HMS Prince by myxyzptlyk2003 - Mamoli - 1/144

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Presently, I am about 1 month out from finishing my Vanguard  Cutter Trial.   While waiting for any new Vanguard model I was looking for my next project.    Note I always have two models going at the same time.   My AL Soleil Royal is proceeding nicely but slowly.       I've always liked the seventeenth century warships and the Prince would be one of my favorites.   I have the old Amati HMS Prince  (1/64 scale) in the box.   Having built that one in the distant past I know how big it is and given space limits in my house, this 1/144 scale model caught my eye.     It looks like the size of the hull is someplace around the Vanguard Duchess model.       Given the small scale I do have some concern about working with such small parts.   But on the plus side there will be a LOT LESS rigging of shrouds and ratlines!

 

I started my wood modeling hobby about 30 years ago and built many Mamoli and Corel kits.     I always found them to be pretty easy to build.    This Mamoli kits looks to be pretty similar to what my experience was back then.  

The wood supplied looks very good as do the laser cut parts.  The metal castings are OK.   Given the small size the detail on the castings does not come close to the detail on the larger Amati kit.   Note the picture of the two figureheads for comparison.

 

It will probably be a month or two before I can add any pictures for this build.   Once I get going I will provide more pictures of the kit.  

[allanyed]

On 1/2/2024 at 3:48 PM, myxyzptlyk2003 said:

But on the plus side there will be a LOT LESS rigging of shrouds and ratlines!

Hi Myxy

 Can you explain why there would be less rigging of shrouds and ratlines just because it is a different scale?  I really do not understand what a smaller scale has to do with the number of lines, although I would guess they would be more difficult to rig at this scale.  😕     McNarry's and McCaffery's books give a lot of information on rigging small scales from which you might benefit if you do not already have them.

Good luck and Happy New Year.

Allan

Edited January 4 by allanyed

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Although the actual NUMBER of shrouds would be the same the length of them will be much decreased.     If I remember right the length of the main mast shrouds on the HMS prince 1/64 was something like 10 inches??   On the 1/`144  they look to be about 6 inches.    

[myxyzptlyk2003]

My Vanguard Cutter Trial is almost finished so I have dry fitted the bulkheads for the HMS Prince.     You can see the relative size of this model against that Cutter Trial.     I do have a lot of concern about building in this scale.    My biggest issue is probably going to be the painting of the metal fittings.   That appears to require some very fine painting.   We'll see.

 

 

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Now that was interesting.   Started gluing all the bulkheads in place and then noticed that the pictures and the instructions did not match what I was actually seeing.     It seems the instructions and pictures may have been created when the central framework was all one piece that incorporated the stem, keel and sternpost???.   Those features are not on the piece provided in the kit.   Nor are they  mentioned anywhere in the instructions.   (see the picture above).     I did find those 3 structures laser cut on a separate piece of walnut.   I was able to install those pieces without any further issue.

Another note.   On each bulkhead about half way down there is a "notch".     Again, no where in the instructions or illustrations is this mentioned.   But it looks to me that as the upper half of the hull is covered in pieces of plywood and not in wood stips, that this notch may be where the first planking actually begins???    The instructions now state to start the first planking and then add the plywood sections.    I think I am going to reverse that and see what happens. 

[myxyzptlyk2003]

It is now very obvious that the instructions included with this kit, for the most part, do not correspond to the actual kit.     At some point in the past, maybe Mamoli had a different HMS Prince kit but they failed to update their instructions for this one.   This build was always going to be difficult due to the size but the lack of correct instructions will make it that much harder.    In the 2nd to last picture above you can see the plywood side strips that are to be applied.    The instructions make no mention of these strips.     And the cross section diagrams would seem to make this a traditional double planked model. while totally ignoring those plywood pieces.     The parts list does not mention those plywood pieces.   There is only one diagram showing the plywood strips applied.     There are definitely not enough strips of any type of wood to allow for double planking.  

