Grecian 1812 by James H - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64 - protype build of US Baltimore Clipper Privateer Schooner

[aliluke]

I have been following without comment to date. It is a stunning ship and an unusual subject with its shallow bow and deep stern and raffish look. Extremely well done! And model ship builders should be interested in the variety that this model adds. The green hurts my eyes but I think that's because the reds of the English ships is steeped into my mind. USS Constitution has that green but I still struggle with it, even if historically accurate. But no matter - I am fascinated to see how this plays out which I'm sure will be very well!

 

cheers

A

[James H]

2 minutes ago, aliluke said:

I have been following without comment to date. It is a stunning ship and an unusual subject with its shallow bow and deep stern and raffish look. Extremely well done! And model ship builders should be interested in the variety that this model adds. The green hurts my eyes but I think that's because the reds of the English ships is steeped into my mind. USS Constitution has that green but I still struggle with it, even if historically accurate. But no matter - I am fascinated to see how this plays out which I'm sure will be very well!

 

cheers

A

 

The green does take some getting used to! We took a lead on the colours from the USS Consitution. The belaying pin racks will be in natural, as will the bitts etc, but with white caps, so quite unusual. I'm coppering this thing at the moment. Well, I will as soon as I've had something to eat 😋

 

I've gone from liking this build to loving the ships and the appearance with this scheme. 

[chris watton]

Colour schemes for the smaller vessels are usually speculative. This gives the modeller a few options to go their own way. Something like Grecian would look just as nice with no paint whatsoever, just varnished. Or you could use the black and yellow/ochre scheme for the outer hull and all red for the inner, and it would still look great.

 

I just wanted to depict Grecian as she may have appeared when in American service (although in reality, her armament was miserly compared to what I have given her), and using typical colours for that period. But this scheme is by no means set in stone, and you do not have to follow it, it is just one possible option of many.

Edited April 22, 2023 by chris watton

[Beef Wellington]

This looks like a great kit coming together!  Question maybe for Chris, I see the carronade beds that will be provided look to have a molded wheel arrangement vs the flat PE wheel arrangement that is currently available.  Will these be available to buy separate from the kit?  They look so much better.

 

[chris watton]

I am working on making all carronade kits the same way with the new wheels, 12, 18, 24 and 36 pounder carronades. Indy already has them for her 42 pounders, now Grecian with the 18 pounders.

 

I am thinking of offering an 18 gun brig armament set, with 16 x 32 pounder carronades and 2 x 6 pounder long Blomefield cannon. The wheels are 3-d printed and are much better than the PE type.

[James H]

I'll do this update in 3 or 4 parts due to the number of photos showing the deck and bulwark fittings being added.

 

Here we go!

 

Most of these are self-explanatory, but let's take a look. First, as I've processed the pics, I've realised I didn't resize the coppering pics. I'll add those at the end (out of sequence).

 

In this photo, the rudder tiller has been added and the small deck section, plus the bread hatch.

 

 

 

 

The ironwork is now fitted. This is one of the most time-consuming parts of fitting out. A nicer smattering of these around both the bulwarks and deck.

 

 

 

And now the shot garlands.

 

 

 

Followed by cleats.

 

 

 

Al those belaying racks need pins. These are PE, painted black and slotted into the racks. A little brushed varnish secures them.

 

 

 

The garlands are now furnished with 1.5mm balls, again, glued into place with a brush of varnish.

 

 

 

The catheads are a multipart assembly that allows for engravings on all faces. Very simple to build and these just slot though the bulwark holes with minimum effort.

 

 

The pre-made fittings can now be added, starting with the skylight.

 

 

 

The the grates/coamings, ladder etc.

 

 

 

Capstan now present....

 

 

More in a moment....

[James H]

Continued.

 

More hatches...

 

And a small smoke stack.

 

 

Mast bases now down before the deck gets too cluttered.

 

 

 

And now some of the other bitts (pun intended 😋)

 

 

 

Grecian has a nicely 3d printed boat and here's the cradle which is now permanently glued in situ.

 

 

 

The wheel is in, but the rudder tiller and wheel will be rigged for the next update in a couple of days.

 

 

 

No chain pumps on Grecian  Hand pumps are now fitted.

 

 

 

...more in a moment.

[James H]

And finally, for today.

 

Stanchions on ready for cord, which I'll add when I do the next update.

 

 

 

 

Grecian comes with a LOT of choices for armament. Carronades feature heavily and paint is scraped away from where these are to be fitted. There is a small shelf on the exterior for the carronades, hence the paint removed.

 

 

 

Next two 6 pdrs and two 4 pdrs are added.

 

 

 

Here is the supplied 3D boat, with timber parts, nicely painted by my friend Mark who does my figureheads and cabin furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is what Grecian now looks like!

 

 

 

It's chainplates etc. for next update, and maybe the bowsprit too.

