chris watton

It's been a while.
 
I was working on Victory, but then I was sent my new designs for the Prince in laser cut and PE parts, so I figuered I'd build up the prince hull first, so that I can courier the hull over to Amati. They will then get a very good carver to make all new carvings for the model, have them cast, and then send me back the hull and loose catings. I can then continue, and finally finish the Prince!
 
When the prince is with Amati, I shall complete the Victory drawings/plans/instructions, which should be no later than Summer.
 
I know Amati are keen to finalise both Prince and Victory, and I am hoping Victory will be ready for release either late this year or very early next.
 
I have attached a couple of pics of Prince in progress. I have just completed the first planking. I re-done the designs to include three more main bulkheads, (almost) full length decks from lover gun deck upwards, and the new gun port designs that are now intergeral to the hull, rather than the 1mm ply gun port patterns of the old design.

Nice work.
 
I find it funny that when building a wooden kit, I do my utmost to hide the planking when painted - so it almost looks as smooth as plastic. But plastic kit manufacturers do their utmost to show the planking, to make the surface look like wood!

Cheers,
 
I have contemplated to a 32nd scale Royal Caroline in the past - would make a great model...
 
Today, the Roman Quinquereme was delivered to the couriers in Gloucester, to be shipped to Italy - our home is once again free of any models!
 
I did design two versions, one for the Republican period (which is how the model is displayed), and an Imperial version (Augustan).
 
I had to design quite a substantial display base for it, as the oars make the width half a metre!

Thank you!
 
I am working on construction drawings right now, so am hoping it will be released within 8 months. I am working on a few different versions thought (for different markets), which is slowing me down....

Just got printed A4 paper sails at the moment, just to check overall fit..
 
 

Right, these have just taken ages to type in, as I can't cut and paste.... Latest pics of progress, all the deck stuff is dry fitted and needs more work before gluing in place....
 
 

 

 

 

Cheers
 
Will have to see how the Victory is received, regarding the size. I remember well the market research Amati undertook regarding sizes, and at the time Vanguard was considered the largest we'd want to go to please the largest percentage of model kit builders - any bigger then you get a lot of modellers say "Yes, it's very nice, but too big for my workspace". vanguard has sold very well, partly due, I'd wager to the size - it's not overly huge and yet big enough to add a lot of detail. I am sure that if I had done it in 64th scale, the sales would have been half of what they have been.
 
 Victory is different, as it has been been developed as Victory Models/Amati's Flagship model and something to aspire to - with plenty of scope for seasoned modeller's who want to add a lot more of their own detail, especially on the decks and in the cabins without having to chop away half of the interior just to get to that stage.
 
No model will ever be perfect and you will never be able to please everyone - people will always moan that it's either too big or too small (very rarely do we hear/read that the model is just the right size). All we can do is minimise the complaints by doing as much homework as possible, never think that you know it all (I certainly don't) and accept constructive criticism and implement when and where possible. The moment you think that you're infallible and believe yourself better than the rest is the moment you start heading downhill. Personally, I try out outdo the last design with every new kit, with ease of construction and even more detail a priority. The alternative is to keep plodding on with the same type of designs and ultimately die of abject boredom...

Hi,
 
I am sorry it took so long to re-register - but I have been very busy - plus my internet has been intermittent.
 
Whilst developing and building the Victory prototype, I have made many changes 'on the fly' - sometimes for realism/previous part not quite right to adding more detail - especially the stern windows.
 
I have just completed the boat designs, anchors (100mm long!) and made four new cannon barrel masters - here are some pics:
 

 
Copper plates laid in two distinct bands:
 

 
Rudder is very easy to copper.....:
 

 
Main Channel:
 

 

 

 

 

 
Checking the cannon masters:
 

 
As for release dates for kits, I am sorry, I cannot help. I have as much idea as you, as I only design and develop the kits, and have nothing to do with release strategy....
 
 
Chris

More on these nice models...:
 

 

 

 
 
I LOVE this model:
 

 
 And this:
 

 

Note that there is no inner lip to the lower inside edge of the gun ports:
 


 
I actually traced around the finer details of a lot of the decoration detail from pictures taken head-on. I did this for the lower quarter gallery detail and stern detail (coat of arms, figures and surrounding relief) and then resized them to the correct scale.
 

OK, I got back this morning from a few days away. I completed the boats before I went and here's the results (I made a mistake of the 34' launch - the stern goes too high because I designed the stern board with the top strake incorporated into it, but because I'm an idiot, I had forgotten this when it came to planking. I have since re-designed the stern board so it's more obvious where the upper hull planking should go - but I simply haven't the time to rectify it..)
 

 

 
The Vallejo paints really seemed to work well in hiding the fact that these parts are photo etched brass:
 

 

 
I know the rudders would not be hung in place on the stowed boats (and impossible for the 18' cutter), but I included them anyway:
 

 
Cutter was 'clinkered':
 

 
All four boats done:
 


 
And dry fitted in place:
 




 
With hindsight, I should have been a little more careful regarding the placement of the stanchions near the boats, they are a little too close to the edge, so the boats are bunched up a little more than they should be...
 
ETA - I did think about adding another two cutters, but there seems to be conflicting info on these, plus they are clinker planked, too...

Oh yes, many have asked about colour, which I explained why I used what I did a few pages ago. If you look at the carriages here on the lower gun deck  middle gun deck, you can see the original Vallejo colour I was going to use - but after much thought, I went with what I know works for longevity and stability, as the model will be shipped around quite a lot and subjected to changing temperatures often.
 

