flyer

test bed for dummies
 
Two leftover parts from the 5mm sheet with the frames were put together to simulate the profile of the ships side; a strip similar to the strips holding the dummy guns was installed and the whole thing roughly planked.
A first trial dummy carriage was put together from three simple parts and painted red.
The installation on the test bed went easily and the overall impression is quite acceptable and an definite improvement. The really tricky part was the installation of the (very rough) gun port frame in 4 separate pieces which showed that even a limited access to the inner sides was desirable. However after already having broken off two upper pieces of the frames I put in both inner walls on the lower gun deck before going on. This should add some stability and I will leave off the lower gun deck for the time being.

 
the test bed

 
 
 
 
 
Slightly reworked gun carriage for the upper gun deck and dummy carriage for the lower

 
 
gun port with dummy carriage added in the second picture

Always good to see another alert log. It is a great kit, I think you will enjoy building her.

The Naval Cutter Alert by flyer - Vanguard Models - scale 1:64
 
The next project is another step ahead in kit quality – a Vanguard Models kit. The HMS Vanguard kit itself was also a Chris Watton construction, however with his own line of products I believe he took quality one or several steps further.
 
Although the kit looks great, there are – fortunately - still possibilities to change it to my liking or even to improve it a bit. For additional information I will count on Peter Goodwin’s ‘The Naval Cutter Alert 1777’, a book of the AOTS series.
 
My first thoughts are:
 
The cutter must have a boat. With the kit I ordered Vanguard Model’s 18ft cutter with the intention to shorten it to 14 or 16ft to easier find room on deck. In the meantime, Chris Watton announced that he will soon offer a printed 14ft cutter. I will consider this or – if it is still too large – perhaps commission Caldercraft’s 14ft jolly boat.
 
Sails will be hoisted. But I will make my own as the kit’s ones are not to my liking.
 
The rigging layout could be changed to an improved and standardised cutter rigging without spread yard and with spreaders for the shrouds. However, right now, I think the kit’s rigging scheme has its very own charm and is not only confirmed by the contemporary model of the cutter Hawke but also by contemporary paintings of Charles Brooking. Decision to be taken later.
 

Shipping in Light Airs in the Thames Estuary by Charles Brooking 1723 – 56
 
 

The Naval Cutter Alert by flyer - Vanguard Models - scale 1:64
 
The next project is another step ahead in kit quality – a Vanguard Models kit. The HMS Vanguard kit itself was also a Chris Watton construction, however with his own line of products I believe he took quality one or several steps further.
 
Although the kit looks great, there are – fortunately - still possibilities to change it to my liking or even to improve it a bit. For additional information I will count on Peter Goodwin’s ‘The Naval Cutter Alert 1777’, a book of the AOTS series.
 
My first thoughts are:
 
The cutter must have a boat. With the kit I ordered Vanguard Model’s 18ft cutter with the intention to shorten it to 14 or 16ft to easier find room on deck. In the meantime, Chris Watton announced that he will soon offer a printed 14ft cutter. I will consider this or – if it is still too large – perhaps commission Caldercraft’s 14ft jolly boat.
 
Sails will be hoisted. But I will make my own as the kit’s ones are not to my liking.
 
The rigging layout could be changed to an improved and standardised cutter rigging without spread yard and with spreaders for the shrouds. However, right now, I think the kit’s rigging scheme has its very own charm and is not only confirmed by the contemporary model of the cutter Hawke but also by contemporary paintings of Charles Brooking. Decision to be taken later.
 

Shipping in Light Airs in the Thames Estuary by Charles Brooking 1723 – 56
 
 

Good luck on your journey !!  

The Naval Cutter Alert by flyer - Vanguard Models - scale 1:64
 
The next project is another step ahead in kit quality – a Vanguard Models kit. The HMS Vanguard kit itself was also a Chris Watton construction, however with his own line of products I believe he took quality one or several steps further.
 
Although the kit looks great, there are – fortunately - still possibilities to change it to my liking or even to improve it a bit. For additional information I will count on Peter Goodwin’s ‘The Naval Cutter Alert 1777’, a book of the AOTS series.
 
My first thoughts are:
 
The cutter must have a boat. With the kit I ordered Vanguard Model’s 18ft cutter with the intention to shorten it to 14 or 16ft to easier find room on deck. In the meantime, Chris Watton announced that he will soon offer a printed 14ft cutter. I will consider this or – if it is still too large – perhaps commission Caldercraft’s 14ft jolly boat.
 
Sails will be hoisted. But I will make my own as the kit’s ones are not to my liking.
 
The rigging layout could be changed to an improved and standardised cutter rigging without spread yard and with spreaders for the shrouds. However, right now, I think the kit’s rigging scheme has its very own charm and is not only confirmed by the contemporary model of the cutter Hawke but also by contemporary paintings of Charles Brooking. Decision to be taken later.
 

Shipping in Light Airs in the Thames Estuary by Charles Brooking 1723 – 56
 
 

Very nice!
 
This seems to be a 18ft cutter. Do you also plan to offer a smaller 12ft or 14ft boat, suitable for your smaller vessels, such as Alert?

Very nice!
 
This seems to be a 18ft cutter. Do you also plan to offer a smaller 12ft or 14ft boat, suitable for your smaller vessels, such as Alert?

