HMS Supply by AndrewLT - Artesania Latina

[AndrewLT]

Hi all

This is my first entry on this site, after skulking around and exploring for a few months.

 

I have done two models before, both Artesania Latina beginner models: La Provençale Bateau de Pêche (Mediterranean Fishing Boat), and I have just finished Endeavour's Longboat. Both these models took a number of years to complete, but now I'm retired I can (hopefully) give more time to this.

 

For me, the key element in choosing a kit (after difficulty level) is the attractiveness of the finished model. I know historical accuracy is very important to many of you, but it is not that important to me; I have read with some interest the ongoing discussion around the accuracy of AL's HMS Supply kit but it was not an issue that influenced my choice. I liked the colour scheme - what can I say? I'm as deep as a teaspoon when it comes to my decision-making processes!

 

I ordered the kit direct from Artesania Latina, and it arrived safely at my house in Australia less than a week later. Top marks, AL!

 

First thing of note: there are no written instructions. Instead, the instructions are on YouTube in a number of 10 minute videos. I will let you know how this goes. My computer is in the same room that I build the model, so it poses no practical problem.

 

I unpacked the kit, and carefully went through the parts list. This is on the back of a printed poster-sized 1:1 photo of the finished model. The parts list has a photo of the part, and its number - no name - and it was tricky looking through the parts and matching them to the photo. Two very small parts were missing - I could not really tell from the photo what they were - but I have sent an email to AL giving the part number and requesting replacement. I watched the first video all the way through before beginning the model, and it mentioned using a Caulking Jig (to be purchased separately) and providing a catalogue number. Unfortunately neither the latest printed Catalogue (provided with the kit) nor the online catalogue list this Jig, so I also included in the email a request for information about whether this item is still available. I sent the email two days ago; I will let you know how I go.

 

I have now had two days work on the model and the photo below shows how it is going - very early days, and I work slowly. So far, the video instructions are fine. We will see how it goes. There is no printed rigging plan, which makes me nervous, but we shall see how it pans out.

Edited May 16 by ccoyle
corrected log title

[ccoyle]

Welcome aboard, Andrew, and good luck on your project!

[Diver]

Welcome  aboard.  I am a novice builder having completed the Medway Long boat by Syren and am in the process of doing the Sanson Tug by AL.  What I have found with the video instructions is that they leave out some important steps.  An experienced builder would think of these.  In my case it was bevelling the planks on the hull.  If I had not built the Longboat that came with very detailed instructions I would not have known to do this.  In hind sight I would have viewed the videos numerous times to to see if the steps were in a logical order, case and point, the gunwales and deck/pilot house would not have been installed til after the hull was planked.  Good luck with the build.

[Knocklouder]

Bob  M.

[Jim Lad]

Hello Andrew, and welcome to the forum.

 

Always nice to see a First Fleet ship being modelled.

 

John

[Kevin]

Welcome, to MSW 

i also have this kit in the stash

[hornet]

I built the Caldercraft version. I’ll be interested to see how yours compares. 

[AndrewLT]

Thanks for the welcome and the comments!

The false framework is complete. Time to start the deck planking. Before this, how to do the caulking? I have seen a number of methods used to simulate caulking. The AL suggestion is painting the edges black (having clamped the strips together first) and then cleaning away any bleeding on the face of the strips with a hobby blade. It will be interesting to see how this looks. The instructions suggest the use of a jig (see the comment in my first entry), but I haven't heard anything back from the company yet, so just used clamps. Fiddly, but seemed to work ok.

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work! There are lots of ways to simulate caulking, including by rubbing a pencil along one or both edges. I'd recommend using a bit of scrap wood to test some different options and see which you like best.

[AndrewLT]

Completed the decking. I had a couple of decisions to make here.

 

My first, somewhat controversial I know, decision was to not mark out the nail marks as per instructions. I know a lot of people do this, but I am not convinced. They seem far too pronounced and conspicuous to me. I've looked at photographs of existing ships like the Victory and the Endeavour replica, and the nails are not obvious at all. Indeed, I walk out to the timber decking on my back verandah and I can hardly see the nails when I'm standing on them. So... no nail markings.

 

The second decision was regarding the led lighting for the model. I thought about this for... oh I don't know... maybe 20 seconds? And then, as we Australians say, "Yeah... nah..."

 

My next step involves the bending of the stern piece shown in the second photo below. I am a little worried about the very fine section of wood above the window openings - it looks like this could easily break during the bending process. I'll let you know how I go.

 

I'm taking it slowly as you can tell. So far the video instructions have been ok, but I do miss the fact that the parts aren't named.

 

Speaking of parts, the two parts missing from the kit have been replaced by AL, so well done there.

 

Edited Thursday at 03:23 AM by AndrewLT
Correction of grammar

[AndrewLT]

I also recently replaced two of my older tools with the new ones show in the photo below. The old red stick spring loaded sander was replaced with the black collared version. I'm hoping this will reduced the number of sanding bands that are broken using the spring method of attachment.

 

The second is a velcro-type sander I got on Amazon, to replace the AL block sander with the wooden wedge that allegedly holds the sand paper in place. I mean, this tool is a classic of course - we all got one when we started - and it really is seriously useless!

 

Both new tools seem to be working well, but I will keep you posted.