Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[Nipper]

15 hours ago, glbarlow said:

I hope you’ll reconsider not continuing to share as you have always done. I think the majority of us enjoy watching the development process. 
 

On the other hand there is no need for the designer to respond or justify every decision based on awkward and unnecessary commentary from the many arm chair experts about. A simple “this is my decision and direction, thank you for your comment,” then ignore it and move on. 
 

Your sharing as you do is in part what makes Vanguard special. Doesn’t mean every comment deserves or requires a response. 

I fully agree when Glenn says "Your sharing is what makes Vanguard special".

 

But, and it's a big but, I also understand how frustrating and sometimes how annoying it must be when Chris is deluged with niggly criticisms when he has spent ages, and probably a lot of money, on designing a part for the model.  Even more so when a big manufacturer attempts to steal the market by releasing an inferior version of the kit first.

 

In the end,  I think the most important things are that VM continues to succeed, and that this forum continues to be a place where model makers can have a discussion with Chris about his kits.  It's the on-going dialogue that is special - and news about new releases can wait until they are ready.

 

Nipper

 

[woodartist]

For those who have built your kits, and considering the time, effort, and expense of building a quality ship, they will not be seduced into buying an inferior kit. Those that do so will notice what could have been and that is a horrible realization. Been there done that, will not repeat the mistake!!

[LoydB]

After comparing the quality of Vanguard vs. other companies, I’m not sure I’ll buy anything other than Vanguard going forward (other than a battleship I want to do). I’ve got the Lady Eleanor and the Sherbourne in the queue, and can see myself just working my way up to the multi-mast kits. 

[chris watton]

I am currently working on the CAD drawings for Surprise, these take an absolute age to do - but profiles are almost complete (need to do all these before even starting on masts, yards and rig)

 

But these three views should give a good impression of the hull and detail

[uss frolick]

Absolutely beautiful Chris! 😍

[Ronald-V]

I think this must be the most boring part of designing? At least... I started studying CAD drawing a long time ago. I lasted a few days, then I slowly died of boredom.   But perhaps that differs from person to person  

 

But love the drawings!

Edited October 8 by Ronald-V

[chris watton]

On 10/8/2025 at 1:37 PM, uss frolick said:

Absolutely beautiful Chris! 😍

Thank you!

On 10/8/2025 at 1:38 PM, Strand said:

 

I too love showing progress for new developments, I think I get just as excited as some of you! I have said many times, I really don't care what others are doing, I never even look or follow anyone else (except Chuck), so because I am not made that way, I am sometimes taken aback when I see certain things from others which appear to be so blatant. Designing these is a very personal thing and each developemnt takes a very long time, you know the exact times you thought of something new, or realised a solution to a particular problem and it works out well. I had assumed other 'designers' must share the same thoughts - so you know instinctively when and what some have used from your own designs for their own product.

On 10/8/2025 at 1:40 PM, Ronald-V said:

I think this must be the most boring part of designing? At least... I started studying CAD drawing a long time ago. I lasted a few days, then I slowly died of boredom.   But perhaps that differs from person to person  

 

But love the drawings!

It is, this part of the development is hell for me! The worst is yet to come, masts and rigging, just hours upon days upon weeks of CAD work...

 

But, it's gotta be done!

 

OK, here is another drawing (still in progess, doing the cutaway view today), showing the gun deck and upper deck beams, and the main cutaway profile showing lower, main and upper decks.

[Tim Murphy]

The drawings maybe the most boring part of design but they are the most important part

of the design! Everything of the ship model comes from this.

[Tomculb]

I'm slowly getting to the finish line with OcCre's Endurance, and among the many areas in which I felt the kit fell short, it didn't include any plans, other than one of the deck.  I love just looking at plans, in addition to they're being invaluable in building the model.  

 

Grecian is on deck in my shipyard. I bought the kit several months ago fearing supplies may run low with our administration's destructive tariffs.  It is the first time I have chosen the manufacturer first, then chose which kit.  I'm very excited about experiencing a Vanguard build.

 

[chris watton]

I did in fact order 10's of 1000's of the smallest commercial belaying pins I could buy, thinking I would use them for my Surprise kit. However, when they arrived, I realised they still looked too thick when in place with the rest of the 'in-scale' surroundings, even though they are the smallest size. So, I had to revert back to PE versions. I know some do not like them, but I much prefer the more in-scale appearance, as over scale stuff just stick out way too much, always drawing your eye to that area. The lesser of two weavils!

