chris watton Posted January 20, 2022 Author #1801 Posted January 20, 2022 I now have Fifie sail sets: Fifie Sail Set – VANGUARD MODELS Etcher, thibaultron, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Vanguard Models on Facebook
Etcher Posted January 20, 2022 #1802 Posted January 20, 2022 Okay, I’ve ordered the kit and sails now. Look forward to receiving them! thanks mtaylor, chris watton, Canute and 2 others 5 Darren Current Builds: Berlin Tram by OcCre Lady Eleanor by Vanguard
chris watton Posted January 20, 2022 Author #1803 Posted January 20, 2022 1 minute ago, Etcher said: Okay, I’ve ordered the kit and sails now. Look forward to receiving them! thanks Thank you! Canute, mtaylor, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Vanguard Models on Facebook
aferox Posted February 4, 2022 #1804 Posted February 4, 2022 Received the Sphinx kit today, and it looks amazing! After years of kit bashing some... sometimes interesting... models, this will be a new experience. Many thanks! chris watton, Ryland Craze, mtaylor and 3 others 6 Current builds: Santa Maria (multi-kit bash), Constellation (AL) Past builds: Beagle, Thermopylae (restoration), Blue Shadow, Wappen von Hamburg, Half Moon, America, Golden Hind Ships in bottles (some): Marco Polo, viking ship, Prince
Malcolm Greig Posted February 4, 2022 #1805 Posted February 4, 2022 I agree. I struggled with non Chris Watton designed kits. Have now nearly finished 3 C W designed kits. And now I am very much enjoying the hobby, and I guess that's really what's its all about. I'm sure there is other excellent kit manufactures out there, I think Syren look magnificent, there rope and blocks sure are. I'm very pleased I persevered with the hobby. regards Malcolm Rustyj, robdurant, Canute and 10 others 13 Completed builds; Caldercraft Mars; Vanguard Alert, Amati Revenge On the shelf; Vanguard DOK & the Sphinx
Etcher Posted February 4, 2022 #1806 Posted February 4, 2022 I think Vanguard kits are a good choice for someone new to the hobby. Their instructions don’t assume prior knowledge and are very clear. thibaultron, DelF, Canute and 5 others 8 Darren Current Builds: Berlin Tram by OcCre Lady Eleanor by Vanguard
chris watton Posted February 17, 2022 Author #1807 Posted February 17, 2022 Little update... I now have another 5 boats available: Cutters: 20 foot 22 foot 24 foot 25 foot And a 36 Foot Admirals Barge Ship’s Boats (various types) – VANGUARD MODELS Thanks to James Hatch! Also, I started Indefatigable designs a few weeks ago, and am currently nailing the hull designs. Throughout all this, I have had terrible toothache, culminating in tooth removal yesterday, so still feel like a bear with a sore head... The pics show the very first assembly of the first parts I cut for Indy, and other pics show the second cut of modified parts. Hull design is now set in stone, so onto deck and bulwark stuff. I decided to include full deck beams to scale, also scale distance for the upper and poop decks. I am still working on these. The only parts that are glued on the assembly are the gunport parts. This is quite large... Ronald-V, Richard44, Beckmann and 44 others 35 12 Vanguard Models on Facebook
Blue Ensign Posted February 17, 2022 #1808 Posted February 17, 2022 Love the look of the Admirals barge, better not tho ‘ I need to concentrate on Sphinx, will keep in mind for the future .......... B.E. AJohnson, mtaylor, Canute and 3 others 6 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.
