HMS Sphinx 1775 by JeffT- Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[JeffT]

Well, I decided yo go ahead and get a jump on the Sphinx since I'm waiting for the instructions and plans for the Granado. A picture is worth a thousand words so not much to say here that's not already been said so here you go:

 

I have an extra set of hands to help out, thanks little dude

 

 

A courtesy dry fit shot

 

 

I wasn't sure how critical this was but wanted everything as squared as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-sanding all done. I was a little nervous about doing this off model but I just went for it.

 

 

On to the bow. Used the angle plate for this too to keep it all square.

 

 

All sanded. I left a little at the top until after attaching to the hull. I was a little worried about squaring this area off too much.

 

 

And here they are attached. All the bulkheads are glued on at this point. I glued the bulkheads on the old fashioned way...one at a time squaring each one along the way. The lower deck was glued on using the watered down glue method. I watered the glue down about 90/10. You may be able to see the pencil mark on the lower rear part of the stern section in the last picture. A little more will need to come off there when I do the final fairing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the sander I used for the off hull work on the bow and stern. It seemed to work the best for me. This is an ADC mini sander with 150 grit.

 

[Jasseji]

Another one to follow, this is turning out like a group Project (maybe we could ask the Mods for a separate Section :D)

[JeffT]

Current state of the sphinx. The only variation from the instructions is the extra support added along the false deck.

 

 

 

 

[JeffT]

Another quick update. As before, pretty much stuck to the instructions. The exception is that I painted all the bulwarks parts off the model. Next up is fairing the hull.

 

 

 

 

[Theodosius]

great start 🙂

[JeffT]

I finally have an update. I finished the first layer of planking. I was just winging it and wasn't really being too careful here as the second layer will cover everything up. I still have a bit of sanding and filling to do to make sure I have a nice smooth surface for the second layer.

 

 

 

 

[JeffT]

A quick update. I finished the second layer of planking (finally). Added some filler in the area where it will be painted and sanded smooth, nothing too exciting. The next part is, at least for me. Laying in the foreground is the main wale piece. I don't trust my skills on trying to glue this on in one big piece. I'm going to use a scalpel and try very delicately to separate it into 3 pieces. The idea is to cut along the engraved lines to hide it as best as possible. If that doesn't work out I will just plank the wales with planking material. Onward and upward.

[hollowneck]

Your basic hull looks very good; I had some difficulty conforming the single piece wale pattern and decided to plank my model’s wales. I lost the nicely laser-engraved plank scarfing lines of this detail, but after painting I’m glad I made this decision. Other builders here have successfully executed this step so it is possible. The answer: heat, water, lots of creative clamping solutions…

[JeffT]

10 minutes ago, hollowneck said:

Your basic hull looks very good; I had some difficulty conforming the single piece wale pattern and decided to plank my model’s wales. I lost the nicely laser-engraved plank scarfing lines of this detail, but after painting I’m glad I made this decision. Other builders here have successfully executed this step so it is possible. The answer: heat, water, lots of creative clamping solutions…

 Thanks Ron. I decided to plank it also.

[hollowneck]

Planking the wale will work out fine, Jeff. Don’t forget to transpose the scupper hole positions to the hull. 

[JeffT]

A question for those whomever have built the sphinx. Maybe mentioned somewhere already but I may have missed it. Is part 45c used? The part pictured below in the second picture is from a previous step. See pictures from the instructions below

 

[hollowneck]

Unfortunately, my Sphinx (neé HMS Camilla) build started after I had completed my early hull building steps.

However, check out the other build logs for Sphinx, especially Blue Ensign's (if you haven't done so already.) This stern area of the build is very demanding, correct millimeter placement and sanding are critical.

[JeffT]

Thanks hollowneck. Are you referring to the placement of the stern fascia? I saw the note in the instructions and noted the issue in the build logs. I do think I have everything positioned correctly or close to it. I'm getting ready to attach those parts soon. I was confused by the picture in step 220 as part 45c doesn't appear to be there.

