HMS Sphinx 1775 by Ronald-V - Vanguard Models - 1:64

[Ronald-V]

Update: 

 

Installing the stern gallery...this part went pretty smoothly! I think the pre-fitting when I was attaching the lower stern counter (post #92) definitely helped everything fit nicely...below is a photo report of how I glued the parts.

 

 

First pre-fitting the (inner) stern fascia. This is the base that has to look good. Everything measured and worked from there.

 

 

It turned out that the (inner) upper counter fit perfectly in between, which was a relief and confirmation that everything was exactly where it should be. Already tried the nails so that I can later push it into place with gluing.

 

 

 

Gluing was easy and clamping was not difficult.

 

 

 

Then it was just a matter of gluing the Stern fascia in place (it could rest nicely on top of the upper counter)

 

And the result looks nice and straight and good (I think so ) 

 

 

 

Now comes the trickier part...the side galleries that probably need some modification since I have open doors. Let's take a step by step look at how I'm going to tackle it.

 

Edited October 26, 2024 by Ronald-V

[Gregory]

That view really shows off your planking at the stern!

[Ronald-V]

Been a little busy with other things in life. Also side tracked a bit with exploring other modelling things. Made a "facade" in 1/24 scale. Was fun to do and liberating not to care about measurments etc.  . Will definitely make something like this in the future again. Now trying to get back in the Sphinx  

 

 

[Thukydides]

That is fantastic work Ronald. You should consider actually painting the decorations on Sphinx. You definitely could on the evidence of your work on this facade.

[Diver]

On 10/26/2024 at 10:26 AM, Ronald-V said:

Update: 

 

Installing the stern gallery...this part went pretty smoothly! I think the pre-fitting when I was attaching the lower stern counter (post #92) definitely helped everything fit nicely...below is a photo report of how I glued the parts.

 

 

First pre-fitting the (inner) stern fascia. This is the base that has to look good. Everything measured and worked from there.

 

 

It turned out that the (inner) upper counter fit perfectly in between, which was a relief and confirmation that everything was exactly where it should be. Already tried the nails so that I can later push it into place with gluing.

 

 

 

Gluing was easy and clamping was not difficult.

 

 

 

Then it was just a matter of gluing the Stern fascia in place (it could rest nicely on top of the upper counter)

 

And the result looks nice and straight and good (I think so ) 

 

 

 

Now comes the trickier part...the side galleries that probably need some modification since I have open doors. Let's take a step by step look at how I'm going to tackle it.

 

Interesting clamps.  Are they still available, I could not find them on the Wolfcraft web site.

[Ronald-V]

4 hours ago, Diver said:

Interesting clamps.  Are they still available, I could not find them on the Wolfcraft web site.

I bought them on Amazon...I still see them although they are quite expensive at this specific seller. Maybe there is a cheaper dealer somewhere on Amazon.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wolfcraft-B3431-Micro-Spring-Clamp/dp/B0001P19IQ/ref=sr_1_37?crid=2VJQGFBAQJG9G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._qJCDFyzGgOpQyWmJEweM75FguvXG8XfJ1TaCHbNUK1LD6F58ptwtztOsgFNivx_IlIOy5qI2bfglS73AbtjQeHaXd4-PwaQjdOTIJY4GVFSJ09aSoX3rS_QPrOGIRZjJlGnr2u-BC6xpw2EuTIRj41ZFil_fKKQ6PwbbAolkrNcqTkt3-xOiRZRbGYtDUSugyS9KAI3lVdBHiViAfWKnryMRha8MXRFS9oQvUfdVQIm8p7znlarE3o1fHOBGA97aQAy4lU-bJyPEG3lPj-HqbPBagBTXcBbvac5Q1X9COc.8UgZOr1TyulAKRF58QFweNfcRaq1qt3kJ6cV76pgvUU&dib_tag=se&keywords=wolfcraft+clamps&qid=1743767638&sprefix=wolcraft+clamp%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-37

Edited April 4 by Ronald-V

[Ronald-V]

1 hour ago, Thukydides said:

That is fantastic work Ronald. You should consider actually painting the decorations on Sphinx. You definitely could on the evidence of your work on this facade.

