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HMS Sophie

D

Dale Witt

Joined
Mar 10, 2024
Messages
3
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I want to build the Hms Sophie from the book master and commander and would like to know what kit would be a good bases to build from, I’m thinking the Hms valiant would be a good choice
 
Welcome aboard!
If AI is to be believed the Mamoli kit is supposed to be 12-gun double-mast British brigantine of 1759. Unfortunately the HMS Valiant 1759 was a 74 gun ship. There was a small HMS Valiant, a schooner launched in 1755 . If they meant it to be the 1755 schooner getting a basic thing like the launch date wrong may give you pause to trust anything else about the kit. The fictional Sophie versus the three actual Sophies of 1782, 1798, and 1809, was supposed to be a two masted 14 gun brig rigged sloop, not a schooner but the kit might work. You can study the dozens of contemporary drawings of two masted sloops, schooners, brigs and so forth on the RMG Collections site for some great details of actual ships. There is also a contemporary paper of specifications on the RMG Collections website that may be useful as well.
Allan
 
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I looked at the SIS poll again. Speedy is from Vanguard Models. Sophie is from Mamoli. If the polling done by SeaWatch Publishing on kit quality is a guide, it is a no brainer which kit to go with.
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To build a phantasy ship from a novel, you could choose whatever similar ship from the same time period than the one you think about. If you're looking for an already 'romantic' one, there is, amid others, the HMS Badger from Amati.
 
AllanKP69 said:
I looked at the SIS poll again. Speedy is from Vanguard Models. Sophie is from Mamoli. If the polling done by SeaWatch Publishing on kit quality is a guide, it is a no brainer which kit to go with.
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No Sophie from Mamoli Allen, just their, frankly laughable, Surprise.
Dale Witt said:
I want to build the Hms Sophie from the book master and commander and would like to know what kit would be a good bases to build from, I’m thinking the Hms valiant would be a good choice
Click to expand...
 
Dale Witt said:
I want to build the Hms Sophie from the book master and commander and would like to know what kit would be a good bases to build from, I’m thinking the Hms valiant would be a good choice
Click to expand...
Hi Dale.
A good choice is to kit bash HMS badger, unless you want to scratch build. The high convex deck to the quarterdeck can be levelled off to leave possible room for a small increase in bulwark height and low railings. The domed stern isn't suitable for a Sophie but this can be completely reworkd with the levelling of the quarterdeck to something with more of a gallery like Geoff Hunt's book cover painting. Also there's the Brig Phoenix by Master Korabel which is a design closer to Sophie as most people tend to imagine it. It's small at 1:72 and relies on glue on veneer like Vanguard. You woud need to substitute that with a planked version. Phoenix is also a gunport short, 6 a side, so needs bashing. Whichever way you go you'll have to do some architectural work. Personally I find this sort of approach very rewarding. (I used HMS Fly as a base for the Hornet and added a scratch gallery)377863671_334328302452866_5943496621592444506_n.jpg
 
Dale Witt said:
I want to build the Hms Sophie from the book master and commander more details here and would like to know what kit would be a good bases to build from, I’m thinking the Hms valiant would be a good choice
Click to expand...
HMS Valiant is a massive 74-gun third-rate ship of the line, which is vastly too large to represent Jack Aubrey’s HMS Sophie—an unrated, 14-gun Mediterranean brig-sloop based closely on Thomas Cochrane's historic HMS Speedy. A much closer kit bash would be Caldercraft's 1:64 scale HMS Speedy kit (which is literally the real-life sister/inspiration for the fictional Sophie) or an armed cutter/brig kit like Vanguard Models' HM Armed Cutter Alert or Flirt.
 
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