• SUBSCRIBE TO SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE MARCH/APRIL 2026
  • Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.

HMS Sphinx - Vanguard Models 1:64 by Ronald-V

Small update

It is constantly warm summer weather here in the Netherlands, and I notice that I don't feel much like sitting upstairs crafting then, but half an hour here and there is ok. :)

This update concerns a compromise I had to make because I didn't quite manage to fit everything in terms of available space. It involves the "drop" under the quarter galleries. Ideally, this would be a 3D print, like Chris did in his new design of "Surprise," for example. I think this is a good step forward because it gives much more the impression of beautiful woodcarving, which is what it would ultimately be in real life. But in this kit, that is represented with PE. A bit more 2D, of course, but I didn't really see a good replacement since I don't have a 3D printer myself, plus at this stage of the build, changing that again would be quite drastic.





Below you can see what the original intention would have been... but as you can see, I have far too little space for that. Not great to see...but trust me :p

IMG_20260527_160034998.jpg






So a compromise had to be made because I wasn't going to change the wooden decorative moldings anymore. They are now in a good place visually. Maybe not exactly where they should be, but I'm leaving them as they are. So, after many trials about what would look good, I decided to modify the PE pieces slightly or make them smaller so that they would fit.

I sanded away the bottom part quite heavily at the top and the top part at the sides. Now it still looks somewhat like the "drop" and I am quite satisfied with this small modification.

IMG_20260529_144237784.jpg

IMG_20260529_143758018.jpg

IMG_20260529_143910225.jpg

IMG_20260529_143832766_HDR.jpg





The example or "goal" I wanted to emulate comes once again from the contemporary models of the Diana and Minerva. Just an elegant drop without any frills. There will be no further decoration, just like these models. Only on the stem will there be a small decoration just below the feet of the Sphinx, but I will only install that once the figurehead is attached. And of course, I still have to attach the name... that is the next step.

(photo's from the NNM)

f9204_003.jpg

l5787_003.jpg
 
Hi Ronald! This is a good solution, I also had to tweak the elements to make them fit. In fact, the change is completely undetectable. If you hadn't shown the entire process before and after, I wouldn't have noticed anything. It's funny, the same decorative element on my Bellona will also need to be trimmed.
 
Hi Ronald! This is a good solution, I also had to tweak the elements to make them fit. In fact, the change is completely undetectable. If you hadn't shown the entire process before and after, I wouldn't have noticed anything. It's funny, the same decorative element on my Bellona will also need to be trimmed.
Thanks Fricap! Yes the goal is that only the builder knows it, seeing your Bellona work...that won't be a problem for you ;)
 
Back
Top