Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates

James H · February 19, 2021

19 minutes ago, Jim Rogers said:

Please share your expertise.

I did only say 'feel' like one 😁

chris watton · February 19, 2021

I am here, but I have no internet or phone line until at least next Tuesday. We bought a pay as you go wi-fi dongle thingy, so I could at least reply to emails and book all orders to be posted.

I am still working long and hard on Sphinx. All photo etch designs will be complete within two weeks, and I am hoping the laser cut designs will be complete very soon. This is a lot more complex than the other kits, and requires a lot more development time.

glbarlow · February 19, 2021

1 hour ago, Jim Rogers said:

Please share your expertise.

What he said 😄

Kevin · February 19, 2021

2 hours ago, glbarlow said:

I like to demonstrate my lack of nautical knowledge. I have no clue which boats are which and why there are 8 different ones...boat..oars...long...short apparently doesn’t cover it😂🤣

here is some of the answers Ship's boat - Wikipedia

Mike_H · February 20, 2021

5 hours ago, James H said:

He's told me to tell you he has been without internet/phone for a couple of days, and his business relies on it of course.

In his area, even the mobile telephone signal is really poor too.

All should be sorted early next week.

Thanks James - of course I’ve also got used to building boats at super-human speed.

Mike_H · February 20, 2021

4 hours ago, chris watton said:

I am here, but I have no internet or phone line until at least next Tuesday. We bought a pay as you go wi-fi dongle thingy, so I could at least reply to emails and book all orders to be posted.

I am still working long and hard on Sphinx. All photo etch designs will be complete within two weeks, and I am hoping the laser cut designs will be complete very soon. This is a lot more complex than the other kits, and requires a lot more development time.

Hoorah! I’m sure you are steaming along, so we’ll just have to wait until bandwidth arrives.

chris watton · February 20, 2021

10 hours ago, Mike_H said:

Hoorah! I’m sure you are steaming along, so we’ll just have to wait until bandwidth arrives.

Cheers

My broadband problems have zero effect on my work speed. What does have an effect is my full time day job. In the week, on work days, I work on the CAD designs before work, and on my days off, I work on the (pre) prototype model. A little slow, exacerbated by the sheer number and complexity of some parts compared to previous designs, but it's coming along.

Oh, one more thing, I forgot to mention, I asked my wood supplier if I could have 0.8 x 4mm pear for Sphinx, plus some sheets in the same thickness, as I feel the 1mm is a little too thick, and the 0.8 would be easier to manipulate. So for Sphinx, the wood thickness for laser cut will be 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 4mm. Planking will be 1x5mm limewood first planking and then 0.8x4mm pear for second planking, but the planking does not start until just below the main wale.

Edited February 20, 2021 by chris watton

chris watton · February 21, 2021

OK, just took a few pics of the pre-prototype model of Sphinx, so you can see where I am up to.

Please bear in mind that this model is disposable, no paint, no varnish, it has been dropped a couple of times, as the starboard forecastle bulkhead can testify, and no PE as yet, which is why I have just use brass rod for the chain pump handles, just to make sure all holes for this align correctly. This is just to make sure designed parts fit, and if not, changed and replaced.

Today I glued the forecastle and quarterdeck beams in place, and finished the final deck engraving designs for the forecastle. I think once upper decks are fixed, my only real design job is for the inner upper bulwarks.

Edited February 21, 2021 by chris watton

Blue Ensign · February 21, 2021

That looks so impressive Chris, even in its raw state, if only I were younger.

B.E.

scrubbyj427 · February 21, 2021

Looks excellent Chris! The thought of you throwing it out makes me cringe!!

whitejamest · February 21, 2021

You sir - in approximately 7 years time when I have finished my Speedy model - can take my money.

Seriously though, this looks like it will be such a neat kit. Looking forward to it.

BenD · February 21, 2021

WOW... This is going to be an incredible kit, no doubt about it. This prototype is just the throw away model... 😂

ccoyle · February 21, 2021

To use a phrase by Daffy Duck, "Da-rool, da-rool, da-rool!"

glbarlow · February 21, 2021

I’m the first shipment 😁

Mike_H · February 21, 2021

What a beauty. And how you find the time while working, I cannot imagine.

BW Mike

Rustyj · February 22, 2021

4 hours ago, scrubbyj427 said:

The thought of you throwing it out makes me cringe!!

