HMS Flirt by Dfell - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64

[Dfell]

Hello – have decided to do HMS Flirt as my next build having seen the excellent reviews and build logs of various Vanguard Models ships on this site.

Chris Watton has certainly done a beautiful job and was somewhat hesitant to make a start on this build as it will probably be downhill from here and not do Chris any justice even though the instruction book is a work of art on its own.

Have followed James H and gone for a white background instead of my usual black but have not as yet got any clever photoshop programs to improve the backdrop.

 

Anyway first stage done. For some reason which I don't know why I decided to fill in the vertical gap on bulkhead 10 using the part from the mdf sheet. Door fixed in place and a small eyelet and blobs of glue for door handle.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Regards

 

Doug

[DelF]

Hi Doug. I'll follow with interest, especially given Flirt's close resemblance to Speedy which I really enjoyed building.

 

Derek

 

PS  I like the door, btw

Edited October 6, 2021 by DelF

[yvesvidal]

Another great kit to follow. I am in.

 

Yves

[Dfell]

Hello - just a small update. Following the instructions as laid out beautifully  by Chris Watton and James H.

 

Deck supports in place

 

 

The Stern Frame Patterns fitted and then a slightly worrying time getting the main Deck in place. It all clicked into place and no need of any weights to hold it down while glue dried.

 

 

 

Stern Counter in place along with the Stern Board. Have thinned the mdf where the Stern Post fits.

 

 

 

 

 

Just more sanding to make sure the run of the first hull planking will be smooth.

 

Going to have to find a way to get the background without a blue tint - guess colour balance is wrong.

 

Anyway thanks for looking.

 

Regards

 

Doug

[glbarlow]

Nice to see another Flirt underway, and glad I’m past this stage on mine. Very clean work.

 

You can reduce the blue tint by adjusting white balance to a warmer setting, try daylight or cloudy instead of auto if a camera there is a slider in edit photos if a iPhone 

[Dfell]

Hello glbarlow - thank you with help with the tint. Seeing the images on my iPhone the background is grey and when I upload the images to the site from my pc the background is blue. Am using a Nikon D3100 camera but it’s a bit too clever for me - am trying to sort the colour balance via it’s software.

Hope you don’t mind am using your good build as a very helpful guide / inspiration along with the manual.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Doug

[glbarlow]

16 minutes ago, Dfell said:

Hope you don’t mind am using your good build as a very helpful guide

I’m glad you find my log helpful, that’s always my goal. 
 

Your Nikon 3100 should have a white balance setting, I’m a Nikon shooter as well (mine are D850, Z7, and Z7ii). 
Press the menu button and select the photo shooting menu, scroll down to the Whit Balance. It’s likely in Auto which is great for most things but will vary for every shot. There should be choices, I think cloudy will give you a consistent warmer look. And if not your photos look great, a perfect white background shot is hard to achieve without the right lighting and settings. It’s why my log photos are just at my workshop top with an iPhone. I only do white background for the finished photos. 

[BobG]

I just found your build log, Doug, so I'll follow along too since I'm about to start building the Flirt also. I look forward to seeing your progress.

[Dfell]

Hello - further progress. One step I'm glad to get done - the 1st planking. Although not great it is least a sound base for the 2nd planking - hopefully.

 

 

 

 

 

The Stern area - started the second planking.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for looking in and the past comments and 'Likes'.

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by Dfell

[Dfell]

Hello - just a quick update on progress. Have finished stern counter. Decided to cut the pieces exact around window area so to minimise sanding as the area around on the inside had been painted in the red.

 

 

 

 

The 'master plank' on both sides laid as instructed. Looks a bit wavy to me - maybe did not fit the Bulwark Patterns too well.

 

 

 

 

I may be some time - the dreaded 2nd planking now has to be done....

 

Regards

 

Doug

Edited November 26, 2021 by Dfell

[Dfell]

Hello - Hopefully you all are having a good Christmas. Second planking from the wale down done using super glue and planks cut to a lengthof 13.5 cm.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for looking and past 'likes'.

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

 

 

[glbarlow]

Nice work!

[Theodosius]

Promising start! 🙂

[Dfell]

Hello - Further steps forward. Have mounted the deck veneer onto thin ply as I thought it would be easier to get flat off the model as the veneer had a few ripples / undulations.

 

 

Deck glued in place and protected with a vinyl film. The inner Bulwarks lined and gun and oar ports opened up. 

Have mixed a colour slightly brighter than the standard red ochre / red oxide although it possibly doesn't show.

Just need to do a 2 x1 mm strip along bottom edge.

 

 

 

 

Bottom strip in place and protective deck cover off although will cover it again for the next stage which is the rest of the hull planking and wales.

