Duchess of Kingston by ECK - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64

[ECK]

So after 3 days, could not wait anymore and started my next project, the Duchess of Kingston. Quite a bit smaller than HMS Sphinx.

 

The parts fit perfectly, tight, square and feels solid.

 

[ECK]

Have completed the jigsaw puzzle of the hull. A few spots needed thinning to fit (in the stern). Now letting glue dry and will start sanding tomorrow.

[ECK]

Sanded with a small triangular orbital sander and some hand finishing, looks about right. Plank fits well.

[ECK]

The planking will now commence

[ECK]

Planking continues

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[ECK]

Pre sanding

 

 

 

 

Now post sanding

 

[ECK]

Second planking done and sanded.

With water line drawn in

 

 

[ECK]

I painted the hull early as I like to not tape and turn things over when other things attached that might pull off.

[ECK]

[ECK]

Decided to finish the bottom of the ship first so I don't have to turn it over anymore.

[ECK]

Time to add some bling to the ship!

[ECK]

Outer hull done. Next will be the deck fittings.

 

One issue that came up is that the 3D printed dome for the main entry to the stern cabins was way to small for the hole it had to cover so I had to make one out of balsa wood.

 

You can see the side by side size difference.

[ECK]

Most of deck done.

 

 

Now for the problem that vexed me .  The stern rails pillars are extremely fragile. The are much smaller than on the Sphinx. The grain also goes across so easily brocken, which of course I did. Multiple times and as a result I had to remove them all and fashion new ones from 3x2 mahogany strip. I drilled holes on top and bottom to pin them in. With paint and all worked ok. Not perfect and clean as the original but much sturdier. Otherwise I would have to have an entire sheet sent from across the pond.  Unless you are very close, I think it looks ok. I think the rails and pillars would be best 3-D printed.

Another issue is that the pictured cannon assembly in the manual is not the same as the parts with the kit in that the the holders of the cannan are integral to the piece and not something you add later. Assembly is as seen in the HMS Sphinx instructions.

 

[ECK]

Hull finally finished except for the anchors. Masts start tomorrow.

 

[ECK]

Masts and bowsprit done

 

[ECK]

Yards done and mounted. I prefer doing some of their rigging now for easier access. Next will start the shrouds this weekend. In the background you can see a future product, another Chris Watton project designed in an earlier life. Likely will do the Indy first as I ordered it immediately when it became available.

[ECK]

Shrouds all done. Will be doing stays but order will be a bit off as I ran out of 0.75 mm black thread and am awaiting an order I placed to come in so will be doing rigging with the other sizes in the mean time.

[rcmdrvr]

Wow, you build very rapidly.

[ECK]

I usually spend a couple of hours on week days and 4-5 on weekend days. As we have an empty nest it gives me something to do after walking the dog. I find it very stress relieving after work to decompress although occasional profanity when something messes up during the build. For example, I accidentally used 0.25 mm thread on the upper shrouds instead of 0.1 so had to redo although easy as the ratlines were already in and glued. The kit instructions are also very well easy to follow especially after doing some others which were not

 

[rcmdrvr]

Well, it looks like the hours you spend at the work bench are very productive.  I find there are two kinds of mistakes.  The "best" are those that you can correct; the "worse" are those that cannot be corrected and must be lived with,  worked around or hidden.

[ECK]

Well, finally finished her. Nice little project. Don't know what to do until I get my Indy . I have HMS Swan you can see in the background but hate to start because I would have to put her aside when Indy arrives.

 

Few shots Of Admiral Cochrane visiting for scale

Anchored next to HMS Sphinx, HMS Agamemnon in backgrond

[ccoyle]

Nice! Congratulations!

[Barryc]

Beautiful!

 

Barry