Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates

[DelF]

3 hours ago, Gregory said:

The acetate is very nice

 

2 hours ago, glbarlow said:

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

I agree. I wasn't sure about the acetate stand for Speedy, but I've been looking at display options and may decide to mount her on a mirror to show off the copper bottom. The clear stand is ideal for this. Here's a test shot I took on a mirrored table:

The brass nameplate looks particularly good on the acetate.

Edited July 31, 2021 by DelF

[chris watton]

That looks fantastic, Derek!

 

I got the idea of using a clear material for the stand when looking through the AOTS book of Alert. There's a picture showing a contemporary model on a clear stand and I thought that would be cool if I could do the same, as I don't think any other mainstream kits do this. They are also a lot less intrusive, as the whole hull can still be seen. The MDF cradle is a throwaway item, to be discarded once the model is complete.

 

Another little note on why stands/cradles are so important to be included (in my opinion), is that they give the model the correct stance/angle for marking the waterline. Out of the 9 kits I have thus far developed (including the two I am doing now), only one, the Sphinx has the waterline more or less parallel to the keel. The other 8 do not. Each cradle needs to be designed with each unique angle in mind - off the shelf turned columns just wouldn't do.

[Gregory]

Once again Chris,  my comments  were not questioning the quality of your work.

 

I just found the MDF cradle to look rather incongruous in the context of the box art..

[glbarlow]

I've always mounted my models with brass pedestals on a walnut base. I'll give the acetate a try for Flirt, it is nice looking.  However I'll have to glue it in so my grandson doesn't think this is the model, "when can I play with one that has guns?" he gets to play with. 😄

 

Good to know about the waterline, I hadn't thought about that.

[Blue Ensign]

I’ve grown to like Chris’s  clear stands, used them on all three of my Vanguard models. They are stylish and don’t detract from the model. 

I’ve never favoured the pedestals thro’ the keel approach, preferring keel blocks, but that’s just my preference.

 

B.E.

 

[Glenn-UK]

On 7/31/2021 at 9:14 AM, chris watton said:

I think three weeks.

3 weeks is perfect. I have a 1 week family staycation in Wales starting next saturday, so a kit release after my return is ideal.

[BobG]

On 7/31/2021 at 1:14 AM, chris watton said:

I could get plans and manual printed right now, but prefer to wait until the model is complete

Will this model be fully rigged?

[James H]

5 minutes ago, BobG said:

Will this model be fully rigged?

Yes, fully masted and rigged as per other VM kits.

 

I'm fresh back from hols only 2hrs ago and already working on the prototype again.

[Glenn-UK]

4 minutes ago, James H said:

Yes, fully masted and rigged as per other VM kits.

 

I'm fresh back from hols only 2hrs ago and already working on the prototype again.

Did you not think to take the prototype on holiday with you🤣

[chris watton]

Yes, Sphinx is rigged - all standing rigging, and running rigging has all yard associated rig, tie, jeers, lifts and braces. Other rig included sheets, clew's and tacks if you want to go that far.

 

For future reference, I have never designed a period ship kit that does not include rigging. For Sphinx, there are 8 50x70cm plan sheets dedicated to masts and rig, plus quite a few pages in the manual showing mast and yard assembly.

Edited August 2, 2021 by chris watton

[Kevin]

11 minutes ago, James H said:

Yes, fully masted and rigged as per other VM kits.

 

I'm fresh back from hols only 2hrs ago and already working on the prototype again.

hope you had a nice holinobs

[James H]

3 hours ago, Kevin said:

hope you had a nice holinobs

Way too much rich food, so I need to trim down a little.

 

With regards to the Sphinx stand, this is the one supplied. I left the blue film on for assembly shots, but there will be pics of it without that film when done.

 

[Ian B]

I always make a clear stand for all my models, the glass shelves help too.... will have one when finished..

[uss frolick]

24 pounder and 12 pounder long guns, with eighteen 42 pounder carronades? I bet I know what you’re up to, Sir Edward Pellew!

[chris watton]

Am always tempted do a Caledonia or Commerce de Marseille, just to see the look on my wife's face as the skeletal structure grows on the dining room table...

[James H]

In a week, and the 35 available Sphinx for pre-order are now down to EIGHT LEFT!!!  😁

 

Incredible! 

[chris watton]

We are hoping to have the manual on the website soon (Sphinx page), all plans, manual and box art complete and with printers. The manual is so large that we have had to increase the upload limits on the server!

[Glenn-UK]

4 minutes ago, chris watton said:

We are hoping to have the manual on the website soon

Looking forward to downloading the manual. Great news everything is now with the printers.

[Blue Ensign]

9 minutes ago, James H said:

In a week, and the 35 available Sphinx for pre-order are now down to EIGHT LEFT!!!  😁

 

Incredible! 

 

That's great news for Chris, providing a much welcome return on his outlay in producing this rather wonderful kit. 👍

 

B.E.

[Glenn-UK]

10 minutes ago, James H said:

In a week, and the 35 available Sphinx for pre-order are now down to EIGHT LEFT!!!  😁

 

Incredible! 

This is testament to Chris's excellent design work and the stunning prototype model built by James.

[BenD]

8 minutes ago, James H said:

In a week, and the 35 available Sphinx for pre-order are now down to EIGHT LEFT!!!  😁

Yeah that is incredible.  It is one of the best looking frigates on the market to date, In my opinion anyway. 

 

Chris, Is your house big enough for the production of all this stuff?  I only make rope and I feels like I've invaded most of my apparent 😆.  

[chris watton]

12 minutes ago, BenD said:

 

 

Chris, Is your house big enough for the production of all this stuff?  I only make rope and I feels like I've invaded most of my apparent 😆.  

No, it's a nightmare right now, I only have the smallest of surfaces left to do work on my two new developments, a little corner of the dining room table!  Luckily, the two I am working on are quite small, as you can see in these pics of Nisha, the smallest!

 

We have had a quote from some builders to convert our large double garage into a proper unit. Supposed to start this next month, but knowing builders, they probably won't show up...

 

I have ordered more materials (pear sheet) to make a new batch of kits in October/November time

Edited August 6, 2021 by chris watton

[James H]

Ok, the HMS Sphinx Manual is now available for download.

 

About 950 photos. This has been intense!

 

https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/product/hms-sphinx-1775/

 

[Glenn-UK]

Downloaded, that's my holiday reading for next week sorted.

 

Many thanks

[James H]

16 minutes ago, glennard2523 said:

Downloaded, that's my holiday reading for next week sorted.

 

Many thanks

You're gonna need it! 

 

@chris watton told me the printer says that a complete set of plans and manual alone will be 1.7kg 😱

[mtaylor]

This is sooooo tempting me especially at the scale it is.    I guess I'll have to spend some serious time looking at the budget.  I'd love to have an English ship in the display area.

[BobG]

2 hours ago, mtaylor said:

This is sooooo tempting me especially at the scale it is.    I guess I'll have to spend some serious time looking at the budget.

Go for it, Mark...we can't take it with us!

[Kevin]

to many projects on the go, But so very Very tempted

 

like to tale the opportunity to say what a great looking kit and thank you @chris watton, and so very well presented by @James H

[DelF]

Just downloaded and skim-read the manual 

[Glenn-UK]

5 minutes ago, DelF said:

Just downloaded and skim-read the manual 

Ditto. Interesting to see that the first planking at stern was finished short of the stern post which avoids sanding the false keel thinner with a beading line.