 

 

 

Thank you for looking and the previous encouraging comments and 'Likes'

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

 

[glbarlow]

Excellent start. 

[Blue Ensign]

Looks good to my eye Doug.👍

 

 

B.E.

 

[Dfell]

Thank you glbarlow and Blue Ensign. Doing my best  - greatly helped by the excellent step by step instructions with lovely photos by James H and the kit quality by Chuck.

Thanks for looking.

 

Regards

 

Doug

[Dfell]

Hello - second hull planking completed with gun ports etc opened. For some strange reason did not have enough strips to do the job hence the lighter maple strip. Short by 4 strips - top row and a strip either side for the Wale.

 

 

 

 

Used masking tape to position top of Wale.

 

 

Wale completed but have followed glbarlow example in adding the Stern Side Counters while doing the Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for looking.

 

Doug

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2022 by Dfell

[glbarlow]

That's a good looking planking job, well done. The flow of the wales and counter also looks nice. I believe Chris will send extra planking if you come up short, I recall I didn't have much to spare either.

[BobG]

The planking looks very good, Doug. 

 

I'll be doing the first planking soon and I am currently studying up on lining off the hull and then using Chuck's method of planking.

 

I can't quite tell from your photo but it looks like you used a planking butt shift pattern on the second planking...? Assuming you did, what pattern of shift did you use? Also, did you need to use any drop planks or stealers on the final planking?

[Dfell]

Hi - thank you for the comments.

 

BobG - used 3 butt shift with the planks being 13.5cm in length. Find it easier to shape and glue down if I just have to concentrate on either the stern or bow. Don’t do any thinking / marking up - just get on with it. Some times one can over think the job or in my case it’s too hard to think it through. Find the first planking gives clues on how to / where to get it right. Once two thirds down will work up a couple of strips from keel and then muddle through in between. My get out clause is on all my builds so far have white hulls so can covering things up 😕

 

2 small stealers each side at stern and no drop planks at bow.

 

The Stern Side Counters in the instructions are done at a later stage but it seemed as glbarlow did more sensible to add them while doing the Wales.

 

Thanks

 

Doug

[Theodosius]

That is great 🙂

[BobG]

11 hours ago, Dfell said:

used 3 butt shift

 

I've tried searching MSW for a diagram of butt shift patterns but can't seem to find an explanation or a diagram. Do you have a reference link that would show these but shifts?

[Dfell]

BobG - hopefully this helps
 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/24308-looking-for-the-correct-sequence-and-terminology-for-deck-plank-butt-shift/

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

[Dfell]

Hello - feel like a major milestone has been reached. Hull completed although had an issue with establishing the waterline.

With the hull sitting on the stand found the bottom keel was not level - lower at the stern. Noticed on plans where showing the keel level the waterline goes downwards towards bow. Have decided to do the waterline parallel to the keel and the keel level as I will be mounting Flirt on small brass columns.

Hopefully this has not been a mistake.

 

 

Rudder ready to be fitted.

 

 

 

Rudder fitted.

 

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

 

[glbarlow]

3 hours ago, Dfell said:

not been a mistake.

Nice crisp paintwork, so important to do right yet some seem to splash it on, well done. 
 

Ultimately it’s up to you and seems you’re committed now. However the model will appear unleveled once mounted in my opinion. I used two different height brass pedestals to account for the natural waterline. I believe the provided stand also accounts for this and could be used to mark the line. 
 

I think it would be hard to change course from here on the paint but you may want to see how it looks with the sheer parallel to the stand verses the keel. 

[Blue Ensign]

Your hull looks very nice Doug.

Looking at the Flirt blurb it looks like there is a drag at the stern, which means the waterline would be lower at the bow.

The stand would have been designed to reflect this and bring the waterline level.

However, your waterline doesn’t strike my eye as looking odd, and if mounted on level  pedestals won’t attract the eye,

 

Cutters in particular are noted for stern drag and on the Alert model the waterline at the bow is markedly lower than at the stern.

 

B.E.

[Dfell]

Hello glbarlow - yes it was a difficult decision. Kept looking at it on the stand and felt the keel not being level was harder to take compared to how much the stern was raised up. Anyway cannot change it now 😕

Just hoping when the masts etc are in place it will look okay.

 

Blue Ensign - thank you for the explanation. Maybe I should have put this up for advise before doing anything. At the time did not think the stern was raised too much and thought might get away with it.

 

I apologise to Chris for not doing what he had designed as it should be.

 

Regards

 

Doug

 

 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Dfell

[glbarlow]

You may want to check the rake of the masts mounted this way, or maybe it will look like it’s charging forward 😂

[Dfell]

Hello glbarlow - yes I did. Seemed just about okay and when I come to properly fit them should be able to make some adjustments if needed. Thanks.

 

Doug