HMS Indefatigable 1794 by Blue Ensign - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[hollowneck]

Sehr Ausgezeichnet, B.E. Eine Kutter kommt..

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

7 hours ago, hollowneck said:

Sehr Ausgezeichnet, B.E. Eine Kutter kommt..

 

 

....... or not as the case may be, we will see.

[aliluke]

Brilliant BE. Reminds me that I have to get back into my models after a long summer break. Your standards are well beyond me but it doesn't mean I can't have fun trying to emulate them! Thank you for another fabulous log.

 

Alistair

[dunnock]

Absolutely stunning BE. Your models and detailed logs are always an inspiration

 

David

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Sixty-Eight

Feeling somewhat miffed about the failure with the Launch I am moving onto one of the 24’ Cutters, if for no other reason than ‘getting back on the horse’ 

I have made 18’ Cutters previously, along with Yawls, and a 24’ Cutter should at least on paper be less fiddly.

4245

Before I had barely got started the tab broke off the transom piece, and once again the stern post broke part way up. This is before I even get to the delicate stem with its planking slot.

 

I am beginning to think that use of 0.8mm Pear is just too thin for the structurally important keel part.

 

It is pertinent that the grain on these parts is horizontal whereas any pressure tends to be lateral. It seems that any pressure, however light,  gives a high risk of breaking these parts.

4243

At least with the 24’ cutter there are two sets provided, and in my case one was cannibalised to get to the keel and frames assembled.

4248

With the fairing completed this is the same point at which things went wrong with the Launch. 

I added further support to the stem before I began planking, and this time I resolved to use pva on the plank edges in addition to ca on the frames.

4252

The first four planks fit into the stem rabbet, or slot, happily without mishap this time. At this point the structure is much stronger, and damage risk to the stem much reduced.

4254

The garboard planks are fitted using 3mm strips.

4256

There is too little room to follow any sort of tick marking for plank shaping, so its basically done by eye. The aim is to get any less than realistic planking strakes below the round of the hull, out of sight.

4258

I achieve this by spiling the last plank.

 

Unlike the Pinnace, removal of the central bulkheads did not result in disassembly of the planking, no doubt due to adding pva along the strake joints.

4259

There is no access to clean inside glue stains during construction so there is inevitably marring present once the bulkheads are removed.

4260

A gentle approach is necessary, I clean the insides initially by damping the excess glue with a small paint brush and gently scraping with a micro chisel.

 

Water is used for the pva and acetone for the ca. very small amounts are used to avoid affecting the main construction.

A little more fettlin’ and I can move onto the next stage.

 

 

B.E.

11/04/2024

[allanyed]

B.E.  On the plus side, with the keelson and footwaling strakes and a full compliment of frames, much of the inside of the planking will be unseen.

 

The planking brings up a question for which I hope you or one of your build followers can answer.   Lavery makes the following comment on page 223 of The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War:   Like the yawls, it <cutters> originated at Deal, and was originally clinker built.  Unlike the yawl, the cutter remained clinker built; only cutters issued for foreign service were normally carvel built.    My question is, what does foreign service mean in this case?  Was this for cutters on ships that sailed to foreign ports, cutters that were on harbor duty in a foreign port, or something else?   

 

Regardless, got to love the boat build and your photos and explanations. Thanks again for sharing with us.

Allan

[Blue Ensign]

I've not seem a specific reference to Foreign Service  locations, but I suspect it generally meant any location beyond home waters , particularly the tropics where  repair facilities may be restricted. Clinker built boats were more difficult to repair and WE May (The boats of men of war) cites that in 1800 it was decided that the only cutters to be sent abroad should be Jolly boats. Navy board orders to Dockyards PRO  adm 106/2512 no's 430 440/441.

 

For the purposes of this build the cutter will be issued as carvel built.

9898(2)

9899(2)

 

I do however, have a clinker built 18' cutter (Jolly Boat) ready to serve.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

 

 

[ECK]

I too had to cannibalize one cutter for the other

[Blue Ensign]

Glad it's not just me.

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Sixty – nine

 

Progressing the 24’ cutter

The floor of the cutter is covered by gratings at the stern, open boarded footwaling for the body, and a small close board platform at the bow.

4265

I changed the footwaling to a close boarded version as shown in the AotS book Diana which contains 1:48 scale drawings of a 24’ cutter.

 

Before I add the ‘false’ ribs I use a copy of the kit plan to mark the positions of the thwarts.

Positioning the ribs really needs to take into consideration the position of the thwarts and the related rowlocks for the oars, which are cut into the wash strake.

4268

The AotS drawings show the 24’ cutter arranged for single banked rowing. This is the arrangement I will follow, apart from any other consideration, there are less rowlocks to cut.

4270

I firstly fix only those ribs that fit aft of the thwarts before fixing the Rising, (thwart support strips) The remaining ribs can be slotted behind the Risings in the correct positions.

The risings are fitted using a 4mm depth gauge but in fact follow the line of the second strake down from the top.

 

Once fitted it is useful to check both the levels and the correct height of the thwarts above the footwaling.

4273

My 1:64 scale figures are useful for this purpose.

4275

I would like to see a sitting figure produced by Vanguard. A sitting Captain would serve well to give scale to the splendid Vanguard cabin furniture, and also the stern sheets of the boat range.

4277

I like to add small features to the boats such as here; the cap square for the Mainmast and step to take the mast heel on the Keelson.

4279

4280

4281

4280

Needs cleaning up now before finishing.

 

B.E.

15/04/2024

 

 

[Mirabell61]

a beautiful built launch B.E.

I also much like the tpo be painted figurines

 

Nils

[Nipper]

2 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

I would like to see a sitting figure produced by Vanguard. A sitting Captain would serve well to give scale to the splendid Vanguard cabin furniture, and also the stern sheets of the boat range.

