26 ft Launch 1795 by Blue Ensign - Vanguard Resin/wood small boat Model 1:64 scale

[Blue Ensign]

Building the new Vanguard Resin 26’ Launch.

 

Partly out of curiosity I decided to get one of Chris’s new hot off the press resin launches. It will provide an interesting exercise in woodifying the resin hull and allow me to compare with the wooden kit versions.

It may also help to lay the ghost of my failure with the Indy kit version, and if nothing else I will avoid the frustration of breakages.

 

A look in the package

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This is what you get.

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Internally the Keelson is represented together with mast and davit steps.

The solid floor footwaling is represented by broader planking sections for which there is historical evidence.

 

My current Medway Longboat also has much broader floor  planking.

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The moulding is very nicely done and looks to need very little clean -up beyond washing the resin.

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I note that there is no indication of external planking strakes, possibly thought unnecessary because the hull must be painted and they would be pretty fine and not show thro’ the paint.

 

The oar arrangement is for double banking, which is appropriate given the Admiralty order of 1783 regarding Launches.

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The significant feature of a Launch, the windlass, is also supplied in resin. I am pleased that this feature has been included, these are tricky to make at 1:64 scale, I know, I made one to go with the Launch for Sphinx.

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The remaining Resin fitting is the davit.

 

I don’t think there are any instructions with these kits but then there is not much in the way of construction required to complete the model. All the hard work has been done, internal framing and the all-important thwart supports are moulded in.

The thwarts and stern sheets are of 0.8mm Pearwood and look to simply slot into place with minimal effort.

 

The key factor in producing a fine model is all in the painting with this medium, we’ll see how I get on.🤔

 

Both the Resin and the alternative wooden kit versions are the same price at £29.00. The difference is that with the wooden version brass etch grapnels and boathooks are included, along with a good serving of tricky building time, but it doesn’t have the windlass.

 

I wonder if the Resin fitting would be appropriate to supply with the Pearwood Launch version as an optional extra?

 

 On with the assembly.

 

B.E.

21/05/2024

 

[Gregory]

One of the images at the web site apparently serves as the instruction…

[chris watton]

There is indeed a pic with general instructions on the product page:

 

[Blue Ensign]

Thanks Chris, I did see that but I couldn't get it to enlarge.

 

B.E.

[chris watton]

If you click on the magnifier in the picture, it brings it up almost full screen - that's how I did it and then just took a screenshot

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Ah, I see, screen shots are beyond my old Windows 11 desk top tech, should have used the iPad.

 

[Gregory]

You don’t have the “Snipping Tool”?

[Blue Ensign]

Snipping tool Gregory, that’s something I use to trim the ends of rigging line, is there any other sort.

[Gregory]

 

Go to Windows search and type " snipping tool "..

 

You can copy any part of the screen you are looking at.  It goes to the clip-board, so you can paste it directly into the discussion.

You can edit in "Paint", or do whatever you like.

Even though it's telling you to press all those keys, all you really need to do is press Ctr+N..

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Progress on the hull.

Post 2

 

The only area that needs cleaning up is the transom.

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This has a pimpling effect from the moulding that needs sanding smooth, a simple and quick exercise.

 

Note there are two little protrusions on the transom and stern post that relate to the rudder and shouldn’t be mistaken for flash.

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With the resin washed and the parts carefully trimmed as necessary, they are now primed.

I use Vallejo surface primer.

 

In considering the colour scheme, my aim is to create a look that tones in with the wooden kit boats on ‘Indy’ purely for comparison purposes.

The internal areas of boats were usually painted and with a resin model it is necessary.

I have read that left over paint mixtures known as sad were often applied to the internal planking of ships boats.

 

Once the internal painting has been done the windlass can be fitted.

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It slots into the housing perfectly, with very little effort. It then provides a useful point to hold the boat for painting the external hull.

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The outer hull painted with a mix of ¾ Burnt umber / ¼ Natural wood.

 

This was followed by a wash consisting of Flat earth lightened with Ochre brown and tinted with a spot of vermillion.

This was applied over the base and dry brushed.

 

With acrylics it is easy to play around with colour mixes until a tone that suits the eye is achieved.

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The lower hull was painted using Vallejo Ivory.

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Onto the internal fittings.

 

B.E.

23/05/2024

 

[hollowneck]

The new 3D molds look really good, especially with the inclusion of the windlass and davit. The resin does paint well with only a simple base acrylic primer. I use a Tamiya rattlecan (grey) for this and it's compatible with Vallejo paints.

-----

iPad screenshot: press the "Home" button and the "Power" button simultaneously and then release; a thumbnail will appear in the lower left corner which can then be tapped on to enlarge it with various file options (Save, share, delete, etc.). No "snipping tool" required.

[chris watton]

For 3-d printed resin, there is no release agent to clean off, like resin from moulds, as the parts are thoroughly cleaned with Isopropyl Alcohol to remove any resin once printed – so the only contaminants on these would be from handling only.

[Blue Ensign]

Post 3 

Internal fittings

All the wooden internal fittings are laser cut on 0.8mm Pear sheet.

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The thwarts fit perfectly in their allotted positions, and at a correct rowing height.

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Always good when the feet of a scale figure are a perfect fit for thwart and footwaling.

 

The stern benches are notched to fit over the frames, and again are a perfect fit.

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One feature that caught my eye was to see that the benches fitted over the aftermost thwarts.

The drawing would support that view, at least on this design of Launch.

 

The Rudder

This is fairly fragile at 0.8mm, and the head of the rudder split a little in the area of the tiller insert.

The kit set-up has the addition of side cheeks, for want of a better word, either side of the head, between which the tiller is inserted.

I don’t recall ever seeing such an arrangement on boat rudders. I wonder if it is supposed to represent a sort of tiller cowl that slots over the rudder head?

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I don’t know if such an arrangement ever existed in the 18^thc, but either way I thought it looked a little odd, and rather ugly, so I re-made a new rudder using 1mm Pear. (left hand version)

 

Oars are supplied in 0.8mm Pear and I note that Chris has designed in the broader elements of the loom. The blades are also finer than on other editions.👍

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I think the oars more than fulfil their purpose at this scale.

 

The next post will see the completion of this long weekend project.

 

B.E.

25/05/2024

[Blue Ensign]

Post 4

The launch is completed.

 

The only modification to the provided kit is a replacement for the rudder.

I have also added the following:-

Lifting rings to the keelson.

A cap square for the mast

A brass etch grapnel from the Indy kit.

A turning bar to the windlass.

I have also utilised the boat chocks from the Indy kit to support the hull.

This has been an enjoyable little project and I am pleased with the result.

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Below is a comparison with the wooden 24’ Launch I made for Sphinx.

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Both versions in my opinion look good and I think they represent the best available options at this scale.

 

The Resin/wood combo is a good match and almost fools the eye into thinking the whole is a wooden construction.

For those who may prefer to avoid the time and frustrations that can arise building the wooden versions, they are an excellent choice.

 

The wood versions have a slight edge for build match with the Main ship medium, and perhaps give a greater satisfaction in successfully completing these tricky little kits.

 

I don’t think I would mix resin and wood boats on the same build, but I am happy to consider either to enhance the ship kits.

 

You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

 

B.E.

26/05/2024