Thanks Thukydides! Pff not sure if painting the decorations myself would be fun haha, but it's worth considering when I get that far. For now I was thinking about using multiple tones of color on the etched decorations to give them more depth. But I'll think about it!

[wvdhee]

Good to see you back ☺️

[Ronald-V]

Just a very small update to show what I'm working on. Installing the quarter galleries, or at least one of them. Took me quite a few days to really figure out how it should look exactly (my head is a bit messy at the moment, so a bit difficult to concentrate). But I'm starting to get the hang of it. Also with the help of the other Sphinx build logs.

It looks like I've added just a millimeter to the length of the quarter galleries compared to the original that James built, but that doesn't seem to have any real implications going forward. Will do a more extensive report from the other side so it's clearer how I'm approaching it. (spoiler alert...pretty much the same as Blue Ensign did it)  

 

 

 

[Ronald-V]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm running into a ambiguity and couldn't really find a good unambiguous answer in the other Sphinx build logs. It concerns the "Quarter gallery lower finishing patterns"...and in particular the "teardrop shape" at the bottom. Should this follow the contours of the stern counter as in photo 1? Which results in the bottom being a bit more pointed than the lasered shape is because it protrudes a bit. Or is it the intention that I place the teardrop shape a bit towards the bow side so that the teardrop shape is retained but some of the wales becomes visible, as in photo 2?

 

Hope the question and photos are clear enough. 

 

Maybe @chris watton  or @James H can shine a light about this  

 

 

 

Edited April 13 by Ronald-V

[Ronald-V]

Had a closer look at how Blue Ensign tackled the above...he also added 2 images that I think make it a bit clearer. The whole thing even seems to have to lean a bit more towards the bow side, and doesn't really seem to have to follow the curve of the stern. I will see if I can make a paper template of the PE decoration that sits on top, maybe that can assist me with the positioning.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13 by Ronald-V

[chris watton]

For mine, I just sanded the edges and then added the PE (PE-24 R&L) on top

[Ronald-V]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

For mine, I just sanded the edges and then added the PE (PE-24 R&L) on top

Thanks for your answer Chris 👍

[Ronald-V]

Update:

 

Okay...The last few days I've been busy with the quarter gallery on the port side. Now halfway...and here's a small photo report

 

Started by filling in the slots where the parts that would normally be used without the openwork galleries would go.

First check carefully where exactly they should start and end so that you know later where the replacement parts should go.

 

 

Copied the pieces (used boxwood for this)

 

 

Then started with the construction of the "seat of ease". First a base plate on the back so that there is a flat surface

 

 

The "seat of ease" made from various pieces of boxwood. I found the sanding disc easy to use here to get the right angles. Just work your way up to it slowly instead of sanding away large chunks.

 

 

 

 Painted it a nice coat "off white", like the rest of my interior

 

 

Rooftop piece:

 

 

Then the first underlying window piece. Used many different clamps here to get it right. Tip: practice clamping without glue beforehand...so you know when you're working with the glue where everything should go...less stressful  

 

 

I extended the window piece that goes over the base layer because I want to use as little filler as possible afterwards. This way I can slowly work towards the perfect shape. To be honest, I have to say that it didn't work out as well on the port side as on the starboard side. I was still a bit too impatient or something and had a small seam here and there . I worked these away with some glue and sanding dust. Eventually there will be a layer of paint over it anyway so it doesn't matter. But I think these are fun challenges (which don't always turn out well haha  ) 

 

 

Finally the roof placed...not much to tell about that other than slowly working towards the final shape. For the most part used the sanding disc again.

 

 

That's it for now. Will continue with the bottom part and post an update later. Haven't placed the floor of the quartergallery yet. I personally think it's easier if I place it together with part 29 (it will become clearer ;) )

 

[Ronald-V]

New update:

 

Finishing the lower part of the quarter gallery.

