Chris Watton interview

[AlwaysLearning]

Anybody interested,an interview with Chris on Youtube.Channel name Modekit stuff,pretty interesting!

[chris watton]

I can't watch....

[ccoyle]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

I can't watch....

 

I'll watch it for you and let you know if the guy is all he's cracked up to be.

[Ronald-V]

A bit easier with the actual link to the video  

 

 

Edited Monday at 01:21 PM by Ronald-V

[Craigie65]

Great to hear from the man himself!

Some interesting insights to the hobby.

 

I hope this helps Chris reach a wider audience.

[ccoyle]

It was great to be able to put a voice with the face. Now we just need to see an interview with James, "the man behind the display models"!

 

I did like the question about possible American subjects -- still think the Shannon & Chesapeake pairing would be a hit!

 

And @chris watton, did you in fact have a successful show? How did things go?

[chris watton]

Jason Port was brilliant, put me at ease (somewhat), as I have never done anything like that before - I stressed and worried for weeks about doing this.

 

The show was good, but for me personally, looking at all the stuff there, it was like going back in time 26 years (over a quarter of a Century)!, the last time I went there with Jotika. Nothing seemed to have changed, same models and kits, with the only difference being some parts being 3-d printed instead of resin cast. My wife said that we didn't really belong there, as no one was displaying/selling our type of kit. I had to remind her that, other than jotika, we are the only company in the UK that actually develops these kinds of kits, so us being the only ones there selling these is quite natural. I did enjoy it, though, met quite a few people and orders have been coming in a lot more since the show. So, all in all, I think it went well. We shall be doing Telford next year.

 

Regarding US subjects, I do have Grecian. I have thought about a 64th Constitution, but the more I think about it, the more of a minefield I think that would be - what period would I show her, and what if I get one detail wrong that wasn't specific to that period etc. You would metaphorically hang me! 

 

Anyway, for now, I have years of work for developments I want to do before I expire – am hoping another 20 years if I am very lucky…

Edited Monday at 02:51 PM by chris watton

[Ronald-V]

Good interview! Nice to hear some insights and you did well Chris👍. Also fun to hear that you picked Sphinx as your favorite design 😀

[chris watton]

28 minutes ago, Ronald-V said:

Good interview! Nice to hear some insights and you did well Chris👍. Also fun to hear that you picked Sphinx as your favorite design 😀

I think I chose Sphinx because that was the kit that forced me to make a leap of faith and quit my day job to concentrate fully on Vanguard Models.

Edited Monday at 03:12 PM by chris watton

[RossR]

58 minutes ago, chris watton said:

I have thought about a 64th Constitution, but the more I think about it, the more of a minefield I think that would be - what period would I show her, and what if I get one detail wrong that wasn't specific to that period etc. You would metaphorically hang me! 

I know people that have been around this hobby for years will probably say we don’t need another Constitution, Cutty Sark, etc.   but I personally would love to see some of these classics available with all the modern design elements.  
 

 

[chris watton]

But I have designed a Cutty Sark, a rather large one, too, in 64th. This was back in 2008 (damn, almost 2 decades ago now) - but it was for a part work for Hachette. They did test publications, to see how popular something is, and if they do well, then they follow it through. Cutty Sark clearly didn't sell too well, as nothing become of this design, being in limbo ever since. Shame, as I had all the deck cabin detail in there...

 

Because I had to design these very quickly, and then build the prototype very quickly (always to silly deadlines), no real plans or construction pics were ever done (just speed built as quickly as possible) - these were always done later, if they had the go ahead. Another reason I really hated doing these part works, such a massive waste of time (for my part, at least)

Edited Monday at 04:30 PM by chris watton

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Imagine what Chris could do with HMS Sovereign of the Seas...

[chris watton]

4 minutes ago, DARIVS ARCHITECTVS said:

Imagine what Chris could do with HMS Sovereign of the Seas...

Well, for one thing, it wouldn't have a square tuck.....:)

[Ronald-V]

49 minutes ago, chris watton said:

 Another reason I really hated doing these part works, such a massive waste of time (for my part, at least)

Not only a waste of time, but also a lack of honor for your work... something you develop and then don't put into production. I can imagine that doesn't exactly bring you joy in your work.

[glbarlow]

Enjoyed the interview, Chris you handled it well!

 

Sad that one, very understandable, reason for not designing a Constitution is recognizing he’d be raked over the coals about every detail. It would be funny to have an American frigate, but his is a British company. He’ll never run out of British ships to choose from. How about one us Americans sunk or captured 😂🤣😂

[Dziadeczek]

What is the projected price of the HMS Surprise kit?

[Kenchington]

47 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

It would be funny to have an American frigate

Definitely Chesapeake, portrayed as she followed Shannon into Halifax with a White Ensign over Old Glory at her mizzen peak. That should sell well in Canada too 😎

 

Trevor

[James H]

3 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Now we just need to see an interview with James

Nope! Not happening!

[Jase]

5 hours ago, chris watton said:

Jason Port was brilliant, put me at ease (somewhat), as I have never done anything like that before - I stressed and worried for weeks about doing this.

