HMS Sphinx 1775 by Blue Ensign - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[Stephen schultz]

Exceptional work and build log.  Thank you for sharing as all followers and commenters clearly gained much pleasure from you efforts and skill.  Thank you and congratulations on a superior result.

[druxey]

Congratulations: lovely work and display.

[Hubac's Historian]

On 10/14/2022 at 11:54 AM, Blue Ensign said:

Post One hundred and Seventy-three

 

A question of display

 I thought about making a support arrangement of keel blocks supplemented by small cradles much in the way that I did for Pegasus. (below) It is quite a time-consuming set-up and has implications for Sphinx where the display case height is already fixed.

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Fortunately, I rather like the clear acrylic stands provided by Chris, they are nicely designed, unobtrusive, and fulfil the purpose.

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The engraved nameplate for Sphinx I like very much.

 

How to display the other items within the case is also on my mind but having made them I certainly don’t want to omit the three ships boats.

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At present Sphinx sits atop Cheerful purely for convenience but this won’t be the final display location.

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I could play around endlessly with positioning the other items within the case, but this is fairly pleasing on my eye, and Life is simply too short.

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The case also provides a convenient home to display Syren’s splendid little Double Capstan model.

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Cover on time….

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This is where Sphinx will be displayed at least for the present.

 

Not ideal as the low level means clear viewing of her highly decorative stern is tricky. Not that it matters as I’m not open to the public, and I know what it’s like.😉

 

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By pure good fortune the base slips neatly between the legs of the Console table currently displaying Pegasus.

 

It is perhaps appropriate that the two ships are displayed together, both being sixth rates of the same era.

 

The models also share a common heritage, both being designed by the talented Mr Watton, altho’ with a good number of years in-between.

 

It was partly that I already had a fully masted and rigged Sixth rate that I didn’t feel too badly about consigning the kit masting and rigging elements to the spares box.

 

This is not quite the end of my Sphinx journey as I now have to move onto compiling a pictorial build record book as I have done with all my builds.

 

I will return with something considerably smaller for my next project.

 

Regards,

 

 

B.E.

14/10/2022

 

 

This is such a remarkable build across the board, and as you always manage to do - the bar is set high.  You are creating an incredible collection of work, and my hat is off to you, once again, B.E.

 

All the best,

Marc

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Very well done!

[Blue Ensign]

Cheers Guys,

 

As it happens in the past week, I have received my printed pictorial build album.

 I have done one of these for all my builds, it is a shame not to use all those build photos and record those internal details lost from view.

 

A few pages to give a flavour.

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Once again, thanks for your support, much appreciated.

 

 

B.E.

05/11/2022

 

 

 

[Rik Thistle]

BE,

 

Although I haven't commented on this built I've keenly followed it.

 

Apart from the wonderful craftsmanship, I think you have got the art of displaying models nailed. Too often I see lovely models swamped inside an overbearing display unit....not the case here! The eye is drawn immediately to the model.

 

And the book is a wonderful idea, which I've seen you do on your other models. I imagine there is no little amount of work required in laying out the book prior to it getting published.

 

I can visualise you sitting in that comfortable armchair, next to the displays, flicking through the pages of the book with a suitable beverage in hand ...and a big smile 🙂

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard

[Dave_E]

I love the build log “book”! What a great idea. 👍😀

[BobG]

That's a beautiful book, BE! 

[DocRob]

Your build log is as exceptional, as your finished HMS Sphinx is. The look and decoration of your Sphinx is somewhat different from other builds and a pleasure to look at. I will store your build log for when I start my Sphinx build. It's such a great reference, well documented and the pictures are very helpful and of high quality. Thanks for that.

 

Cheers Rob

[Mrivas1804]

congratulations on your magnificent construction
I just bought a sphinx kit
and I would like to follow your construction guide
I see that you have used a printed paper for the stern decoration that I love
would you be so kind to share it
thanks in advance
a greeting

[Blue Ensign]

Hi,

The pattern was taken from Chuck Passaro’s Winchelsea build and he gave me permission to use a modified version on my Sphinx build.

The artwork was designed by Chuck and out of courtesy I would message him and confirm that he is ok with your use.

 

I see this is your first post on the forum, it would be nice if you introduced yourself in the New members section.

 

B.E

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

congratulation to finishing fantastic work and ship. V. 

[AJohnson]

Congratulations B.E. on another great build

[Timmo]

Great work BE.

I've drifted away from ship modelling for a bit so missed most of this build an am having a great time catching up. Fine work indeed on a fine kit. You've nailed the aesthetic of the period. I'm seriously considering a Vanguard kit now as scratch building's so time consuming.  

[Blue Ensign]

Thanks for looking in Timmo, good to hear from you.

 

Even the excellent  Vanguard kits still offer a little scope for scratch indulgence.

With Sphinx it is the Great cabin and Qtr galleries that mainly sated my desire to meddle, but Chris took away that option with the Indy kit and kindly made the modification for the benefit of kit modellers in general. 😉

 

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

[rshoker]

This build log was a fantastic help to me as I get back into model building, and picking up a several year old project of the Brig Perry. I bought the pre Blue Jacket Boucher hull and decided to have a go at it. Picking up a project after it has lain dormant for years has been a bit of a challenge. But thanks to this community of builders, I will give it another go. Thanks for taking the time to share your talent and methods. 

[Blue Ensign]

You're welcome, and thanks for looking in on my build, glad you found it of use.

 

B.E.

[Nipper]

On 6/30/2022 at 5:49 PM, Blue Ensign said:

Problem solved for me but I believe the one sized middle and lower chains of the Sphinx kit may create issues for other builders, in relation to the Main Channels.

 

That remains to be seen.

BE - It certainly has created issues for me too!  After a lot of experimenting with the different components of the chains, I've concluded that the best way out of this is to use some 0.5mm wire to make my own upper links on the main chains - a potential solution that you had identified until you found that your old Pegasus chain sets would do the job.

 

I've looked at the other Sphinx build logs and only Hollowneck seems to have had the same problem, but some of the other Sphinx models have the lower bolt of the preventer plates on the wale itself, not on the upper strake of the wale, which does not look right at all.

 

So thanks once again BE for your detailed build log, which has helped me find a way through this problem.

 

Nipper

 

 

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Cheers, Nipper,  I get a feeling of great satisfaction that my log has helped others, part of what we're here for I think.

 

B.E.