Linus Napoleonic shipyard

[Linus Spjutsberg]

Hi everyone!

 

My name is Linus Spjutsberg, and I run the YouTube channel Linus Napoleonic Shipyard. I’m passionate about model shipbuilding in 1/700 scale using resin hulls and brass wire for masts. I have a particular focus on Napoleonic-era vessels. On my channel, I share my journey, tips, and techniques for building models, historical facts, but also battle reports from our 1/700 scale Napoleonic era sea battles, using our house rules based of the rules for "black seas" by warlord games.  I love diving into the details of these incredible ships and connecting with others who share the same passion. My dream is that at some point transfer my hobby to larger wooden model ships from the same era, but at this time that's not an option financially or with time in mind. For now I will keep doing my 1/700 scale minis which I also have gents getting from me on commissions, and watch others build the larger ships. First large one I would like to build in the future would be maybe HMS Indefatigable or maybe HMS Shannon.

 

This is my youtube channel: Linus Napoleonic Shipyard please have a look if you like. 

 

I also post here some of my latest works all in 1/700 scale so you all can see what I do. I hope and look forward  to getting a lot of advice and interaction with you all.

 

Until then, a glass of wine with you sirs!

[GrandpaPhil]

Welcome!  Very impressive fleet!

[Jsk]

Welcome, Linus!

 

Your 1/700 models look great. My Covid lockdown project in 2020 was a French and a British fleet so I understand the challenges of these models. Though I've never actually played a game with them that was certainly the intention.

 

Are your ratlines 3d printed? I wasn't impressed with the clear ones provided in the kits but wasn't able to find a better alternative. Also, (I'm finally asking this question after observing it for years)--why don't your driver/spanker sails extend all the way to the mizzen mast? I've only seen this on 'gaming models'. I suspect it's just incorrect mostly due to Warlord designing their models that way and builders following along. Still... I'm no expert.

 

Cheers!

 

PS, your gaming mat is perfection.

 

 

 

 

[Linus Spjutsberg]

9 minutes ago, Jsk said:

Are your ratlines 3d printed? 

 

Also, (I'm finally asking this question after observing it for years)--why don't your driver/spanker sails extend all the way to the mizzen mast? I've only seen this on 'gaming models'. I suspect it's just incorrect mostly due to Warlord designing their models that way and builders following along. Still... I'm no expert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ratlines are photoetch from Atlantic models. Would really recommend them at this scale.

 

For your second question? Not sure I full understand it. But you mean its not all the way in to the mizzen. Looking at historical illustration I see what I think you mean. Never really noticed and due to inexperience I have gotten them all wrong...... Now look what you did I will have to go back and correct them all!  And believe me I will eventually! Thank you for pointing this out! Future ships will be modelled correctly. 

[Keith Black]

 Linus, welcome to MSW. I sometimes struggle at 1:120, the thoughts of working at 1:700 makes my knees weak. Glad to have you aboard.

[Linus Spjutsberg]

8 minutes ago, Keith Black said:

 Linus, welcome to MSW. I sometimes struggle at 1:120, the thoughts of working at 1:700 makes my knees weak. Glad to have you aboard.

Thank you! Really hope I can get going on something bigger at some point. Right now the biggest I have I a diorama in 1/600 scale I have started working on. Its of a British fast galleon attacking a transport nao. While a Spanish galleon is trying to defend it. 

[Jsk]

1 hour ago, Linus Spjutsberg said:

Now look what you did I will have to go back and correct them all!  And believe me I will eventually!

Well, as the younger generations say "You do you!" Nevertheless, your models are still stunning.

[ccoyle]

Welcome aboard!

[Knocklouder]

 

Fantastic work at that scale, wow that's tiny.

Bob  M.

[vossiewulf]

Very nice work Linus! I may want to take a turn at 1/700 too at some point, I know where I'll go to look on Youtube when I do.

[Baker]

Fantastic work

and 

[Thukydides]

Welcome aboard. These are some very cool models.

[SiriusVoyager]

Welcome to MSW!  That is a very nice fleet you have made. 

[Linus Spjutsberg]

On 1/20/2025 at 2:17 AM, SiriusVoyager said:

Welcome to MSW!  That is a very nice fleet you have made. 

Thank you! 

 

To all for the welcome!

[mtaylor]

[Linus Spjutsberg]

So usually I put my  buildlogs on my youtube channel. This is for the tiny 1/700 scale ships so far. Would it be ok to post some of those here? If so were? 