 

The show was good, but for me personally, looking at all the stuff there, it was like going back in time 26 years (over a quarter of a Century)!, the last time I went there with Jotika. Nothing seemed to have changed, same models and kits, with the only difference being some parts being 3-d printed instead of resin cast. My wife said that we didn't really belong there, as no one was displaying/selling our type of kit. I had to remind her that, other than jotika, we are the only company in the UK that actually develops these kinds of kits, so us being the only ones there selling these is quite natural. I did enjoy it, though, met quite a few people and orders have been coming in a lot more since the show. So, all in all, I think it went well. We shall be doing Telford next year.

 

Regarding US subjects, I do have Grecian. I have thought about a 64th Constitution, but the more I think about it, the more of a minefield I think that would be - what period would I show her, and what if I get one detail wrong that wasn't specific to that period etc. You would metaphorically hang me! 

 

Anyway, for now, I have years of work for developments I want to do before I expire – am hoping another 20 years if I am very lucky…

I enjoyed doingn the interview,  It will be a lot easier next time Chris 😬

 

[Pirate adam]

5 hours ago, chris watton said:

 

Regarding US subjects, I do have Grecian. I have thought about a 64th Constitution, but the more I think about it, the more of a minefield I think that would be - what period would I show her, and what if I get one detail wrong that wasn't specific to that period etc. You would metaphorically hang me! 

This is exactly how I felt as an American posting a Spitfire build on the Britmodeller site, lol!  I’m sure you would do an amazing Constitution, but do agree it has already kind of been done to death. 
 

Adam

[ChrisLBren]

My vote is HMS Prince - I know you had a design on this one a few years back.  It would be a huge seller for those who like 17th Century ships

[buntzi]

@chris watton If I've been there, I would have asked why most of your models don't include the sails even as an option. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation (also thinking on the least favorite part of the design>rigging) but I just cannot see it on my own.

[BlackDog]

22 hours ago, ChrisLBren said:

My vote is HMS Prince - I know you had a design on this one a few years back.  It would be a huge seller for those who like 17th Century ships

 

 

Count me in. My favourites are 17th century war ships, with their splendid ornaments, and four and five masted barques. However, I am under no illusions that I would see 1/80 scale kit of something like the Passat or the Preussen, but I certainly hope for a HMS Prince or another large war ship from the same era.

Edited yesterday at 06:53 PM by BlackDog

[Tomculb]

Nice work Chris as an interviewee, although I suspect all of us at MSW would appreciate your holding on to your day job as a model ship kit manufacturer, saving your stage and screen career for the occasional cameo appearance.  😀

 

Since the subject of future projects has come up on this post, I thought I would throw in my two cents.  How about a model of the HMS Beagle? Although initially launched as a brig sloop (perhaps a successor to Harpy?), she was converted to a bark before she went anywhere, and she came along several years after that ship. And although launched as a man-of-war, she was used almost exclusively for surveying. Most obviously, what made her famous was the renowned scientist on her second voyage, Charles Darwin. Given her design, era, and history, I think she would be a unique addition to your collection of kits. And after my recent experience with OcCre’s Endurance, I know you would produce a far better kit.

 

Personally, I am itching to get started on Grecian (which I bought several months ago), but given the holidays, it may be a while. I may do a build log, but only if I feel I can add something to the excellent logs of those who have preceded me.  This looks like a magnificent kit.  This is the first time I first chose a kit based on the manufacturer, then only with that decision made, chose the ship I would model. 

[Cathead]

I would break my keyboard ordering a Vanguard-quality Beagle so fast. Would love to build one but am put off by the quality of the kits available and am not really up for scratchbuilding. And would have broader appeal than many warship kits.

[woodartist]

4 hours ago, Cathead said:

would have broader appeal than many warship kits.

i agree

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

22 hours ago, BlackDog said:

 

 

Count me in. My favourites are 17th century war ships, with their splendid ornaments, and four and five masted barques. However, I am under no illusions that I would see 1/80 scale kit of something like the Passat or the Preussen, but I certainly hope for a HMS Prince or another large war ship from the same era.

Me too.  I'm a huge fan of early 17th century ships.  They were ornamental and had complicated rigging, so they make for pretty models.  When ships advanced in design, they became so utilitarian that from a distance, they all seem to look alike.  It's difficult to make accurate and detailed models of 17th century ships because of the limited historical information, but we still like to make models of them.

Edited 5 hours ago by DARIVS ARCHITECTVS

[STK]

 

12 hours ago, BlackDog said:

 

 

Count me in. My favourites are 17th century war ships, with their splendid ornaments, and four and five masted barques. However, I am under no illusions that I would see 1/80 scale kit of something like the Passat or the Preussen, but I certainly hope for a HMS Prince or another large war ship from the same era.

Same here. I am a huge fan of the Restauration period ships

[chris watton]

I do have a Resoration warship subject in my development folder.

[GrandpaPhil]

Looking forward to that one!  

I am also in the Baroque/Restoration Era fan crowd!