Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates

[PhillH]

Best wishes for the future of Vanguard models Chris, your kits are already the gold standard and your inovative ideas never cease to amaze me.

I have Sphinx on my list as James' build looks amazing but now you tempt me with a hint of a (really) big one. I will need  bigger house.

 

Phill

 

[Kevin]

Good luck Chris, all the best for the future, and thank you @James H

[aferox]

Congratulations, and more best wishes for you and your wife!  Looking forward to Sphinx.

[chris watton]

I had a delivery today from one of my suppliers. This included more machined pearwood blocks, so these are again available as an option for Alert, Speedy, Flirt and Duchess.

 

As well as lanterns, I also had new cannon barrels arrive. I did read in a few threads on the forum that more than a few are disappointed with standard kit barrels, as they never seem to be the correct size, made worse by mating them with equally inappropriate carriages. Someone mentioned that all kits have problems in this area. I don't think this is strictly true.

 

Here are some pics (still got packaging fibres on them, sorry..) of the three sizes of barrel I had made for a future development - a 24 Pounder Armstrong long barrels, 12 Pounder Blomefield  pattern long chase barrel (only 2 per kit), and a 42-Pounder carronade and fittings (the kit they are for has 18 of those bad boys)! These are all exact scale and correct for the model they are intended for.

 

And finally, while I wait for the USB stick from Jim, which contain the Sphinx pics for the manual, I just started a new little kit. The pics show the very first time the parts for the hull were assembled (yesterday), and probably do not 100% reflect the final designs. I just needed to check all major structural parts - it will be quite a cute little thing...

[Freezing Parrot]

I like the look of that new kit already!

[Blue Ensign]

You surely are a master hand at this kit designing malarkey  Chris, another irresistible  model in the offing. 🤔

 

B. E

[chris watton]

8 minutes ago, Blue Ensign said:

You surely are a master hand at this kit designing malarkey  Chris, another irresistible  model in the offing. 🤔

 

B. E

Actually, this little lady is Nisha, a Brixham 'Mumble-bee'! 

 

When I saw her sexy little lines in the Edgar J Marsh book, I couldn't resist...

 

First off deck bereft of fittings location holes, as I am currently designing them. At least, until I can carry on with Sphinx..

Edited June 30, 2021 by chris watton

[James H]

I did sort of bend his ear about a Brixham boat.....y'know, being one of England's most important fishing ports 😆

[Rik Thistle]

A lovely video on the new addition....

 

Richard

[chris watton]

I now have 2 sizes of new lanterns in stock. They are not cheap, but are very detailed and 3-D printed in very hard resin. I have them in 12 and 15mm sizes, the 15mm is the same that is used for Sphinx (ordered extra for fittings stock). They come in two parts for the main body and top canopy, brass rod and pre cut glazing.

 

Lanterns – High Detail (sold individually) – VANGUARD MODELS

[DelF]

14 hours ago, chris watton said:

They are not cheap

They seem very reasonable to me, especially considering the quality (I've just seen them on James's Sphinx). The only ones I know of comparable quality are Syren's and they're $12.75 & $13.75 for the two sizes (roughly £9 and £10, and leaving aside any differences in shipping charges).

 

Pity Speedy doesn't need lanterns!

 

Just one question - you say they're made from very hard resin but the website says they're not resin?

[chris watton]

Will have to check that. The lanterns are 3-D printed in the same hard resin as the Sphinx boat beam brackets. I am assuming it is a resin of some sort.

[chris watton]

Just realised I never got back to you DelF.

 

The reason for the difference in description for the new lanterns is because we wanted to differentiate between actual resin castings and and 3-d printed parts, which is a completely different resin anyway.

 

I have just completed all laser cutting for Sphinx. I can now tell you that the laser time for each kit is six and a half hours. There are 33 separate laser cut sheets in 8 different thicknesses from 0.5-4mm

 

One of the reasons I really need a second machine...

[Nirvana]

Six and a half hours of laser cutting!

That's a lot of parts.

[James H]

NEW AT VANGUARD MODELS! - 'BUY NOW, PAY LATER' (Pay In Three) from PayPal.

 

I've been helping Chris with his website and PayPal have really been bugging us with rolling out this system for VM customers. VM satisfies their criteria which allows customers to make purchases from £30 to £2000 using a three-payment system. 

 

Once you go to PayPal checkout, you will have an option to choose this. The total cost is split into three equal payments at 0% interest, and then the remainder is paid on the due dates over the following two months. 

 

The great news is you of course get your items shipped straight away as you would if you'd paid up-front.