 

Am sure I shall use them for something one day, but certainly not for a 64th scale Surprise...

[glbarlow]

Too bad Crafty Sailor went out of business, they had nice ones. 

[chris watton]

2 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

Too bad Crafty Sailor went out of business, they had nice ones. 

Problem is that I would need tens of thousands, like blocks and deadeyes.

[Gregory]

40 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

Too bad Crafty Sailor went out of business, they had nice ones. 

The ones from Crafty Sailor were from Falkonet.  Don't know if they are still out  there.   

I agree they are the best I've seen.

[James H]

I've hidden some comments. Let's stay on track please.

[hollowneck]

7 hours ago, Tomculb said:

I'm very excited about experiencing a Vanguard build.

I will guarantee that you will have no regrets.

Edited October 8 by hollowneck

[hollowneck]

5 hours ago, Gregory said:

The ones from Crafty Sailor were from Falkonet.  Don't know if they are still out  there. 

Nyet! Falkonet is a Russian kit brand. Crafty Sailor (Canada) imported their stuff for a couple years along with Master Korabel (also Russian). Enter the invasion of Ukraine and... sanctions...Falkonet's aftermarket wood, perfectly-scaled belaying pins are excellent. The company still has a website: good luck ordering (and getting) merch from Russia (which is too bad).

[hollowneck]

For accurately-scaled belaying pins I can recommend the new 3D printed ones at Syren Ship Models. Chuck offers a couple sizes, the smallest (7mm) are perfect for 1:64. The pin's color is printed into the resin, no painting necessary. They will also take rope tension when belaying lines and not break.

Attached pic is for my Vanguard gun brig "HM Cracker"

 

[chris watton]

We will be at the Blackpool Model Show this weekend (Saturday and Sunday), so anyone near in the UK, we shall be there!

 

ETA - Jim (Hatch) will be there, too!

Edited November 12 by chris watton

[hollowneck]

Will Vanguard be displaying its HMS Surprise prototype?

[James H]

5 minutes ago, hollowneck said:

Will Vanguard be displaying its HMS Surprise prototype?

Yes, plus my instructional build will be shown. 

[hollowneck]

1 minute ago, James H said:

Yes, plus my instructional build will be shown. 

XLNT! 👍

[chris watton]

OK, we're back from Blackpool, our first real show, and we have learnt a lot! Here are some pics.

 

Jim was brilliant, building up a Sphinx hull whilst there, which created much interest. We were the only exhibitors with period ship kits, the rest were mainly tug boats, fishing vessels, lifeboats and warships - but I guess we are only one of two companies in the UK that produce this type of model, so not too surprising.

 

We plan to do Telford next year.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:43 PM by chris watton

[ccoyle]

Hope you were able to move some merch?

[glbarlow]

All in on the display, very nice!  Congratulations, you’ve come such a long way from the start of Vanguard!

[LoydB]

I love the Indefatigable box in the background looming over everything else in a threatening manner.

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Did anyone note that the picture of the crowd was pretty much all silver haired, older people?    If that is the case, were there any younger people in attendance?     If that is the major demographic for this activity then I fear for the future.    While I love participating in the hobby, I am also of that age group and don't have all that many years left.

[chris watton]

36 minutes ago, myxyzptlyk2003 said:

Did anyone note that the picture of the crowd was pretty much all silver haired, older people?    If that is the case, were there any younger people in attendance?     If that is the major demographic for this activity then I fear for the future.    While I love participating in the hobby, I am also of that age group and don't have all that many years left.

Funny that you mention that, people have been saying this exact thing for as long as I can remember, well over a 30 year period. I remember feeling the odd one out when I was younger, entering scale model competitions when  still in my 20's. I used to think the same and worry, everyone is so much older. Yet, three decades later, same story and people are still out there. Am sure the same will be said another 30 years from now..

 

The Blackpool show was mainly old tugs, steam vessels and warships, which is no surprise as there were only UK based traders there. (It was great to see and chat with Ron Dean again), I even saw a model of the very first model kit I was involved with, the steam drifter Peggy, which I did way back in 1994 - forgot just how big those hulls are...

 

And with my 60th coming up next year, I too have become one of those old silver haired (well, perhaps a couple of hairs) folk!

[chris watton]

Oh, just had my HMS Surprise photo etch production sheets rock up on a large pallet!