Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[hollowneck]

Very nice conveyance, indeed!.... your Shallop is fit for an Admiral (and a Post Captain).

[Nirvana]

Could be great to have many small on display in my familyroom. Looking good.

[TJM]

Wow, this is amazing!

[chris watton]

OK, I just got word from Jim (Hatch) that the model for Harpy is now complete!

 

This means I can now complete the manual and finalise box art, and then send the files off to the printers early next week. At that point, it will be open for pre orders.

 

Thank you, Jim, another wonderful job!

 

To recap the details for the kit:

 

VM/17     HM Brig Harpy    (November release)             £425 
VM/17/XL     HM Brig Harpy (PE copper and machined blocks)      £490 

 

Scale - 1:64th

Hull Length only - 551mm

Overall Length (with boom and bowsprit) - 845mm

Overall Height - 580mm

Overall Width (Main Yard and booms) - 277mm

 

16 A0 sized plans, with 6 sheets dedicated to fully mast and rig the model, including all sheets, tacks, clews, bowlines etc.

100 page full colour construction manual.

The 2 x 3-d printed boats are inluded (18 and 22' cutter)

And lots of laser cut and engraved parts!

Edited November 17 by chris watton

[Glenn-UK]

Great news. I will be placing an order for the Harpy.

[chris watton]

OK, plans, box label and manual now sent to printers. Harpy product page is live and is now open for pre order:

 

HM Brig Harpy – 1796 – VANGUARD MODELS

 

 

 

 

[Glenn-UK]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

OK, plans, box label and manual now sent to printers. Harpy product page is live and is now open for pre order:

 

HM Brig Harpy – 1796 – VANGUARD MODELS

 

I have placed an order

[chris watton]

22 minutes ago, Glenn-UK said:

I have placed an order

Thank you, Glenn, I hope you enjoy the build!

[chris watton]

We now have LED lighting sets for peiod ships kits in stock

This lighting set is adaptable to most model ships, and is highly recommended for our HMS Sphinx and HMS Indefatigable, amongst others.

Each set includes:

10 yellow candle-effect LEDs
4 yellow continuous LEDs
Battery holder (for two AAA cells)
Button cell battery holder
Power switch
8 metres of red and black wire
0.5m of heat-shrink sleeve
1m of tin solder:
 

LED Lighting Set – VANGUARD MODELS

Edited November 18 by chris watton

[HardeeHarHar]

Hey Chris,

Are you feeling any better today?  Hope so!  Just wanted to let you know that I put in an order for the light kit, the chart table with figures, the 24 foot launch, and a couple of lantern kits.  However, I think I jumped the gun, and should have waited to get the new boats (that are clinker-builds) and the new pinnace.  Might be too late to do anything, and no blood no foul as they say, but just thought I would let you know I had screwed up (I think).  I truly hope you are feeling better mate!

Best regards to you and your business associate(s),

Brian 

[chris watton]

14 minutes ago, HardeeHarHar said:

Hey Chris,

Are you feeling any better today?  Hope so!  Just wanted to let you know that I put in an order for the light kit, the chart table with figures, the 24 foot launch, and a couple of lantern kits.  However, I think I jumped the gun, and should have waited to get the new boats (that are clinker-builds) and the new pinnace.  Might be too late to do anything, and no blood no foul as they say, but just thought I would let you know I had screwed up (I think).  I truly hope you are feeling better mate!

Best regards to you and your business associate(s),

Brian 

Thanks, Brian!

 

Still ill, dammit, but not too bad

[Cathead]

I hope your "surprise" announcement doesn't undercut sales of everything else, including the newly-released Harpy, as the modeling economy grinds to a halt while everyone waits for next Christmas... You've certainly bent the timeline of my modeling future. MSW's going to have to open a whole new section just for Surprise logs.

[chris watton]

7 minutes ago, Cathead said:

I hope your "surprise" announcement doesn't undercut sales of everything else, including the newly-released Harpy, as the modeling economy grinds to a halt while everyone waits for next Christmas... You've certainly bent the timeline of my modeling future. MSW's going to have to open a whole new section just for Surprise logs.

Well, Surprise isn't exactly 'Just around the corner', this will be a latter half of 2025 release.

[Glenn-UK]

34 minutes ago, chris watton said:

Well, Surprise isn't exactly 'Just around the corner', this will be a latter half of 2025 release.

Just in time to order after I have finished the Harpy

[oakheart]

6 hours ago, chris watton said:

will be a latter half of 2025 release.

Perfect timing for me 🙂

 

Tim

[chris watton]

I have been told that Harpy printed materials should be with me by the end of next week.

