chris watton

Update from the Shipyard - Thursday 14th August 2025.
The shipwrights(🤔) needed a break from hull planking.
We decided to move onto the aft sides, top strake, boarded side rails with gun ports.
From the RMG Draft of the Sirius(previous Berwick); not much detail on the side rails other than the height.
Reviewing a number of colour paintings and the Sirius model in the Australian Powerhouse Museum(PM), I adoption the boarded side rails with 3 x Gunports per side.
For me it makes sense the Sirius had solid side rails at the back for protection during the long arduous journey to the other side of the world.
  
I filled in between the "Long Top Timbers" with balsa wood to provide a solid base to glue the outer side rail boards onto. 

I made a jig to hold the bottom & 2 sides of the Gun Ports to make sure all are the same.

Finished Gun Port, ready for the outer boards to go on.
 
 

The anchors were next. Only two out of the four that came with the kit were used. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I broke one and couldn't do anything with it. I also inadvertently shortened the fourth one by breaking the end of the shank, but managed to drill a hole to take the ring. But this shortened anchor could not be fitted to the ship as it completely interfered with the chainplates. The two anchors were fitted more or less as the manual showed, even though there is some doubt as to the exact arrangement of the cables. I have looped the cables over the bitts but in reality this would seriously interfer with a lot of rigging. As I explain below, I'm not doing any rigging, so no problem 🥴.



So, I have decided to end my build at this point as I'm not going to be doing the masting/rigging. For two reasons. Firstly, I don’t have anywhere to put a fully masted model, nor even a partly masted one such as Blue Ensign is doing, and secondly, at my age (81) I very much doubt that I could keep the enthusiasm up for the three or four months it would take me. Better to stop now at this logical point rather than part way through the masting/rigging.
 
Some final photos.




The build has been very enjoyable, and the other build logs have been very helpful (thanks to all). And again thanks to all who commented, liked or just looked in. Finally, thanks to Chris for the wonderful kit.
 
Cheers
 

The keel, prow, stern post and rudder are made from three separate parts each, a 3mm pear inner, and then clad in 1mm pear each side, which also has laser engraved detail. For the keel, stern and prow, these outer patterns have the rabbet for the second planking.

I had the Spit Fire pic as one of my references! I did originally have the text exactly like in the picture, but was told to change the font as the printing they use would not be able to print something so thin onto the decal sheet. Originally, every name had a slightly different look and line thickness, to simulate the styles written by different hands - but in the end had to change them. Took an age, too. 

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

I had the Spit Fire pic as one of my references! I did originally have the text exactly like in the picture, but was told to change the font as the printing they use would not be able to print something so thin onto the decal sheet. Originally, every name had a slightly different look and line thickness, to simulate the styles written by different hands - but in the end had to change them. Took an age, too. 

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

Some of today's drawings.  These are part of the hull construction sheet.  This is reduced copy as the sheet will be 36" wide.

I had the Spit Fire pic as one of my references! I did originally have the text exactly like in the picture, but was told to change the font as the printing they use would not be able to print something so thin onto the decal sheet. Originally, every name had a slightly different look and line thickness, to simulate the styles written by different hands - but in the end had to change them. Took an age, too. 

You do realise the pictures taken were with a macro lens, and these names are just a few mm long?
 
We do have a US distributor, AgesofSail.

The first sans serif font appeared in 1816. So yeah, serifs would be much more likely IMO.
 

Unbelievable kit……
 
What is one more…………..??

Actually, maybe thin, laser-cut plastic templates that a modeler could use to "sponge" paint through onto the carriages.  That might yield the most realistic look of all.
 
Edit: I think there needs to be a North American distribution center for these kits.  I'm assuming that if I purchase this kit, I might as well book a flight to the U.K. to pick it up in person as that would probably be cheaper than the shipping cost to the states. Maybe I'll schedule a vacation for the wife and I to visit the U.K. "just a sec honey, I need to go pick something up real quick". 

The decal sheets are printed by Eduard and Chris has already taken delivery of 500. 
 
If you want to use something different, maybe look at Letraset or something, or have custom decals made.

Final pic of gun deck before upper deck is added to the old mule...

Finalising the upper deck pattern now that bulkhead tabs have been removed, bowsprit fits like a glove..
 
 

I had the Spit Fire pic as one of my references! I did originally have the text exactly like in the picture, but was told to change the font as the printing they use would not be able to print something so thin onto the decal sheet. Originally, every name had a slightly different look and line thickness, to simulate the styles written by different hands - but in the end had to change them. Took an age, too. 

Advice taken and appreciated. Ran a plank over those spots and you're absolutely right there was still a gap. Took a long and wide file to them carefully to avoid keel damage after noting my sand block was a bit wide and took them down quite a bit more. Plank seems to be running much nicer now! Appreciate the advice!

I had the Spit Fire pic as one of my references! I did originally have the text exactly like in the picture, but was told to change the font as the printing they use would not be able to print something so thin onto the decal sheet. Originally, every name had a slightly different look and line thickness, to simulate the styles written by different hands - but in the end had to change them. Took an age, too. 

Time is still limited in the shipyard (aka sauna) due to the current heatwave in the UK meaning much more time is being spent lounging in the garden topping up my tan. 😎☀️
 
The work that has been undertaken is as follows:
 
a) adding the belaying blocks for the main topsail stays as shown in the photo below, The free ends of the inter-block rigging will be tied off to a belying pin located on the pin rack on the foremast.

b) adding the thimbles to the main topgallant stays which are linked to the thimbles located on the foremast main platform, as shown below. The free ends will be tied off around the inter-thimble rigging.

c) Adding the blocks to the fore topsail stays as shown in the next two photos. The free ends of the inter-block rigging will be tied off to a belaying pin located on the pin rack at the front of the inner bulwarks,.

The final set of photos shows the current build status. My next task will be to make, add and rig the two boomkins.

Those are some super cool options. I appreciate @chris wattonhow you are giving modelers flexibility. She is going to be quite the model.
 
Just to add an interesting anecdote on gun carriage colours. I have even found some evidence which suggest that the one ship (mid 1770s) may have had guns in both colours. Those on the forecastle were painted red, but those on the main gun deck painted yellow. So I suspect there was a fair bit of variation.

I'm sure that the enterprising model-maker can add the names by hand. It would certainly look more authentic!
 
Unlike the photos (post #70), ship-based trucks would not have had iron tyres/tires! Only land-based guns were so shod. Metal would have quickly wrecked the decks.