HMS Sherborne - Caldercraft vs Vanguard

[nheather]

Hi,

 

I have quite a bit of model making experience but I’ve never built a wooden ship before.  But I have always liked the idea so some years ago I bought a Caldercraft HMS Sherborne, but it got put of the shelf and forgotten about.

 

I now have more time on my hands so thinking of building it, but I have now seen there is a new HMS Sherborne kit by Vanguard models.

 

As a total beginner, I’d like to know whether I should crack on with the Caldercraft or buy the Vanguard.  I appreciate that may sound very silly as I already have the Caldercraft but the way I view it is that if the Vanguard model is so much better, so much easier for the beginner then the expense may be worth it overall.

 

Appreciate any advice.

[palmerit]

I’m doing my first wooden ship model and chose the Vanguard Sherbourne. 
 

I obviously have no basis for a direct comparison, but I can say that the Vanguard Sherbourne is definitely designed for the beginner. It’s a far more “modern” design than older school models I’ve seen build logs of (I don’t know how old the Caldercraft is). 
 

I’ve in parallel started the Model Shipways Dory (just started), which is also designed for the beginner, and can say the Vanguard Sherbourne seems easier in some ways than the Dory. The Sherbourne has many more steps and pieces but seems “easier”, instructions are clearer, and materials and architecture are stronger.

Edited October 10, 2024 by palmerit

[ccoyle]

Chris Watton designed both kits. The Caldercraft version is one of his earliest efforts -- the Vanguard kit is light years ahead of it in terms of design. That said, the Caldercraft kit is very buildable and can easily be super-detailed. I built it as my second POB kit. It's worth a crack.

[nheather]

Thanks, although it probably sounds crazy to many, I am leaning towards leaving the Caldercraft on the shelf and buying the Vanguard.

 

My reasoning is that I can afford to do so, and if building the Vanguard means a more enjoyable, less stressful, experience, then that is worth the money.  Also if it means that I am more likely to success then I am more likely to embrace the hobby and build more.

[Viggen]

Considering the new Vanguard Model version is not silly at all. I share you reasoning that you should listen to yourself what would give you the best feeling when starting a build. This is a  your hobby after all. If you feel hesitant and stressful from the start, you're not really in your feelgood-hobbyzone and that's a bit risky!

 

Need more positive enforcement about going for the Vanguard edition? Ok!

1) It's no problem leaving the Caldercraft one on the shelf for now. After a few more feelgood builds, spured on by your VM Sherbourne start, you'll pull out the Caldercraft one to kit bash for a even more enjoyable sense of "I got this great idea for this" (instead of what I am hearing now as "I must build this one now").
 

2) By buying the VM one, you are supporting one of (the one even) most communicative and active kit developer around. Despite an ever growing range of both kits and customers, Chis seems relentless in his efforts to offer help and advice to everyone building a VM kit or just having thoughts about them. This is rare indeed and deserves recognition. So you wont be doing this just for you really! 😉 

 

Hope this pushed you over the line! 😄 

 

PS. I tried to write a bit "witty" in a language which is not my native one, I hope it comes across as intended. The truthful core of what  I want to get across is that I have tried to force myself  to do (and enjoy) a build, because it was the one at hand. Very little joy in that, motivation suffers and you just begin doubt why you do it at all. So don't, if you can afford yourself options. But ofc good luck with whatever kit you choose to start!
//Markus

[SiriusVoyager]

You could always be ambitious and build both simultaneously and let us know the differences 😃

[Stuka]

6 hours ago, nheather said:

Thanks, although it probably sounds crazy to many, I am leaning towards leaving the Caldercraft on the shelf and buying the Vanguard.

 

My reasoning is that I can afford to do so, and if building the Vanguard means a more enjoyable, less stressful, experience, then that is worth the money.  Also if it means that I am more likely to success then I am more likely to embrace the hobby and build more.

I bought the Vanguard one and its my first ever build. And Im very statisfied with everything from the good instructions to the material and parts.  It feels very beginner friendly so I would put my vote on it. 

[PaddyO]

I don't know about the Caldercraft version of the model, but I purchased the VM version and I am extremely happy with the quality of the kit, the very clear and detailed instructions and how beautiful the model is turning out. It is a fantastic kit for the less experienced model builder (like me) and gives you lots of confidence to continue to develop your skills in building wooden model ships. 

