Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[chris watton]

4 minutes ago, Blue Ensign said:

What I've been waiting for, thank you Chris.

Presumably there is more work to do on the figures before they go into production?

 

B.E.

Yes, these are the very first renders, to see if I am happy with them. I am, but there will need to be small changes based on the best way to produce them.

[Blue Ensign]

I'm not too sure about the rear view of the standing figure, there seems to be an unnatural look to the upper body, and the coat looks odd without tail vents, as per the sitting figure.

 

B.E.

[druxey]

Also, the length of the tailcoat?

[chris watton]

9 minutes ago, druxey said:

Also, the length of the tailcoat?

Needs to be shorter?

[Ronald-V]

Really cool! Would be a nice addition to my Sphinx build

[druxey]

I think so, Chris. The tails come to a little above the knee. Check contemporary full-length paintings.

 

 

[chris watton]

23 minutes ago, druxey said:

I think so, Chris. The tails come to a little above the knee. Check contemporary full-length paintings.

 

 

OK, thank you, I have sent better details to the carver.

[uss frolick]

Photo caption: "Chris and his assistant discuss Vanguard's latest project."

[Pitan]

Agree, the coat tails look long for practical wear, especially on the standing figure.
I'd question the standing figure's coat lacking a vent or split from the waist down; that may make sitting down difficult (though ladies skirts seem to work well enough).

Digging around, I found this page of a (modern interpretation) of 19^c uniforms of interest.  At the bottom of the page are images of a dress coat (with lace) and an undress coat (no lace) flanking a modern copy http://www.goblinrevolution.org/costumes/navy/.

Note, all three coats have horizontal pockets, missing on both the preview figures, together with a vent.

This wiki page may also be of interest:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy_ranks,_rates,_and_uniforms_of_the_18th_and_19th_centuries
The portrait of Sir Edward Pellew at the top of the page shows pockets on his coat tails.
If you scroll down the page, there is an illustration of 1795-1812 uniforms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy_ranks,_rates,_and_uniforms_of_the_18th_and_19th_centuries#1795–1812), with different ways of wearing epaulettes depending on rank; for example, commanders and captains with less than three years seniority wore only one epaulette, while lieutenants had none.

Going back to the figures in this post; based on his cuffs, the standing figure would be either a mid-shipman or a lieutenant, and shouldn't wear epaulettes.

[Nipper]

Chris

I'm so pleased that you've gone ahead to commission some new figures in appropriate poses to go in the cabin.  The responses above about uniform accuracy etc show how highly we are interested in this.

I've said before that your figures are the best available, certainly at 1/64, so the more you are able to extend your range, the more popular they will be!

 

Nipper

[chris watton]

I gave my carver more pictures of the uniforms, and asked to change some aspects.

 

As for me, I am doing the Harpy plans in CAD, which will take perhaps another 6 weeks (I find this aspect a slog, probably because I am now so used to the drill and know the very long hours involved...). All cut files are now done (21 separate laser cut sheets), with part numbers added to each part, and will send a set to Jim soon, so he can start his build log. Amati are in the process of doing the sample PE for Harpy for me (3 frets in 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6mm), so I shall have that in the next 2-3 weeks, I hope. I think this one will be a breeze after Indy...

[chris watton]

Changes to figures made, I said keep the epaulettes as they are shown on the source pictures my carver used.

Edited June 12 by chris watton

[Blue Ensign]

A big improvement Chris, the standing figure looks just like Rupert Penry-Jones.

Is the sitting figure  separate to the table/chair, and scaled to fit your existing furniture designs?

 

B.E.

[chris watton]

1 minute ago, Blue Ensign said:

A big improvement Chris, the standing figure looks just like Rupert Penry-Jones.

Is the sitting figure  separate to the table/chair, and scaled to fit your existing furniture designs?

 

B.E.

Cheers

 

We need to figure the best way to print them, to minimise breakages when in transit. The sitting figure may have the bottom half attached to the chair.

[Blue Ensign]

The reason I asked is because  I was thinking about retro fitting to my existing 'Indy' model.

 

B.E.

[realworkingsailor]

Neat looking figures! My only observation, as a somewhat experienced seafarer, that doesn’t look to be a particularly tenable position for the telescope. It wouldn’t take much of a roll to have it leave the table and land with a crash… 

Perhaps a set of dividers, or other navigational instruments might be safer!

 

Andy

[chris watton]

2 minutes ago, Blue Ensign said:

The reason I asked is because  I was thinking about retro fitting to my existing 'Indy' model.

 

B.E.

I commissioned the whole scene to avoid any ambiguity relating to how the figures would fit in with other parts. If they are done all together, I know they will work with all the parts supplied.

[HardeeHarHar]

57 minutes ago, realworkingsailor said:

that doesn’t look to be a particularly tenable position for the telescope. It wouldn’t take much of a roll to have it leave the table and land with a crash… 

Excellent observation.  The figures are awesome, but the telescope would not be sitting like that (at least not for long).

[druxey]

Uniform coat tails are now much better! Some buttons, perhaps? See:

 

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-71256

[chris watton]

I now have machined block sets back in stock for Indefatigable. They are walnut and look very nice indeed, but do cost me more than the machined pearwood blocks I got from Russia, so are a little more expensive.

 

HMS Indefatigable CNC Machined Walnut Block Set – VANGUARD MODELS

 

I will order sets for the other kits in time.

[chris watton]

[hollowneck]

Lovely 3D sculpts for Admiralty-style reveal builds, Chris. I'm assuming these can be had at 1:64. If so, there is some very delicate painting required as well as a removal of the base plinth.

[chris watton]

1 minute ago, hollowneck said:

Lovely 3D sculpts for Admiralty-style reveal builds, Chris. I'm assuming these can be had at 1:64. If so, there is some very delicate painting required as well as a removal of the base plinth.

The main scale will be 64th, but also 48th and perhaps 32nd.

[mnewsholme]

is it just me or do the hands look too big?

[chris watton]

13 hours ago, mnewsholme said:

is it just me or do the hands look too big?

I am printing a set now, will see how they come out, and if needed, changed again - but won't really know until the parts are actually printed.

[druxey]

If the hands are too large - and perhaps the extended one of the standing figure might be - the head is rather small for the figure's height!

[chris watton]

I think I give up on the figures

[Ronald-V]

I can imagine you go sometimes nuts Chris  

Edited June 21 by mugje

[Nipper]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

I think I give up on the figures

Please don't Chris.

 

You are always so good at sharing your thoughts and plans, but the trouble is that you can never please everybody.  I think that you yourself have said exactly this before.

I think that asking for constructive comments about a project in the planning phase is a good thing to do.  But maybe do this just once, and then use the ideas that you like and rely on your sculptor to get it right.

None of the other miniature figures I have seen (other than yours) look quite right anyway, except for the very expensive large scale ones that are intended to stand alone as a display item.

 

Nipper

 

[glbarlow]

They aren’t real people or sculptures, just toys to put on a model.  Besides I think I read somewhere that naval officers of this time period had big hands and small heads 😊