Neither did dropping it a couple of times do much for me!

Looking forward to this build!

Wahka_est · February 22, 2021

18 hours ago, chris watton said:

OK, just took a few pics of the pre-prototype model of Sphinx, so you can see where I am up to.

Please bear in mind that this model is disposable, no paint, no varnish, it has been dropped a couple of times, as the starboard forecastle bulkhead can testify, and no PE as yet, which is why I have just use brass rod for the chain pump handles, just to make sure all holes for this align correctly. This is just to make sure designed parts fit, and if not, changed and replaced.

Today I glued the forecastle and quarterdeck beams in place, and finished the final deck engraving designs for the forecastle. I think once upper decks are fixed, my only real design job is for the inner upper bulwarks.

paul carruthers · February 22, 2021

Can’t wait.....

maaaslo · February 23, 2021

is this sort of framework also present on the real ship? in same configuration? if so, it would not be so hard to build this in semi-admiralty style with visible framework (at least the deck) and all the bells and whistles under the top decks...

chris watton · February 24, 2021

3 hours ago, maaaslo said:

is this sort of framework also present on the real ship? in same configuration? if so, it would not be so hard to build this in semi-admiralty style with visible framework (at least the deck) and all the bells and whistles under the top decks...

That's the idea!

And yes, the upper deck beams are in their correct positions with correct spacing, according to the Sphinx Admiralty plans. These beams locate into slots on a pattern each side of the inner bulwarks, which in turn are slotted into the sides of the bulkheads, so there's zero chance of misalignment. No need to check every station with a rule...

ETA - The gun deck bulkheads near the stern will have panelling detail on both sides, as they will be visible on the finished model.

For the upper decks, my idea is to just use the laser engraved maple veneer, as this will give scale deck plank thickness. However, I may also include a 0.8mm ply version for those who wish to have a more substantial underlay for the maple veneer deck, or simply want to plank it with their own choice of wood.

Edited February 24, 2021 by chris watton

austristan · February 24, 2021

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

That's the idea!

And yes, the upper deck beams are in their correct positions with correct spacing, according to the Sphinx Admiralty plans. These beams locate into slots on a pattern each side of the inner bulwarks, which in turn are slotted into the sides of the bulkheads, so there's zero chance of misalignment. No need to check every station with a rule...

ETA - The gun deck bulkheads near the stern will have panelling detail on both sides, as they will be visible on the finished model.

For the upper decks, my idea is to just use the laser engraved maple veneer, as this will give scale deck plank thickness. However, I may also include a 0.8mm ply version for those who wish to have a more substantial underlay for the maple veneer deck, or simply want to plank it with their own choice of wood.

Love the idea of being able to have an option to plank ourselves. Something very satisfying to me to doing that myself even if it isn’t quite as perfect as the laser engraved pattern.

glbarlow · February 24, 2021

14 hours ago, chris watton said:

also include a 0.8mm ply version

That’s a great idea, I may not decide which way to go until I reach that point, it will be nice to have that option.

chris watton · February 28, 2021

Just a quickie to say I have a 15% off sale for a couple of weeks for all kits, to help offset extra charges to some EU countries...

chris watton · March 7, 2021

OK, I have now finished with the 'pre-prototype' model, and have all the info I need. A lot of small changes have been made, so this model shows (many) mistakes that the prototype model will not have. What is shown is around 95% of the hull laser cut parts and the castings.

For the boat beams, the U shaped brackets presented a problem. I was going to do them in PE, but wasn't happy with them, as they protrude above the gangway by around 1.5mm. So, these are now perfectly scaled 3-d printed parts, using a very tough resin, and are the kit versions. A very small detail, but happy with the result. The gangway has changed since these pics, with the widest part nearest the quarterdeck moved back a few mm, so the ladders are in between the cannon.

The slots in the quarterdeck were moved back a lot further, in order to show the chequered deck pattern in the aft cabin. Ladders are cut in 0.6mm pear, and look much better, scale-wise. The catheads are made from 5 laser cut and engraved parts each, otherwise they would have looked pretty basic..

Al PE is done and sent off to Italy to be produced for the prototype model, and I now have the task of part numbering everything and doing a full parts list, followed by starting on the CAD drawings for plans...