Queen Anne Royal Barge circa 1700 by Blue Ensign - FINISHED - Syren Ship Models - 1:24 scale

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Matt, Bob, and Glenn.

 

@ Matt -  here's a photo of our last visit in 2019 before the world went mad.

 

Looking down on Staithes my favourite village, and anticipating the wonderful Fish and Chips and Ale we will enjoy when we get there.

 We will certainly be re-visiting Staithes if the weather is kind to us, as it was in 2019.

 

@ Glenn -  I think the Hobbits live in the Middle lands of England, based on where Tolkein lived for many years, I go to Yorkshire to escape them 😀

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

[Ian_Grant]

Beautiful area. And I recognize your dog from previous postings.

[Blue Ensign]

Post Forty-six

 

Flag staffs and Flags.

 

Two Flag staffs are required to be made from provided dowel.

The staffs have decorative features in the form of wooden balls, but there is scope to elaborate the decoration if desired.

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I added extra balls and enhanced the Truck slightly.

 

One small puzzlement I had was that with the staffs cut to the plan dimensions the Fore-staff was the same height as the Main-staff when fitted.

Completed Broadside photos seemed to indicate that the Fore-staff was slightly shorter.

 

Chuck has provided two flags to adorn the Barge, The Royal Standard and the Union Flag.

 

The Royal Standard is of the period 1704-1714, and the Union Flag 1606 – 1800.

Both are produced using the print on tissue paper method, in my opinion by far the best medium for model boat purposes, unless those models are very large indeed.

 

For hoisting the flags, I will use a series of Ribands to secure the Flag, with the topmost ring attached to the mast truck.

 

The Royal Standard

Before I started messing with the flags I took the precaution of taking copies just in case things went pear-shaped.

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The copies were printed on Modelspan tissue.

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One of the spares was attached to a jury staff to allow me to play with folding and draping technique.

I wanted to get the feel for how the flag would perform during this stage without risking the kit provided versions.

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The flag was wetted down using the spray fixative and teased into shape.

 

The proper Standard was then fixed to the Flagstaff.

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I had a slight issue with the top of the hoist tearing away from the staff but the fixative held it in place once set.

I was after a loose drape so as not to obscure too much of the colourful design of the standard.

 

The Union Flag

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The kit provided Union Flag.

These are always more problematical with the tissue method because when draped the transparency allows the red cross to show thro’ the white sections giving the impression that the ink has run.

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This is the effect I mean and this version will not stand.

 

I couldn’t seem to get the drape I was after and was not at all happy with this result.

Nothing for it but to print off some Union Flags onto Modelspan. I used 21gsm weight.

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I had thought that the Union Flag was a tad large for the Foremast and would likely to cover the foremost oarsman at the bow.

I reduced the size a tad for these Mk 2 versions and added a hem to the hoist side.

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The Mk 2 flag attached to the staff; it has been sprayed with fixative to seal the colours.

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The Flag staffs are not glued in place and the flags may receive a little more dressing before the final display.

In the final stages now and back to completion of the oars.

 

B.E.

23/07/21

 

 

 

[bruce d]

It just keeps getting better. That is beautiful.

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Bruce, nearly there now. 🙂

 

Post Forty-seven

 

Dressing the oars.

The kit provides a stylised Dolphin design to decorate the face of the oar blades.

These are printed on paper and require close cutting before gluing to the blades.

 

I started with a No11 scalpel blade, but found that small pointed scissors proved a better means of cutting without tearing. Even so it proved quite a time consuming business.

 

I used 6mm Tamiya tape to ensure an equal placing distance from the blade tip.

 

The designs are ‘handed’ for port and starboard oars.

 

Once applied using dilute pva, the edges were painted around, and a coat of w-o-p applied to the design.

The final act is to add thin strips around the tip of the blade to represent a binding used to prevent the blade tip splitting.

I understand that Leather, tin, or perhaps copper strips were used for this purpose.

 

I decided to use copper for no other reason than I liked it but this is a Royal Barge and one can imagine the sunlight flashing off the blade tips as the oars moved with the stroke.

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All work is now completed on this build which is not the same as finished.

There is a stand to prepare, and some faffing and fussing with the model before the final build photos are presented.

 

B.E.

24/07/21

[BobG]

Gorgeous, BE!

[gjdale]

Outstanding B.E. - but then again, we have come to expect nothing less from you! 👏👏👏

[glbarlow]

Really great result.  Nice work!

[DelF]

Superb. I’ve never tried flags as I didn’t think I could get them to look realistic, but you’ve nailed it. 

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you, Bob, Grant, Glenn, and Derek, your continued support is much appreciated, as are those who  visit and 'like'

 

@ Derek, the beauty of Modelspan flags is that you can print off as many as you like and tweak them to size. If you mess one up there's always another. 🙂

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

Post Forty-eight

 

Completion

I decided I would keep the display simple using the keel support stands supplied in the kit.

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These were glued to a strip of ⅛” Castello Boxwood 3” x 24” left over from my Cheerful Build.

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This was dyed Jacobean Dark Oak. I normally baulk at dyeing Boxwood but the piece was handy and in its natural colour was too pale for the scheme.