 

I have just put a deposit down on a second large laser machine, which has more power (100w) and larger bed size, with my very first little 40w machine as part exchange, as this is redundant now. Quite an investment, but I believe is necessary for the future growth of VM.

[AJohnson]

26 minutes ago, chris watton said:

 

I have just put a deposit down on a second large laser machine, which has more power (100w) 

 “Pew Pew” ⚡ that should have the Rebel Alliance quaking in the boots! 😆

 

I was going to wish you good luck on the new investment, but somehow think you will be fine - churning out 100’s of Surprises in 2026!

[Glenn-UK]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

I have been told that Harpy printed materials should be with me by the end of next week.

 

I have just put a deposit down on a second large laser machine, which has more power (100w) and larger bed size, with my very first little 40w machine as part exchange, as this is redundant now. Quite an investment, but I believe is necessary for the future growth of VM.

Good news with the Harpy as I am waiting like an expectant father for its arrival.🤣

 

I am very pleased that VM is growing and is testament to your philosophy with regards to providing high quality kits.

[chris watton]

2 hours ago, Glenn-UK said:

Good news with the Harpy as I am waiting like an expectant father for its arrival.🤣

 

I am very pleased that VM is growing and is testament to your philosophy with regards to providing high quality kits.

Thank you!

 

the machine has a 12 week lead time from ordering, so won't have it until around February.

 

For anyone interested, this is what I ordered:

 

 

Edited November 22 by chris watton

[Craigie65]

That is a serious piece of kit!

[oakheart]

On 10/15/2024 at 3:11 PM, chris watton said:

Aubrey's Surprise

Hi Chris just found this gem :-

 

 

there are others too

 

Tim

 

[chris watton]

OK, the 3-d printed boats pages have had a revamp. I was hoping to have my pinnaces and shallop by now, but still waiting for those. However, I have now available cutters, yawls and launches, all with detailed 3-d printed hulls and laser cut pear seats etc. and all 64th scale. All are clinker hulls except the 24 and 26 foot launches.

 

3D-Printed Ship’s Boats – VANGUARD MODELS

[chris watton]

After many test prints, I am NOW doing production prints for the 64th scale 32 foot pinnace. This is quite large at almost 154mm long  (so takes over 9 hours to print). The hull does include the fore and aft gratings (intergrated) and feint hull planking lines.

 

Once I have produced these, I need to laser cut the pear parts, and then this will be for sale. Also, I was waiting for this one to complete the Indy full set for 3-d printed boats (Sphinx to follow, as 28 foot pinnace is next)

Edited November 26 by chris watton

[chris watton]

Here is a pick of the first off (trial prints, not production) with the integrated fore and aft gratings - I had 2 files, one with and one without gratings, and I have chosen this one for production hulls. (Also has integrated coxwaines seats at the stern)

 

Next to the 2 test print hulls is the 14 foot yawl hull!

Edited November 28 by chris watton

[HardeeHarHar]

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

After many test prints, I am not doing production prints for the 64th scale 32 foot pinnace.

Hmmm, should that read "After many test prints, I am now doing production...".  I'm semi-confused, but not alarmed, as I am quite used to being confused in life.

[chris watton]

12 minutes ago, HardeeHarHar said:

Hmmm, should that read "After many test prints, I am now doing production...".  I'm semi-confused, but not alarmed, as I am quite used to being confused in life.

Oops, corrected, am always doing that!

[chris watton]

Will have the 32 foot pinnace on line soon, plus what you see here, the Indy 3-d printed boat full set, which replaces the laser cut frames and planking for all boats. (If ordered with an Indy, you still get the standard kit boats too)

 

32 foot Pinnace:

32′ Pinnace – VANGUARD MODELS

 

Complete Indy boat set:

HMS Indefatigable Boat Set – VANGUARD MODELS

Edited Friday at 01:41 PM by chris watton

[Glenn-UK]

Hello Chris

Is there any news on the Harpy?

 

I think you were expecting the printed material this week.

[chris watton]

3 minutes ago, Glenn-UK said:

Hello Chris

Is there any news on the Harpy?

 

I think you were expecting the printed material this week.

I am still waiting for printed materials, everything else is ready. They should not be too long now, as I know they went into production early this week, and they are all paid for.

[chris watton]

Little update:

 

We now have everything here for the Harpy, plans, manuals and box labels. All pre orders will be sent out within the next few days, so Harpy is now officially released.

 

On Monday I received the 33 foot 'Shallop' or Barge STL file. I have now printed out the first samples, both in 64th (158.5mm long) and 1:48th (over 211mm long), with the latter taking 12 hours to print.

 

I have attached the results of the very first run. On the whole, very nice, but have asked for a couple of minor changes before I start producing them. I may offer this in 48th scale, as I think this would make a nice standalone model in itself, what do you think?