 

Soon..

 

[James H]

I've actually forgotten to add a little info too. 

 

The outside channels have slots into which they fit, so no pinning whatsoever. That also goes for the inner bulwark belaying racks which have a tab and slot thing. I just made sure that I masked the contact area before I painted the bulwarks. Here's some pics of the coppering and the stern.

 

[Oboship]

Wow, another great masterpiece made by Chris and Jim!

Grecian surely looks wonderful and I very much admire Jim's modelling skills (have I said that earlier on?)

I hope we will see pictures of the fully rigged Grecian (after all those square rigged ships... 😉)

Take care!
Uwe

[Oldsalt1950]

Looks great. I have a question though. Wouldn't the binnacle be aft of the ships wheel so you can read the compass? As it is positioned it looks near impossible to do so. Either that or reverse the ships wheel mounting.

 

Jim

[JerryTodd]

The binnacle is placed forward of the wheel so the fellows standing at the wheel can see it.  He/they stand aft of the wheel, beside the drum, and look over the wheel, down onto the binnacle.

 

I did find the title "armed privateer" a little odd, as it implies the existence of "unarmed privateers"

 

The Grecian is a very nice subject for a model, not only as a Baltimore Clipper schooner, but for that humpty-dumpty rail.

[Kevin]

yet another lovely update

[ccoyle]

Whoa! Must be nice to have a friend who does such excellent painting (though we all know that James has considerable skills himself in that department). That's one of the reasons I build card models -- some highly-skilled graphic artist gets to do my weathering for me!

[JoeMacD]

THAT IS ONE SLICK PRETTY SHIP! 🤩

[James H]

I did promise a small update, so I can. now show the hull completed.

 

There are a few things on the deck that need a little rope. The main one is the rudder tiller which is wired up to the ship's wheel via a simple block system. Also needing rope are the ladder hatch opening and the ship's boat. 

 

 

 

The chainplates/strops on Grecian are single piece PE parts. These are prised apart to pop the deadeye into place before being closed up again with tweezers.

 

 

 

There are only 14 deadeyes/shrouds on Grecian, making it a perfectly simple intro to ratlines. This will be a breeze to rig.

 

 

 

Rudder chain installed...

 

 

 

And now the completed hull photos. Next stage is masting.

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Will be ordering as soon as it is available.   Hope it's soon!

 

[James H]

Here's a couple of the finished hull.

 

[aliluke]

That is seriously cool! I've even changed my mind about the 'green' and like it now in the overall scheme. Grecian goes on my wish list from now on!

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[Cathead]

Yeah...I really, really like that color scheme. I so wish this had come out a few years ago. 

[Oboship]

A very interesting and beautiful model, superbly built!

Uwe

[James H]

The final updates.

 

The last week has seen me build up the mast stuff and rig Grecian. She now sits complete on my bench. 

 

First up is the bowsprit. This is a very simple structure with hardly any tapering of parts. 

 

 

 

The assembly now slots to the hull and the gammoning is added.

 

 

 

Grecian doesn't have a spritsail yard, making her look quite sleek. Still lots of cord to rig this area though.

 

 

Mast work begins with the crosstrees. 

 

 

 

These are then slotted to the shaped lower mast sections, and then fitted out.

 

 

The mass are now added and the shroud lines attached. Once complete, they are tied down with even tension via deadeyes/lanyards.

[James H]

A card template is made to aid adding the ratlines. I have drawn lines on these, 6mm apart.

 

 

 

Upper shrouds are now fitted.

 

 

 

And then the rest of the timber is built up. Yards, spars.....whatever you want to call them. I knew at least one guy who thought it was a big deal.

 

 

 

The anchors are 3D printed and have pear stocks with cartridge paper for the iron bands. 

[James H]

COMPLETED!

 

Hope you like her. On sale very soon  

 

[Chuck]

Very nicely done Jim.   And Chris that is a lovely design and subject for a kit.  It should be a very successful seller.

 

Chuck

[Kevin]

wonderful work James, 

 

now go for that well deserved break, with the Indy rigging and thank you for what you have done

Edited May 13, 2023 by Kevin

[markjay]

Stunning!

[chris watton]

And a very nice job Jim has done on Grecian, too!

 

For the production kits, I have changed the anchor hawse to something a little smaller in diameter. I have just completed the build manual, and have only the box label to complete, which I shall do tomorrow, with all files being sent off on Monday for printing.

[James H]

Here's the front page of the manual. There will be a pre-order open early next week too

At that point, you'll also be able to download and look at the manual.

 

Options will be available for a period-correct flag and also a limited number of PE copper plate sets instead of the standard copper tape that's supplied.

 

 

 

[ccoyle]

What a great finish, James! And I agree with Chuck that this lovely kit should be a big hit, especially with those of us Yanks who have been clamoring for American subjects from VM.