 

First of all some support for the lower part. Again made from boxwood and of course the dimensions taken from the original kit parts

 

Then I copied the "berthing patterns" but with larger dimensions so that I have room to make a seamless connection with the top and bottom of the quarter gallery. Maybe it would work with the original part, but personally I find this easier. And with a table saw and sanding disc it is almost no extra work

A bit of bending with the original MDF parts glued to a piece of scrap wood. It's not all super precise but that's not a problem. I noticed that with a plank nipper from Amati I did get the final curves that were needed

 

Fits nicely! Here and there I cheated a bit with some glue and sanding dust.   I try to make it very precise, but it doesn't always work out as intended. Beyond my skills haha.

 

 

Then it was time for the "lower finishing parts". Again a piece extended at the front with a piece of boxwood, so that I could get a reasonably close connection with the "stern upper counter pattern".

 

I placed these parts loosely on the wales and glued them there on each other (so not on the wales, but on each other). This is because the wales have a vertical curve and you also need this in the "quarter gallery finishing patterns". Especially the "drop shape" must be sanded at a slight angle on the top so that it lies flat against the wales and pieces 29 and 45b.

 

Most of this rough shape sanded away with the sanding disc and the last with some sandpaper. Of course left something so that when glued to the hull it can get its final shape

 

Just glued here but not yet in its final shape

 

The final shape was obtained with a mix of small files and sandpaper. As you can see the wales are a little bit damaged in terms of paint, but that can easily be touched up. I used a little bit of filler on the front of the finishing pattern, where it flows into the "berthing patterns". This is because the berthing patterns are lower because they are lying  against the wales and the finishing patterns are ON the wales. So I had a bit of a strange transition there..solved with some filler.

 

By the way, I think this should be approximately the shape that the whole thing should have. I didn't find it the clearest and it seems that there are some differences between many builders. The most important thing I think is that it should look aesthetically pleasing, so a nice flow with the rest of the quarter gallery. I chose to place the drop shape at the bottom a little forward (towards the bow), a small millimeter from the upper counter. This is because the PE decoration that comes on top had exactly the shape of this drop. So it was important to keep the shape (this also answers the question I asked myself in post #280)

 

Hadn't shown a photo of the stern yet. Here too all the seams have been worked away with filler, so everything looks nice and tight. By the way, I thought the view over the deck through the windows was nice in this photo. (quality of the photo is a bit bad because I had to sharpen it quite a bit) 

 

Oh yes...a nice glimpse into the "seat of ease"

Edited yesterday at 03:16 PM by Ronald-V

[Blue Ensign]

Excellent work Ronald, it looks spot on👏

 

B.E.

[Ronald-V]

15 minutes ago, Blue Ensign said:

Excellent work Ronald, it looks spot on👏

 

B.E.

Thanks B.E.! Your build log helped me a lot! 

[Nearshore]

Nicely done. Your doing a very good job!!

 

Nearshore

[Ronald-V]

18 minutes ago, Nearshore said:

Nicely done. Your doing a very good job!!

 

Nearshore

Thanks Nearshore! I'm glad this step is done...felt quite difficult at first with all the modifications going on, but once tackelt it's quite satisfying.

[Thukydides]

Great job. Nice precise work.

[François de Saint Nazaire]

Ronald,

 

It's simply beautiful.

Clearly a reference, and also a genuine wish to built a model created by Chris Watton.

[Ronald-V]

1 hour ago, François de Saint Nazaire said:

Ronald,

 

It's simply beautiful.

Clearly a reference, and also a genuine wish to built a model created by Chris Watton.

Thank you! Yes the models designed by Chris Watton are a lot of fun to build 💫

 

 

1 hour ago, Thukydides said:

Great job. Nice precise work.

Thanks Thukydides!

[BurgundyModels]

Ronald,

 

Just got caught up on your build. Your attention to detail and planking work is exemplary, I'm quite impressed! We can all hope to achieve such exceptional quality. 

 

-Ron

[glbarlow]

Nicely done!

[Ronald-V]

1 hour ago, glbarlow said:

Nicely done!

Thanks Glenn!

 

2 hours ago, BurgundyModels said:

Ronald,

 

Just got caught up on your build. Your attention to detail and planking work is exemplary, I'm quite impressed! We can all hope to achieve such exceptional quality. 

 

-Ron

Thank you very much for your kind words Ron! 🙏

 

And everyone else, thank you also for the likes, I really appreciate it!