Mike_H Posted May 25, 2021 #1351 Posted May 25, 2021 Chris, congratulations on the 2nd anniversary, and on how much you have achieved. You must make the decision, but I certainly hope that the business can have you full time. Canute and chris watton 2 Current Build: HMS Alert - Vanguard Models Completed: Endeavour's Longboat - Artesania Latina HMS Snake - Caldercraft
BranPie Posted May 27, 2021 #1352 Posted May 27, 2021 Well, I'm only on my first model (which will take me quite some time yet), but I've already decided my next model will be from Vanguard. Partly because I want to support you, partly because your models look great! (I've actually got a whole plan for which models I want to do next including almost all Vanguards 🙂, but hey, at the rate i'm going that's probably more than ten years worth of modelling so we'll see about that 😃) Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary, you have done some great work! mtaylor, Canute, austristan and 2 others 5 Cheers, Pieter Current build: Polaris (OcCre, 1:50)
chris watton Posted June 16, 2021 Author #1353 Posted June 16, 2021 (edited) Just another very small update, but a big one for me... I have now left my day job to concentrate fully on Vanguard Models. It got to the point where something had to give, and Vanguard Models won out. So, hopefully, I have made the right decision, and in the meantime and from this day forward, all of my time energy will be focused on new developments. I still feel very apprehensive, as this is a new sensation for me, but felt I had to do this. Also need to say a big thank you to Jim Hatch, who has helped with prototype models, photography and manual text immensely, meaning the kits have been finished a lot quicker than I could have hoped. When a development is complete, I make sure they are brought into the market as quickly as possible, and Jim has been a very big part of this, so credit where it is due. So, because I do not have to worry about getting ready for a 12 hour shift, I think I will get all Sphinx CAD plans complete by the end of next week, which I will then send to Jim for the rigging (he already has all plans except rigging). I am also most grateful to all of those who have bought my products, and making the decision to move full time developing new products easier. ETA - My wife's leg/knee is healing well, and she can now get around without any aids! Edited June 16, 2021 by chris watton WalrusGuy, Chuck, Jorge Diaz O and 54 others 55 2 Vanguard Models on Facebook
robdurant Posted June 16, 2021 #1354 Posted June 16, 2021 Amazing! All the very best to you and your wife, Chris and every success to Vanguard Models. Ryland Craze, Canute, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Current build(s): Plymouth Ketch-Rigged Trawler "Erycina" (Vanguard Models, 1:64) Paused on the lofting floor: HMS Bristol Portland class 50-Gun Ship (Scratch build, 1:64) Paused builds: Barque "Stefano" (MarisStella, 1:63) / Trawler "Nordkap" (Billings Boats, 1:50) / HMS Triton 28 gun frigate cross section (1:64) / F138, HMS Rapid Type 15 Fast Anti-Submarine Frigate (based on above Deans Marine hull, semi-scratch, 1:96) / HMS Mercury (1779) (Shipyard Models, Paper, 1:96) Previous builds: ἈΘΗΝΑ (Athena) (6th Century B.C.) Greek Bireme (Dusek, 1:72) / Zulu "Lady Isabella" (Vanguard Models, 1:64) / HMS Ethalion (1797) from HMS Diana (Caldercraft, 1:64) / HM Cutter Sherbourne (Caldercraft, 1:64) / Completed partially built Royal Yacht Caroline (Panart, 1:47) / HM Schooner Pickle (Caldercraft, 1:64) / M32, HMS Cottesmore MCMV (Sirmar / Fleetscale, Semi-scratch, 1:48) / D98, HMS York, Type 42 Destroyer (Dragon with White Ensign Photoetch, 1:700) / K166, HMCS Snowberry Flower Class Corvette (Revell, 1:72) / R97, HMS Grenville Fleet Destroyer (Deans Marine, 1:96)
VTHokiEE Posted June 16, 2021 #1355 Posted June 16, 2021 Congratulations! Glad to hear about your wife's improvement as well - good news all around! chris watton, hollowneck, Canute and 1 other 4 Current Build: HM Sloop Echo 1781 (First Scratch Build) Previous Builds: HM Cutter Alert, Sharpie Schooner, Chesapeake Bay Flattie, Half-Hull (NRG)
