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Posted

The Trial Class Cutter (1788) was a vessel with three sliding keels' Agreeable to a plan suggested by Captain Schank, She was just over 65 feet along the main deck and 121 tons. She was initially armed with 8 x 3 pounder cannon, but in 1793, 4 x 12 pounder carronades were added, bringing he armament up to 12 guns.

She was launched in 1790, and hulked in 1810. She became a depot ship at Waterford; by the 1840's to Callao in Peru as a coal depot, being finally sold in 1848, after well over half a century in service. (Sailing Navy List - David Lyon)

 

I wanted to develop a smaller cutter. I even thought about doing a much improved Sherbourne. However, I have little stomach for treading old ground when there are still so many wonderful subjects that have not been tackled. One such subject was the Trial Cutter (quite a bit larger than Sherbourne), and I thought it would be more of a challenge and more unusual, due to the three drop keels. For the designs, I have utilised both the original plans and the contemporary model. I wanted to develop not a simple beginners kit, but a nicely detailed smaller kit, with etched planking and treenail detail on the inner and outer hull, just to see how that kind of detail would work out.

 

So, I started designs way back at the end of February. I had three stabs at the hull design before I settled on the forth. The original designs were to have the drop keels fitted very early in the build, and they dropped down to a pre determined level. That was pretty cool, but it would have meant adding the rope to the tops of the keels and keeping them free of glue and paint and whatever else throughout the hull build. I ditched that idea and came up with a simpler solution, where the keels are added only after most of the hull is complete.

 

So here is where I am up to. I cannot do much more until I have my photo etched samples arrive, but I did manage to cannibalise some parts from scrap sheets, like eyebolts, winch handles, belaying pins etc.

 

Here are some pics!

Trial Cutter Profile.jpg

Trial Cutter A1.jpg

Trial Cutter A2.jpg

Trial Cutter A3.jpg

Trial Cutter A4.jpg

Trial Cutter A5.jpg

Trial Cutter A6.jpg

Trial Cutter A7.jpg

Trial Cutter A8.jpg

Trial Cutter A9.jpg

Trial Cutter A10.jpg

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Craigie65 said:

Wonderful how you turn out these new vessels.  You are a machine Mr W!

Very interesting design. Looking forward to seeing this one being developed 

Cheers!

 

I am a little rusty when it came to doing a nicer model, rather than speed built just for pics for jim.

 

The designs are 100% done. I have changed a few things whilst building this. For example, I felt the 1mm pear was just ever so slightly too thick, so have put them on a 0.8mm pear file (inner/outer bulwarks, main wale, upper rails and gunwale)

 

All of the planking is very easy, and all is painted. All above the white painted area are pre cut.

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Posted

Now this looks an interesting little model!  My first wooden kit was the Sherborne and for some time I have been wanting to do another Cutter as I was never happy with my Sherborne effort. I was thinking of the Alert, but now I’ll see what the Trial looks like! 😁👍

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

 

Posted

terrific looking new build,lovely work @chris watton

Posted
3 minutes ago, AJohnson said:

Now this looks an interesting little model!  My first wooden kit was the Sherborne and for some time I have been wanting to do another Cutter as I was never happy with my Sherborne effort. I was thinking of the Alert, but now I’ll see what the Trial looks like! 😁👍

I think the best thing to do, if you are undecided, is to buy both! lol

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Posted

Why you doing a Cutter deal! 🤣😉 I might have to sneak that past the Admiral, she is only just accepting of a HMS Surprise in the next year or so! 🤣

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

 

Posted

Excellent design and another nice model design.  This is the one I may pick up to build with my grandson. Well done!

Regards,

Glenn

 

Current Build: Don't know yet.
Completed Builds: HMS Winchelsea HM Flirt (paused) HM Cutter CheerfulLady NelsonAmati HMS Vanguard,  
HMS Pegasus, Fair American, HM Granado, HM Pickle, AVS, Pride of Baltimore, Bluenose

Posted
3 minutes ago, mgatrost said:

Looks like another great kit. Is it to soon to ask when this might be for sale?

Around 8 weeks, I should think :)

 

I have been taking pics during the build for the manual, and most of the hull is now done.

 

Like Grecian, the channels are slotted and glued into place, as are the inner bulwark fittings like the pin rail and cleats - no need for drilling and pinning in place on this one.

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Gregory said:

Great new model Chris!

 

Just for reference there are some pictures in the Gallery of a contemporary Trial model.

 

I did actually download all those pics and used them as a reference for some areas! The actual plans and contemporary model are so different in places!

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Posted

I meant to add this pic in my initial post, the three that didn't make the cut, although the first, the one furthest away was always just a test to see how the initial designs looked - the one in the middle was used for all bulwark template patterns, and the nearest almost was the one, but decided to change the sliding keel parts so the modeller could add them once the hull is complete, rather than fit them before the deck is added.

Trial Cutter A0.jpg

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Posted
3 hours ago, chris watton said:

Not sure about the inner bulwark ladders, may delete those....

I rather like those bulwark ladders. I think they add some interesting additional detail to the deck.

