Erycina 1882 by Blue Ensign - Vanguard Models - 1:64 scale - Plymouth Trawler

[Blue Ensign]

Erycina - Ketch rigged Plymouth Trawler 1882.

I’ve had this kit for a while, and with nothing specific in the immediate offing it will give me hopefully a no stress easy build of this pretty little fishing vessel to complement my Fifie and Zulu builds.

 

I was attracted to this boat by its sleek lines and interesting sail plan. Given the open deck and Fore and aft rigging it will be fairly easy to clean, and casing will not be required. It is also a model that will fit in a fairly small space.

 

My interest is also piqued given additional detailing for Erycina is provided in the book Sailing Trawlers by Edgar J. March

I can see an opportunity to indulge myself with a little off-piste detailing work.

 

On with the show.

 

B.E.

27/08/2025

[palmerit]

I have this in my stash too. After the Ranger I'm working on now, I'm doing the Zulu 'Lady Isabella'. Then the Erycina. I got all three of the larger Vanguard fishing vessels during an agesofsail sale last year. The first two are "Novice" boats, the Erycina is "Amateur" - maybe because the Erycina has two masts? It'll be interesting to see if there's anything else on this one that is more challenging than the others.

[Blue Ensign]

I can't see much difference in terms of construction between Zulu, which I built as Muirneag, and the Erycina; both have two masts and similar hull shapes.

Erycina  has shrouds and  ratlines, and a slightly more complex sail arrangement, which possibly accounts for the different  Vanguard rating.

 

They are both excellent subjects for those new to ship modelling, and make very attractive models.

 

You are doing a fine job with your Ranger build. 👍

 

B.E.

[Blue Ensign]

Post One

Early stages

The early stages of construction are just as we have come to expect from Vanguard.

5534a

Rapid early progress with glueless assembly of perfectly fitting parts.

That is unless you decide to open up the lower deck areas of the Fish hold and the cabin space.

5537a

This involves some modification to the Bulkheads  8 and 9 ( in the case of the fish hold, and Bulkheads 12 and 13 in the case of the cabin area.

5539a

5540a

Bulkheads 8 and 9 modified to give a clear space below the Main Hatch to the Fish hold.

5547a

Faux deck beams are added but won’t be seen.

5548a

I was quite surprised by the small main hatch on Erycina, Barely 3’ 6”(L) X 3’.0 (W). Seems hardly practical on a fishing boat, and miniscule compared to the cavernous hatchways on the Fifie and Zulu boats.

She is however, quite a bit smaller than either Fifie or Zulu.

 

 

I do like to have some open hatchways, gives depth to a model and at least an impression of more there than there is.

 

The next stage is modifying the Cabin area.

 

B.E.

30/08/2024

[Ronald-V]

Always nice to see you modifying stuff  , this will be another beautiful one like all your work!

[palmerit]

6 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

That is unless you decide to open up the lower deck areas of the Fish hold and the cabin space.

Is the plan just to paint the interior a matte black so you can have an open door or hatch?

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Ron 👍

@ Palmerit - I hope to do a little  more than that.🙂

 

Cheers,

 

B.E.

[Kenchington]

12 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

I was quite surprised by the small main hatch on Erycina

Nothing bigger than a basket of fish to pass down or up through that hatchway but lots of water on deck to keep out of the fish hold!

 

Trevor

[Blue Ensign]

Thankyou Trevor, makes a lot of sense.👍

 

Post 2

Stern cabin area

My idea is to fit out the cabin, certainly with the iron stove which will connect to the flue pipe emerging thro’ the deck, and  maybe with other fittings as space allows.

A section of deck will be left unplanked above the cabin.

 

Modifying the cabin area is tricky, partly because work on Bulkhead 12 is more extensive, and because it proved too difficult to remove for shaping without risking damage and therefore had to be modified insitu.

The filler pieces between the bulkheads prevented removal.

 

Bulkhead 11 is closed off as this forms the partition between the cabin and the Boiler room.

Bulkhead 12 bears the brunt of modification with large sections removed to create frames and beams. Tricky to get at to shape and sand.

5552a

In this area the longitudinal bracing patterns are removed and replaced with Pear carlings.

5553a

Bulkhead 11 is boarded using Boxwood strip and Whitewashed.  A doorway leads to the Boiler room and the door is created from Boxwood strip and decorated with Syren hinges and Handle.

5554a

5557a

The cabin deck area is planked with Boxwood strip.

5559a

Similarly, the Fish hold is decked out using Boxwood strip.

5565a

A paper deck print is used to determine the viewable area.

Still work in progress, but you get the idea.

 

B.E.

31/08/2025

[Desertanimal]

Question for you. Do you plan on what you’re going to do on paper or is it just in your head after looking at the plans? Like the plan to expose the litter deck. 
Chris

[Blue Ensign]

Hi Chris,

I tend to choose kits where I have additional information; in the case of Erycina I have the internal layouts drawn by Edgar March, and a wealth of  given sizes and  rigging detail, contained in his book Sailing Trawlers. I used his companion book Sailing Drifters when I converted the Zulu kit  to Muirneag.

I then look at the kit and decide where I can enhance the detail which often develops organically. I do draw things out to scale where needed, and with deck cut-outs I use copies of the kit decks to work the final arrangement.

 

I suppose after many years of messing around with kits I have the confidence to chop them around, but this is becoming  increasingly  less necessary with Vanguard kits as Chris develops more and more lower deck detail and associated fittings.

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

 

[Beef Wellington]

Nice start, looking forward to seeing another fun project come together BE

[Blue Ensign]

Post 3

Stern timber frames

These are the long and vulnerable mdf stern timbers that set alarm bell ringing in my ears.

Great care is required not to stress or knock in the early build stages; repairs could prove tricky.

5572a

I found that careful sanding of the slots, and trial fitting was required to achieve a firm but not overtight fit which may have created difficulty if subsequent removal was necessary.

5573a

Fitting support pieces between the timbers is advisable. I use styrene foam pieces which are ideal.

Once the bulwarks are fitted this area becomes less at risk.

5567a

5569a

This is now the time to fit the ply sub-deck which will secure the bulkheads from lateral flex during fairing. Another testy little exercise.

5580a

The deck is taped square on the cutting mat to mark and remove the section above the cabin, a margin is allowed for some final trimming.

5582a

The bulkhead slots are tested for ease of fitment and having fully inserted the deck into the port side slots I work along the starboard side from fore to aft individually flexing and pressing the deck into place at each slot.

5584a

There is always fear of breaking something with this exercise, but firm and steady pressure get the job done.

I was pleased to see that the deck sits tight against the bulkheads and stern timbers, no pressure necessary to hold the deck down.

The hull is now rock steady for the fairing process to begin.

 

B.E.

01/09/2025