I am now soaking those plywood strips as there is a severe bend at the bow.    A dry fit of those strips does show that notch on the bulkheads is indeed the beginning of using the regular wood strips for planking the lower section of the hull. 

I am disappointed in Mamoli over this.    In the past I had built many Mamoli kits and never had any issues.   

[myxyzptlyk2003]

As the weather got better here in Wisconsin I have had lots of outdoor chores to deal with.     During this time I've had lots of time to think about this project.    I have come to the conclusion that I need to shelve this project for the time being.      At 72years old, I may not have the time to devote to correcting and adjusting to the issues with this kit.   And there are too many newer kits to build.    It is very obvious that Mamoli updated this kit at some point but failed to update their directions/plans    I have alluded the issue with the plywood sides of which there is no mention in the instructions.   Furthermore, the instructions talk about putting the first strips on in a specific place in order to correctly place the metal cannon ports.   Well, there are no metal cannon ports even though the plans show them.   The "newer" plywood pieces have the cannon port positions imprinted on the pieces with some cut out and others just printed.    I believe the plan was to have the imprinted ports only be covered with the metal doors and not open.,   But again, no mention in the plans.   

 

So rather than struggle with this kit I will shelve it and move on to one of the Vanguard kits I have on the shelf.      Also will continue to work on my AL Soleil Royal.    (lot of gunports to line!!!!)

 

 

 

[Bill Morrison]

On 1/2/2024 at 3:48 PM, myxyzptlyk2003 said:

Presently, I am about 1 month out from finishing my Vanguard  Cutter Trial.   While waiting for any new Vanguard model I was looking for my next project.    Note I always have two models going at the same time.   My AL Soleil Royal is proceeding nicely but slowly.       I've always liked the seventeenth century warships and the Prince would be one of my favorites.   I have the old Amati HMS Prince  (1/64 scale) in the box.   Having built that one in the distant past I know how big it is and given space limits in my house, this 1/144 scale model caught my eye.     It looks like the size of the hull is someplace around the Vanguard Duchess model.       Given the small scale I do have some concern about working with such small parts.   But on the plus side there will be a LOT LESS rigging of shrouds and ratlines!

 

I started my wood modeling hobby about 30 years ago and built many Mamoli and Corel kits.     I always found them to be pretty easy to build.    This Mamoli kits looks to be pretty similar to what my experience was back then.  

The wood supplied looks very good as do the laser cut parts.  The metal castings are OK.   Given the small size the detail on the castings does not come close to the detail on the larger Amati kit.   Note the picture of the two figureheads for comparison.

 

It will probably be a month or two before I can add any pictures for this build.   Once I get going I will provide more pictures of the kit.  

HSM Prince??  Not cool . . .

 

Bill

[ccoyle]

22 hours ago, myxyzptlyk2003 said:

So rather than struggle with this kit I will shelve it and move on to one of the Vanguard kits I have on the shelf. 

 

Totally understandable. A poorly designed kit can suck the modeling mojo right out of a person.

 

I read through your account of the troubles with this kit. The box art suggests that this is one of the kits updated by Dusek after they purchased Mamoli. The work may have been done hastily to keep the kit on the market -- just guessing. In any case, it looks like the update was not entirely successful.

 

Good luck on your other projects!

[Stevinne]

A shame. I'd been thinking about this kit as a future build somewhere down the line, since I also thought the scale would be a good fit in my house. One good thing about following build logs is being forewarned.

[amateur]

Yeah, but the kit-designers all go the other way: more 1:48 and 1:64 scale.

Beautifully designed models, but won;t fit my bench (Nor living-room)

 

Jan

[aferox]

I wonder if this kit was based on the old Aeropiccola Prince; they look very similar.  I had both kits at one time (sold the Mamoli) and they were close but very slightly different in size.

[chris watton]

It is a lot less hassle designing a kit from scratch, rather than updating a very old kit, frought with pitfalls, I know...