Bob Garcia

"Measure once, cuss twice!"

 

Current Builds: 

Hms Brig-Sloop Flirt 1782 - Vanguard Models

Pen Duick - Artesania Latina 1:28

 

Completed: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Co. 

Member of the Nautical Research Guild

 

 

 

Posted
5 hours ago, chris watton said:

Around 8 weeks, I should think :)

 

I have been taking pics during the build for the manual, and most of the hull is now done.

 

Like Grecian, the channels are slotted and glued into place, as are the inner bulwark fittings like the pin rail and cleats - no need for drilling and pinning in place on this one.

Great I should have Speedy done just in time to start this one.

Posted

Interesting subject and approach (to finish the hull before glueing the upper bulwark pieces on).  Nice to see some new ship types!

Cheers,
 
Jason


"Which it will be ready when it is ready!"
 
In the shipyard:

HMS Jason (c.1794: Artois Class 38 gun frigate)

Queen Anne Royal Barge (c.1700)

Finished:

HMS Snake (c.1797: Cruizer Class, ship rigged sloop)

Posted

Wow! Yet another temptation. The speed with which you design and trial your stunning kits is just incredible. 

 

Cheers

Alistair

 

Current Build - 

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

Previous Build  - Armed Virginia Sloop by Model Shipways

Previous Build - Dutch Whaler by Sergal (hull only, no log)

 

Posted (edited)
11 hours ago, aliluke said:

Wow! Yet another temptation. The speed with which you design and trial your stunning kits is just incredible. 

 

Cheers! A big part of this is James Hatch, who has been building the Grecian, photographing the stages and writing the text, leaving me free to start Trial Cutter.

11 hours ago, Beef Wellington said:

Interesting subject and approach (to finish the hull before glueing the upper bulwark pieces on).  Nice to see some new ship types!

I thought I'd try that out and see how it went, and it seems to have gone very well, adding the outer bulwarks after the planking was complete and painted meant that it was free from any potential sanding/glue marks or paint overspray. No soaking in water at all for inner and outer bulwark patterns, but I did for main wale, but for the final kit, this will be in 0.8mm pear, not 1mm, so that should negate the need for soaking in water.

Edited by chris watton

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Posted
5 hours ago, BobG said:

I rather like those bulwark ladders. I think they add some interesting additional detail to the deck.

I agree, I like having all these little details as well (the more the merrier 🙂). If a builder doesn’t want to add them they can always leave them off.

 

Very neat project!

 

Posted

What will the final size be for that?  By my calculation, it appears to be a little over a foot at the deck.  Is that right?

Chuck Seiler
San Diego Ship Modelers Guild
Nautical Research Guild

 
Current Build:: Colonial Schooner SULTANA (scratch from Model Expo Plans), Hanseatic Cog Wutender Hund, Pinas Cross Section
Completed:  Missouri Riverboat FAR WEST (1876) Scratch, 1776 Gunboat PHILADELPHIA (Scratch), John Smith Shallop

Posted
9 hours ago, Chuck Seiler said:

What will the final size be for that?  By my calculation, it appears to be a little over a foot at the deck.  Is that right?

Hull alone is around 335mm long.

 

With masts and spars around 560mm long and 520 high overall (including drop keels)

 

Kit will come with mirrored base.

 

For the drop keel winch drums, I originally did these in laser cut wood, but was not happy with this solution, so I designed the drum in 3-d with a hole big enough for the 1mm brass rod to slide through plus another smaller offset hole to take the 'rope' that was attached to the drop keel, to lift it up and down. These are 3-d printed, so the holes will always be there on every one. I think this was the better solution. Each keel has an engraved line, so you know exactly how far to drop the keels.

Trial Cutter A39.jpg

Trial Cutter A40.jpg

Trial Cutter A41.jpg

Trial Cutter A42.jpg

Trial Cutter A43.jpg

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Posted

As I have messed up my Alert 😬🥲 I need another Navy cutter! And this seems to be the one!
I particularly like the lasered bulwarks with the tree nails and the idea (if I'm not mistaken) of the readily prepared inner bulwarks.

 

Do you have a price idea yet or am I too curious?

 

Best regards
Uwe

Posted
5 minutes ago, Oboship said:

As I have messed up my Alert 😬🥲 I need another Navy cutter! And this seems to be the one!
I particularly like the lasered bulwarks with the tree nails and the idea (if I'm not mistaken) of the readily prepared inner bulwarks.

 

Do you have a price idea yet or am I too curious?

 

Best regards
Uwe

Yes, decks, inner and outer bulwarks, spirketting and main wale all have etched detail, including trenails. (Even gunwales have scarphing detail).

 

Haven't worked out a price yet, as I haven't long started this one.

 

I did want it to go in one of the smaller fully printed boxes, that the last four fishing boats use, as I love those. However, I realised that if I were to use those, I would have to either remove the longer parts like the bulwarks and gunwales from their host sheets, or split them. Neither option was palatable to me, so it will have to go in a Fifie/Zulu sized box.

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