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Chris Watton and Vanguard Models news and updates Volume 2


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Again, congratulations for putting the more unusual in front of your public, Chris. It's amazing the variety of smaller vessels that plans are available for from that period.

Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series  http://trafalgar.tv

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5 hours ago, uss frolick said:

Was this the same 14-gun brig Boxer that fought the USS Enterprise in 1813?

No, that would have been a much later namesake, with all of the 1797 Acute Class being decommissioned well before 1812.
Adder was part of a class that was second generation for this specialised type of vessel (The first being Conquest Class in 1794). Later classes like Archer and Confounder are less interesting, as they are nothing more than smaller standard brig hulls and armed with only carronades. Almost a pre curser to the Cherokee Class of brigs, as they were, at that time, expected to operate a lot further from home waters, as the threat of an invasion of Britain receded.

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I'm definitely going to get one. But although I have the Trial Cutter, an HMS Alert and a Lady Nelson lined up as options for my next project, I'm thinking of getting the Version 2023 Speedy as that would fit quite nicely for the next step up on the ladder. Hmmmm, tough decisions to make...

Edited by CTDavies
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I think she looks excellent. If I didn’t already have a new version of Speedy waiting to be built, I’d choose Adder for my next build after Ranger. 
 

I hope she sells well for you Chris, I find the more unusual boats really interesting and appealing. 

Dan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Current Build: Yacht Duchess of Kingston (Vanguard Models, 1:64)

Previous Builds: Fifie (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Nisha (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Zulu (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Saucy Jack (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Erycina (Vanguard Models, 1:64), HMS Alert (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Grecian (Vanguard Models, 1:64), Ranger (Vanguard Models, 1:64), HM Gun Brig Adder (Vanguard Models, 1:64)

Waiting to be Built: Speedy (Vanguard Models, 1:64)

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No idea how well this will sell....

 

I guess that there will be a good market for Adder and that the kit will sell quite well, just because the ship is different and special compared to other kits on the market, as @Ajohnson already stated. At first glance she looks "similar" to Alert or Trial. But at a closer look I noted a few other different things: e.g. the deck looks rather straight, tidy and more clearly arranged, and the two big guns on the bow give her a certain individual appearance. I don't find her ugly, but rather interesting and attractive in her own right. Is Victory a beautiful ship? She's impressive and iconic to us but not a real "beauty" like the schooner America or the Blue Nose and her sisters (just my humble opinion...).

Chris' statement "This was meant to be a nice cheap and simple kit..." should not be underestimated. His love or inclination to extensive detail doesn't necessarily mean that a simple VM kit is easily and quickly built 😉 (I'm thinking of the brass parts like cleats etc. ) ...  This was ment as a purely postive side note😊😊

She will sell alright!.👍

Best
Uwe

 

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14 hours ago, Oboship said:

No idea how well this will sell....

 

I guess that there will be a good market for Adder and that the kit will sell quite well, just because the ship is different and special compared to other kits on the market, as @Ajohnson already stated. At first glance she looks "similar" to Alert or Trial. But at a closer look I noted a few other different things: e.g. the deck looks rather straight, tidy and more clearly arranged, and the two big guns on the bow give her a certain individual appearance. I don't find her ugly, but rather interesting and attractive in her own right. Is Victory a beautiful ship? She's impressive and iconic to us but not a real "beauty" like the schooner America or the Blue Nose and her sisters (just my humble opinion...).

Chris' statement "This was meant to be a nice cheap and simple kit..." should not be underestimated. His love or inclination to extensive detail doesn't necessarily mean that a simple VM kit is easily and quickly built 😉 (I'm thinking of the brass parts like cleats etc. ) ...  This was ment as a purely postive side note😊😊

She will sell alright!.👍

Best
Uwe

 

Thank you! 


These kits with the pre-cut and engraved upper details are a lot quicker to build than standard planking all over kits. However, you do need to be careful in applying them, as they are essentially finished parts, only requiring a light varnish to the finished build. For Adder, I gave the bulwark parts (and wales) a soak and then clamped in place and left for over a day. When the clamps are removed, the curves stayed in place. I think it would also be a good idea to cover the finished outer surfaces with masking tape to help avoid any possible glue marks - but as long as you are careful and do not rush or glue parts sooner than they should be, all should be fine, and once these bulwark parts are fitted, the rest of the assembly should be a breeze. This is because all fittings for the deck and bulwarks, both inside and out have pre-cut (or engraved) positions/slots for everything that is fitted to them, like cleats, eyebolts, belaying racks, channels etc., negating the need to mark anything out onto the model from the plans. (I always hated having to mark out and drill the eyebolt positions in the inner bulwarks, always so awkward to do). This does make the kit more expensive than lagacy kits, but the upside is that the modeller (I hope) has a much better chance of finishing the model and, more importantly, actually enjoying the experience, rather than give up in frustration.

