Sovereign of the Seas by Tallshiptragic - Sergal - 1/78

[Tallshiptragic]

Not quite the same angle, but an idea. I think I haven't done too badly so far

[Tallshiptragic]

One thing I overlooked until tonight was the after most gunport on the middle gundeck below the galleries is depicted by Van de Velde as a circular port with carved garnish... couldn't leave it so this is what I've done to fix this, again using milliput. 

[Sjors]

Wow,

 

Nice treenails and decorations......

You are more then a average builder......

 

Sjors

[Tallshiptragic]

Thanks Sjors

 

some more work on the quarter galleries done. Also a shot of my replacement British crest which is fitted, compared to the kit provided version.

[Tallshiptragic]

More sculpting work on the galleries. Messy but I'm enjoying it.

[Tallshiptragic]

Another update on the quarter galleries. Still a few more decorations to finish, and the simulated lead window glass - I'll use acetate sheet for this. I've also included a photo with the kit included turrets on top. The shape of these are pretty good however the roof tops have open holes in them and in reality had guilded shingles. 

[MESSIS]

I dont know what are you going to do the modell after you finish.... but whatever you do it, I think it wont diserve it! You went over the line with this work. As I said to you, its not just a ship modell any more, its a piece of art!

[Ulises Victoria]

Congratulations Anton!!!

If I ever lay my hands on this kit, this will be the log to follow!

 

Best regards

 

Ulises

[EJ_L]

A piece of art indeed! Those decorations are fantastic! Regardless of if you are modeling this ship or any other with this level of decorations, there is a lot that can be learned from and inspired by your build. Keep up the excellent work! 

[Tallshiptragic]

Thank you very much guys

 

I also believe modeling is an art form. I've always enjoyed art and modeling and I believe they go hand in hand. Modeling is just another medium for creating art, as my gf says I will leave this world a prettier place by producing these model ships. I know, she's a keeper haha 😂 

 

I have to say I doubt I'll build another ship with this level or ornamentation and to be honest I was always scared off as much as being eager to build her. 

 

What i I love about forums such as these is what knowledge we all can learn and share. Whether we take everything onboard or pick and choose, I know I follow many builds to see how other builders tackle items and to see if there is something I've yet to try, and trust me there always is!

[Guest]

Hello Anton,

 

Your vessel looks great, it is good to see that I am not the only one being building two vessels at the same time.

 

I just saw picture of the Willem Ruys you showed us earlier, my father sailed on that vessel as well, he worked in the engine room late 50th / early 60th.

He always told me that the need to pump a lot of water to one side of the vessel to keep the vessel straight up every time they leave the harbour at the beginning of a voyage.

This because al the passengers are at one side of the vessel to wave goodby to there family.

At that time this was for the most people the last time to see there loved ones, now we have the possibility to take a plane.

 

Thank you for showing your progress.

 

Best regards,

 

Hans Peters

[Blue Ensign]

You've made some great progress since I last looked in Anton, impressive stuff

B.E.

[Tallshiptragic]

Thanks again guys for checking in and the comments  I find it both humbling and encouraging to get these.

 

Hans, you're father might have met or seen mine onboard! The Willem Ruys was interesting in her hull design as originally she didn't have and bilge keels what so ever. This is why she had such a pronounced tumblehome. The design also had automatic pumps which would pump sea water between the sides of the hull to counterbalance roll to try to limit roll while at sea. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this was revolutionary for her time. As a not she was also the first passenger liner to have her lifeboats hung low as is now the norm. After she had her first major refit where her after superstructure was extended to enable more cabins and air con for cruising, they installed fin stabilizers on her hull. 

[Tallshiptragic]

Playing with the camera earlier.

[Tallshiptragic]

The waterline has been bugging me, so I had to fix it. It's quite obvious the waterline as Van der Velde had seen her was white or at least a painted lighter colour up to the actual waterline. In Van der Velde's sketch she rides low in the bows yet the 'white paint' is clearly seen just above the water especially at the stern. This also matches the colour painting of the Sovereign by Jacobb Knjiff, with what appears to be a royal yacht alongside her. 

 

Oh and just another example to help me was an article from a 90's model boats magazine of the sovereign built by Chris Watson - Caldercraft and now Amati mode designer. 

 

Im much happier with it now and it also shows how close those gun ports were to the water!

[md1400cs]

Anton,

 

Well the amount of progress since your post of 1 May is F1 speed. Superb progress - but more importantly looking brilliant as well. I also so like the patina look to all of that metal decorative gilding.

That subtle look is perfect. Nice paint, and treenail detailing !!

 

PS: It takes me 13 days to clove hitch 5 rows of rat lines ---  ha ha 

 

Cheers,

[Tallshiptragic]

Thanks mate haha

Being on leave since the 24th of April... the kids are at school and the gf at work during the day it's just me and the dog, so I get a solid 6-8hrs when I'm in the mindset. Plus I'm just having a real blast with this build, it's like a good book you just can't put down. When I'm not building I'm thinking about how to go about the next step. 

 

Oh and just another pic, I was at my local hobby shop - luckily it's only a 5min drive from home- and found three sets of 1/75 16th and 17th century English sailors. 32 sailors a set in 8 different poses, climbing rigging, hauling lines, lazing around, officers yelling orders... at $3.50 a box I grabbed all three so have a crew of 96 sailors haha

[md1400cs]

Anton,

 

I have been looking for 1/75th figures, as I want to place one by my ship (when completed) as a size/perspective

 reference. Do you still have the packaging? if so kindly send or post a photo of box.