glbarlow Posted June 16, 2021 #1356 Posted June 16, 2021 This is no small update, congratulations!! The modeling world got a big positive step forward today. Glad your wife is doing better as well. Now I know my Sphinx will be packed well for shipment to my door! chris watton, hollowneck, Rik Thistle and 3 others 6 Regards, Glenn Current Build: Don't know yet. Completed Builds: HMS Winchelsea HM Flirt (paused) HM Cutter Cheerful, Lady Nelson, Amati HMS Vanguard, HMS Pegasus, Fair American, HM Granado, HM Pickle, AVS, Pride of Baltimore, Bluenose
AlanDavison Posted June 16, 2021 #1357 Posted June 16, 2021 I am glad to hear you wife continues to recover and I wish her well. I am sure that working full time for Vanguard Models will prove a wise choice (you certainly seem to have the skill set) and I wish you every success for the future.😊 chris watton, Ryland Craze, hollowneck and 2 others 5
Blue Ensign Posted June 16, 2021 #1358 Posted June 16, 2021 Wishing you every success in this major step forward with Vanguard. Best Regards, Blue Ensign. Ryland Craze, Canute, chris watton and 1 other 4 Current Build: Medway-longboat-1742-by-blue-ensign-½”-scale Completed builds: HMS Indefatigable-1794-by-blue-ensign-vanguard-models-1:64-scale HMS Sphinx 1775 by Blue Ensign. 1:64 scale - Vanguard Models Queen-Anne-Royal-Barge-circa-1700-by-Blue-Ensign Fifie fishing boat Lady Eleanor Muirneag-1903-–-a-scottish-zulu-fishing-boat-164-scale-based-on-the-vanguard-models-zulu-kit/ HM Cutter Alert 1777 HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 18th-century-English-longboat-by-Blue-Ensign-ms-148-scale/ 18thc English Pinnace by Blue Ensign-Model-Shipways-1:24 scale/ HMS-Pegasus-by-Blue-Ensign-finished-Victory-Models-1:64-scale/ Heller Seventy-four 1:150 scale - modified Le Superbe/Le Glorieux kit after Boudriot, waterline setting with sails. The schooner Pickle, Jotika pob kit 1:64 scale, my interpretation.
Glenn-UK Posted June 16, 2021 #1359 Posted June 16, 2021 Good news on your wifes recovery and a brave but well derserved move with regards to your business. I will continue to support Vanguard Models. I also echo your thanks to Jim Hatch. Canute, hollowneck, chris watton and 2 others 5 Glenn (UK)
Hsae Posted June 16, 2021 #1360 Posted June 16, 2021 Congratulations Chris and best of luck for the future. You have amazing models! Your models are on my bucket list. I hope your wife has a speedy recovery. Hermann Ryland Craze, chris watton and mtaylor 3
Oboship Posted June 16, 2021 #1361 Posted June 16, 2021 I wish you best of luck in your new role as a self-employed person and I'm convinced that your concept for ship modelling will continue to be very successful! Vanguard Models is a benefit for the community already! Best regards Uwe Ryland Craze, chris watton and mtaylor 3
Mike_H Posted June 16, 2021 #1362 Posted June 16, 2021 Fingers crossed for you Chris! chris watton, Canute, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Current Build: HMS Alert - Vanguard Models Completed: Endeavour's Longboat - Artesania Latina HMS Snake - Caldercraft
Beef Wellington Posted June 16, 2021 #1363 Posted June 16, 2021 Wish you all the best in your endeavor's Chris, I think you are truly re-invigorating the PoB kit market with some outstanding high quality kits, and also providing a source for quality scale mini-kits for many fittings that seem to have been missing in the market place. Ryland Craze, Canute, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Cheers, Jason "Which it will be ready when it is ready!" In the shipyard: HMS Jason (c.1794: Artois Class 38 gun frigate) Queen Anne Royal Barge (c.1700) Finished: HMS Snake (c.1797: Cruizer Class, ship rigged sloop)
Ryland Craze Posted June 16, 2021 #1364 Posted June 16, 2021 Wishing you the best Chris. I echo the sentiments of all the posts before me. You definitely have the support of the ship modeling community. Canute, chris watton, hollowneck and 1 other 4 Ryland Member - Hampton Roads Ship Model Society - Ship Model Society of New Jersey - Nautical Research Guild Current Build - Armed Virginia Sloop, 18th Century Longboat Completed Build - Medway Longboat
