Newsworthy updates from Chris Watton

[Vasileios]

Good morning Chris,

 

Congratulations on a beautiful build.

I would like some help with the colour scheme for Victory. I have Caldercraft’s kit and I am a bit confused with the colours given by the company. I see you use Vallejo paints. I do also.

Which Vallejo colours do you recommend for painting the hull?

Also, which red colour do you recommend for the gunports?

 

Thank you ever so much,

 

Vasileios

[Kevin]

Good morning Chris,

 

Congratulations on a beautiful build.

I would like some help with the colour scheme for Victory. I have Caldercraft’s kit and I am a bit confused with the colours given by the company. I see you use Vallejo paints. I do also.

Which Vallejo colours do you recommend for painting the hull?

Also, which red colour do you recommend for the gunports?

 

Thank you ever so much,

 

Vasileios

i use the Caldercraft pant set http://www.shipwrightshop.com/shop/contents/en-uk/d107_Admiralty-Paints-Kit-Paint-Sets_01.html

 

Admiralty Paints from Caldercraft have been purposely designed for modellers and the current range is specifically for 17th/18th/19th Century Man-of-War colours. This range of scale paints has been colour matched to the Admiralty colours, as still used on HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Admiralty Paints are now available as acrylic (waterbased) only.

Range also includes a metal primer.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Kevin

[WackoWolf]

Chris,

 

    I need to see more pictures PLEASE. I am like a kid at Christmas time, I love this build and do wish to see more.

[Ulises Victoria]

i use the Caldercraft pant set http://www.shipwrightshop.com/shop/contents/en-uk/d107_Admiralty-Paints-Kit-Paint-Sets_01.html

 

Admiralty Paints from Caldercraft have been purposely designed for modellers and the current range is specifically for 17th/18th/19th Century Man-of-War colours. This range of scale paints has been colour matched to the Admiralty colours, as still used on HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Admiralty Paints are now available as acrylic (waterbased) only.

Range also includes a metal primer.

Do you think one of these paint sets will be enough for Chris' Victory?

[Kevin]

Do you think one of these paint sets will be enough for Chris' Victory?

No - but individual paints are available, the red orche for gunports yellow orcha for the hull matt black for pretty well everything else, although i use Halfords spray matt black, and a primer - a blue for the fwd bulkhead - copper for any gaps between the copper plates- a bit of grey for side entry door roofs - i cannot think what else i have used

[chris watton]

Chris,

 

    I need to see more pictures PLEASE. I am like a kid at Christmas time, I love this build and do wish to see more.

Trouble is, I'm doing the boring stuff now, so nothing really changes that much. (I am not really one for showing every single insignificant stage, trenail by trenail...) I have just finished rigging the lower and upper shrouds (including the shroud cleats), added the footropes to the yards, and the next job is the dreaded ratlines. I think it's pointless taking pics of the yards, as once you've seen one set, you've really seen them all. I guess the next change will be once the yards are fixed in place, which will be in about a week's time. All of the parts are now assembled and in place, so only rigging left to do.

 

As for the paints, I think I have already stated what I used (and why) already in this thread - the Vallejo paints come into their own when painting the dark wood coloured parts, which seem to give a very good scale appearance, rather than simply staining the parts, which tends to accentuate the way over scale wood grain.

 

I have just taken a set of pictures (while it's still nice outside) - this is where I am up to. (still waiting for figurehead, though..)

 

[chris watton]

[druxey]

Very neat indeed, Chris! Enjoy rattling down.....

[Kevin]

what will you use for the hammock netting? im still trying to source some (tulle) i can only at present obtain the hex type, 

[chris watton]

what will you use for the hammock netting? im still trying to source some (tulle) i can only at present obtain the hex type, 

I never add the netting - I never see it on original Admiralty models so I don't add it (we rarely see guns rigged, too) - plus, it's another of those jobs that I'm probably crap at doing well....

[chris watton]

Very neat indeed, Chris! Enjoy rattling down.....

Thank you - but rest assured, I won't enjoy the rattling down process - can feel my arms ache in anticipation already....

[Blue Ensign]

She looks beautiful Chris, wonderful effort.

 

B.E.

[Jaxboat]

Model looks excellent. Really beautiful work. You have taken the kit model to a whole other level! I noticed your "helpers" in several shots. I have attached a classic "Farside" wiener dog reinterpretation of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" that I think you may enjoy.

Best

Jaxboat

Edited August 18, 2013 by Jaxboat

[chris watton]

Thanks for that Jax . I had one of the dogs in a chair next to me whilst tying the ratlines - I think he enjoyed watching me suffer...

 

I have just finished the ratlines - three long days of solid work. They still look a little too 'white', so tomorrow I will try a mixture of water, tea and PVA and brush the mixture onto the ratlines to slightly darken them and secure the clove hitches before cutting the excess off.

 

Now that the last of the 'long jobs' is complete, I anticipate finishing it (albeit without figurehead and bowsprit shrouds) within three weeks. Not long now until my wife can have her dining table back.......

[Kevin]

Thanks for that Jax . I had one of the dogs in a chair next to me whilst tying the ratlines - I think he enjoyed watching me suffer...

 

I have just finished the ratlines - three long days of solid work. They still look a little too 'white', so tomorrow I will try a mixture of water, tea and PVA and brush the mixture onto the ratlines to slightly darken them and secure the clove hitches before cutting the excess off.

 

Now that the last of the 'long jobs' is complete, I anticipate finishing it (albeit without figurehead and bowsprit shrouds) within three weeks. Not long now until my wife can have her dining table back.......