@chris watton
 
OK, I am in the middle of spraying the hull in matt varnish, before I add the rope railings.
 
This is what I am using:

 
A compressor, a crappy old spray gun (I do have a Badger airbrush, but all I want is a good overall spray of the whole thing) 75% varnish and 25% white spirit:
 

 
The hull is still slightly wet, as I have just finished the third light spray:
 

 
(Sorry about the state of the garage/workshop - we haven't long moved in and getting the large double garage sorted will be done next year...)
 










 
The poop isn't fixed in place - am waiting for new poop bulkheads bits to arrive....
 
These are the old ones (hull shown before cleaning up and dusting...) Also, Although you can't see it very well, the sides of the gangway and steps are panelled as per the original - using PE parts. Sharp eyed amongst you will also see only 4 belaying pins on the forward most rack on the quarterdeck bulwarks. This is because I realised that with the cavil cleat in place, there wasn't room for the 5 holed rack - I have since redrawn the rack so the kit will have 5 pins, and not 4 as shown.
 

More on these nice models...:
 

 

 

 
 
I LOVE this model:
 

 
 And this:
 

 

Look how wide the deck planks are:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

I'll do that once the masts are in place.
 
One thing I meant to add - after visiting the Victory a few weeks back and taking loads of pics, and seeing details close up, I realise that most kits (and I would have done the same) use planks for the decks that are way too wide. From looking at the upper deck planks, they equate to something like 3mm wide in 64th scale, so 3mm wide tang is what I'll use.
 
I just added some gun port window frames for the ports under the poop - I realised that with the poop/quarterdeck removable bulkheads in place, the cannon wouldn't have been run out (probably..), and perhaps were placed parallel to the bulwarks - also after seeing the real thing, I added hinges for the removable/foldable bulkheads..
 
A few pics from Portsmouth (It was the only nice day we had last month - a day later we had snow!):
 






 
 
 






 
 
Since studying this and other photos, I changed the pillars of the bulkheads to resemble the ones in the pic, and added the bulkhead hinges at the top:

Note that there is no inner lip to the lower inside edge of the gun ports:
 


 
I actually traced around the finer details of a lot of the decoration detail from pictures taken head-on. I did this for the lower quarter gallery detail and stern detail (coat of arms, figures and surrounding relief) and then resized them to the correct scale.
 

And finally, I also added the photo etched depth numerals. I have done them from I-XXX (feet)- in both 64th and 72nd scale.
 

More on these nice models...:
 

 

 

 
 
I LOVE this model:
 

 
 And this:
 

 

Hi Mike,
 
Of course! First planking is 1.5x6mm limewood and second is 1x5 walnut:
 



 
Second planking:


 
Followed by wales:



 
And while the hull is free from clutter:


 
Chris

Hi,
 
Yes, it is the same model. It seems to have took an age to get this far due to all of the internal work.
 


 
I have added PE window frames to the kit version of the area in front of the stove, after my trip to Portsmouth

Hi,
 
I am sorry it took so long to re-register - but I have been very busy - plus my internet has been intermittent.
 
Whilst developing and building the Victory prototype, I have made many changes 'on the fly' - sometimes for realism/previous part not quite right to adding more detail - especially the stern windows.
 
I have just completed the boat designs, anchors (100mm long!) and made four new cannon barrel masters - here are some pics:
 

 
Copper plates laid in two distinct bands:
 

 
Rudder is very easy to copper.....:
 

 
Main Channel:
 

 

 

 

 

 
Checking the cannon masters:
 

 
As for release dates for kits, I am sorry, I cannot help. I have as much idea as you, as I only design and develop the kits, and have nothing to do with release strategy....
 
 
Chris

The Revenge should be due for release this year, as I know Amati have been working on finalising the Italian translations of my text. They are still on their Summer holidays right now, though (whole of July and August!)
 
Right now, I am working on the 64th scale Victory plans (masts and spars). I have about another three months (at least) of work for the booklets, plans and instructions, as the model is so detailed (although I am bound to make a mistake, which someone will be only too pleased to point out at some stage... lol)
 
Bellona is a fine looking model, and I think would sell very well, but I need to re-design a lot of the parts, following the knowledge gained while designing Victory (which was an improvement of the Bellona designs)
 
After Victory, I would like Amati to allow me to concentrate on the 64th scale Prince, as I have re designed that in-line with the new hull construction methods I use (like Victory)
 
Not sure about an Admiralty-type model. As much as I would like to design one, I think the perceived complexity may put off all but the most experienced - and those that can would probably be experienced enough to build their own from plans anyway. Plus, of course, the edges of the exposed frames would be black, from the laser cutting....

Hi,
 
I am sorry it took so long to re-register - but I have been very busy - plus my internet has been intermittent.
 
Whilst developing and building the Victory prototype, I have made many changes 'on the fly' - sometimes for realism/previous part not quite right to adding more detail - especially the stern windows.
 
I have just completed the boat designs, anchors (100mm long!) and made four new cannon barrel masters - here are some pics:
 

 
Copper plates laid in two distinct bands:
 

 
Rudder is very easy to copper.....:
 

 
Main Channel:
 

 

 

 

 

 
Checking the cannon masters:
 

 
As for release dates for kits, I am sorry, I cannot help. I have as much idea as you, as I only design and develop the kits, and have nothing to do with release strategy....
 
 
Chris

Just got printed A4 paper sails at the moment, just to check overall fit..