YES PLEASE CHRIS!!

The Vanguard figures are so good, none better certainly at 1/64 scale.  For those who like to crew their models, it would be wonderful to have figures sitting around, or leaning against the rail etc. etc., not just "in action" as if they are repelling boarders!  Vanguard's fishermen, and the cook, are really good poses.

 

Nipper

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you  Nils and Nipper.

 

@ Nils - the figures  are  industrial workers  which I found suitable  for my Fishing boat models, but don't really fit naval figures of the early 19th century.

 

@ Nipper -  I don't really like action figures on my models, but I do like figures to demonstrate scale on a model. I agree the cook and the Pellew/Hornblower figures fit that bill perfectly.

 

Others that would appeal to me would be a Helmsman standing by the wheel, and a Marine Sentry to post outside the Captains Quarters.

 

I'm not holding my breath tho'😉

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy

 

Completing the Cutter.

 

Apart from painting the bottom Ivory, and the wale Black/grey, the boat will be finished using w-o-p only.

 

The rudder is a plain laser cut affair intended I think to simply display in the sternsheets of the boat. There are no fixings to hang the rudder either on the stern post, transom, or rudder.

 

I chose to add these fittings including a tiller of the yoke type.

4287

Still requires a little further fining down, this is the third attempt which may still break.

4289

Trial fitting the rudder.; a few tweaks required.

 

One consequence of changing the rowing arrangement from double to single banking is that the provided oars are too short for purpose.

4290

They are fairly easily modified but it does require using two oars to produce one. 

To improve the look of the oars the blades should really be thinned towards the tip.

4295

4298

4299

4311

Set -up for single banked rowing.

4302

4306

4307

I quite like the look of her on the skids and the Pinnace and Cutter don’t obscure much of the Main deck.

 

B.E.

16/04/2024

[Beef Wellington]

Looks like the perfect balance to my eye...1 too few, 3 too many 🙂  The different paint tones really catch the eye and enhance the whole, very much to my taste as well.  Wonderful model you have there, very well done indeed!

[Blue Ensign]

Post One hundred and Seventy-one

Album photo's

I have at last got around to taking the completion photo’s which will form part of the Photo build record book that I’m currently putting together.

4395

4361A

4392

4364

4365

4391

4390

4396

4369

4405

4395

2161A

2145a

4397

2162a

2164a

4380

4379

4388

4494a

I am currently faffing around with a clinker built 18’ cutter, and ‘Indy’ is yet to be enclosed in her case, so the story has not quite ended.

 

Then there’s the 26’ Launch, still on my mind.

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

 

Edited May 2 by Blue Ensign

[Thukydides]

She looks fantastic BE. Another great build.

[BobG]

This is a beautiful and most impressive model in every way! Congratulations, BE!

[Mirabell61]

A wonderfull build B.E.

 

are you having a glass or a plexiglass case  in order ?

 

Nils

[Moonbug]

Love the perspective shot -  not a small ship!

[realworkingsailor]

Very nicely done BE! Looks great!

 

Andy

[mtbediz]

Fantastic build. Congratulations.

[Knocklouder]

Not a small ship at all Bug.  Very well done,  thanks for your log, very much appreciated.  I will look on it often when I restart  my Pegasus. Thank you so much.

Bob M.     .

[ECK]

Great build and learned many tricks from you

[glbarlow]

Well done as always BE. Another great model and another learning guide in the form of your log for those that follow. 
 

Always a joy to follow your logs!

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you guys for your supportive comments and likes throughout this build, hope it will be useful to those following on.

 

@ Nils – I have a glass case ready; it was cheaper than using acrylic, but the downside is weight.

It is going to be an interesting exercise getting her into display position.🤔

  

B.E.

[Mirabell61]

Hi B.E.,

ca`nt wait to see your case, I also prefer glass, the acylic is a magnet for dust from the outside. You`re right with the handycap for the glass weight, I use 4mm thick panes, they fit nicely into the wooden  case- frames with 4mm slots

 

Nils

[Capt. Kelso]

Impressive!

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy-two

Sphinx and ‘Indy’

I thought members may be interested to see the comparison between Chris’s two premier kits, Sphinx and Indefatigable.

They sort of represent the alpha to omega of British frigates.

Sphinx, the bijou 9 pounder vessel, and ‘Indy’, the pocket battleship of her day, carrying 24 pounders supplemented with 42 pounder carronades.

I recall that when I built Sphinx I thought she was quite large, when ‘Indy’ arrived I thought I’m going to need a bigger bench!

04505

04506

04507

04508

04512

05413

05414

04517

If a large statement model is required ‘Indy’ is a good choice, but if masted and fully rigged she will take up a lot of room.

Built Navy Board style she is still a heavy model and a glass case even with reduced height and width adds considerably to the weight.

Sphinx is certainly of a size more amenable to a domestic setting; a pretty little frigate that appeals to my deeper affection for the more decorative vessels of the 18^thc. before austerity took over as the expensive Napoleonic wars ground on.

 

Indefatigable sort of spans this period, all black and yellow, no decorative topsides, but the stern gallery still looks good to my eye. She is modelled with an open Fo’csle before her bulwarks were built up, and she does have a magnificent Figure at her head.

 

I am more than happy to have both in my collection.

 

 

Thank you, Chris, for providing me with an engrossing thirteen months of work. It is a tribute to your designs, to be able to build a model of this quality and detail in such a short time.

 

Thanks are also due to James, for producing the prototype ‘Indy’ build which provided a very useful reference guide.

 

B.E.

02/05/2024

[chris watton]

Very well done, BE, they both look stunning!