3 weeks - i will still be doing gun port lids - lol

[Brigg Fair]

I guess that as soon as you have finished this thread may go 'quiet'.  Can I ask you to keep us in touch with progress through the process of bringing the kit to market eg samples of drawings and instructions that you intend to include? (anything to keep me going untill I can get my hands on the kit!  ).  One thing of particular interest is the approximate date when the kit will be on sale.  I would hate to be only 6 months into a 5 year build when it goes on sale (only allowed one ship at a time  ).  I suppose this might be a big ask so I'll just keep my fingers crossed.............

 

One last thing - have you found the time/energy to look at the lanterns?  To my mind they are an important feature of the stern - and the rest of the model is so good.................................

 

Thanks

Geoff

[chris watton]

Latest as of today - pics not very good, but anticipate another 2 weeks' work..

 

 

 

 

[realworkingsailor]

Thank loud knocking sound you just heard was my jaw ricocheting of my desk and landing on the floor....

 

Only 2 weeks work left on her?

 

I'd never really considered a Victory model before.... mainly because of the sheer number of builds... but this may change that a bit...

 

Of course.. I'd do something really sadistic, like trying to do her in the "as built" configuration......

 

Andy

[Kevin]

WOW

[dvm27]

Congratulations, Chris, you have elevated kit development to it's highest level yet!

[Jaxboat]

Hi Chris,

Really, beautiful in so many ways  .  Greg is so spot on with his comments.  Also, as one of the other members wrote, it would be interesting to follow next steps as Amati works to bring this masterpiece to the market. Your log has generated tremendous interest and it would be a shame to lose the momentum for the "launch" of the kit.

 

I guess all you need to do now is figure out how to get the fork lift into the back garden without ruining the verge so you can load the monster onto the van for the trip to Italy.    That trip will be able to generate an adventure log of its own I am sure.

 

Meanwhile, I am trying to decide how to break it to my loving wife that I want to build a model that might require a room addition. She is very very supportive of my hobby but this might cross a line in the sand.

 

Best

Jaxboat

[chris watton]

Cheers guys!

 

Have got all of the yards on now, bowsprit now rigged (but, frustratingly, not the lower parts due to no figurehead yet...)

 

There are now so many loose lines of rigging that I did the inevitable, I cut short the port topmast yard tie instead of the topgallant yard tie - that'll teach me to concentrate a little harder...

 

I 'pinned' the boats into position, and I am glad I did, as I have taken three off to make belaying near that area a little easier.

 

Main stay tackles and main course buntlines and leech lines next.....joy....

[Mirabell61]

Hi Chis

 

congratulations, a stunning example of shipbuilding art by a master of this trade....

 

Nils

[Blue Ensign]

I just love the stuff you design and build Chris, I just wish Amati would keep up with you in terms of producing the goods. I'm still eagerly awaiting your Elizabethan Galleon, as I'm keen  to revisited an earlier period.

 

My mouth has been watering so long it has now dried up! 

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

Edited September 4, 2013 by Blue Ensign

[chris watton]

Thank you!

 

I think the biggest problem is the fact that everything has to be translated into Italian. I now try and use as little text as possible to help expedite this problem - but am not happy doing so, as I know there are some out there who prefer written instructions than drawings (I have no idea why, I personally prefer drawings over text), so with pages upon pages of instructions, plus hundreds of drawings, I always aimed to please the most amount of people - the fallout being the translation issues. I have even advertised for an Italian translator so that I could do it all at my end, but to no avail.

 

I hope to hear something on the Revenge front very soon - but they are still on their long summer holiday right now.....

[Jean-Pierre]

Chris,

 

 

You are right that pictures only are not a good solution.  Some plastic kit manufacturers like Airfix are often criticised for their pictorial approach.  But my personal experience with professional translators is that when you get into a specialised translation, in this case maritime terms and wood modellers techniques, translators, even professional ones, are of little help indeed.  An Italian ship modeller with a good knowledge of the english language is what you really need.  A good example of this is this British modeller who re-wrote the Italian booklets of Euromodel of Como. 

 

 

There are quite a few good Italian modellers on this and other sites who -maybe- would gladly help you (maybe a pre-run example of this beautiful kit would help convince them  

 

JP

 

[Ulises Victoria]

There are quite a few good Italian modellers on this and other sites who -maybe- would gladly help you (maybe a pre-run example of this beautiful kit would help convince them  

 

JP

 

 

For this, I would very much gladly make the translation to Spanish 

Edited September 12, 2013 by Ulises Victoria

[chris watton]

Thanks guys I shall see what Amati say when we take the model over next month.

 

It is almost finished! Just the anchors to tie in place, main brace spans and of course, the figurehead and bowsprit shrouds when the figurehead is eventually in place. (I added the boomkin stays otherwise I couldn't rig the fore tacks/sheets)

 

I did intend to rig the preventer braces for the fore and main yards, but realised too late that I neglected to add the blocks under the fore top for the standing and falling parts of the main preventer's - and it's just too congested under there to risk trying to get them on..

 

I did run out of 0.5mm black thread so had to order some more (Model Dockyard to the rescue, again..) - I didn't realise just how much I used, over 2 metres for the fore royal/flagstaff stay alone!

 

Will take some pics once the anchors are in place. Still lots of touching up to do...

 

I have kept the bowsprit rigging to a minimum (no jib sail stays but fore yard bowlines are rigged) because this is a very breakable area, especially with the 1000 mile road trip

[WackoWolf]

Will be waiting for the pictures.

 

Thank you

[peteri]

With Christmas coming up again did you ever get the fife fishing boat into production?