HMS Fly by aliluke - Amati/Victory Models - 1/64

[aliluke]

Thanks Allan

It is a VM kit and I went with what was supplied. A wider or thicker plank might be historically correct but the contortions I put the planks through while gluing them would be much more difficult. Essentially I am edge bending and twisting during the gluing process using my highly specialised clamps = fingernails and thumb! A wider and thicker plank would resist that very gently applied pressure. But you give me thoughts for the future.

 

Cheers

A

[allanyed]

6 hours ago, aliluke said:

Essentially I am edge bending and twisting

Like hull planking, it is easy to shape the planks using the method Chuck Passaro describes in his four part video that has been posted here at MSW and can be Googled.   That, or spile the planks as has been done on both ships and models.    Hope you give it a try in the future and like the results.

Allan

[Ryland Craze]

On 5/5/2023 at 2:40 AM, aliluke said:

I am edge bending and twisting during the gluing process using my highly specialised clamps = fingernails and thumb!

The best clamps ever made. You did an excellent job on building your launch.  I did not realize how small it was until I saw the picture of you holding it.

[aliluke]

I have, when time allows, been tinkering away at the VM 26' Launch. It is a relentlessly tricky little kit and I'll be glad to get back to the main subject - HMS Fly - next.

 

My launch is pretty well a straight out of the box kit. The main floor didn't fit so I removed the outer planks. I added an anchor rope. I shaped the oar handles and blades but inserted them into a micro brass tube for the shafts and added a leather? thickening where they base through the oarlock slots. I painted the upper works red as that suited my ship's Captain. Even though I didn't need to, I painted below the waterline in a creamy white. My hull planking allowed it to be left natural but I thought that would look odd on a ship with a copper bottom.

 

Some photos (which show touch-ups required). I have yet to stow the oars which promises to be as fiddly as everything else was.

 

 

[whitejamest]

That's a fantastic looking boat. And I think the brass tubing for the shafts of the oars has come out well, nice idea. 

[Beef Wellington]

Looking very nice Alistair,  Colour scheme is a nice change.

[jpalmer1970]

Great work!

[aliluke]

Thanks all for comments and likes. Jpalmer - your renditions of these little kits are brilliant, I looked at them often - cleaner than mine and you'll know how hard but satisfying they are to make. Thanks to VM I have a boat that'll do good grace on my ship but I'm also going to do the 28' pinnace to see if it is a better alternative on the chocks. The launch was practice. I think...Either way I'll have two little standalone kits.

[allanyed]

Lovely build!  One question/comment, hope that is OK,  The davit for working the ship's anchors looks thin.  Looking at contemporary launch drawings they were typically 7.5 to 8 inches wide (3mm at your scale), had a roller at the outboard end, and were supported on the sides by the runners so would be nearly touching them.  From the photos the one in the model  looks closer to 1mm.  I hope this is not coming across as picky but it sort of jumped out for me from a functionality point.   

Allan

[Blue Ensign]

I would agree with you Allan, the thinness of the davit struck me immediately when I built the launch for my Sphinx build.

I doubled up on the kit measurements to allow for the inclusion of the roller, a fairly simple mod if the look offends the eye.

 

PS. Alistair - I went for the Pinnace on the spare topmasts,  I think the more elegant lines suit the Swan better.

 

B.E.

 

[aliluke]

I did see the thickening of the davit on another kit like this. I planned to do that but quite simply forgot when I fixed it in place! Now that I am reminded, I might see if I can remove it. Yes Maurice I recall your pinnace - the launch was a practice and the plan is for the pinnace which I'll do later. The only problem is that the VM version is 28' which may be a tad long (I recall that yours is 26'). When it comes to it, I'll have a choice as I'm happy enough with my practice launch.

[allanyed]

The below may help although it does not show the side supports. I have seen contemporary drawings that show them and others that do not.    Why the kit would have something so thin is odd as the other items in the kit seems to be done so well.  Perhaps there were two pieces that were supposed to be sandwiched together with the sheave between???   IF you are mounting the launch on the ship, the davit would not be in place so removing it may be an alternative way to go.

Allan

 

Edited June 20, 2023 by allanyed

[aliluke]

Thanks Allan

It is always good to improve my knowledge of ship matters to make a more authentic rendition in a model. I will bide my time looking for a fix and may settle for the more elegant VM pinnace when I build that. Certainly it is a single piece in the model but takes nothing away from the quality of the kit for me, as a purist would spot it and fix it with ease. It's good to know that someone with your keen eye finds the rest of the kit so good.

[aliluke]

Hi

I am going very slow...Next little thing to make was the stern lantern using the Syren Model 1/64 version. A truly brilliant mini kit but very tricky to build. To call this small is very much an understatement - it is tiny and some parts ridiculously so. The macro photography takes you way beyond beyond what you can see. For absurd detail, I added a wick to the candle. The only panic was popping a glazing panel inwards during handling after fixing the top on. I drilled a hole through the door and gently pushed it back into place with a wire. First rule when modelling at this size and breaking something - don't panic and find the fix. Only departure from the kit is the crank - basswood in the kit but I replaced with 1mm diameter solid brass rod which is fitted into a hole drilled into the base parts. It feels much more solid than a bit of wood glued to the base.

 

 

The lantern catches the setting sun as HMS Fly sails out of Dusky Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand - the background photo is taken by me in Dusky Sound and is my computer wallpaper (it is not is not blurry in reality!)

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by aliluke
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[Beef Wellington]

Well done Alistair, I also have these beauties in waiting and you've set a very high bar.  Love the wick, just out of interest what did you use?  Your thought on the wire support seems a good one.

[aliluke]

Thanks for the Likes

Thanks Jason. I can't imagine you having any problem with this little kit! The wick is just a length of the wire supplied in the kit, glued into a hole drilled in the top of the candle and then snipped down to a sensible height.

[DaveBaxt]

Some really nice work there Alistair and a credit to the hobby. Thank you for sharing your build with us.

[aliluke]

Hi

It's been a while. I've had major health setbacks which I won't bore you with but they taken away time to work on Fly. 

 

I have managed to finish the 28' pinnace by Vanguard Models. An amazing little kit but trickier to build than the VM launch. Some minor changes to the kit that I made:

- Added mast steps

- Added ringbolt to the front eyebolt

- Added locker to the stern seat

- Added capping rails to the stern transoms

- Added anchor rope

 

The colour scheme is just my choice. I know there are some historical inaccuracies but I'm mostly building out of the box and looking for ease rather than historical perfection.

I stole the oars from the launch...

 

Slight annoyance - there is a knot in the third thwart from the bow. Nothing I can do about that but it looks like a stain...

[Blue Ensign]

Neat job Alistair, she looks good.👍I found the Pinnace the trickiest to build as well.

 

I hope your health is improving.

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

[CiscoH]

thats a good looking pinnace Alistair.  i especially like the smooth sweep of the paint on the hull.

i hope your health issues have gone back to being background noise

 

cisco