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

[davyboy]

Superb photo's Maurice,a credit to your skills. I look forward to your next little masterwork.

 

Dave 

[Mirabell61]

Congrats B.E.

both models are masterly built, and eyecandy museum quality to look at

 

Nils

[Ronald-V]

Impressive! The difference in size is larger then I expected! Two wonderful build ships  

[DonSangria]

Thank you very much for this comparison! Really impressive!

[DocRob]

Congratulations, both, Indy and Sphinx look absolutely fantastic. Scrolling through your build, I more and more liked the idea of building a ship without masts and rigging. As I still struggle with my first rigging of the Duchess of Kingston, it´s definitely an option for my Sphinx kit or even Indy.

Cheers Rob

[rlwhitt]

That's truly a set of stunners B.E.  Man that Indy is a beast, but also a beauty as well.  I hope to do Sphinx one day but I don't think I'd ever have room for its big brother.  

[Hubac's Historian]

They’re a pretty pair, together B.E., and you emerged like your most recent project’s namesake, Indefatigable, and ready for the next project.  Many congratulations on yet another remarkable build!

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy-three

 

18’ cutter – Jolly Boat

 

I thought I would have another stab at clinker planking one of these bijou cutters to go with 'Indy'.

 

My original cutter which sits with Alert was of the older version replaced shortly after I had completed it.

This one is the current and revised version, which includes laser cut gratings and footwalings whereas the original had brass etch versions.

 

I will be using 3.4mm x 0.6mm Boxwood strip, and of necessity the planking starts at the keel and works up to the Wash strake.

4315

The Garboard is applied first using pva. This is shaped at the bow but is otherwise untapered.

4320

The second strake overlaps the Garboard by 1mm.

In proper practice there is a rebate or rabbet edge along the top of each plank to take the bottom edge of the plank above.

At scale and with 0.6mm board I can dispense with this nicety.

 

From the second plank above the Garboard I am adding a degree of taper both fore and aft. How much is down to eye and best guesstimate.

4528

As with all these projects clamping is an issue, more so as the planking rises.

4531

With three strakes added I move to the wash strake. This is fitted untapered into the bow slot.

 

Twice the stem part broke but repair was effected and once the wash strakes are in place the area is more stable.

4542

As the strakes are applied the taper increases fore and aft until the final strake fits flush with the lower edge of the wash strake.

4552

4550

Planking completed in its raw state, but the lapstrakes are clearly evident.

4565

I applied a 1mm square Ebony strip along the lower edge of the wash strake to represent the wale.

It looks broader than it is because top and face edges are not clearly defined on the photo.

4568

4569

There is a satisfaction to be had from completing the hull of this smallest of the boat range, but there is a fair bit of cleaning up required before the inboard fittings are put into place.

 

B.E.

 

06/05/2024

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy-four

18’ cutter – fitting out.

4571

A shot of the gratings and footwalings which are laser cut. A much better option than the brass etch version.👍

These take a little fettling to get them to sit fully down involving bevelling the underside of the parts, and shaving down the frames as required.

 

The kit sternsheets are combined with the aftermost thwart.

This is an arrangement I don’t like primarily because the grain of the thwart tends to run the wrong way and the set-up  makes it more difficult to  fit the vagaries of  individual hull constructions.

4577

I find it easier to cut away the thwart and make a replacement from spare fret. I have also filled in the open stern area to create an additional bench seat.

4570

At the bow I thought the area looked a little unfinished with  the remnants of the mdf construction block on view.

 

The kit plan (sheet eight) does show a small fore deck in this position but I can’t locate such a part with the 18’ cutter fittings.

4582

This benefits from facing up using spare fret, and the addition of a breasthook above it.

 

One other puzzlement with the 18’ cutter is the height the thwarts and sternsheets relative to the wash strakes.

4579

They are positioned as per the kit and instructions, but have very little freeboard. It is not a case of fitting them too high as the scale figures show a correct height between thwarts and footwaling.

4580

There is only 2mm between thwart top and wash strake top. This equates to 5” at scale.

Working up from the 1:48 scale drawings of an 18’ cutter in The Frigate Diana AotS book the difference should be around 11”

 

The new Vanguard resin cutter, what a beauty that looks, shows a much greater depth between the seating and wash strakes which looks more appropriate.

4583

Even so, visually the wooden version is a pretty little thing, and for most casual viewers this disparity won’t even register.

4588

I am fairly happy with the ‘clinker’ look but it does need a good clean-up.

 

 

B.E.

08/05/2024

 

 

Edited May 8 by Blue Ensign

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy-five

18’ cutter – completion.

Lifting rings and a mast step are added to the basic kit along with the incredibly tiny thwart knees. Amazing how Chris manages to produce identifiable laser cut pieces this small.

4602

I have gone with a double banked six oared rowing arrangement, mainly because with single banking I would have to cut an oarlock in the wash strake above the sternsheets, and there’s insufficient depth.

4625

I’m not a fan of the kit rudders supplied with this range of boats, comprising a thin central core sandwiched between two brass etch facings complete with straps.

 

I prefer to make rudders using slightly thicker wood with a vertical grain. For the 18’ cutter I used 1mm Boxwood.

For hanging I use the ‘quick release’ method as used on such boats, as seen here on one of the Victory’s cutters. 

With this arrangement the pintle is attached to the sternpost with an extra-long pin which allows for easier rudder hanging once the boat is in the water.

4590

Rudders are fairly simple to replicate, as is the hanging, provided sufficiently tiny eyelets can be obtained.

4605

To match the other boats on the skids I have painted the bottom with Vallejo ivory, but otherwise left the remainder of the hull and inboard works bright.

4610

The oars provide the colour element linking to the general inboard works of ‘Indy’

4612

I think this small cutter looks ok on the skids, obscuring little of the gun deck, so I’ll leave it onboard.

 

It has taken around 8 days to build this smallest of the supplied boats. From around 10” she looks fine to my eye, especially given the scale, but the macro is somewhat less forgiving.🫤

 

B.E.

10/05/2024

[Blue Ensign]

Post One Hundred and Seventy-six

 

Casing the model.

Today 'Indy' was finally encased and moved to her display position.

4713

Quite a fraught business lifting the heavy glass cover over the base, but at least there are no tall masts to negotiate and yards to snag.

4717

The cover was set with the model/base on the floor, and the combination case lifted in two stages onto the chest of drawers.

4715

I had been waiting for the arrival of the ‘Indy’ Admiralty  plan which I have had framed. This was also a tricky exercise to hang being 53” in width, supported by three hooks.

4708

This is the last available space I have for a large model, but I think I can still accommodate a few smaller ones.

4723

The final act is to compile the build photo record book that I do for all my builds, this is now ready to go to the printers.

 

I can now finally declare the project completed, and I again thank those who have shown an interest.

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

18/05/2024

[Nipper]

Congratulations BE, and thank you for sharing your build with us.  

Looking forward to your next one . . . !

Nipper

[Ronald-V]

That looks amazing! The case is a nice finish for this model

 

[Moonbug]

Wonderfully executed as always Maurice!

[jpalmer1970]

Brilliant work B.E. !

[mtbediz]

Congratulations for this beautiful model.

[Mark P]

Congratulations on such a lovely model; well done indeed. 

[ECK]

Incredible work, well done !

 

 

 

 

[ausierob]

Stunning ,

Thank you for sharing your skills, insights and time.