Shipyards HMS Rattlesnake 1:72 Unboxing

[Kurt Konrath]

OK, there has been much discussion about this kit, a relatively new manufacture on the forum, so here is what I got when I ordered my kit from Model Expo. It was on backorder due to initial demand, but was shipped after a few weeks when stock came in to Florida.

I got a well packed box from ME, and inside was a catalog from Shipyards and the Model Expo catalog as well.

Inside the box was the kit which had heavy plastic sleeve to protect the kit, and in that was the cardboard box with all the good stuff.

The inside was well packed and had bubble packaging to keep boxes from shifting in transit.

After removing the instructions and plans there were multiple small boxes of parts, well identified and sorted, to include paint and a brush! You can see from photos what they looked like inside.

After removal of boxes were several layers of flat goods packed, one with sails and stiff cardboard to protect sails. Several packages of wood and PE.

I will let photos talk for themselves.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

OK, now for the paperwork that comes with the kit. There were several different sets of plans, instructions and parts list.

Examples are shown below.

 

[rtibbs]

Well, if packaging means anything then it looks good. Cardboard in cardboard makes for strong packing. Will be interesting to see the wood components and cutting.

 

[Uwek]

It is looking like a good quality kit - Hope to see some of the wooden parts more close
As I can recognize, the kit has laser engraved deck planking......

 

[Chestcutter]

It’s hard to beat the feeling of opening a brand new kit. The anticipation is high.

I will watch with interest.

 

[Jimsky]

Thank you for sharing with us, Kurt. I am looking forward to the timber review and close-up photos. Are you planning this kit as the next build?

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Thank you for sharing with us, Kurt. I am looking forward to the timber review and close-up photos. Are you planning this kit as the next build?

My plans are to finish off a few in-work projects to clear the desk. Hope to get to this in a few months.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

OK, you asked, and here are close-ups of the multiple individual sheets of wood provided, along with one clear and one PE sheet.

For this 1:72 scale kit the sheets are thin, compared to other kits I have dealt with in larger scales.

Decks and side walls are mostly two ply build designs, and keel is center keel with bottom keel pieces glued on each side.



so here is a breakout of how thick the many sheets were: Keel Page 1 = 1mm, Pages 2-7, 9-10 = .5mm, page 8 deck .55mm, page 11-12 = 1.25mm, page 13-14 = 1.63, page 16 = .5mm

Thread bundles are numbered and have size listed, and only one color of white/tan. Nice page of PE and one clear plastic sheet # 17.

Also are show some of the blocks and other rigging parts, violins and hearts, and a 5 hole deadeye for front stay line from what I found. These should be interesting to see how they look when assembled.

I didn't photo the dowels but they were standard dowels like most kits have.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

In the downloadable instructions you see where frames are built from two pieces, and all deck pieces are laser scribed with plank marks for upper and lower decks and also side walls done the same. Lots of fine parts and hull is overlapping board design, don't remember formal name. Hull planks are all precut and numbered.

Most sheets have part numbers on part or next to it in sheet stock.

 

[AllanKP69]

hull is overlapping board design

Are you referring to clinker built (lapstrake) planking? If not what do you mean by boards? Thanks Kurt!
Thanks
Allan

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Are you referring to clinker built (lapstrake) planking? If not what do you mean by boards? Thanks Kurt!
Thanks
Allan

Yes that is term I was thinking of!

 

[AllanKP69]

I keep searching for contemporary based information on any English ships that were clinker built after about 1500 but keep coming up empty. Some ship's boats were clinker built but so far I cannot find any ships that were built that way. I for one would love to learn more about any English ships with clinker built hulls in the 18th century if you or anyone following your build can post the information. TIA!
Allan

 

[ChrisP]

I keep searching for contemporary based information on any English ships that were clinker built after about 1500 but keep coming up empty. Some ship's boats were clinker built but so far I cannot find any ships that were built that way. I for one would love to learn more about any English ships with clinker built hulls in the 18th century if you or anyone following your build can post the information. TIA!
Allan

HMS Alert 1777 was clinker built, and it was the standard method for all small ships at that time in Britain. This was also standard practice in much of Northern Europe. Anatomy of the Ship series of books is your best guide (including Alert), if you get hold of copies.

A quick search will produce many references, e.g. Wikipedia lists dozens of papers and publications.

 

[AllanKP69]

HMS Alert 1777 was clinker built, and it was the standard method for all small ships at that time in Britain

MANY thanks Chris! Makes me want to add this to my list of future builds.

A quick search will produce many references, e.g. Wikipedia lists dozens of papers and publications.

I did a lengthy search and keep coming up empty for other English ships in the 18th century. I have no doubts there more but so far no luck. Can you steer me a little? Thank you very much

Allan

 

[ChrisP]

MANY thanks Chris! Makes me want to add this to my list of future builds.

A quick search will produce many references, e.g. Wikipedia lists dozens of papers and publications.

I did a lengthy search and keep coming up empty for other English ships in the 18th century. I have no doubts there more but so far no luck. Can you steer me a little? Thank you very much

Allan

A frayed not.

Have you chased up all the references provided in Wiki?

 

[AllanKP69]

Have you chased up all the references provided in Wiki?

The best list of references was in the article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinker_(boat_building) Unfortunately I have no idea which of the references are about English 18th century ships and if the articles are based first hand on contemporary sources.

Peter Goodwin's research on the Alert 1777 is the best I have found so far and I have great respect and trust in his work. One of the most interesting things is that he specifically states that the HMS Rattlesnake was built to the same lines as Alert. I hope it is safe to assume she was clinker built as was Alert.

Allan

 

[ChrisP]

I hope it is safe to assume she was clinker built as was Alert.

Allan

I think you are safe in assuming Rattlesnake was clinker built.

 

[DavicC]

I'm also building the same kit. Still doing hull planking and finding the "planks" very thin. They are all pre-cut for specific locations, which is wonderful, but subject to bulging when they don't quite bend against the previous plank. The step by step instructions are marvellous, the photos supporting wonderful -all in a quite an impressive kit.

 

[11320 Titanic]

I keep searching for contemporary based information on any English ships that were clinker built after about 1500 but keep coming up empty. Some ship's boats were clinker built but so far I cannot find any ships that were built that way. I for one would love to learn more about any English ships with clinker built hulls in the 18th century if you or anyone following your build can post the information. TIA!
Allan

The upper part of the HMS Alert was clinker planked in the card stock version