Vasa by Baker - FINISHED - Billing Boats Scale 1/75

[Baker]

The making of this model was started in 2006

After visiting the Wasa museum in Stockholm.

 

It's my 1st wooden ship model.

Normally I only build military vehicles in 1/72 scale 

 

Ps,

I understand and read English.

But i've never learned to write it.

So. All I write in English will be translated from Dutch to English with google translate.

Sorry for that.

Edited February 2, 2022 by Baker
Title changed from Wasa to Vasa

[Barbossa]

Hi Patrick,

 

Nice work !

And welcome at MSW

[Baker]

Hi Patrick,

 

Nice work !

And welcome at MSW

Thanks !!!

[reklein]

Good job,Patrick. I specially like the weathered look of the hull planking. Bill in Idaho

[Elijah]

Good job!

[petervisser]

Stunning model Patrick. I think we can put the debate of poor model quality by Billing to rest. You have built a lovely model so far.

 

Thanks for all the photos.

 

Peter

[Baker]

Stunning model Patrick. I think we can put the debate of poor model quality by Billing to rest. You have built a lovely model so far.

 

Thanks for all the photos.

 

Peter

 

Thanks for the positive reaction!!

 

I received this kit in 1988 (for free !!)      .

Partially started by someone else who had built it completely wrong  .

 

 

What is in the box is good qwality for a fair price !

But. Ther is A LOT of extra work on this model.

 

• All visible plywood has replaced solid wood
• Gun ports are made open
• extra set of cannons for 2nd deck (correct size)
• Better detailed cannons on the upper decks
• new deck planks
• railing completely rebuilt
• wooden blocks instead of plastic
• ect..
• And, I spent hours and hours searching for information on the Internet and books. 

 

All this extra searching and extra work to build this model.

Was more satisfying than a model  you can build out "of the box". Without al the thinking, searching, and improving to build this model.

 

Greetings

Patrick

[Baker]

Good job!

Thanks

[Baker]

Good job,Patrick. I specially like the weathered look of the hull planking. Bill in Idaho

Thanks

 

it is the millitary modeler in my that likes a weathered look  

 

I have seen the Wasa at the museum.

And. The outer side of the hull has a rough finish in reality

[petervisser]

Too true Patrick. I also have an old Billing kit and have been replacing the old warped wood with newer material. However, having built several Billing models, I can say that talented builders like yourself can bring out the best in them. It just takes a little extra care and attention.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

[WBlakeny]

Hi Patrick

 

You've build a really nice ship, one to be proud of.

The added work really shows on the model. 

[Baker]

Hello everyone.

 

I have attached the sails and part of rigging.

It begins to look like a sailing ship.

[Barbossa]

Really impressive work, Patrick

 

I must admit that the Billing's version , is - in my opinion - the closest to the real thing

 

Keep up the good work !

[Baker]

Thanks,

 

 

With each step closer to the finish of this model i get more and more respect for builders of wooden model ships.

 

With the military plastic models that i build, you need tho think always  one step in advance. Or, you get in trouble !!

With wooden ship models it's five steps !!!

As i have discoverd over the past 10 years ....

[Baker]

The rigging is now complete.

Now still to do :

 

flags 

• The flags that come with the kit are a 30 year old and are a disaster...

Finishing the rudder with rope or chain

• I should have done this at an earlier stage. I have now discovered

anchors

 

Lantern??

• Had the Wasa a lantern or not???

 

Creating a base for the model

[md1400cs]

Patrick,

 

Nice work indeed. Lantern is a mystery in terms of how it looked. Salvage did not locate the original. Here are some poss. examples.

 

first two pics are from Landström's book. Thought Fred Hoecker does not think that the angels were included.

 

pic. 3 may be actually more representative. Hope this helps

 

PS: I will build mine looking like the book's without the angels (just as well I can't carve (:-(  )

 

Cheers,

Edited July 12, 2016 by md1400cs

[Baker]

Thanks Michael,

 

I go for the easiest solution (number 3)

The lantern with the angels is far above my skill.

 

I have some material to use as a base.

But if that does not give the desired result

Then it will be something scrathbuild. Mayby in plastic and then painted.

 

Greetings

Patrick

 

 

[Baker]

The lantern

 

I started with the difficult way. We'll see what the result will be

if it succeeds then I will make a drawing of it

 

But, there is a plan B (picture 1 right side)

 

 

[Baker]

The anchors.

 

I've made some new parts and now they are ready to varnish and paint.

 

Patrick

[Baker]

The anchors are finished.