[hollowneck]

21 minutes ago, JeffT said:

Thanks hollowneck. Are you referring to the placement of the stern fascia? I saw the note in the instructions and noted the issue in the build logs. I do think I have everything positioned correctly or close to it. I'm getting ready to attach those parts soon. I was confused by the picture in step 220 as part 45c doesn't appear to be there.

You're correct, the stern fascia placement is where you need to be careful. I also recall there was confusion about step #220 and the gallery finishing piece, but how this was resolved by others I'm not certain.

[JeffT]

Found it in glennards build log. The piece goes underneath the gallery.

 

[hollowneck]

Yep. That's it.

[JeffT]

Progress update. It looks like I'm a little behind on my build log. I finished most of the main hull work, just have to put the photo etch details on. Here is a couple of pics of the progress. 

 

I wanted to show how I'm assembling the ladders. I was struggling to get them squared up properly. I used an angle block to steady things up (shaky hands).

 

Here I clamped one side of the ladder to a machinist square and lined up the slot just a hair above the top of the square.

 

Then I glued the ladder step on with just a tiny bit of CA glue to be sure it didn't stick to the metal. This worked great to make sure everything was square.

 

The ladder step sits flat on top of the square and I used the back of the square as a reference to line up the step.

 

 

I did one step on both sides of the ladder on opposite ends and ended up with this.

 

Then I glued both halves together and finished installing the steps. I reinforced the steps with glue on the back sides of the steps.

 

Current progress. I really struggled with getting the quarter galleries built but it turned out okay. I had to scratch build some of the parts as the kit parts just wouldn't work. I really screwed this up somehow.  I also had to butcher one of the lower pieces of PE to get tit to fit below the lower rail. Not sure why it turned out that way.

 

I'm not sure how I will approach the PE along the port and starboard. A couple of pieces are pretty long and somewhat easy to distort. I don't know yet how I will put them on the model. I may separate them into smaller pieces.

 

I painted the top of the channel knees black to cover up the char that remained.

 

Stern view. The PE on the right is slightly off target and may have to debond and fix it, or not. The stern and the rudder were both kind of like little models all by themselves. I enjoyed the process of completing them.

 

The bow. Not a great picture but I painted the inside of the bow parts blue to cover up the char.

 

I started assembling some of the deck components while I think about the PE. I chose to have the hinges and the door handles face outwards on the forward bulkhead. I just think its a nice detail to not hide. I had to make some adjustments to the deck beams as they were a little too wide. Probably because I couldn't use the jigs after I broke all the tabs off (accidentally). I test fitted all deck beams and most needed some adjustment. Of course that means the deck itself will need some work to get a good fit 🤔

 

 

 

 

[mtaylor]

Looking good Jeff.   I bought some pencils that have wax instead of lead.  They're used by beaders so any craft store should have them.  As for securing those tiny decorative pieces, I followed the manual and used clear matt varnish both as a glue and also over the top as a protective layer.  Seems to have worked pretty good.

[JeffT]

Thanks Mark. I assume the pencils are used to hold the PE parts? I think I will try the varnish first.

[mtaylor]

Yep... I use them to pick up the PE and then to put it in place.  

[JeffT]

Another quick progress update. Most of the outer hull work is done. I ended up using water based wipe-on poly to secure the photo etch details and it worked out very well. It ended up being pretty easy to do.

 

Its turning out to be a very nice looking model.

 

[JeffT]

Another short update. I finally got all the deck stuff done. Struggling with some health issues the past several months so I've been a little slower than usual.

 

[JeffT]

Progress update. Finished all the hull stuff. A couple odds and ends to clean up but I'll do that in the end. Pressing on to building the boats and starting the rigging.

 

[Ronald-V]

That a beautiful result so far!

[JeffT]

7 hours ago, mugje said:

That a beautiful result so far!

Thanks!

[JeffT]

Its been a while since updated this log. I have started working on the masts. This is not something I usually do so I'm learning as I go.