AJohnson Posted February 17, 2022 #1809 Posted February 17, 2022 I recognise that Dog on the foc’sle, wow Indi is mush bigger than Nisha! 🤣 thibaultron, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 4 Andrew Current builds:- HM Gun-brig Sparkler - Vanguard (1/64) , HMAV Bounty - Caldercraft (1/64) Completed (Kits):- Vanguard Models (1/64) :- HM Cutter Trial , Nisha - Brixham trawler Caldercraft (1/64) :- HMS Orestes(Mars), HM Cutter Sherbourne Paper Shipwright (1/250) :- TSS Earnslaw, Puffer Starlight
BobG Posted February 17, 2022 #1810 Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, chris watton said: a 36 Foot Admirals Barge That's a cool little boat all by itself! 1 hour ago, chris watton said: I have had terrible toothache, culminating in tooth removal yesterday We're in the same boat, Chris. I had a tooth yanked 2 days ago! My oral surgeon was great...no pain during the extraction and the bone graft. I will be getting an implant to replace the missing tooth. It's a long process and very expensive but worth it to me. Hope you're feeling better. chris watton, Canute, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Bob Garcia "Measure once, cuss twice!" Current Builds: Hms Brig-Sloop Flirt 1782 - Vanguard Models Pen Duick - Artesania Latina 1:28 Completed: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Co. Member of the Nautical Research Guild
chris watton Posted February 18, 2022 Author #1811 Posted February 18, 2022 I didn't mention in my last post some details about the Indefatigable development. Scale is 1:64th, making the hull only a little under 890mm in length (still around 50mm longer than my Amati Vanguard in 72nd). I am basing the model on how she likely appeared in 1796/97, when she captured the French 44-gun frigate Virginie in April 1796 and her most famous action in January 1797, helping drive the 74 Gun Droits de l'Homme ashore. My research tells me that at this time, her armament was 26x 24 pounders, (I assume Armstrong pattern so this is what I have done for the kit), 18 x 42 Pounder carronades and 2 x 12 Pounder (long) chase guns (which I have done in the Blomefield pattern). So that makes 46 guns in total. It is twice mentioned in contemporary correspondence that she had 14 carronades on the quarterdeck. The original plans show space for only 6 per side, so I have amended the quarterdeck bulwarks to take the extra port into account. I will probably fit her with a flying jibboom, as this was introduced in 1794, so the finished model will be quite a size. The pictures shown above are only the very first test fits with all critical structural parts. The hull structure needs to be pretty solid due to its size, so more attention has been spent ensuring this. Need to work out a suitable figurehead. Stern will be quite basic, but am not sure if the figurehead would have been just a bust or full, as these razees were commissioned at the height of the austerity measures... Ronald-V, hollowneck, paul carruthers and 30 others 30 3 Vanguard Models on Facebook
uss frolick Posted February 25, 2022 #1812 Posted February 25, 2022 Here's an interesting article with pictures about the restoration of the Indefatigable's bust figurehead at the Liverpool Museum. It's a later Indy, a boys maritime training schoolship circa 1848, from our historical one above, but it shows, perhaps, what decor might have been used to describe "one who never tires" ... In this case, King William IV, or "King Billy". https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/indefatigable-figurehead-restoration chris watton, nehemiah, KentM and 3 others 6
chris watton Posted February 25, 2022 Author #1813 Posted February 25, 2022 10 minutes ago, uss frolick said: Here's an interesting article with pictures about the restoration of the Indefatigable's bust figurehead at the Liverpool Museum. It's a later Indy, a boys maritime training schoolship circa 1848, from our historical one above, but it shows, perhaps, what decor might have been used to describe "one who never tires" ... In this case, King William IV, or "King Billy". https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/indefatigable-figurehead-restoration Thank you Figurehead is a bit of a headache. Not so bad when they're named after places or historical/classical/mythical figures... KentM, mtaylor, Canute and 2 others 5 Vanguard Models on Facebook