 

This is my channel link again if anyone would like a look.  https://youtube.com/@linusnapoleonicshipyard?si=z1SsASNnxS_R1v3q I also dona bit of history, tutorials and battle reports on there. 

 

Also some good news. I will be starting my first wooden ship model in June. So looking forward to this. It will be one of the vanguard models brigs. Haven't decided on wich one so far. 

 

Picture is my latest build, the  Chesapeake in 1/700 scale.

 

 

Edited March 30 by Linus Spjutsberg

[hollowneck]

On 1/18/2025 at 7:39 AM, Linus Spjutsberg said:

My dream is that at some point transfer my hobby to larger wooden model ships from the same era, but at this time that's not an option financially or with time in mind.

Impressive models! I too like your gaming mat.

 

You will find that your Vanguard Brig model is a perfect "step" into a larger wooden ship model world. I've attached a photo of my Vanguard HMS Camilla (Vanguard's HMS Sphinx), in her full-sized, seascape diorama. I hope that you won't mind me posting this photo on your thread. If I'm wrong, my apologies in advance. 

 

Also, I posted a lengthy Build Log here for this model which also detailed how I fabricate my sails and the water.

Ron

[Linus Spjutsberg]

On 3/31/2025 at 5:58 PM, hollowneck said:

Impressive models! I too like your gaming mat.

 

You will find that your Vanguard Brig model is a perfect "step" into a larger wooden ship model world. I've attached a photo of my Vanguard HMS Camilla (Vanguard's HMS Sphinx), in her full-sized, seascape diorama. I hope that you won't mind me posting this photo on your thread. If I'm wrong, my apologies in advance. 

 

Also, I posted a lengthy Build Log here for this model which also detailed how I fabricate my sails and the water.

Ron

What a gem! You did great and I really like when a ship is displayed like this in action. Your diorama base must be quite large? The HMS Sphinx is a large model. Very inspiring, thank you. Now I really look forward to getting started this summer. 

[hollowneck]

On 4/2/2025 at 5:27 AM, Linus Spjutsberg said:

Now I really look forward to getting started this summer.

Linus, Thank You, much appreciated. My HMS Camilla diorama is 1 M (37" wide) X 27" deep.

Allow me to give you two MSW links on this model:

The first is for my photo gallery in my profile that shows many other angles of this competed model. The second link is for my HMS Sphinx Build Log which has 19 pages of details on my build, including making her sails, the additional and required sail rigging and the crafting of the diorama's presentation base.

 

Good luck on your build of this elegant and superbly designed kit from Vanguard. Many hours of pleasure. Guaranteed!

 

https://modelshipworld.com/gallery/album/2658-hms-camilla-1775-vanguard-models-hms-sphinx/

 

 

 

 

[Glen McGuire]

Welcome aboard, Linus!  Your 1/700 scale models are exceptional!!

[Jsk]

@Linus Spjutsberg, Your Chesapeake is a lovely jewel of a model. I'm assuming the hull is a Turner Miniatures design. 3d printing has really opened up a lot of options for small scale age-of-sail modelers and gamers!

 

I also watched a couple of your videos on your YouTube channel. (I don't have an account there so I can't leave these comments on that site.) Well done! I especially like your review of 'Beat to Quarters'. I had that set of rules in the 1990s and loaned them to a friend who then moved across the state and took them with him. I lost contact shortly after so never did get them back along with a copy of 'Ship-of-the-Line'--the prototype rules for what would become the board game 'Wooden Ships and Iron Men'. Boo! Hiss! Bad Friend! Baaad Friend! Oh,  well, ancient history.

 

You might want to take a look at the rules 'War by Sail' and 'Captaincy'. I haven't played either one but they both have some really intriguing mechanisms.  'Captaincy' has a very detailed sailing system--but also a steep learning curve. The author says once you've learned it it flows easily. I don't know about that! But it does take into account many sailing attributes that most rules simply ignore. I certainly wouldn't try 'Captaincy' for a game with very many ships but for small one-on-one actions it would change the focus from gun fire to sailing and maneuvering. You may have reawakened my interest in trying them out for a solo game!

 

Sail on!

 

 

[mtaylor]

Linus, you can open scratch logs in the Scratch Build area.  It's sorted by build date of the original ship so proceed accordingly.

