Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[palmerit]

2 hours ago, Cathead said:

It's certainly possible younger generations will have different interests, but it's also reasonable to assume that people can develop new interests once they have more time on their hands.

Agreed. With my youngest in college, there was a lot more free time for me. And hitting 60, I was looking for a new hobby that I could carry into retirement. I had lurked on here a decade or more ago but didn’t have the time, the space, or the money to take on this hobby. (I also learned to scuba dive last year, which has young people and surprisingly a fair number of older folks too). 

[thibaultron]

In the model railroad hobby, they have been saying the same thing for over 60 years! This hobby will also survive.

[Chuck Seiler]

    When I first seriously got into wooden ship modeling about 30 years ago, our club was mostly 60, 70 and 80 year olds.  They were lamenting that there were very few young people in the hobby and it was dying out.  Now, at 71, I sit back and smile.  The young folks who were NOT into the hobby back then are the old folks that ARE in the hobby now.  In addition, our club has several 20/30-somethings, many 40-somethings and a few pre-teens.

 

    The hobby is thriving and with the plethora of resources/kit makers we will be around for a long time. ...Well, at least the hobby.

[ECK]

I also agree, starting in my 50's (now in my early 60's) when we became empty nesters with time and more disposable income available.  Also able to take over the kid's play room and convert it into my shipyard. The kids were the ones who encouraged me to take the leap ! As we get older I think the hobby is a good way to keep manual dexterity and avoid cognitive decline given all the different mind processes need in ship building.

[brunnels]

I'm in my 30's with my first child born this year, so I'm probably the outlier in both groups.  I occasionally visit reddit's ship modeling sub forum, and there are plenty of younger people into ship models.  Remember though that even a cheap $100- $200 kit can be a large investment for young people in an ever increasingly expensive world, then you have to account that the factors of space and time to build the model are also things that most younger people don't have until they get a little older.  Plastic scale modeling is bigger than ever, so don't think that younger people aren't into scale modelling anymore, wooden ship modelling just requires a lot more resources that younger people don't have yet. 

[hollowneck]

1 hour ago, brunnels said:

wooden ship modelling just requires a lot more resources that younger people don't have yet. 

On point. The most important resource needed for our ship modeling hobby - at any interest level, scratch or kit, tugboat or ship-of-the-line - is TIME.

[Ronald-V]

2 hours ago, hollowneck said:

On point. The most important resource needed for our ship modeling hobby - at any interest level, scratch or kit, tugboat or ship-of-the-line - is TIME.

And patience! With the shorter attention spans of the younger generation, such a slow hobby might not be so appealing. I think that changes as you get older and live more slowly. Plus, history often becomes more interesting again as you get older I think  

[ECK]

From my conversation with medical students, residents and fellows, when I mention Nelson, HMS Victory  or Trafalgar I get blank stares.

[chris watton]

Just heard that my Surprise flag sets and optional machined blocks are arriving tomorrow!

 

The flag set will be included as standard in the first and perhaps second batch of Surprise kits. In fact, the only optional extra will be the machined blocks, and that's only because I know some will want to just build the hull and leave off the masts and rig. The quality is very high for these flags, printed on a very fine material, Jim has my first samples..

[AlanDavison]

I note that the union flag includes the cross of St. Patrick which was added to the flag in 1801. Is this appropriate for Surprise which I believe was sold out of service in 1802?

[chris watton]

1 minute ago, AlanDavison said:

I note that the union flag includes the cross of St. Patrick which was added to the flag in 1801. Is this appropriate for Surprise which I believe was sold out of service in 1802?

 

I knew I would get this question.

 

Yes, for me, the flag from 1801 is appropriate. This is because I figured the vast majority of builders will want to depict the model as per the novels, the overwhelming majority being post 1801.

If I asked for the pre 1801 flag, I am sure I would also get comments about that. On balance, I thought the post 1801 would suit the majority.

[glbarlow]

Sigh. It’s a flag. How many would ever notice. Good call Chris, more will identify with the books and movie than the actual ship. 

[Kenchington]

7 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

Sigh. It’s a flag. How many would ever notice.

I do. Every time.

 

Sailing warships carried such large and prominent flags that they form a key aspect of the overall appearance. So getting the vexillology wrong is a quick way to ruin an otherwise-excellent model.

 

Trevor