 

That'll help break up some of those costs we all have when it comes to buying our kits and stuff!

 

https://vanguardmodels.co.uk

 

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/paypal-payin3/faq

 

There are some territory restrictions, but can't remember them at moment!

 

 

 

 

[chris watton]

Started designs on a companion to the Brixham Mumble Bee Nisha, a larger relative from Plymouth, which was later converted into a yacht - great lines, so fine.

 

Not sure if I shall develop these two together, like Fifie and Zulu, as these are a little more complex (larger one has 16 bulkheads, and only around 350mm long) but am hoping to have the smaller Nisha out first. I have drawn fittings specific to each, like winch drums and the distinctive tow posts. These will have 1x4mm limewood first planking, and 0.8x3mm pear for second planking.

[Nirvana]

Chris, time matter question;

Have you been able to make my regular 24 hour day to 30 hours?

 Seems like you, James and Chuck have found the golden source to extend the day.

Looking good and fascinating. 

[James H]

2 minutes ago, Nirvana said:

Seems like you, James and Chuck have found the golden source to extend the day.

 

I only wish. 

 

I'm now on starting Sphinx shroud pendants and my room is blistering hot. It's almost unworkable for I need to stay in there for as long as I can before it makes me feel drained and sick. 

[Nirvana]

Warm/hot work shop is no fun.

I have the same issue every once in a while. 

I like to build the Sphinx some day.

First I have to reduce (with other words build) what I have in my shop.

Today is going to be perfect day in the shop, not to warm and with a nice breeze.

[Roger Pellett]

As they used to say in the Navy,  “If you can’t get your job done during the 24 day, work nights.”

 

Roger

[James H]

Ooh, what's this?

 

[robdurant]

It seems to be one long string of Christmasses in your workshop, James.... looking forward to seeing this take shape. I do wonder whether those 42 pounders are destined for that hull though?!? 

 

Exciting developments, Chris!

[chris watton]

Just to let you know, Sphinx will be available for pre-order tomorrow, well, in about 90 minutes time.

 

I now have everything with me apart from the plans and manual, which I cannot submit to the printers until the prototype model is complete (for final shots for box art and manual). 

[Glenn-UK]

43 minutes ago, chris watton said:

Just to let you know, Sphinx will be available for pre-order tomorrow, well, in about 90 minutes time.

 

I now have everything with me apart from the plans and manual, which I cannot submit to the printers until the prototype model is complete (for final shots for box art and manual). 

Great news, do you have a forecast date in mind for kits being available, noting you are waiting for Jim to complete the prototype.

[Glenn-UK]

Pre ordered😀

[chris watton]

10 hours ago, glennard2523 said:

Great news, do you have a forecast date in mind for kits being available, noting you are waiting for Jim to complete the prototype.

I think three weeks.

 

I could get plans and manual printed right now, but prefer to wait until the model is complete - but I do want the actual release to be no later than three weeks.

 

I will show you work in progress box art, some pics and text are just placeholders, and the bar code is for Duchess...

 

PRE-ORDER KIT HERE: https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-1775/
PRE-ORDER PEAR BLOCK SET HERE: https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-pearwood-block-set/

[Gregory]

Chris,

Any thoughts on coming up with display pedestals for your box art and promo pictures that are a little more in keeping with the quality of this beautiful piece of art?

 

I realize display option details will be up to each builder, but I find the base as shown somewhat distracting from the rest of the fine workmanship.

Edited July 31, 2021 by Gregory

[chris watton]

4 hours ago, Gregory said:

Chris,

Any thoughts on coming up with display pedestals for your box art and promo pictures that are a little more in keeping with the quality of this beautiful piece of art?

 

I realize display option details will be up to each builder, but I find the base as shown somewhat distracting from the rest of the fine workmanship.

In every kit, I include two stands, the one shown above, which is for the build only, and a much nicer acetate stand to display the finished model which, for Sphinx, has a laser engraved nameplate for each side.

 

I know that a lot of kits do not include any stand, and if they do, they call it a 'Bonus'!

 

I have attached a pic of the display stand for Sphinx, and next to it is the two stands for my upcoming sub £100 kit - the MDF is for the build and the acetate version with nameplates is for the final display. No matter what cost the kit, they all have the two stands.

Edited July 31, 2021 by chris watton

[Gregory]

The acetate is very nice.

 

I was reluctant to make comments that sound critical, I just felt the MDF cradle really detracted from the otherwise beautiful model in the photographs..

[glbarlow]

Not many, if any kit providers include one stand let alone two.  Thanks Chris!