[Linus Spjutsberg]

On 4/5/2025 at 2:47 PM, Jsk said:

@Linus Spjutsberg, Your Chesapeake is a lovely jewel of a model. I'm assuming the hull is a Turner Miniatures design. 3d printing has really opened up a lot of options for small scale age-of-sail modelers and gamers!

 

I also watched a couple of your videos on your YouTube channel. (I don't have an account there so I can't leave these comments on that site.) Well done! I especially like your review of 'Beat to Quarters'. I had that set of rules in the 1990s and loaned them to a friend who then moved across the state and took them with him. I lost contact shortly after so never did get them back along with a copy of 'Ship-of-the-Line'--the prototype rules for what would become the board game 'Wooden Ships and Iron Men'. Boo! Hiss! Bad Friend! Baaad Friend! Oh,  well, ancient history.

 

You might want to take a look at the rules 'War by Sail' and 'Captaincy'. I haven't played either one but they both have some really intriguing mechanisms.  'Captaincy' has a very detailed sailing system--but also a steep learning curve. The author says once you've learned it it flows easily. I don't know about that! But it does take into account many sailing attributes that most rules simply ignore. I certainly wouldn't try 'Captaincy' for a game with very many ships but for small one-on-one actions it would change the focus from gun fire to sailing and maneuvering. You may have reawakened my interest in trying them out for a solo game!

 

Sail on!

 

 

Thank you so much for your kind message, and for taking the time to check out Linus' Napoleonic Shipyard on YouTube! I'm really glad you liked the Chesapeake—yes, it is indeed a Turner Miniatures hull. His designs have been a huge help in making small-scale Age of Sail modeling more accessible, especially with 3D printing giving us so many new options.

 

Great to hear you enjoyed the Beat to Quarters review! That’s such a shame about your copy—and Ship-of-the-Line too! Sounds like your friend made off with some real classics. Definitely a frustrating bit of history, but I’ve heard similar stories from others… seems to be a common tale among longtime wargamers.

 

Thanks as well for the recommendations. I’ve heard about War by Sail and Captaincy but haven’t tried them yet. Captaincy in particular sounds fascinating, especially for smaller scenarios where sailing and positioning really matter. It’s nice to see rules that dive deep into the sailing side of things instead of just focusing on gunnery. Might be worth tackling that learning curve!

 

If you end up trying them out solo, I’d be very interested to hear your impressions. Always looking for new systems to explore for future videos.

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Linus Spjutsberg

[Linus Spjutsberg]

13 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Linus, you can open scratch logs in the Scratch Build area.  It's sorted by build date of the original ship so proceed accordingly.

Thank you!

[Thukydides]

1 hour ago, Linus Spjutsberg said:

Captaincy in particular sounds fascinating, especially for smaller scenarios where sailing and positioning really matter. It’s nice to see rules that dive deep into the sailing side of things instead of just focusing on gunnery. Might be worth tackling that learning curve!

I have also been planning on picking up captaincy as it really has by far the most interesting sailing system I have seen. I have read through and played around with enterprize, their free version of the 1.0 rules. I am currently experimenting with making 1/1200 models to see how viable that would be to allow more space for sailing maneuvers.

[Linus Spjutsberg]

Another one done. A brigs at this scale is tiny. HMS Curieux was a former French brig captured by the Royal Navy in a daring cutting-out raid at Fort Royal, Martinique in 1804. Renamed HMS Curieux, she served as a fast and agile brig in the Caribbean. One of her most notable moments came in February 1805, when under Lieutenant George Bettesworth, she fought a fierce single-ship action against the larger French brig Dame Ernouf. After a brutal 40-minute battle, Curieux forced her opponent to surrender, despite suffering heavy casualties. She continued her successful career capturing enemy vessels until she was wrecked off Guadeloupe in 1809.

I have used a 3d printed hull  and fighting tops from Turner Miniatures, masts were scratch-built built from brass rods.  Sails are from warlord games, but cut to fit the smaller than standard warlord sized masts. 

 

[Linus Spjutsberg]

13 hours ago, Thukydides said:

I have also been planning on picking up captaincy as it really has by far the most interesting sailing system I have seen. I have read through and played around with enterprize, their free version of the 1.0 rules. I am currently experimenting with making 1/1200 models to see how viable that would be to allow more space for sailing maneuvers.

Yes at 1/700 scale space for maneuvering is a premium. We have sloved it, by moveing everything 50-70 cm away from the edge if we get to close. It works, but breaks the immersion a bit. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Linus Spjutsberg