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Hello and welcome to the forum, from NY
Here is a link to someone elses build of the Sophie:
Link to Sophie build log
Link to Sophie build log
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
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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- Joined
- Feb 23, 2024
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On the old Model Ship World a user also made a Sophie model using a HMS Speedy kit as the base to start from.
Good advice Ackbar. The kit you mention is considered a high quality kit so maybe a better choice over all.
Allan
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.
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2019
- Messages
- 459
- Points
- 168
No Sophie from Mamoli Allen, just their, frankly laughable, Surprise.
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2019
- Messages
- 459
- Points
- 168
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)
