HMS Harpy 1796 by Blue Ensign – Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale

[Blue Ensign]

Thanks Ron, my old Pentax doesn't seem to be responding to adjustments so I've ditched it in favour of the i-phone which gives a more representative colour match.

@ Rusty - Thanks for looking in Rusty, hope things are good with you.

 

Post 58

Rings and things

A stage I can’t put off any further, the bulwark fixings for the gun tackles.

Some 88 pieces are required to equip the gunports, all to be chemically blackened.

044

Etched eyes are provided for both side tackles and breeching, altho’ the breechings should really be ring bolts, something I have modified on every build I have done. Adds to the work but the look for me is so much better.

041

I used the kit provided eyes for the tackle fixings, and Amati fine eyebolts and 2mm brass rings for the breeching ring bolts.

3643a

Along with the ironwork there are pin racks and cleats to fit.

3653a

As a contrast I decided to leave the cleats  as varnished plain wood.

3648a

3657a

3655a

3658a

Sucks up a lot of time attending to the detail, but she’s starting to look more shipshape now.

Been working close to four months on this build, more time than I initially imagined to reach this stage given the  amount of  pre-cut laser parts.

The next stage is likely to be even more time consuming, so Harpy is providing a lot of entertainment for the money.

 

B.E.

25/03/2025.

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 59

Carronades

Harpy carried a complement of  (16) 32 pounder carronades.

3661a

I like to set up a sort of production line for carronade assembly, all the constituent parts in separate containers.

Before I get to that part I need to decide what position I prefer the carronades to be set.

3664a

There are three options, run-out, inboard (run-in), and  mid-way.

3665a

3662a

0070

I quite like the Run-in position which I think I will use for most of the guns, with a couple of examples of the other settings.

I am thinking I could modify the slides to allow  movement of the carriages.

3667a

At this early stage I have noticed that the elevating screws are subject to breaking when removing the supporting fret.

I had three break but they are easily drilled and fitted with a blackened pin.

I used a No11 scalpel blade for the cutting and found that  cutting the elevation screw first worked best for me.

 

B.E.

26/03/2025

[SaltyScot]

For some reason I cannot explain, I prefer the run-in option too. Cleaner, unbroken line of sight along the outside of the hull maybe. It just feels kinda right 🤔

[Jolly Jo]

I would tend to run in as well. This way the proportions of the very the short gun and the carriage pushed together look best (at least to me). Run out shows a long empty carriage and an even shorter carronade as the barrel is hidden by the gun port.
For all three positions picture 3662a looks like the best option.

 

Anyway, very niceley done done so far!

[Blue Ensign]

Thanks Mark and Jo, always good to have affirming thoughts.👍

 

Post 60

Carronades Part 2

For the past three days I have been  playing around with the guns.

There are 16  multi-part units  to assemble and each one is a time consuming mini project.

The Pearwood bases initially need a good cleaning up, Vallejo Red paint does not easily cover char.

Base modification.

I have looked at modifying the slide and carriage so that the carriage actually slides. It would basically involve using a longer bar thro’ the carriage, removing the support bracket from beneath the slide, and adding brackets to the carriage bar beneath the slide, avoiding gluing the slide and carriage together.

On reflection I decided it wasn’t worth my effort so I just glued the carriage behind the slide bracket to give the run-in position.

3678a

I kept two carronades in the run-out position to demonstrate the use of the slide.

3679a

3680a

3683a

Before gluing the carriage to the slides I had one last check .

3684a

Content with my choice.

3669a

Ahoy Harpy – I think you’re  goin’ to need some bigger carronades.

 

Taking a few days off now to enjoy the Welsh Marches, and one of my other interests - Castles.

 

B.E.

29/03/2025

 

 

Edited March 29 by Blue Ensign

[SaltyScot]

2 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

Taking a few days off now to enjoy the Welsh Marches, and one of my other interests - Castles.

 

 

You enjoy that, sir. It is a beautiful part of the world. I spent some years in my youth in the south of Wales and fell in love with the place. Anyone reading who was not familiar with that border region and the nomenclature would think you were going to watch a marching band  

[Blue Ensign]

Post 61

Carronades (Part 3)

3692a

As with Indy I added Syren Monograms which were applied before priming and painting.

They were then treated with dark brown weathering powder after painting.

3755a

When it comes to the ironwork placement on the carronade base, my go to references is the AotS  books The Frigate Diana which also carried 32 pounders and  was contemporary with Harpy.

In accordance with the 1:24 scale drawings  I have placed the bracket for the Breeching ring angled forwards on the carriage.

3758a

I added a ‘metal’ plate beneath the elevation screw.

3756a

The pe elements require blackening before use

This part of the assembly is by far the most fiddly and tiresome of the assembly process. Several of the brackets pinged off into the ether during fitting, lost forever, but fortunately there are a few spares.

There is also a lot of re-touching of paintwork.

3765a

I replaced the kit breeching rings with Amati 2mm rings.

I decided to replace the elevation screws with blackened pins, I will look to add the turn handles if I can find the right makings.

 

I have decided with Harpy that I will add at least the breeching ropes.

It is not clear from the kit blurb the actual line sizes, but my sources indicate lines of 8” circ equating to 1mm ø at scale.

However, true scale is not everything with scale models.

1mm line looks far too heavy with the provided carronades, and there is also the issue of damaging the breeching ring in drilling it out to suit.

3769a

3773a

I found that 0.8mm line ( in this case polyester line)  gave a look I was happy with.

For the side tackles 2” circ lines are indicated for the side tackles. these equate  to 0.25mm ø line.

With side tackle lines I have found that a smaller line is often a better fit and more visually appealing.

3771a

Still a way to go before I’m happy with the guns, but meanwhile…

 

More random thoughts about Harpy

Those two large stern ports, what is their purpose?

They are rigged for guns, but the absence of carronade slide fixings looks problematical. Apart from that the barrels wouldn’t extend beyond the counter.

3674a

Moving the the 12 pounder bow chasers aft is a possibility but clearance of the counter issues would still apply.

This design as seen on other vessels has always puzzled me, why not fit port lids to keep out some of the weather in a following sea?

 

Onwards..

 

B.E

06/04/2025