Royal Yacht, Duchess of Kingston [COMPLETED BUILD]

[Golgobot]

Intro​

This is my first boat build. I chose this model from Vanguard Models because the boat itself is well designed and full of detail and the instruction manual is well organized and includes nice step by step pictures. Plus I went through a few builds of the same boat in this forum, and it seemed like a fun project! This project is a present for my dad, and this build thread mostly to show the process behind the boat. So apologies if my terminology is wrong or off. Feel free to comment and correct.

Hull​

The first step was to build the spline and the lower decks.


Here are some shots of the fared hull, where the spine is contoured to the shape of the hull.

Here I've started the first layer of planks. The pins here turned out should have been temporary. I ended up having to remove each one. Next time I'll use a plank pin or some other mechanism for holding the plank down while the glue dries that's easier to remove.

​

Now to place the outer layer on the hull. Here is the outer side pattern is glued to the hull


And the outer planks. These were attached with fast acting high viscosity super glue.


After sanding and filling

Gluing the inner bulwark pattern. Lots of clamps

 

[Golgobot]

Clamping and gluing the window detailing.

Masking the outer bulwarks to paint the sides.

Nice clean lines!

Masking the waterline to paint the bottom.

Spray painting the metal etchings gold

Lower hull is sprayed with 5 layers of primer.

Stern decoration details

Bow decorations

Painting the bow figurehead

Attaching window decorations

Painting window decorations and constructing the rudder

 

[BenD]

This is turning out very well for a first build! Looking forward to seeing more.

Vanguard Models are some of the best kits out there.

 

[Golgobot]

Mid deck bulkhead details. I ended up losing a window, which I replace later. Scroll on for more details


Attached the rudder with the rudder pintles

Drilling each channel to install on the side. These will be used to hold the chainplates, which help support the masts.

Assembling the steering wheel

Rigged the steering wheel

Added some more details to the upper deck.

I love this little stairwell

I mentioned that I lost a window. I also ended up breaking a piece of the stairwell that leads from the mid deck to the upper deck. Vanguard models will send net sheets, but they're expensive and would have taken a couple weeks to ship from the UK. So it was faster to model them in CAD and 3D print them!


You can see the 3D printed window on the left, and the black stair supports on the right!

Adding more detail up front

Cannons!

The hull so far. Looking good!

Attaching the deadeyes to the chainplates.

 

[Golgobot]

Drilling to fit the chainplates onto the side of the hull

So many chainplates!

Begining constructions of the mask platforms

Test fitting the main mast in the hull

Masking and painting the mizzen, main, and foremasts.

Home rigged lathe for tapering the yards. Basically put my hand drill in a vice. For my next boar I'll invest in a Proxxon lathe. I used a caliper to measure the tapered yard's diameter.



Fashioning the shrouds (which is the main support for the masts). If there's two things I learned in this build, the first would be to apply CA to the ends of rope then cut at an angle to make threading it through blocks easier. The second learning is to mount deadeyes and blocks to a bit clamped in a vice.

Fashioned shrouds for one side of the boat.

Threading a deadeye to fasten the shrounds.

They look so nice! All nice and level and the same height.

Some bowspirit rigging

Fashioning the futtock staves. These hold the futtock stropes, which hold the deadeyes for the upper shrouds.


So many thread clippings!

 

[Golgobot]

There are the upper shrouds in all their glory!

Completed shrouds

Starting the ratlines. I printed out spacing lines at about 8mm apart.

Used a clove hitch across each shroud and a drop of CA to hold it in place.



FINISHED RATLINES! Holy hell this took forever. I watched all three seasons of Stranger Things while doing these.




A rig for the rigging

Rigging the yard lifts

After completing the first crow's feet (is the singular crow's foot?)

Threading the main yard lift

All three crows feet and all the yard lifts are done.







A jig for a yard lift fitting.


Starting to add the yard braces.

 

[Golgobot]

Some details of the aft yard braces

All yard braces are done! Just need to fashion the anchors and stand.

fashioned!

Completed boat!

 

[Golgobot]

This is turning out very well for a first build! Looking forward to seeing more.

Vanguard Models are some of the best kits out there.

Thanks! This kits was so fun. Took about 6 months to build. Also this is less of a build thread, and more of a build blog. The whole thing is done and I'm posting all at once. :-D

 

[Maarten]

That is a very nice and well build model. Already plans for a next one ?

