Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2

[Erik A]

great news. 

of course you know that you will expand to fit the available space in a short time. its a known phenomenon

[uss frolick]

Remember, when nosey customers show up unannounced and demand a tour, you will need an executive pub /media center.

[Pitan]

Ooo, I see Chris has announced HMS Surprise as comming soon on the Vanguard home page!

[François de Saint Nazaire]

Nice music 😉

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by François de Saint Nazaire

[chris watton]

Well, we start moving some stuff into new work unit tomorrow. The laser machines will not be moved until mid January (laser machine engineers are moving them and setting them back up).

 

I did a little floorplan to see what I needed, rack and worktable wise, (which is now all ordered and arriving next week) and this is what I came up with:

 

 

I am sure that after the year is up, I will need something larger, but for now, it is three times the space I have right now, and I will be able to run both machines in concert for the first time!

 

Hope everyone's having a great Christmas week!

Edited December 28, 2025 by chris watton

[Mike_H]

Excellent Christmas and New Year. Both improved by the news that Vanguard M’s manufacturing output is to be seriously uprated. I suspect demand for Surprise will test that uprating! Will there be a chance to get to the front of the queue by pre-ordering?

[chris watton]

11 hours ago, Mike_H said:

Excellent Christmas and New Year. Both improved by the news that Vanguard M’s manufacturing output is to be seriously uprated. I suspect demand for Surprise will test that uprating! Will there be a chance to get to the front of the queue by pre-ordering?

Thank you and Happy New Year to you and everyone on here!

 

Laser machine running today with Surprise production - but have to stop to do more Sherbourne laser cut sheets, keep running out for that one!

 

There will be a pre order window for Surprise. If I can, and if I have the time; for every pre order, like the Indy, I shall try and do a personalised nameplate with the name of the purchaser on each nameplate.

Edited 20 hours ago by chris watton

[glbarlow]

I’m in for the pre-order, when does that start? Although it may be cheaper for me to fly there and pick it up given tariffs and shipping. 

 

Happy New Year!

[chris watton]

1 hour ago, glbarlow said:

I’m in for the pre-order, when does that start? Although it may be cheaper for me to fly there and pick it up given tariffs and shipping. 

 

Happy New Year!

I think pre orders will be around March, when the build manual is complete and ready to be sent to the printers. Also, assuming I will have completed all production laser cut parts for the first 100 kits by then...

[chris watton]

I wonder what people would think of this as a kit in the (distant) future, a behemoth of a 2-decker (for a British made ship) - the Second Rate 80-Gun Foudroyant - just a couple of feet shorter than Victory:

 

[Kusawa2000]

9 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I think pre orders will be around March, when the build manual is complete and ready to be sent to the printers. Also, assuming I will have completed all production laser cut parts for the first 100 kits by then...

Chris: I assume price lists and options will be available (e.g.. copper plates, etc.) before hand so we can figure out what we want to purchase? 

 

Thanks

 

Mike Draper

[Kusawa2000]

2 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I wonder what people would think of this as a kit in the (distant) future, a behemoth of a 2-decker (for a British made ship) - the Second Rate 80-Gun Foudroyant - just a couple of feet shorter than Victory:

 

Chris: Love the idea of a three decker that no one has seen as a kit/project!

 

Mike Draper

[chris watton]

Just now, Kusawa2000 said:

Chris: I assume price lists and options will be available (e.g.. copper plates, etc.) before hand so we can figure out what we want to purchase? 

 

Thanks

 

Mike Draper

There will be only one optional extra for Surprise, the machined walnut blocks. All else will be standard for the kit, PE copper plates, flag set, Aubrey and Maturin figures etc.

[glbarlow]

3 minutes ago, chris watton said:

what people would think of this as a kit

Nothing that big for me. 

[chris watton]

22 minutes ago, Kusawa2000 said:

Chris: Love the idea of a three decker that no one has seen as a kit/project!

 

Mike Draper

This is the 3-decker I have earmarked for my 'Flagship Kit'

 

Edited 18 hours ago by chris watton

[James H]

9 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I wonder what people would think of this as a kit in the (distant) future, a behemoth of a 2-decker (for a British made ship) - the Second Rate 80-Gun Foudroyant - just a couple of feet shorter than Victory:

 

Absolutely!

 

One of Nelson's flagships, and also one of only two of his ships ever captured on film; the other being Victory.

 

Foudroyant was wrecked only about 30 miles from me.

 

[François de Saint Nazaire]

Dear Chris,

 

I am writing to follow up on the French version of the Tourterelle 28 frigate. Could you please clarify the current status? Specifically, are we pursuing an alternative version, or has the project been officially cancelled?

 

Je te te souhaite une excellente année.

[chris watton]

11 minutes ago, François de Saint Nazaire said:

Dear Chris,

 

I am writing to follow up on the French version of the Tourterelle 28 frigate. Could you please clarify the current status? Specifically, are we pursuing an alternative version, or has the project been officially cancelled?

 

Je te te souhaite une excellente année.

I never said I was doing a kit of Tourterelle - what I said was that there are 2 figureheads in the kit, one fictional (as seen on my prototype), and the original, which we used the Tourterelle for the detail. So you can build the Tourterelle from the Surprise kit, if you so wish, as they are the same class of vessel.

[Kusawa2000]

49 minutes ago, chris watton said:

There will be only one optional extra for Surprise, the machined walnut blocks. All else will be standard for the kit, PE copper plates, flag set, Aubrey and Maturin figures etc.

Chris: Thanks! That is exactly what I wanted to know

 

Mike Draper

[glbarlow]

That’s all we need. Better blocks is such a major upgrade to any model. Anyone can scratch from there as they choose. 

[GrandpaPhil]

Foudroyant and Royal George would both be incredible models!