HM Cutter Trial 1790 by chris watton - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64th

[jfhealey]

How do you work so fast?? I am beginning to think there may be two of you or maybe Chris Watton is a spoof name for a factory full of tiny elvish boat builders.
Its another lovely vessel.

Any chance you might one day up your preferred scale to 1/48?

Fred

[chris watton]

51 minutes ago, jfhealey said:

How do you work so fast?? I am beginning to think there may be two of you or maybe Chris Watton is a spoof name for a factory full of tiny elvish boat builders.
Its another lovely vessel.

Any chance you might one day up your preferred scale to 1/48?

Fred

I find that working for myself is much better, I can streamline my projects. What I start, I can finish, rather than when being paid by someone else, having to put up with starting one project and half way through, asked to drop that and start something else. Rinse and repeat..

 

No plans for 48th scale for my main line of kits, very happy sticking with 64th.

Edited April 30, 2023 by chris watton

[yvesvidal]

Very interesting design and technology for an XVIII century vessel. It must have taken some strong arms, to lift these keels up....

 

Chris, if you are looking for unusual ships to model, there is a guy on that French forum who is building the vessel (Le Louxor) that was used to carry the Egyptian Obelisk all the way to France: 

 

https://www.laroyale-modelisme.net/t28885-allege-le-louqsor-partie-1-scratch-1-50-de-jm-mai33

 

 

 

 

 

That would do a very unique vessel and could offer a fantastic diorama depicting the loading (or unloading) of the Obelisk.

 

Yves

Edited May 1, 2023 by yvesvidal

[Thukydides]

This looks fantastic. Your kits are getting better and better.

[Roger Pellett]

Chris,  Your readers might be interested to the backstory behind Captain Shank and his “drop keel” invention.

 

In the early years of the American Revolution, British Strategy was to split New England from the rest of the American Colonies by an offensive down the Lake Champlain/ Hudson River axis.  This of course required control of Lake Champlain, resulting in a shipbuilding race between the Colonists and the British throughout the summer of 1776.   The British won the race resulting in the October 1776 tactical victory at Valcour Island.  The shipbuilding race, however, delayed the campaign until the next year when the Americans trapped and forced the surrender of the British at Saratoga.

 

The Royal Navy Officer responsible for the British shipbuilding effort was the same Captain Shank that designed your Cutter Trial.  The Lake Champlain Campaign required shallow draft vessels and the urgency to launch armed craft before the end of the short summer season resulted in vessels on both sides unable to sail to windward; the American Gundalows and the heavily armed British Radeaux Thunderer.  This had a notable effect on both the tactics and outcome of theresulting battle.

 

This is speculation but I believe that Shank’s drop keel invention was inspired by his Revolutionary War experience.

 

Roger

[chris watton]

19 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

Chris,  Your readers might be interested to the backstory behind Captain Shank and his “drop keel” invention.

 

In the early years of the American Revolution, British Strategy was to split New England from the rest of the American Colonies by an offensive down the Lake Champlain/ Hudson River axis.  This of course required control of Lake Champlain, resulting in a shipbuilding race between the Colonists and the British throughout the summer of 1776.   The British won the race resulting in the October 1776 tactical victory at Valcour Island.  The shipbuilding race, however, delayed the campaign until the next year when the Americans trapped and forced the surrender of the British at Saratoga.

 

The Royal Navy Officer responsible for the British shipbuilding effort was the same Captain Shank that designed your Cutter Trial.  The Lake Champlain Campaign required shallow draft vessels and the urgency to launch armed craft before the end of the short summer season resulted in vessels on both sides unable to sail to windward; the American Gundalows and the heavily armed British Radeaux Thunderer.  This had a notable effect on both the tactics and outcome of theresulting battle.

 

This is speculation but I believe that Shank’s drop keel invention was inspired by his Revolutionary War experience.

 

Roger

Thank you. I did know, I have read this book twice over:

 

The Struggle for Sea Power: The Royal Navy vs the World, 1775-1782 by Dr Sam Willis

 

The Struggle for Sea Power: The Royal Navy vs the World, 1775-1782: Amazon.co.uk: Dr Sam Willis: 9781848878471: Books

 

Highly recommended.

[hollowneck]

On 4/29/2023 at 10:02 AM, Gregory said:

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

 Thank you for a nice set of photos from the N.M.M. @Gregory. These pics of legacy models are always very informative. 

[hollowneck]

On 5/1/2023 at 1:35 PM, chris watton said:

The Struggle for Sea Power: The Royal Navy vs the World, 1775-1782 by Dr Sam Willis

This is an excellent read, like all of Willis' books.

