Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[James H]

Not just a makeover, totally built from the ground upwards.

 

You won't believe the work involved in keeping the old site online, and then the constant battles with flaky software etc. It wasn't viable, so good riddance to it!!

 

A million % improvement!!

[mgatrost]

Wow 😮 The new site looks great. I never really noticed anything wrong with the old site, but after seeing the new one you can really tell what a huge update it is. It’s obvious you put a lot of thought into it. Congratulations!

[AJohnson]

Awesome Chris, good luck with the new site. 

[chris watton]

I should mention this:

 

A lot of the customer gallery photos are missing. This is because the old website decided to lock us out completely just before the changeover, and before we had finished exporting the files for all the photos the customers sent us, so only a few got through.

 

We will need to rebuild this gallery over the coming months - but for those who no longer see their pictures in the gallery, don't worry, it's not that we didn’t want them, on the contrary, it's just that we just couldn't not export them before the old site decided to throw a wobbly. We did manage to export all existing customer info though, the customer photos was the very last task to changeover.

 

Oh, also, for anyone in the UK, we will have a stand at SMS 50TH Anniversary Exhibition: 10-12 June at Portsmouth! No idea what this will be like....

Edited March 13 by chris watton

[alde]

Chris, I don't know if this is answered somewhere else but I'm wondering if the upcoming HMS Surprise will be based on the actual 18th century ship or the movie ship? I will be getting it either way but I'm just curious. 

 

Thanks, Al

[Murphys77]

Hi Chris, nice new website!

But, you haven't posted a pic of yourself designing a model of the Tyger have you?

A new Vanguards release perhaps?

All the best!

M.

[chris watton]

8 hours ago, alde said:

Chris, I don't know if this is answered somewhere else but I'm wondering if the upcoming HMS Surprise will be based on the actual 18th century ship or the movie ship? I will be getting it either way but I'm just curious. 

 

Thanks, Al

The kit will be based off the original lines of the Unité-class corvette, launched in 1794 and captured in 1796 and renamed Surprise. There will be an option to buy either the original 32-Pounder carronade main battery, or, as standard in the kit, 24 x 9-Pounder long guns as per the novels. Same applies for main pumps. There will be 2 figureheads, one as per the original (or as near as dammit, as what a weird figurehead..), or a choice of one more like in the novels/movie.

[chris watton]

7 minutes ago, Murphys77 said:

Hi Chris, nice new website!

But, you haven't posted a pic of yourself designing a model of the Tyger have you?

A new Vanguards release perhaps?

All the best!

M.

Thank you

[alde]

4 hours ago, chris watton said:

The kit will be based off the original lines of the Unité-class corvette, launched in 1794 and captured in 1796 and renamed Surprise. There will be an option to buy either the original 32-Pounder carronade main battery, or, as standard in the kit, 24 x 9-Pounder long guns as per the novels. Same applies for main pumps. There will be 2 figureheads, one as per the original (or as near as dammit, as what a weird figurehead..), or a choice of one more like in the novels/movie.

Thanks for the detailed response. That's really good of you to have both options available. I love the book series and the movie but I'm pretty sure I would prefer the 1796 option. 

[No Idea]

Fantastic website Chris - easy to navigate and the ships look amazing.  I don't know how you make such lovely models for the price - they are a bargain for the result that builders get!

[chris watton]

Awful quality pics, but these show the very first assembly of Surprise - No glue, all dry fitted.

[Thukydides]

Fantastic! I like how your designs are giving more and more options for opening up more of the ship.

[ccoyle]

I keep telling myself I'm going to have to build one of your kits before I die. Maybe this is the one? 😮

[glbarlow]

Place my order 😎

[chris watton]

Most of the parts are just MDF for this first build, as I know this is just to test what I have already done, and a few things will be tweaked, and the hull then thrown away..

 

There are scale deck beams for both the gun deck and upper deck, which will be in 4mm thick pear for the kit. There will be a little detail on the lower deck (although you will not be able to really see it)

 

This will be my first design that does away completely with a ply sub deck. With scale spaced beams, a sub deck isn't really needed, so a 'Floating' laser engraved deck will be included (Or you can discard the supplied deck and plank as you like...)

 

I have also designed the bow so that the gun deck isn't cut off by the forward most bulkheads, as is usually the case, but goes all the way forward. (Including the bow chaser/bridle port being framed) . Am yet to see how well this works out...

 

Overall length will be around 1176mm including the bowsprit and mizzen boom.

 

Oh, and I have my new laser machine arrive a week today!

Edited Friday at 10:24 AM by chris watton

[brunnels]

16 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I have also designed the bow so that the gun deck isn't cut off by the forward most bulkheads

One of the first things I noticed, I really like the new design.  Do you know what ships boats will come with the kit yet?  Also do you plan on using photo etch or 3d print for the toasted cheese?

[chris watton]

1 minute ago, brunnels said:

One of the first things I noticed, I really like the new design.  Do you know what ships boats will come with the kit yet?  Also do you plan on using photo etch or 3d print for the toasted cheese?

Yes, they will all be 3-d printed hulled boats, cutters, launch and pinnace.

 

Not sure about the toasted cheese...

 

Here is the work being done on the figurehead, another will be included, so there'll be a choice..

 

 

[wvdhee]

Stunning! Put me down for one 😍

It's a very Dutch thing to ask, but money wise will it be like Indy?

[chris watton]

10 hours ago, wvdhee said:

Stunning! Put me down for one 😍

It's a very Dutch thing to ask, but money wise will it be like Indy?