 

The wood parts are painted with oak varnish.

 

The metal parts are painted with Tamiya acrylic paint

1. Base coat :Gun Metal X10 + Flat base X21
2. Let dry for 24h 
3. Apply a wash with a mixture of "home made" rust paint : Desert sand XF59 + Red Brown XF64 + thinner + water
4. Let dry for 24h 
5. Attach the wire around the ring of the anchor
6. Applay a wash with a mixture of Flat black XF1 + thinner + water
7. Let dry for 24h and ready

They will be attached later on the model.

 

Patrick

[Barbossa]

Good show Patrick !

 

How do you come to shipbuilding nowadays ?

Only the thought of painting,... ( how small some parts may be ) makes me sweat already 

[Baker]

A few drinks a day, keeps the heat away 

New Belgian way of life .....    

 

And I might have luck with the lantern 

 

Patrick

[JanV]

looks good that lantern

 

Did that glass of Belgium Bear helps you?

I will get them also some of these tomorrow when I am in Belgium

[Baker]

Hello everyone

 

Jan,

I Hope you find our Belgian beers delicious

I stick to maximum two beers. Otherwise I have always a hangover the morning 

 

well,

The lantern is fixed on the ship

It is not a plan or a plan b

But something in the middle.

 

After three unsuccessful attempts to make wings for my angels. I decided that my angels will remain wingless.

I had reached my limits in scratch building.

On my lantern I have used figures in 1/72 scale.

Therefore, there is not enough space between two figures to put wings on them.

 

But,

I found pictures of a lantern on the Duth VOC ship The Batavia (build in 1627-1628).

Here is shown a lantern with approximately the same figures, but without the wings.

Wasa and Batavia are both build by  a dutch master

So why not go further with this example, I decided.

 

So if someone wants to build my lantern with angels and wings.

Make the lantern wider or use figures in scale 1/87

Any figures that you want to use, use figures without helmet. Saves a lot of work!!

 

I have attached a pdf with a drawing

Dimensions are in mm (1 millimeter = 0.0393700787 inches)

 

(Extra small details in plastic strip are applied on the lantern)

Painting is gold and gun metal)

 

schets lantaarn.pdf

 

The rudder is fixed  with rope and the anchors are in place

Now it is searching for flags and attach them. And then the model should be finished.

 

For now it's back to military modeling. And in the meanwhile think what model ship I'm going to build hereafter.

 

Patrick

Edited September 9, 2016 by Backer

[md1400cs]

Patrick,

 

Brilliant work with your lantern !!!  thanks for the pdf. Enjoy your next project

 

Cheers,

[Baker]

I have attached the plans from Billing Boats.

 

The PDF is reduced to get below 2 mb but is still from good quality

Normally they can by downloaded from the site from Billing Boats. But apparently they are no longer available on their site.

 

 

After the holiday period I'm going to order the flags.

 

Patrick

 

BB490 Wasa_Instruction-2-min.pdf

BB490%20Wasa_Instruction-min.pdf

[Baker]

I found flags on the internet of the Wasa from Corel. 

For some reason they sent me two sets for the price of one 

 

The flags are cut out and fitted with brass rings and then mounted on the masts.

Maybe there are more appropriate methods but I find its ok in this way.

 

My model is now finished 

 

When I started in 2006 I wanted from the beginning to build a model as accurate as possible.

For my. This was not completely successful. But I'm happy with the result !!

 

( Apparently, the success rate to finnish your first wooden ship model is about 19%. So, happy my!! )

 

When I  started to build i had just the pictures of my visit to the museum.

The drawings from Billing, a keel with frames that were partially built wrong and a box with wood and parts.

Then, there were no correct color schemes available.

So there is too mutch red paint on the hull. And the figures do not have the correct color.

And, I did too many nails into the hull .....

 

Conclusion

The model from Billing is a good model for a  reasonable price. 

But there is a lot of extra work on it.

 

Thanks to everyone who has followed my build log.

 

Now it is first study time for my next project 

 

Greetings 

Patrick

 

 

Edited September 4, 2016 by Backer

[Barbossa]

Congratulations Patrick 

 

I'm looking forward to your next build.

Any chance for a front-seat reservation ?

[mtaylor]

Congratulations Patrick.  You've done a superb build of her.   I do agree that Billings kits need a fair amount of work and a lot of scratch building but you got this one perfect.

[Baker]

Thanks for the positive comments

 

The next build is still in preparation.

It is too early to start a build log.

 

 

Ps,

All reservations are free of charge