Chris Watton interview

[Jase]

On 11/24/2025 at 1:59 PM, ccoyle said:

 Now we just need to see an interview with James, "the man behind the display models"!

 

What a good Idea, leave it with me

[Mowzer]

Has everyone else picked up on the most exciting thing from the interview... the prospect of a Royal George?

 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's disappointed that Chris's Amati 1/64 Victory never made it to market- I hardly dare bring the subject up- but it feels like Amati shelved the project in the manner of the store manager who bangs his fist on the counter and yells to the customer, "for the hundredth time today! there's no demand for it!"

 

But if we all want a project for the future to aspire to, I'd guess a Vanguard Royal George might make the even the best current Victory model look like a coracle. 

 

My credit card trigger finger is getting itchy already. 

[chris watton]

Even before deciding on the name for the model kit range in 2019, Royal George was the first on my list of subjects for the 'Flagship Model'. That huge double equestrian figurehead will look magnificent on the head of the ship.

 

If I am to spend another two plus years on one large development, I will make damned sure it is released once complete - although I suspect it won't be cheap, but what the hell, I spoke to the owner, and he said he doesn't care about the cost, but seeing a completed model of this is more than and know we can give those an opportunity build such a kit is worth the time alone!

 

Not for another couple of years or so, though, as I have Aggy next (not a quick and easy development also) , followed by the Restoration warship...

[Mowzer]

This is all great news.

 

I’m already clearing my schedule for 2029.  

Credit card at the ready, I’m Royal George order no 0001.

 

In the meantime, we can hone our skills ready for the flagship build with Surprise, Agamemnon and Ty- I mean, “mystery Restoration Era warship”. 
 

[Ronald-V]

13 hours ago, chris watton said:

Not for another couple of years or so, though, as I have Aggy next (not a quick and easy development also) , followed by the Restoration warship...

 

To be honest...it's the first time I hear the term "Restoration period". Was your Revenge 1577 design from Amati also from this period? Or was this to early?

[chris watton]

2 hours ago, Ronald-V said:

 

To be honest...it's the first time I hear the term "Restoration period". Was your Revenge 1577 design from Amati also from this period? Or was this to early?

That was a hundred years' earlier, Elizabethan Period.

 

(The Restoration period in England began in 1660, which marked the return of Charles II to the throne)

Edited November 28, 2025 by chris watton

[TJM]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

That was a hundred years' earlier, Elizabethan Period.

 

(The Restoration period in England began in 1660, which marked the return of Charles II to the throne)

I will be very interested to see which ship this will be! I really like the ship design of this period and not a lot of (modern) kits are available from this period.

[Ronald-V]

1 hour ago, chris watton said:

That was a hundred years' earlier, Elizabethan Period.

 

(The Restoration period in England began in 1660, which marked the return of Charles II to the throne)

Thanks! Learning history here 😁👍

[chris watton]

32 minutes ago, TJM said:

I will be very interested to see which ship this will be! I really like the ship design of this period and not a lot of (modern) kits are available from this period.

Edited November 28, 2025 by chris watton

[GrandpaPhil]

Very much looking forward to this one!

[uss frolick]

I'm disappointed. I thought Chris would be sporting a mustache-less beard, a long plaited pigtail, have "hold fast" tattooed across his knuckles, and sound just like Preserved Killick.

[Greenhorn]

On 11/24/2025 at 11:33 PM, chris watton said:

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)

I am curious - who owns the designs for this kind of thing. Is it possible the Cutty Sark could appear again from another manufacturer, using this design? 

[chris watton]

1 hour ago, Greenhorn said:

I am curious - who owns the designs for this kind of thing. Is it possible the Cutty Sark could appear again from another manufacturer, using this design? 

You would need to ask Amati, as they own the designs, as I was paid by them for the developements. 

[hmcarlin]

Is your production of Chuck's Speedwell on the schedule anywhere?