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For space saving I have gone with the oar racks arrangement and the whole model fits in a space of 5½” wide by 24” long by 10” high.

Not sure whether I will get an acrylic cover to fit over the model at this stage as it is relatively easy to dust.

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I have re-visited the Oarsman and adjusted his dress.

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I recall that Jason (Beef Wellington) suggested:-

 Think if you can get a little more 'flounce' to the bottom of the jacket to differentiate from the breeches they'll look great.

I took his advice and I think the figure does indeed look better.

It was also necessary to tweak the arm/hands position to accommodate the loom of the oar.

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Not sure I can face the making of another nine oarsmen, but I think I will keep the one with the display.

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As always there are areas I feel I could have done better but overall I am pleased with the result and have something very nice to add to my collection.

 

Thoughts about the kit

This Royal Barge offering from Syren is a very fine thing indeed. An interesting and rather unique subject at a scale that allows for clear detail.

This is a kit with many pre spiled laser cut parts, but it doesn’t feel like a kit, and any thoughts of a simple assembly job should be dismissed.

Chuck has produced a design that allows the modeller to experience a futtock and frame assembly and offers an introduction to carving decoration.

Great care and thought is required throughout and the end result is a model that clearly echoes the splendid admiralty style models displayed partly in-frame.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this build and the challenges presented, and have no hesitation in commending this kit to the membership.

Thank you, Chuck, for five months of concentration, joy, and a little frustration.

 

 

B.E

26/07/21

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by Blue Ensign

[Chuck]

She looks wonderful. Yes i deed this is what I would call an advanced kit.  But when completed with care as you have done…would look right at home next to the most accomplished scratch built barges and contemporary examples as well.

 

you did a wonderful job putting this kit together.

[glbarlow]

Wow, the completed model and display is vivid and simply outstanding! Well done, definitely a model to be justly proud. 
 

So what’s next?

[Ryland Craze]

Beautiful model.  I have enjoyed following your build log and intend to reference it when I build my Queen Anne barge model.

[JpR62]

What a pleasure to have been able to follow this build and the result is just magnificent. You can be proud of this beautiful barge.

Can't wait to see your next model !

[DelF]

Another superbly well executed and visually very attractive model. The figures really help to bring the barge to life. I just hope that man has a firm grip on his oar - regicide is still a capital offence! 

 

Derek

[Richard44]

Absolutely marvellous BE. Congratulations, and like others, I'm looking forward to your next build 👍.

 

Cheers

[BobG]

Another spectacular model and outstanding build log, BE! This is exactly what we've come to expect from your craftsmanship and creativity. 

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Guys for your generous comments, and a special thanks to Chuck for making all this possible.

 

As for what's next, I have completed six models over the past two years of various scales and types, so I'll wait awhile before I decide.

 

In the meantime I do have Chuck's little Double Capstan kit on the shelf, and I've thought that it may make a nice little addition to the case of my Pegasus model. 🙂

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

 

[Hubac's Historian]

You have made a wonderful model, B.E., and it has been a pleasure to watch your meticulous care and attention to all details, great and small.  While Chuck makes an excellent kit, it still requires great talent and finesse to bring it to its fullest realization.  Congratulations on a job well done!

[Beef Wellington]

Congratulations on completing another amazing build, once again a gold standard in build logs and execution.  I love how you the figures came together, they really add to the aura of the model.  The technique of using fixative on the flags is definitely something to store away in the memory banks.

[Landlubber Mike]

Another masterpiece BE!  Congratulations on a fantastic build.  Looks incredible, great job!

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you, Hubac, Jason, and Mike, much appreciated. 👍

 

B.E.

 

[drjeckl]

BE, been following about mid-stream during this build.  Wonderful job, a real beauty; oh, the queen too.  And after you finished, just for kicks,  I did your Pegasus log, end-to-end.  Took me, well lets just say, a while.  Just couldn't believe all the things you found that were questionable about that kit.  And how you fairly easily pivoted to what was legitimate for that time.  And at the end, the recovery process; wow.  I particularly liked the way you used your crew to validate something, like the footropes.  I said, I needed that.  Went to Shapeways and bought a 6-person aloft crew.

 

Again, outstanding on the Barge, the beautiful model and the great log.  Thank you for sharing.

 

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you John for your generous words, glad you liked the Pegasus log, she was a long time in the making, seven years on the stocks, but she remains one of my favourites. 🙂

 

B.E.

Edited July 31, 2021 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

Postscript

 

Today my latest pictorial build record arrived from the printers covering my Royal Barge build.

A few sample  pages.

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I find compiling a record such as this a nice way to wind down from a build before the next one is started.

 

Still undecided about a next main project I am going to continue adding Watermen to the model, a chance to improve my figure conversion skills.

My idea is to add a maximum of five oarsmen to the boat if things go well.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

05/08/2021

 

[PRS]

That book is an awesome idea. 

 

Everything looks great!

[Tigersteve]

Very nicely done!

Steve

[drjeckl]

So that's why your photos look so good...You're making a book of them.  Ahhh...yes!  Nice companion to the build.

 

[glbarlow]

This is such a great idea. Well done!