DelF Posted June 16, 2021 #1365 Posted June 16, 2021 That’s great news Chris, and I join everyone in wishing you every success. My only concern is that you’re already developing models faster than I can build them. With you going full time I’ll never catch up! Derek chris watton, VTHokiEE, Canute and 3 others 4 2 Cheers, Derek Current build: Duchess of Kingston On hold: HMS Winchelsea Previous builds: HMS Speedy, English Pinnace, Royal Yacht Caroline (gallery), Victory Cross-section (gallery), US Clipper Albatros, Red Dragon (years ago!) On the stocks: 18th Century Longboat
Vane Posted June 16, 2021 #1366 Posted June 16, 2021 Oh noooo... my list of ongoing projects and kit stash is already full... please dont work quicker! I need to complete more stuff before I can take on anything new! But good luck with the company, great news! mtaylor, chris watton, Canute and 1 other 4 Current builds: HMS Victory (Corel 1:98), HMS Snake (Caldercraft 1:64), HMBV Granado (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Diana (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Speedy (Vanguard Models 1:64)
BenD Posted June 16, 2021 #1367 Posted June 16, 2021 THE DAY HAS ARIVED! Your kits are top notch and I have no doubt you made the right decision. Looking forward to your future developments! (HMS Indefatigable please!) Canute, Ryland Craze, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Ropes of Scale.com - Rope and cable for the scale modeler. Finished builds: HM Cutter Sherbourne - Caldercraft - 1:64 - 9th century longship - Falkonet - 1:72 Current builds: HMS Snake - Caldercraft - 1:64 - Tender Avos by BenD - Master Korabel - 1:72 - 19th Century Four-Oared Yawl by BenD - Falkonet - 1:24 scale
chris watton Posted June 16, 2021 Author #1368 Posted June 16, 2021 Thank you so much, guys, very much appreciated! These new kits do need a lot of time spent on development, and with Sphinx, it needed a lot more than any kit I have done before, Victory included. It really is a mad kit! Even full time working on these, larger kits will still require 6 months minimum development time, from conception to finished prototype, but I do plan to do a couple of smaller kits after Sphinx (including more ships boats, cutters etc.), before starting on a (really) big one. GrandpaPhil, Haliburton, st george and 16 others 19 Vanguard Models on Facebook
scrubbyj427 Posted June 16, 2021 #1369 Posted June 16, 2021 Chris, are you going to dabble with anything in 1:48 scale? mtaylor, chris watton and Canute 3 Current Builds: HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 - 5th rate 32 gun frigate (on hold for now) HMS Portland 1770 Prototype 1:48 - 4th rate 50 gun ship
chris watton Posted June 16, 2021 Author #1370 Posted June 16, 2021 20 minutes ago, scrubbyj427 said: Chris, are you going to dabble with anything in 1:48 scale? I have no plans for 48th scale kits in my initial list of future developments. I prefer to stick to one scale for now, more so when considering the larger vessels I wish to develop. Canute, st george, Galatolol and 6 others 9 Vanguard Models on Facebook
mtaylor Posted June 16, 2021 #1371 Posted June 16, 2021 Congratulations Chris. I hope from here on you have nothing but success. And it's great news about your wife's healing. Canute, chris watton, hollowneck and 1 other 4 Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)
drjeckl Posted June 17, 2021 #1372 Posted June 17, 2021 Chris, Best of luck on your business decision. You can see that everyone here is elated that you will be dedicating your efforts to Vanguard Models. Keep it going! Looks like your wife did indeed have a Speedy recovery. Ryland Craze, hollowneck, chris watton and 2 others 5 .John Current Build: Lady Nelson Next up: Speedy (Vanguard Models)