[dunnock]

I've been wondering what my next model would be. It needed to be smaller than Diana as I'm running out of room and now I think that I've found it.

 

David

[chris watton]

OK, I have quite literally just finished the Trial Cutter prototype. This was a fun little project and went together a lot quicker than I thought. As mentioned (I think), this is larger than Lady Nelson, but slightly smaller than Alert (but a hell of a lot more pre cut than either), with overall length being 560mm with bowsprit and boom (Hull alone being around 330mm long)

[Thukydides]

Looks fantastic. It has been quite interesting to see how your designs have matured over time.

[Tom V]

When can it be  pre ordered

[chris watton]

12 minutes ago, Tom V said:

When can it be  pre ordered

Once it is 100% ready and only when printed materials are ordered and delivery imminent, it will go on sale. Am thinking July, as I still have CAD plans to finalise and then the manual. Almost all laser cutting is already complete, and the PE sheets (0.4 and 0.2mm) ordered.

 

I have made sure that all pear 0.8mm sheets are as perfect as they can be, so no marks on the etched planking sheets. 

 

I think the only thing missing from the pics above is the name plate - haven't laser engraved/cut that yet...

 

She originally had 8x3 pounder cannon, but a little later, 4x12 pounder carronades were added, and this is how I have kitted her, with 12 cannon in total. She does seem to have swivel gun posts, and I have added swivel gun brackets in the PE sheets, but will not add the actual cannon. This is because I do not think she was ever given any, and all research I have done never mentions the swivel guns at all. Plus, with the addition of the carronades, the swivels were not required anyway.

 

ETA - There are depth markings on the 0.2mm PE sheet, I just forgot to add them to my prototype...

Edited June 1, 2023 by chris watton

[ccoyle]

Very nice! Much sleeker-looking than a typical cutter.

[chris watton]

8 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

Very nice! Much sleeker-looking than a typical cutter.

She does have a shallower draught than normal cutters, hence the drop keels. This also means that there is very little actual planking to this. For the first planking (starting at below main wale level), I think there are only 12 x 1x5mm limewood planks per side, and 14 or 15 x 0.8x4mm pear planks per side.

[Kevin]

A wonderful addition to the ever growing VM range

[JeffT]

Its a cool little cutter.

[Oboship]

I'm looking forward to the release and I'm ready to order! Will a paint kit be available as well?

Uwe

[AJohnson]

Another fine addition to the growing VM flotilla! 

[Oboship]

On 6/1/2023 at 10:39 PM, Oboship said:

I'm looking forward to the release and I'm ready to order!

Uwe

Still so, waiting for the shop to open...🤪🙂

 

[chris watton]

13 minutes ago, Oboship said:

Still so, waiting for the shop to open...🤪🙂

 

I have the product page live, but am just waiting for the photo etched sheets from Italy. Once I have these, she goes on sale (or is is sail...)

 

HM Trial Cutter – 1790 – VANGUARD MODELS

 

 

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Will be ordering as soon as it is available.     I'm just entering retirement.    All home projects are caught up so I should be able to spend a lot of time with these models.    I may even get two or three models going at the same time.   Work on one what waiting for glues to set on another kit..  Presently have just completed step 65 of the Vanguard Flirt.

Can't wait.

[chris watton]

Update:

 

I thought I would not be getting my photo etched sheets for this until September, as I was convinced the Italians would not have them ready before they shut down for almost 2 months.

 

However, yesterday, I received news that my production Trial PE sheets are ready to pick up! I have just booked the parcel pick up, so will have the photo etch sheets next week, and the Trial Cutter will be available - finally!

[Chuck Seiler]

It's great when a supplier is AHEAD of schedule. 

[Oboship]

On 7/28/2023 at 10:32 AM, chris watton said:

Update:

 

I thought I would not be getting my photo etched sheets for this until September, as I was convinced the Italians would not have them ready before they shut down for almost 2 months.

 

However, yesterday, I received news that my production Trial PE sheets are ready to pick up! I have just booked the parcel pick up, so will have the photo etch sheets next week, and the Trial Cutter will be available - finally!

That's very good news!

Uwe

[chris watton]

I now have the final piece of the Trial puzzle, which is now complete! The production PE just arrived, so I can now finally add this kit to stock.

Edited August 1, 2023 by chris watton

[Oboship]

On 6/1/2023 at 10:39 PM, Oboship said:

I'm looking forward to the release and I'm ready to order!

Uwe

Done! 🙂

[AJohnson]

16 hours ago, Oboship said:

Done! 🙂

Snap! 😁