps appearing because of the curvature of the hull - meaning these edges would need very careful bevelling in order for the gap to be very tight, and all the time hoping you haven't bevelled the upper edge away. (I did actually try this method with Sphinx when developing that kit) That was my thought process, so in the end, decided with the tried and trusted planking strips, which I know all could acheive with little issue. So, it is not because I didn't want to, it's just that the standard method made more sense for such a large model.

OK, the updated Speedy is now live: HMS Speedy – Version 2023 – VANGUARD MODELS These will be ready to ship early next week, as I have the printed stuff arriving at the end of this week. The old manual is still avaialbel to download and the updated manual is now also available to download. The ladders and gratings option have been deleted, as these are all included with the 2023 version. Regarding Trial Cutter, it is very frustrating for me, as I am still waiting for a delivery date for the phot etched sheets. These are all I am waiting for, with everything else ready to go.

I have actually designed quite a few kits in the range that are aimed primarily at the complete beginner. They cost a little more because there are more pre cut parts, and in more suitable materials.

In the parts list, they are are described as: 403 Stern Ensign Staff Upper Bracket 1.5mm Wood 1 404 Stern Ensign Staff Lower Bracket 1.5mm Wood 1

That is a shame, the perils of eBay purchases!

OK, I have just finished what I need to regarding building up the new Speedy hull. These pics will show what has changed. The old Speedy required planking all the way to the top of the bulwarks, also the inner bulwarks. The new version is completely pre cut from the main wale up, with spirketting added for the inner bulwarks, plus engraved planking and treenail detail for all surfaces. All channels, inner bulwark belaying racks and cleats now slot and glue into place, in pre cut slots, saving the need for pinning and gluing. Please bear in mind that the model shown has no real finishing, no varnish etc. It was used just to add new pictures to the revised manual. I will now spend the rest of the week updating the manual, ready to send to printers, and next week, start cutting the new sheets, so I hope to have this re released in around 2 weeks.

Damn, that is absolutely gorgeous.

Am working on Speedy V2023 right now, almost completed the overhaul. What started as a simple 'Careening' for this 'slight' redesign has somehow turned into a 'Middling-Large Repair' Here are the 4 x 1mm laser cut sheets (old kit had half a sheet in total). I just need to do a final check of these parts.. (Still waiting for the photo etched sheets to come from Italy for Trial Cutter) ETA, as the Speedy model will be only half built, to replace build pics in the new manual, the second planking is Tanganyika - I prefer this as it only took me 6 hours to plank the hull

Those cabins were removable, and were dismantled and put away before battle.

You really need to sand more of that bowsprit area, the bulwarks should be a nice line, with no kinking. Also, there is no need to soak the bulwark patterns, the curves are very slight. Here's a photo from manual showing how that bowsprit area is when sanded.

If you plan to paint the entire hull, then the use of pins is fine, as the hull will require several sessions of filling and sanding anyway.

No, the updated Speedy will be too different. There is nothing wrong with the Speedy you have. I had to remove from stock and change it due to the copper PE. But at the same time, I decided to bring the kit up to the same standards as the latest in the range, with a 2mm thick keel and 1mm pear outers for the rabbet. Essentially, it will be a new kit, not really compatible with the old one, as it is only the main hull that is being changed. Fittings, etc stay the same. ETA - It had already been updated incrementally over the past couple of years, replacing the photo etched gratings and yard cleats with laser cut pear, updating the cannon carriages and generally adding more detail to laser cut parts.

I shall make sure the numbers are corrected for the nest print run.

I would think so. Leopard would have been copper bottomed from launch, though, plus a gangway at the waste with boat beams, and built up quarterdeck bulwarks. Also Leander would be good one, being at the Nile and although captured after the battle by one of the monster French 74's, Généreux, almost twice Leander's size, put up one hell of a fight before conceding defeat.

Just thought I'd do a little update on my future plans, as they have changed somewhat. Right now, I am working on the 2023 version of Speedy, which will have a few changes from the original kit. This was brought about due to the lack of copper for photo etched copper plating and, at the time of developing Speedy, it was designed for limewood, and not pear. I have re done the photo etched sheets and these new versions are already here with me, ready to go into the revised kits once ready. The new version will have a lot more laser cut pear than the original. I am hoping to have this all done within the next 4-6 weeks. After this, and after very long deliberations, I decided to hold off on Surprise for two reasons. the first is that I would rather wait until copper for PE becomes available again, so I do not want to develop any ship that had copper plating from launch right now. The second reason is that it would be another frigate, so soon after Indy. So, looking at my 'Future Developments' folder, I came across one folder that contained the start of the designs I started in 2019. I even have the 3-d print files for figurehead and stern, which are all paid for. This was meant to be my second kit after Alert - before I realised the material quantities needed for such a kit, and at the time, would have been economic suicide for me. Now, however, it makes sense that it could be my 15th kit, introducing a 2-decker into the range. This 15th kit will be HMS Bristol, a 50 gun 2 decker. I will continue this project as soon as I have completed the Speedy re designs.

I have the product page live, but am just waiting for the photo etched sheets from Italy. Once I have these, she goes on sale (or is is sail...) HM Trial Cutter – 1790 – VANGUARD MODELS

Thank you! I quite like doing this one, more of a challenge than a standard hull. Forgot to mention, the drop keels can be displayed down or housed in the hull.

This morning I completed the manual and box label for the Trial Cutter. These and the 11 plan sets have been sent off to the printers, so I shall receive those in the next 10 days or so. I am still waiting for the photo etched sheets, though, and as these are produced in Italy, I will not open the kit for sale until I have the PE here with me. I anticipate very early July. In the meantime, the product page is live, and once I have the PE, the new kit be added to stock: HM Trial Cutter – 1790 – VANGUARD MODELS

On most contemporary models, stunsail booms are left all natural, and some having the tips only painted.

Very sorry to read this. My deepest condolences.

She does have a shallower draught than normal cutters, hence the drop keels. This also means that there is very little actual planking to this. For the first planking (starting at below main wale level), I think there are only 12 x 1x5mm limewood planks per side, and 14 or 15 x 0.8x4mm pear planks per side.

Once it is 100% ready and only when printed materials are ordered and delivery imminent, it will go on sale. Am thinking July, as I still have CAD plans to finalise and then the manual. Almost all laser cutting is already complete, and the PE sheets (0.4 and 0.2mm) ordered. I have made sure that all pear 0.8mm sheets are as perfect as they can be, so no marks on the etched planking sheets. I think the only thing missing from the pics above is the name plate - haven't laser engraved/cut that yet... She originally had 8x3 pounder cannon, but a little later, 4x12 pounder carronades were added, and this is how I have kitted her, with 12 cannon in total. She does seem to have swivel gun posts, and I have added swivel gun brackets in the PE sheets, but will not add the actual cannon. This is because I do not think she was ever given any, and all research I have done never mentions the swivel guns at all. Plus, with the addition of the carronades, the swivels were not required anyway. ETA - There are depth markings on the 0.2mm PE sheet, I just forgot to add them to my prototype...

OK, I have quite literally just finished the Trial Cutter prototype. This was a fun little project and went together a lot quicker than I thought. As mentioned (I think), this is larger than Lady Nelson, but slightly smaller than Alert (but a hell of a lot more pre cut than either), with overall length being 560mm with bowsprit and boom (Hull alone being around 330mm long)

I am very sorry to read this, Glenn. I sincerely hope you have a speedy and full recovery.

Those [] are the drawings for the thread that the blocks are attached to. The thread wraps around the mast cap for the lower yard lifts. The loop at the end of each block indicates where the running tackle starts for the lift.