 

I did use my AK paints for most, but for the cannon carriages I used red oxide spray paint, and for the white bottom a can of matt white spray I bought from Amazon for around £5. The whole hull was varnished using my AK water based matt varnish, which is great, easy to apply, dries very quickly and easy to clean the airbrush.

 

I do get emails asking if the black resin parts should be painted. Of course, they should be. Would you leave the hull of a plastic battleship kit in its grey plastic, because it is more or less the same colour as the finished model? Of course not, and the same applies to the cannon, they must be painted.
 

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1 hour ago, chris watton said:

I do get emails asking if the black resin parts should be painted. Of course, they should be. Would you leave the hull of a plastic battleship kit in its grey plastic, because it is more or less the same colour as the finished model? Of course not, and the same applies to the cannon, they must be painted.
 


It’s worth pointing out that polyurethane resin is not UV stable. Over a relatively short period of time, when exposed to UV light, “white” resin will yellow drastically (to a rather familiar pale yellow colour), and become very brittle. I’m not sure what colour would result from unpainted grey or black resin, but it won’t be good.

 

Painting resin will eliminate any UV induced colour change, as well as helping to reduce any brittleness.

 

Andy

Quando Omni Flunkus, Moritati


Current Build:

USF Confederacy

 

 

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Speaking of sales and perhaps this is company secrets... but just out of curiosity. You now start to have a very good lineup, what kits are doing well and is there any kit that has suprisingly low numbers for some reason?

People have expressed lots of suggestions on what you should develop next but what is actually selling in practice?

Current builds: HMS Victory (Corel 1:98), HMS Snake (Caldercraft 1:64), HMBV Granado (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Diana (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Speedy (Vanguard Models 1:64) 

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2 hours ago, Vane said:

Speaking of sales and perhaps this is company secrets... but just out of curiosity. You now start to have a very good lineup, what kits are doing well and is there any kit that has suprisingly low numbers for some reason?

People have expressed lots of suggestions on what you should develop next but what is actually selling in practice?

It is strange, in that they all seem to sell well, but do so in phases. For example, one week it will be all Trial Cutters, another week Speedy's, then Sphinx, then a run on Indy's etc.

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7 hours ago, chris watton said:

It is strange, in that they all seem to sell well, but do so in phases. For example, one week it will be all Trial Cutters, another week Speedy's, then Sphinx, then a run on Indy's etc.

i'm sure there's an academic research paper in that observation.    But I've heard that in the past also but about other products.   Almost like a "hive mnd" thing.   I hope there's much success with this model for you.   Lovely looking, IMO.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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I have kept this class of vessel in mind since 2003 when model boats magazine issued free plans of 'Blazer' drawn by Peter Danks.

 

Looks like a great kit

Current Build(s):

  • H.M.S Diana 1794 - Caldercraft 1:64 Scale

 

Completed Builds:

 

 

 

 

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OK, this is the 16th kit and will be released in concert with Adder (both developed together), and it is a revisit, as I felt I wanted to do it a little more justice.

 

Here is the new design for HM armed cutter Sherbourne, 1763, designed by Sir Thomas Slade and using all of the reasearch I could lay my hands on to develop an accurate representation of this cute little cutter. This will be the last for my range of naval cutters, being content with a small (Sherbourne), medium (Trial) and large (Alert) cutter.

 

I have added 8x3 pounders, but in reality, she was armed with 6, and she is shown with 12 swivel cannon, but only allocated 8 for the real version - but some moan if they cannot fill gun port slots or populate all of the swivel posts...

 

As with Trial and Adder, all detail at main wale level and above is all pre cut with laser engraved plank lines and treenails. I decided not to paint the inner bulwarks red so the detail could be more easily seen.

 

Hull just needs a final spray varnish, then it's ready for the masts and rig, which I shall do together with Adder.

 

Oh, 64th scale, if anyone asks...and I haven't skimped on the bulkhead spacing....(17 bulkheads)

 

ETA - the skeletal hull was a pre prototype, and the first time I fitted the parts together from my initial designs.

Sherbourne 0.jpg

Sherbourne 1.jpg

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Sherbourne 5.jpg

Sherbourne 6.jpg

Sherbourne 7.jpg

Edited by chris watton

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that looks fantastic Chris

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44 minutes ago, Thukydides said:

This will make a great starter kit I think.

