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CHOOSING MY NEXT MODEL SHIP PROJECT

J

José Catela Pequeno

Joined
Apr 9, 2023
Messages
26
Points
78

Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Hi, everyone!

I completed my first ship – a Xebec from Amati – 2 or 3 month ago (https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/threads/xebec-an-amati-model.11733/page-3#post-434246).

I choose this ship because it seemed to be a simple ship to start with.

I basically followed Amati’s instructions, with a few modifications copied from other referential build logs.

Started as a learning experience, the project eventually resulted in a nice model ship, of which I am not ashamed of, in despite of several mistakes to be remembered in future projects.

Now I am looking for a new project, for which have a few requirements:
  • Preferably an 18th or early 19th century ship;
  • Large scale (>=1/60), which calls for small ship in real life;
  • Overall length of the model <=1000 mm;
  • Different rigging type (not Latin sails); and
  • I would like the ship to be an evolution from the Xebec, when it comes to complexity.
These requirements calls for a relatively small ship of British or French construction.

My first choice was the HMS Ontario, or HMS Speedy from Maristella, but red some reviews and build logs mentioning construction difficulties up to the point (in one case) where the project was abandoned.

A similar ship that caught my attention was the HMS Harpy, from Vanguard Models. I found a nice construction log of this ship that gave me the idea that my skills may be under some stress but should allow me to finish the model.

Does someone have any recommendations on which model to choose (of those mentioned, or other suggestions), based on the difficulty of each one?

Thanks for your attention.

Best regards

Catela
 
José Catela Pequeno said:
Hi, everyone!

I completed my first ship – a Xebec from Amati – 2 or 3 month ago (https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/threads/xebec-an-amati-model.11733/page-3#post-434246).

I choose this ship because it seemed to be a simple ship to start with.

I basically followed Amati’s instructions, with a few modifications copied from other referential build logs.

Started as a learning experience, the project eventually resulted in a nice model ship, of which I am not ashamed of, in despite of several mistakes to be remembered in future projects.

Now I am looking for a new project, for which have a few requirements:
  • Preferably an 18th or early 19th century ship;
  • Large scale (>=1/60), which calls for small ship in real life;
  • Overall length of the model <=1000 mm;
  • Different rigging type (not Latin sails); and
  • I would like the ship to be an evolution from the Xebec, when it comes to complexity.
These requirements calls for a relatively small ship of British or French construction.

My first choice was the HMS Ontario, or HMS Speedy from Maristella, but red some reviews and build logs mentioning construction difficulties up to the point (in one case) where the project was abandoned.

A similar ship that caught my attention was the HMS Harpy, from Vanguard Models. I found a nice construction log of this ship that gave me the idea that my skills may be under some stress but should allow me to finish the model.

Does someone have any recommendations on which model to choose (of those mentioned, or other suggestions), based on the difficulty of each one?

Thanks for your attention.

Best regards

Catela
Click to expand...
How about this one? Very fine detail work ahead, especially in the rigging.

La Jacinthe

La Jacinthe,Sailing ship
www.cafmodel.com www.cafmodel.com
www.cafmodel.com

Le Coureur 1776

Pof 1:48
www.cafmodel.com www.cafmodel.com
 
Last edited:
It depends on what you want. You mentioned a size range and time frame, but there are other factors that you may find important. Do you prefer plank on frame or plank on bulkhead assembly? Do you care if the model is an accurate representation of the actual ship? Do you like to do side research of the ship? If you do like to research, would you want to make your own modifications (kit bash)? Do you have a budget price?

Based on build logs here and elsewhere, Model Ship Dockyard appears to be far ahead of their competition. Everyone has their preferences based on their own personal needs and desires as it should be so maybe make a short list of priorities and even repost your question.