Very nice!
 
This seems to be a 18ft cutter. Do you also plan to offer a smaller 12ft or 14ft boat, suitable for your smaller vessels, such as Alert?

I have shrank the file for a 16 footer (3-d print and laser cut parts), which I shall produce in the next few weeks (64th)
 
I say a few weeks because right now, I am laser cutting production parts for Adder and Sherbourne.

Hi Nils
 
Just found your album of the pilot schooner. Again an outstanding build! (But who would expect less?) I really like that every one of your beautiful models clearly bears your trademark, setting them apart from the rest.
 
Cheers
Peter

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

conclusion
 
After more than 6 years, I'd say it was a rather longish journey but I really had a lot of fun along the way and it was definitely worth the effort. The outstanding quality of the kit and the possibility to build 3 different ships makes it easy to overlook a few shortcomings, such as questionable details in the rigging plan or the very questionable gun carriages. On the plus side are also things like the very detailed plans such as the sail plans, the boats or the many fine details to build bulkheads or stern and side galleries.
 
A perfect kit where you may build just out of the box without research or rounding out with additions might be just a bit dull - I will probably find out more about that with my next project.
 
In any case this kit enables you to build a wonderful model of a 74, the backbone of the wooden walls protecting Great Britain during the Napoleonic wars. Finding a good enough place to present the rather large end result is another story...
 
 
a few final pictures.

 

Hi Peter,
I very much appreciate your kind words. I do`nt know if there will be any next model as there is no space in the house (11) ships and in my hobby museum alone there are 8 ships in glass cases and one still without case
 
Nils

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

Hi Nils
 
As we would say in Swinglish: I pull my hat before you  (ich ziehe meinen Hut vor dir).
 
Not only have you built another unique, detailed, outstanding gem but you also finished it in about 8 months! From scratch! Without plans!
Wonderful!
 
Cheers
Peter

FINISHED
 
The Laker-steamer Ergenstrasse of birthyear 1918 is now finished.
Will still have to build the glass case for it
Enjoy the pics. I shall choose out some of them and 
create a new album for these.....
 
Nils
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

sad to see this come to and end , stunning work
 

Well done sailor, very well done.
 
Mort

conclusion
 
After more than 6 years, I'd say it was a rather longish journey but I really had a lot of fun along the way and it was definitely worth the effort. The outstanding quality of the kit and the possibility to build 3 different ships makes it easy to overlook a few shortcomings, such as questionable details in the rigging plan or the very questionable gun carriages. On the plus side are also things like the very detailed plans such as the sail plans, the boats or the many fine details to build bulkheads or stern and side galleries.
 
A perfect kit where you may build just out of the box without research or rounding out with additions might be just a bit dull - I will probably find out more about that with my next project.
 
In any case this kit enables you to build a wonderful model of a 74, the backbone of the wooden walls protecting Great Britain during the Napoleonic wars. Finding a good enough place to present the rather large end result is another story...
 
 
a few final pictures.

 

changes, amendments and mistakes
 
The biggest changes were the dummy gun carriages on the gun deck and the cast gun carriages, the stern decoration as well as leaving of the spritsail topsail and its yard.
 
The most rewarding improvement, in my opinion, were the dummy carriages. Thank you, Michael (md1400cs). On any kit which includes such dummy guns, installation of a sort of dummy carriage should be tried.
 
 Minor amendments were the changed curve of the stern, the scuppers, the sails fabricated my way, the flag, shot garlands, the captains skylight, the taffrail, the rudder chains, the anchor bolsters below the fore channels, the traveler on the bowsprit, anchor buoys and several minor changes.
 
The biggest, uncorrected mistake is probably that I did set up the preventer stays above the stays, thus having to hang the staysails onto the stays themselves.
 

slightly reworked gun carriage for the upper gun deck and dummy carriage for the lower
 
 

gun port with  dummy-carriage and -gun / carriage and no gun / gun and no carriage
 
 

the elephant was scratched away and replaced by a epoxy-cast of Bellerophon
 
 

finished transom with new rail on top
 
 

spritsail without topsail and traveller on the bowsprit, holding the jib stay
 
 
 

empty belaying pins and ringbolts, loose ends
 
Despite having to overcome a shortage of usable belaying points on the forecastle there were still a few unused pin positions on the poop deck.
Also unused ring or eye bolt positions around main and mizzen mast had to be filled. The kit instructions put eye bolts into those locations. However I think that ringbolts, allowed to lie flat when unused, would be more sensible when mounted on the deck. I didn't find much about that in the web but thought it would be easier to run about on deck if you wouldn't have to fear to catch your bare feet in a ring, take a tumble and break your ankle.
 
To imitate a ringbolt with a small fixed ring which encloses the movable one tightly, I bent an eye bolt 90° and put a drop of glue onto it to simulate the fixed ring.
 
After fixing all loose ends I could find, finally...finished!
 
the way I fabricated the imitated ringbolts
 
 
unused ringbolts around the mizzen mast foot
 
 
fore mast foot with eyebolt(with tackle) to the left and one of the empty ringbolts lying flat on the deck
 
 
 
moderately busy scene on the finished forecastle
 
 

the skipper seems quite fond of his ship - and so am I...