chris watton Posted March 20, 2022 Author #1814 Posted March 20, 2022 Little update.. My 'new' garage conversion is now more or less complete. I now have a good electricity supply going into the workshop and have a good amount of sockets, so no more extensions snaking all over the floor. The final job was the insulated roller shutter doors. I took a couple of pics, but realised I took these after I just finished maintenance (cleaning) of the laser machines. In this room, the parts are produced, both laser cut sheets and castings. I have also added a couple of pics on my Indy prototype progress. This is the third hull since starting, and the final designs. All beams and decks above the gun deck are just dry fitted in place, to check general fit of all of these parts, the beams especially. The upper deck and poop you see are sub decks only, and they will require planking (no pre etched decks for the final kit). But I will include the etched planking on the sub decks as shown, in case some want to use as a template. Decks can be fully planked or part open, as shown. I would suggest you don't deviate too much from these openings, however, as there are 10 guns per side on the quarter and forecastle deck.. Gun deck inner bulwarks have been added (all pre-cut) as well as spirketting. Most of the outer hull will be planked in the traditional manner, though. It has been a lot of long hours to get to this stage, but I can relax a little once all critical structural parts are finalised - but these very early stages of the pre-prototype will give you an idea of what I am aiming for, for this kit. I will keep on building using this hull until I get to the stage, like my Sphinx 'throwaway' (which I still have...) where I know everything fits as it should, then over to Jim! Glenn-UK, Rustyj, gieb8688 and 47 others 32 2 16 Vanguard Models on Facebook
glbarlow Posted March 20, 2022 #1815 Posted March 20, 2022 Cool, I like the entry way sign to the “factory.” chris watton, Canute, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Regards, Glenn Current Build: Royal Barge, Medway Long Boat 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
chris watton Posted March 20, 2022 Author #1816 Posted March 20, 2022 47 minutes ago, glbarlow said: Cool, I like the entry way sign to the “factory.” My printers who do my plans and manuals did it for me, gratis. I have had it in its tube since last November, but couldn't put it up until the new door and the two large doors were fitted.. KentM, glbarlow, Fernando E and 8 others 11 Vanguard Models on Facebook
Malcolm Greig Posted March 21, 2022 #1817 Posted March 21, 2022 Fantastic workshop and the Indy looks like another winner. That workshop looks a real long way from a kitchen table. regards Malcolm Dave_E, chris watton, thibaultron and 2 others 5 Completed builds; Caldercraft Mars; Vanguard Alert, Amati Revenge On the shelf; Vanguard DOK & the Sphinx
chris watton Posted March 21, 2022 Author #1818 Posted March 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, Malcolm Greig said: Fantastic workshop and the Indy looks like another winner. That workshop looks a real long way from a kitchen table. regards Malcolm Cheers! Although I still build prototypes on dining room table... scrubbyj427, Nirvana, jpalmer1970 and 8 others 11 Vanguard Models on Facebook
chris watton Posted March 29, 2022 Author #1819 Posted March 29, 2022 OK, regarding Saucy Jack, the Barking Well Smack, thanks in no small part to James Hatch, the box art and plans and manual are with the printers. As soon as I am in receipt of the plans, manual and boxes, it can go on sale (or sail...) I have attached a pic of the box art I did yesterday, and the manual will be available to download in the usual way once the product page goes live. Price will be £137, same as Nisha. So the Saucy Jack folder has been moved from the 'Kit Designs in Progress' folder to the 'Completed Kits' folder. This is my 10th kit since 2019, Ranger will be the 11th (and the last non navy vessel for a good while). Indefatigable will be the 12th, and this is what I am working on right now, and hope to have this released this year. It is a very big project, and I did promise myself I wouldn't go too far, but as usual, I cannot help myself.... One last thing, I get emails on quite a regular basis asking when Amati Victory is out. I do not know, I do not work for Amati, so those who ask have as much idea as I do! Dave_E, coxswain, Craigie65 and 26 others 29 Vanguard Models on Facebook
chris watton Posted March 31, 2022 Author #1820 Posted March 31, 2022 Just had a new book arrive for stock: Ship Models from the Age of Sail – VANGUARD MODELS It is very nice, written by Kerry Jang, and features Speedy as one of the builds. There is reference to Chucks (Syren Models) great models, and a picture of the fantastic Winchelsea and Cheerful. Book is hardback and full colour. I shall keep one for myself... JpR62, Rustyj, coxswain and 21 others 24 Vanguard Models on Facebook