gjdale Posted June 17, 2021 #1373 Posted June 17, 2021 Congratulations Chris on this bold move and I wish you every success. The one down side of working for yourself is that you now have a slave driver for a boss! Great to hear of your wife’s recovery too. Perhaps she can put in a good word for you and negotiate some time off every now and then! hollowneck, Canute, Ryland Craze and 2 others 5 Grant ____________________________________________________ Current builds: African Queen - Radio Control / Live Steam Previous builds: The Shipyard at Foss' Landing (Diorama), Hannah - Ship in a Bottle, NRG Capstan Project, 1869 Allerton Steam Pumper, Medway Longboat , Alfa Romeo Spider Gran Touring (Pocher) , Da Vinci Flying Machine, 1949 Chris Craft 19' Racing Runabout - Dumas - Radio, Bomb Vessel Granado, 1742 - Cross Section - Scratchbuild, HMS Victory (Mamoli 1:90), Cutty Sark, Armed Pinnace, Bounty, Santa Maria At another place: Stephenson's Rocket (OcCre 1:24) (click the title to follow the link) In the Gallery: Lancia Armata 1803, Bomb Vessel Granada, 1742 Cross Section, 1949 Chris Craft 19' Racing Runabout
GrandpaPhil Posted June 17, 2021 #1374 Posted June 17, 2021 Congratulations! Best of luck! Canute, hollowneck, chris watton and 2 others 5 Building: 1:200 Russian Battleship Oryol (Orel card kit) 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships)
JeffT Posted June 17, 2021 #1375 Posted June 17, 2021 Congratulations! I'm looking forward to seeing your future developments. hollowneck, chris watton, Ryland Craze and 2 others 5 Jeff In progress: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Company -1/2" scale USS Constitution - Model Shipways - Scale 1:76 HMS Granado - CAF Model - 1:48 HMS Sphinx - Vanguard
Edwardkenway Posted June 17, 2021 #1376 Posted June 17, 2021 Here's to a long, prosperous and productive future for Vanguard Models 😁 Best wishes to you and your wife. mtaylor, Canute, Ryland Craze and 2 others 5 Current builds; Henry Ramey Upcher 1:25 Providence whaleboat- 1:25 HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 Completed: HM Cutter Sherbourne- 1:64- finished Triton cross section scratch- 1:60 - finished Non ship: SBD-3 Dauntless 1:48 Hasegawa -FINISHED
Malcolm Greig Posted June 18, 2021 #1377 Posted June 18, 2021 Congratulations. I couldn't imagine how difficult it was working two full time jobs. We are in the golden age of model ship kits, thanks to Chris & Jim. mtaylor, Ryland Craze, hollowneck and 2 others 5 Completed builds; Caldercraft Mars; Vanguard Alert, Amati Revenge On the shelf; Vanguard DOK & the Sphinx
Murphys77 Posted June 18, 2021 #1378 Posted June 18, 2021 Hi Chris, just wanted to add my congratulations to you. Your Sphinx looks really good, your ideas and innovations will have this model as the new benchmark for model kits. Until your next one! Looking forward to see how you go about creating the Royal George. All the best. M. mtaylor, Canute, Ryland Craze and 2 others 5
bruce d Posted June 18, 2021 #1379 Posted June 18, 2021 Well done Chris. chris watton, Canute, Ryland Craze and 1 other 4 🌻 STAY SAFE A model shipwright and an amateur historian are heads & tails of the same coin current builds: HMS Berwick 1775, 1/192 scratchbuild; a Slade 74 in the Navy Board style Mediator sloop, 1/48 - an 18th century transport scratchbuild French longboat - CAF - 1/48, on hold
chris watton Posted June 18, 2021 Author #1380 Posted June 18, 2021 Again, thank you so much for all of your kind comments, I am truly overwhelmed by all the comments! For my part, I shall endeavour to continue to develop new products that people would like (or don't even know they like yet..) Today I received more stock for a few tools that were on back order. I now have the full range of finger/spring loaded sanders: Modelcraft Spring-Loaded Finger Sanders, 10mm, 20mm, 25mm, 40mm (Medium Grade) – VANGUARD MODELS Also a more robust pin pusher with adjustable depth stop: Modelcraft Pin Pusher with adjustable depth stop – VANGUARD MODELS KentM, thibaultron, hollowneck and 8 others 11 Vanguard Models on Facebook
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