 

[Golgobot]

That is a very nice and well build model. Already plans for a next one ?

Thank you! This was my first, so definitely there are a bunch of things to improve. Especially with the planking.

My next one will be the HMS Sphinx. Also from Vanguard Models. This is a much more involved build than the Duchess of Kingston.

After that I want to do a larger scale model (40"-50" in length). Would you have any recommendations for a ship that size?

I eventually want to do a from scratch model!

 

[dockattner]

Congratulations! A well-made ship model for sure. I know your dad will treasure it!

 

[BenD]

After that I want to do a larger scale model (40"-50" in length). Would you have any recommendations for a ship that size?

Chris Watton is developing the HMS Indefatigable. That is going to be a huge ship, almost the size of a ship of the line. That ship was actually a ship of the line that was razeed "top deck chopped off". James H is doing the prototype over on the other model ship forum. It's going to be another Vanguard Models masterpiece!

 

[zoly99sask]

Hi Ben

MarisStella is developing too at the same scale

HMS Indefatigable - 1:64 scale

In cooperation between Maris Stella and The Art of Age of Sail, a 1/64 scale kit of Indefatigable as she was razeed from a 64 third-rate to a 44 frigate in 1794 has been in the works and is slated to be released soon. The prototype for the kit is shown here in all her glory. She became a...

ageofsail.ca

 

[rtibbs]

Curious as to what this attachment to your plane is.

 

[Maarten]

Thank you! This was my first, so definitely there are a bunch of things to improve. Especially with the planking.

My next one will be the HMS Sphinx. Also from Vanguard Models. This is a much more involved build than the Duchess of Kingston.

After that I want to do a larger scale model (40"-50" in length). Would you have any recommendations for a ship that size?

I eventually want to do a from scratch model!

These Vanguard models are very nice and greatly detailed. The next model is all up to you.
If you want to taste a POF build you can opt for the great chinese kit of hms Minerva. Still under development but it looks to be a great kit.

Dahai Model - New Design - Hms Minerva 1780 POF Stern section

Hi everyone! I'm DaHaimodel,In fact, DahaiModel is a team of 3D designers, ModelBuilder and ship model experts from Europe and China. Dahaimodel is committed to developing original and legitimate kit projects, cooperating with SOS forum to promote these projects, and sharing the fun of model...

shipsofscale.com

If you want to extent your Vanguard fleet you can await Chris Wattons Victory which promisses to be an epic model.

 

[Golgobot]

Curious as to what this attachment to your plane is.


View attachment 310571

This is a beautifully made plane from Bridge City Tool Works.

 

[Vfordyce]

View attachment 310361
Clamping and gluing the window detailing.
View attachment 310362
Masking the outer bulwarks to paint the sides.
View attachment 310363
Nice clean lines!
View attachment 310364
Masking the waterline to paint the bottom.
View attachment 310365
Spray painting the metal etchings gold
View attachment 310366
Lower hull is sprayed with 5 layers of primer.
View attachment 310367
Stern decoration details
View attachment 310368View attachment 310369
Bow decorations
View attachment 310370View attachment 310371
Painting the bow figurehead
View attachment 310372View attachment 310373
Attaching window decorations
View attachment 310374View attachment 310375View attachment 310376View attachment 310377
Painting window decorations and constructing the rudder
View attachment 310378View attachment 310379

She's a beauty. I need a third hand with a magnifying glass like that.

 

[jeep]

Terrific .

\

 

[MikeC]

Very handsome model. Sure doesn’t look like a first build to me!

 

[Peter Gutterman]

First time out of the box, for both the the ship and yourself! And in just 6 months! Pretty impressive! I was not familiar with the company that produced the kit.
Looks like vey nice quality and well thought out with good instructions. Very nice job, You should be very proud of yourself.
May I recommend " A Primer on Planking " by David Antscherl. This excellent tutorial will greatly facilitate your hull planking process and help you produce superb results. It can be downloaded and printed out. It will require more time , but clearly you already have the necessary skills to master it and I believe you will be thrilled with the results, especially if you like the natural look of the exposed wood, as do I. it will greatly help you improve your fit and finish in this regard.
Congratulations on a job beautifully done!

Pete G.