glbarlow Posted March 31, 2022 #1821 Posted March 31, 2022 Just ordered a copy. For the record, ordering from you including international shipping is less than the list price in Amazon books, plus there it’s only available as a a pre-release. Having yours and Chuck’s models makes it for me. chris watton, Ryland Craze, thibaultron and 6 others 9 Regards, Glenn Current Build: Royal Barge, Medway Long Boat 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
thibaultron Posted April 1, 2022 #1822 Posted April 1, 2022 Just ordered a copy, also. Thanks! chris watton, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 4 Ron Thibault Shipjack Carrie Price from Pyro kit, with upgraded detailing and history. Going From A 2D Drawing To A 3D Printed Part Tutorial
DelF Posted April 1, 2022 #1823 Posted April 1, 2022 Ditto! Dave_E, chris watton, Canute and 2 others 5 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
chris watton Posted April 1, 2022 Author #1824 Posted April 1, 2022 Have just ordered some more books.... Craigie65, mtaylor, Canute and 1 other 3 1 Vanguard Models on Facebook
Craigie65 Posted April 1, 2022 #1825 Posted April 1, 2022 Wow, glad I ordered mine straight away! chris watton, mtaylor, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Cheers Craig Current Build HMS Indefatigable Erycina - Vanguard Models Finished: HM Bomb Vessel Granado - Caldercraft, HMS Pegasus - Victory models, Nisha - Vanguard Models
chris watton Posted April 1, 2022 Author #1826 Posted April 1, 2022 (edited) Just a little, if regretful update: Over the past few months, material costs have risen from 10-25%, from essential materials to stuff you don't really give a second thought to, packaging materials. On top of this, in the UK at least, electricity/fuel costs are rising - this does have an impact, especially for larger kits like Sphinx, which takes a whole day of laser cutting time per kit, a lot of electricity. With this in mind, from Monday, I have to increase prices across the board by 10%. I really don't want to, but have little choice. I have swallowed any past extra cost as best I can, like the import duty costs for my materials from the EU, but I cannot soak up the new price rises for the rest of the materials I have to buy that go into each kit. Edited April 1, 2022 by chris watton Glenn-UK, scrubbyj427, Dave_E and 19 others 22 Vanguard Models on Facebook
chris watton Posted April 1, 2022 Author #1827 Posted April 1, 2022 On a happier note, Indefatigable development moves on relentlessly. I have started the first planking of the hull, which will take a few days. Still not sorted a figurehead though, but all armament, anchors and other castings type fittings have already been produced. I decided to 3-d print the majority of the belfry. This is still quite small, and the original has many shapes. I did originally design it in separate parts, with laser cut and engraved supports, but it would have been quite fiddly to assembly, and I don't like fiddly if I can help it. I then designed it with the stanchions and canopy (always a problematic shape if in wood form) as one piece, and the bell cross beam in pear. I have attached my original drawing for this, it will not look as 'clunky' as a wood only part. As with the anchors and guns, this is produced using black resin. hollowneck, Ryland Craze, usedtosail and 30 others 33 Vanguard Models on Facebook
nehemiah Posted April 4, 2022 #1828 Posted April 4, 2022 Do you sell replacement display stands for the Alert? I had a cat-related trip/ fall and crushed the one provided with the kit. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask or if the answer is immediately apparent on your site and I missed it. mtaylor, Canute and thibaultron 3
Thukydides Posted April 5, 2022 #1829 Posted April 5, 2022 3 hours ago, nehemiah said: Do you sell replacement display stands for the Alert? I had a cat-related trip/ fall and crushed the one provided with the kit. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask or if the answer is immediately apparent on your site and I missed it. I would try messaging him through the site. Chris sold me a replacement stand for Alert a few weeks back. nehemiah, mtaylor and thibaultron 3 Current Builds: HMS Perseus (Scratch) Completed Builds: Type VII C U Boat (HobbyBoss); HM Cutter Alert (Vanguard Models)
chris watton Posted April 5, 2022 Author #1830 Posted April 5, 2022 17 hours ago, nehemiah said: Do you sell replacement display stands for the Alert? I had a cat-related trip/ fall and crushed the one provided with the kit. Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask or if the answer is immediately apparent on your site and I missed it. Yes We shall sort something out once I have your details via email. scrubbyj427, nehemiah, markjay and 4 others 7 Vanguard Models on Facebook
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