Good luck

Allan
 
Thank you, Allan and Pepite, for your answers.
Allan, yes, I would like to build a historically accurate PoF ship model, but I have to consider also my limited skills, which recommends caution, not to end up with an unfinished model. Therefore: probably a PoB model up to 600€.
Model Ship Dockyard, as well as CAF are resellers of 3rd party models. One may find the same models in ZHL online store.
Of the two models proposed by Pepite La Jacinthe may be found in ZHL store. The instructions are in Chinese (even in the model sold by CAF), which is unfortunately not among the 50 (or so!...) languages I master. In fact ZHL has several very interesting models (e.g. HMS Druid), but most of them have instructions only in Chinese.
Le Coureur is a good suggestion, although it seems a difficult to build model and not the type of vessel I has looking for. But I keep my mind open.
Thank you
 
I have completed a model of HMS Speedy by Vanguard models. It went together very well. The instruction manual the comes with it is quite excellent. This firm's kit of HMS Sphinx is excellent and their below weather deck detail is a delight to behold, however it is an advance on your Xebec. Good luck. 'Bonetta'

Sphinx cabin.jpg

Sphinx fo'csle.jpg
 
Good afternoon (at least here in Portugal/Europe),
Thank you for your suggestions.
HMS Pegasus Is really an interesting ship, but I did not like certain aspects of the Amati Xebec I built. The kit conception was, in my opinion, inconsistent and sometimes made use of cheap solutions (for instance the same kit from Occre, with a similar in price, offered better designed (more realistic?) solutions for some aspects. e.g. the attachment of the stay cables to the masts, or the way the antennae (spars) were secured to the masts).
For this reason, I would like to change manufacturer.
I am now looking at Vanguard Models (HMS Harpy, HMS Flirt, or HMS Sphynx (this last one is expensive and, probably too complicated for me), or Maristella HMS Ontario, or HMS Speedy. The last two have the advantage of a larger scale and being available with sails, and the drawback of being classified (by MAristella it self) as relatively difficult to build.
Best regards
 
José Catela Pequeno said:
Good afternoon (at least here in Portugal/Europe),
Thank you for your suggestions.
HMS Pegasus Is really an interesting ship, but I did not like certain aspects of the Amati Xebec I built. The kit conception was, in my opinion, inconsistent and sometimes made use of cheap solutions (for instance the same kit from Occre, with a similar in price, offered better designed (more realistic?) solutions for some aspects. e.g. the attachment of the stay cables to the masts, or the way the antennae (spars) were secured to the masts).
For this reason, I would like to change manufacturer.
I am now looking at Vanguard Models (HMS Harpy, HMS Flirt, or HMS Sphynx (this last one is expensive and, probably too complicated for me), or Maristella HMS Ontario, or HMS Speedy. The last two have the advantage of a larger scale and being available with sails, and the drawback of being classified (by MAristella it self) as relatively difficult to build.
Best regards
Click to expand...
Yes, Vanguard kits certainly look very well put together with some pre-produced pieces to make life easier and a finish 2nd to none. Expensive though but you get great quality. Designed by Chris Watton, who also designed the Amati Victory range. Good luck.
 
José Catela Pequeno said:
Hi, everyone!

I completed my first ship – a Xebec from Amati – 2 or 3 month ago (https://shipsofscale.com/sosforums/threads/xebec-an-amati-model.11733/page-3#post-434246).

I choose this ship because it seemed to be a simple ship to start with.

I basically followed Amati’s instructions, with a few modifications copied from other referential build logs.

Started as a learning experience, the project eventually resulted in a nice model ship, of which I am not ashamed of, in despite of several mistakes to be remembered in future projects.

Now I am looking for a new project, for which have a few requirements:
  • Preferably an 18th or early 19th century ship;
  • Large scale (>=1/60), which calls for small ship in real life;
  • Overall length of the model <=1000 mm;
  • Different rigging type (not Latin sails); and
  • I would like the ship to be an evolution from the Xebec, when it comes to complexity.
These requirements calls for a relatively small ship of British or French construction.

My first choice was the HMS Ontario, or HMS Speedy from Maristella, but red some reviews and build logs mentioning construction difficulties up to the point (in one case) where the project was abandoned.

A similar ship that caught my attention was the HMS Harpy, from Vanguard Models. I found a nice construction log of this ship that gave me the idea that my skills may be under some stress but should allow me to finish the model.

Does someone have any recommendations on which model to choose (of those mentioned, or other suggestions), based on the difficulty of each one?

Thanks for your attention.

Best regards

Catela
Click to expand...
someone recently posted a rant about the designer of vanguard models..interesting reading
 
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