I will look for this online to get a set ase well.

 

Cheers,

[Tallshiptragic]

Absolutely, they're redbox - never heard of them myself. Just looked them up online and they're all over eBay quite cheap and whole assortment of figures.

[md1400cs]

Anton,

 

Thanks  - DONE. 

[Tallshiptragic]

A small update today. I've worked on the stem head. Because I extended the height of the forepeak deck the stem head of the kit keel is too low. This is also incorrect on the sergal kit which depicts the bowsprit running directly above the stem head into the forepeak deck. In fact the Sovereign's bowsprit ran at an angle to the stem head, inserted the deck on the starboard side of the stem. So I've had to make one. There is a carving of a crouched lion, tamed and a Cupid riding it which Sergal has supplied correctly matching that of the Van der Velde drawing. However sergal has it sit on a 'housing' that surrounds the bowsprit and not on the stem head as depicted by Van der Velde. 

 

So using some pine I've cut a stem head to suit and carved a scroll on the forward facing part of the stem to match that of the Van der Velde sketch, and used the provided lion and Cupid from sergal sitting ontop. As this stem piece is where the main stay wraps around, the piece is pinned as well as glued into place for extra footing. Stem painted black, scroll and lion gilded. 

[Tallshiptragic]

Work started on her stern this evening. Slowly but so far I'm happy wth the look and positioning of things. 

[Tallshiptragic]

More work on the stern and transom. This is a multimedia build in sure some puritans will be aghast by haha but I I like to use materials I feel are right for the job. So on the stern is a mixture of brass, wood, plastic formed strips, modeling clay and wire. For the deadlight glass I used a fogged acetate sheet with a light sky blue painted on the back piece. Glass especially at this time wasn't the clear crystal we look through today so I think the acetate sheet works well. This is the same stuff I will use for the quarter galleries. From paintings and the contemporary models of 17th century British ships the framing looks more to be lead strips as in the lead glass windows so will use thin strip in a cross thatched pattern for these. I've also left the Prince of Wales feathers white and will paint the three British coat of arms - the one on the stern and both quarter galleries - in the correct colours. Again going by the contemporary models from the time which while covered in gilding the coat of arms and feathers seem to always be highlighted with paint. 

[EJ_L]

Impressive! That is a whole lot of decorations to fit into a small space and you have done an excellent job! The fogged acetate does make believable glass for the time period also. I have used it myself of past builds and have liked the look. Looking forward to the next update!  

[Tallshiptragic]

Your right about a small area! Haha 

 

For a change of pace I finally planked the the upper deck on the waist and built up the forward bulkheads for the quarter deck and poop deck. The kit shows the quarter deck builkhead connects with the solid balustrade but on the Van der Velde sketch this again is different and is a separate piece. The uppermost one is completely different again to the kit with a central door and six windows which lead to the roundhouse under the poop deck. There are also two steps either side leading to a smaller raised platform again with two steps which step down to the quarter deck typical of the period. What's strange is there is no representation of steps from the other decks. Even though you can clearly see the spar decks on the sketches which cover the half deck and waist, both those bulkheads have gun ports in those locations. Interestingly the spar deck shows what looks like an opening leading from the half deck spar deck (that's a mouthful) to the door on the quarterdeck bulkhead.

 

The other interesting thing to note is the placement of the door on the halfdeck bulkhead behind the main mast which is the obvious entry point to the spar deck above the waist.

[John Allen]

On 5/16/2017 at 2:30 AM, Tallshiptragic said:

Again going by the contemporary models from the time which while covered in gilding the coat of arms and feathers seem to always be highlighted with paint. 

It just gets better, attention to details meticulus

[Tallshiptragic]

Thank you very much John  

I enjoy the research as much as the modeling itself.

[Tallshiptragic]

Further work on the bulkheads. This is the halfdeck bulkhead which runs from the upper deck waist after up to the half deck and continues above above the gun mounts. On the Van der Velde sketch there are 6 ports shown with four in use. This makes sense as there wouldn't be the room on that deck to have three guns so close to each other, and effectively ineffective to just face forward. I assume that the guns where mounted in a way to have the guns directed at an angle to fire diagonally across an enemy vessels deck and the center port of the three each side for use with movement of the guns or to protect musketeers. Well... either all that or simply to show strength in extra number of guns on the vessel haha

[Tallshiptragic]

Forward waist bulkhead which goes to the f'cstle. This is in the same fashion as the after one behind the mainmast. The most notable difference is the central cutout as the belfry and bell fits in this position. 

 

This part is total guess work, as in all prints, paintings etc this is always hidden... it's quite likely it copied the style of the bulkhead aft of the mainmast which is probable considering the Prince of 1670, while having square edges to the three curves are nonetheless the same forward and aft of the waist. I still find it odd that unlike the Prince, neither one has ladders leading down to the waist direct. This is of course due to the spar deck also above the waist as is above the half deck. Originally there was also a spar deck above the f'cstle copying the sea layout of the Royal Prince of 1610. That spar deck however was removed early on to assist in her sea handing. 

 

Final note, both of the bulkheads on the waist I've made intentionally too high and will be cut down to size once I've fitted the gunports. Originally these would have been quite high but all topsides were cut down to just above the heights of the upper gunports when the f'cstle spar deck was removed.

[*Hans*]

Pff - you're at speed Anton!  Just a few weeks ago her hull was all empty, and now fully loaded!