I am hoping to have this a couple of hundred Pounds cheaper than Indy. A new box will be needed, a little smaller than Indy, at around 850mm length (largest laser cut sheets will be 800mm)

 

OK, for the main pumps, I cannot run away from the fact that the real thing had 6 hand pumps, 3 per side of the Main Mast. This fact is even mentioned in one of the books I am using for reference. As with the Indy and her hand pumps, I cannot ignore this, so this is what my Surprise shall have as standard. However, I shall try (as in remember) to include an alternatve chain pump set in the kit, to give the modeller the choice.

 

For the main armament, however, I will include as standard 24 x 9-Pounder carriage guns, and offer the 32-Pounder carronades as an optional extra (cannot include both in the kit, as the price would be higher)

 

But, early days yet, still a lot to do...

Edited Friday at 05:38 PM by chris watton

[Ronald-V]

4 hours ago, wvdhee said:

Stunning! Put me down for one 😍

It's a very Dutch thing to ask, but money wise will it be like Indy?

😐

 

😁

[Blue Ensign]

18 hours ago, chris watton said:

 

 

I have also designed the bow so that the gun deck isn't cut off by the forward most bulkheads, as is usually the case, but goes all the way forward. (Including the bow chaser/bridle port being framed) . Am yet to see how well this works out...

 

 

A nice improvement Chris, to add to your list of   scale modifications.👍

The fore most kit bulkheads always present difficulties when you like to model the Manger.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

[AJohnson]

4 hours ago, chris watton said:

OK, for the main pumps, I cannot run away from the fact that the real thing had 6 hand pumps, 3 per side of the Main Mast. This fact is even mentioned in one of the books I am using for reference. As with the Indy and her hand pumps, I cannot ignore this, so this is what my Surprise shall have as standard. However, I shall try (as in remember) to include an alternatve chain pump set in the kit, to give the modeller the choice.

 

For the main armament, however, I will include as standard 24 x 9-Pounder carriage guns, and offer the 32-Pounder carronades as an optional extra (cannot include both in the kit, as the price would be higher)

 

But, early days yet, still a lot to do...

I remember that thread from a year or so back, you already offer a chain pump accessory mini kit, so wouldn’t that cover it like the carronades option?  
I am really excited to see this project take shape, I’ve already been wandering around the house with a metal tape extended 1.176m wondering where the heck it will go! 🤣

[hollowneck]

23 hours ago, glbarlow said:

Place my order 😎

Mine too...

[Knocklouder]

Can we order now? I am down for one 😁

Even got the First Mate  permission  lol

[Jim M]

On 3/27/2025 at 12:41 PM, ccoyle said:

I keep telling myself I'm going to have to build one of your kits before I die. Maybe this is the one? 😮

 

Next Saturday, my birthday, I finally get to start the Lady Eleanor model :). My admiral is letting have it finally... It has been wrapped up in a box teasing me...

[hollowneck]

1 hour ago, Knocklouder said:

Even got the First Mate  permission  lol

As the saying goes: "Better to ask for forgiveness, than permission."

Love this illustration. Posted on Amati's new website....

[knightyo]

I won't ever be able to finish the models I already have, but this is mighty tempting.  I have to ask..  Have you thought about having Aubrey/Maturin figures as an option as well?  I'd imagine just about everyone who has read the novels would buy them, especially if they were molded playing their respective instruments. 

 

Alan

Edited Saturday at 03:23 AM by knightyo

[Kusawa2000]

On 3/27/2025 at 11:41 AM, chris watton said:

Most of the parts are just MDF for this first build, as I know this is just to test what I have already done, and a few things will be tweaked, and the hull then thrown away..

 

There are scale deck beams for both the gun deck and upper deck, which will be in 4mm thick pear for the kit. There will be a little detail on the lower deck (although you will not be able to really see it)

 

This will be my first design that does away completely with a ply sub deck. With scale spaced beams, a sub deck isn't really needed, so a 'Floating' laser engraved deck will be included (Or you can discard the supplied deck and plank as you like...)

 

I have also designed the bow so that the gun deck isn't cut off by the forward most bulkheads, as is usually the case, but goes all the way forward. (Including the bow chaser/bridle port being framed) . Am yet to see how well this works out...

 

Overall length will be around 1176mm including the bowsprit and mizzen boom.

 

Oh, and I have my new laser machine arrive a week today!

Chris: Thank you! For years the dummy gun/lower deck on kits has been my ultimate frustration. You dont know how refreshing this is! Looking forward in seeing more! And will have my credit card ready when the Surprise is ready for release!

 

Mike Draper

[chris watton]

7 hours ago, knightyo said:

I won't ever be able to finish the models I already have, but this is mighty tempting.  I have to ask..  Have you thought about having Aubrey/Maturin figures as an option as well?  I'd imagine just about everyone who has read the novels would buy them, especially if they were molded playing their respective instruments. 

 

Alan

I am sure I have already answered this a few posts ago.

 

I have commissioned 3 figures (along with 2 figureheads). 2 figures being Aubrey and Maturin playing their instruments, and another figure with Aubrey in standing pose. Not cheap to commission, but I always had this in mind for Surprise and think they would be cool to add. These are being worked on right now.

 

I know some will ask for more, like Killick bumbling into the cabin with a tray of food, but the ones I am having done are expensive, so perhaps something to add at a later date.

[hollowneck]

6 hours ago, chris watton said:

like Killick bumbling into the cabin with a tray of food,

"...which is the toasted cheese and plum duff is catching a cold, Sir!"