[Thukydides]

6 hours ago, nheather said:

Thanks, although it probably sounds crazy to many, I am leaning towards leaving the Caldercraft on the shelf and buying the Vanguard.

 

My reasoning is that I can afford to do so, and if building the Vanguard means a more enjoyable, less stressful, experience, then that is worth the money.  Also if it means that I am more likely to success then I am more likely to embrace the hobby and build more.

If money is no object then yes I think the Vanguard one is a better choice. That being said if you take your time you should be able to do a fine job of the Caldercraft one. Another option I would throw my two cents in for is Vanguard's Alert. A slightly bigger cutter I feel it has more scope for kitbashing if that is your thing.

[bigcreekdad]

I'm late to this conversation, but my first build was Caldercraft's Sherbourne. I was quite please with the build, even though the instructions are nowhere near Vangaurd's. As I posted on another thread, I find Vanguard's parts to be too small for my old eyes. 

[JHuck 80]

On a related topic, I am just finishing my first model (Vanguard's Ranger), and I would like to do Vanguard's Sherbourne as my second, but it is out of stock in the U.S. (through Ages of Sail).  In fact, all of the Vanguard models I have been considering are listed as out of stock.  They all seem to be available in the U.K. directly from Vanguard, but not in the U.S.  Does anyone have any intel on when these models will be available again in the U.S.?  Can I order directly from Vanguard?

[chris watton]

1 hour ago, JHuck 80 said:

On a related topic, I am just finishing my first model (Vanguard's Ranger), and I would like to do Vanguard's Sherbourne as my second, but it is out of stock in the U.S. (through Ages of Sail).  In fact, all of the Vanguard models I have been considering are listed as out of stock.  They all seem to be available in the U.K. directly from Vanguard, but not in the U.S.  Does anyone have any intel on when these models will be available again in the U.S.?  Can I order directly from Vanguard?

I sent an order which contained Sherbourne kits to Ages of Sail 4 weeks ago, have they run out of them already!

 

ETA - I designed my first Sherbourne over 25 years ago (a quarter of a century, damn)!, it didn't take long as there's not really too much to it. The VM version is still heavily subsidised by me, meaning I make less profit per sale, but the upside being more people may buy it and actually enjoy and complete the model, rather than give up half way through. The material and parts count and time taken to produce each kit is much higher than my first design of Sherbourne. So, even if you think it is still too expensive when compared to the other, it really isn't, not for what you get in the box.

Edited February 27 by chris watton

[wvdhee]

2 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I sent an order which contained Sherbourne kits to Ages of Sail 4 weeks ago, have they run out of them already!

 

Chop chop 😉

[palmerit]

I actually ordered my Vanguard Sherbourne directly from Vanguard (UK to US) because it was out of stock at agesofsail. The shipping was a more than it would have been from agesofsail.

 

The shipping wasn't crazy. I pulled up my order and the shipping was £35.99 (around $45 given today's exchange rate) - that was 18mon ago, so who knows what it might be now, and who knows what kinds of tariffs might be added now. While the shipping was kind of high, the model directly from Vanguard was cheaper (based on the exchange rate then) than the same model from agesofsail (since agesofsail needs to pay duties and shipping and then adjust for exchange rate). So the overall price to get a model in my hands from agesofsail and Vanguard was pretty much the same, maybe a little more directly from Vanguard. Oh, and the Vanguard model was here in about the same time as another model I ordered from agesofsail arrive.

 

When I ordered my Sherbourne, I think it was a month or two later that agesofsail received a new shipment. It'll be restocked there, but since it's a pretty popular model, I'm sure it sells out pretty quickly. If you don't want to wait, I'd just order directly from Vanguard. When I've seen others ask if Vanguard models will be stocked at agesofsail soon, I've sometimes seen @chris watton respond when a shipment will be on its way.

 

For comparison, I ordered a model from Pavel Nikitin and its shipping was over $100. And it'll take a couple months to be sent and who knows how long it'll take to get to the US from Ukraine (I'm patient since I have two lifetimes worth of models waiting to be built).

Edited February 27 by palmerit

[palmerit]

Funny. As I was typing my response (I got distracted) and said Chris would respond, he had already responded.

Edited February 27 by palmerit