Hi, I started building this model way, way back, after a break of about 40 years since the typical adolescent modelling experience. I then parked it for quite a few years as there were more important things calling on my time, but picked it up again proper earlier this year. This coincided with getting the first of three 3D printers; the first, a filament printer which was fun to learn on but not that useful for finely detailed work, then a 'baby' resin printer, then it's bigger brother. And yes, I've kept all three - you never know when you might need a spare!
Most of this year has been spent learning how to model in Fusion 360 and, latterly, how to sculpt in Meshmixer, as well as learning the in's and out's of resin printing and a few other essentials for making nice model parts. This has been and will no doubt continue to be a very slow process and I expect it to take me years to reach the rigging stage.
The learning project (for F360 and Meshmixer) has been the stern assembly, which I am remaking in it's entirety. The photos that follow are where I have got to so far. There are still a few details to work on further though I'm taking a little break right now as this was exhausting work! This is a try-out version aimed at seeing what areas were still not quite right so it's far from perfect.
The 'kit', more or less. The small black parts are inserts that fit between the window panels: it's a long and not very interesting story, this way worked. In simple terms, everything yellow is a standalone item that gets glued to a black body. This is because I'm not very good at freehand painting!
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Quarter galleries. These are (currently) printed separately to the main stern body and glued. The have location lugs to make them line up properly. This design approach is typical across the piece, recesses for the window strips and grooves for the balustrades, as this allows for hidden joints, clean paint lines and, most importantly, a bit of tolerance to ensure they fit! For some reason they look very flat in this photo when in fact they are very curved.
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The kit assembled. There are a few areas that need a little adjustment.
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A rather scruffy looking interior. I did mention my lack of painting skills! Good job this is hidden. I built in the benches under the windows, quarter gallery decks and privvies, as these give added strength and help the parts to keep their shape.
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Nameplate and windows. The lettering sits in letter-shaped grooves. I'll be glazing the windows, probably using printed parts in translucent resin.
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Figurine and corbel. The figurine is integrated into the middle window, as is the lower scroll. I hadn't yet got to grips with sculpting when I did this and a little job for one evening is to improve on the figurine.
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Lower decor. The gaps in the corners are not a big deal, just requires me to lengthen the rails by about 0.2mm. I've also decided that I need to reshape the bottom of the lower decor, it's close but not quite right. That wispy bit of decor on the lower counter is seriously thin and needed very careful handling.
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Corbel. My favourite part, but only because it was so difficult to print that I felt ridiculously pleased when I finally got it right. I broke maybe 10 of them before I got there.
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Trophy of Arms. I had to exaggerate the detail, especially on the fleur-de-lys, as otherwise it just looked flat. I have actually started painting this but suspect I'm ducking it as I'm dreading doing the flags.
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