 

It is -- I already built it! Well, the original Caldercraft version, that is. At the time, I didn't know I could build the new, revisited version if I just waited 23 years. 😉

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Bf 109E-7/trop

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1 hour ago, ccoyle said:

 

It is -- I already built it! Well, the original Caldercraft version, that is. At the time, I didn't know I could build the new, revisited version if I just waited 23 years. 😉

Snap! love it @chris watton Caldercraft’s Sherborne was my first wood model, still here gathering dust on the shelf of shame. 🤣

Andrew
Current builds:- HM Gun-brig Sparkler - Vanguard (1/64) 
HMAV Bounty - Caldercraft (1/64)

Completed (Kits):-

Vanguard Models (1/64) :HM Cutter Trial , Nisha - Brixham trawler

Caldercraft (1/64) :- HMS Orestes(Mars)HM Cutter Sherbourne

Paper Shipwright (1/250) :- TSS Earnslaw, Puffer Starlight

 

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Interesting concept, she looks great! I think several of your old design deserve revisits. Just look how far you have taken this since the Diana days. When I compare my Snake to Speedy for example it looks so "bulky". Its nothing wrong with the old Snake but just imagine how it would look like/and build with your new design style and mtrl.

Current builds: HMS Victory (Corel 1:98), HMS Snake (Caldercraft 1:64), HMBV Granado (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Diana (Caldercraft 1:64), HMS Speedy (Vanguard Models 1:64) 

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16 minutes ago, Vane said:

Interesting concept, she looks great! I think several of your old design deserve revisits. Just look how far you have taken this since the Diana days. When I compare my Snake to Speedy for example it looks so "bulky". Its nothing wrong with the old Snake but just imagine how it would look like/and build with your new design style and mtrl.

Thank you :)

 

I will not do another Cruiser Class, but I have a slightly earlier 18 gun brig earmarked, Diligence Class, Harpy (love the name, and it was in action throughout the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars), which has nicer lines (almost like a much larger Speedy) and only a few feet shorter along the gun deck than Snake/Cruiser, being 95 feet (Cruiser Class was 100 feet). But the exact same armament as the later class, 16 x 32 pounder carronades and 2 x long 6-pounder chase guns.

Edited by chris watton

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Hello Chris,

 

Very nice. I'm a bit surprised by the size of the draft mark.

 

When will you propose french ship 😉



François
________________
Completed :
-Marie Jeanne (Billing Boat), Royal Caroline (Panart), Sanson (Artesania Latina) & Endurance (log - Gallery)(OcCre)
Current build :
-Granado 1756 - HM Bomb vessel - JoTiKa/Caldercraft - 1:64

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Another small update.

 

I was never happy with the 3-d printed cutters I offered, being quite generic. I aim to put this right by having a new set of boats done over the next year or so.

 

The first is the first of 2 cutter hulls, and the lines used are the same lines I used when designing the laser cut wood 18 foot cutter, so it is more of a direct replacement for the laser cut version.

 

This is much more detailed than the old 3-d printed cutter, with more internal detail and correct hull shape, complete with clinker planking.

 

For now, there will be three scales for this, which will include the hull and laser cut pear thwarts, knees, rudder, fore and aft flooring and oars. Scales will be 1:64th, 1:48th and a few at a monsterous 1:32nd

cutters 1.jpg

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cutters 7.jpg

Isometric Assembly Guide.jpg

Overview.jpg

Underview.jpg

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58 minutes ago, chris watton said:

For now, there will be three scales for this

Hi Chris, just went to your website, looking for 1:48 version of your new 3D printed cutter but I could not find it?

 

I need it for my build of cutter Speedy

 

Tim

Current Builds :

 

Cutter "Speedy" 1828 from Plans by Bill Shoulders at 148


Bounty Launch - Scratch build - FINISHED
85 ft. Harbour Tug. scratch built  from plans by Francis Smith. ( FINISHED but no build log for this )

HMS Lightning. kit bashed from Deans Marine HMS Kelly kit ( FINISHED ) yes at last....

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14 minutes ago, oakheart said:

Hi Chris, just went to your website, looking for 1:48 version of your new 3D printed cutter but I could not find it?

 

I need it for my build of cutter Speedy

 

Tim

It is not up yet, I need to produce the laser cut parts, which I shall do over the weekend :)

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3 hours ago, chris watton said:

I shall do over the weekend

Oh the joys of being freelance - your own boss 🙂

 

Tim

Current Builds :

 

Cutter "Speedy" 1828 from Plans by Bill Shoulders at 148


Bounty Launch - Scratch build - FINISHED
85 ft. Harbour Tug. scratch built  from plans by Francis Smith. ( FINISHED but no build log for this )

HMS Lightning. kit bashed from Deans Marine HMS Kelly kit ( FINISHED ) yes at last....

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2 hours ago, oakheart said:

Oh the joys of being freelance - your own boss 🙂

 

Tim

lol you mean tired, over worked, and no time for hobby model making

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3 minutes ago, Kevin said:

hobby model making

I had to wait until I was retired for that 🙂

Now I just have fun..............

Tim

Current Builds :

 

Cutter "Speedy" 1828 from Plans by Bill Shoulders at 148


Bounty Launch - Scratch build - FINISHED
85 ft. Harbour Tug. scratch built  from plans by Francis Smith. ( FINISHED but no build log for this )

HMS Lightning. kit bashed from Deans Marine HMS Kelly kit ( FINISHED ) yes at last....

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