Swedish Armed Launch Mantua kit #722 (build 2012)

[Charles QC]

Swedish Armed Launch Mantua kit #722 (build 2012)

It was a new kit (in 2012) and when I saw it I said to myself that a cute not usual kit so I got it
I was not able to find any historical ref to it so I will not try to expand on it
It is a 1:35 scale ship and the line are very smooth
I got it from Cornwall model in England
The box arrived in 4 days in perfect condition
The Kit contain a 40 pages instructions book 1 identification plan for the parts a tools catalogue and the wood is well packed
The instruction look to be clear and very well done
This is my first Mantua model so I do not know if that is a standard for them.

 

[Charles QC]

The building of the frame is made with strong plywood laser cut.
The precision of the piece are astounding every single one of them fit with perfection without any adjustments at all and give a frame strong and straight as an arrow in the end
Show the frame complete, the kit came with a stand that I build right away.
Show the sanding for the angle of the plank, As this kit is a single planking sanding as to be carefully done
The planking start with 1 plank on each side at the top of the bulkhead it is done with walnut strip of 1.5x5mm strip

 

[Charles QC]

At this point is the planking of the boat
It start with 3 long plank of walnut strip follow by one strip of lime wood an finish by a last strip on walnut the finish aspect is clearly visible in
The planking continued from the keel to the edge and I have to said the easiest planking done by me so far the hull before sanding and after.
At this point the instruction ask to give a finish coat to the hull and I made the choice to keep the wood as is so I just did a Water base clear finish on it. The quality of the wood is excellent and I do want to keep wood finish without any alteration.
On the photo you can appreciate the beauty of the line the fines of the hull.
two other view of the hull

 

[Charles QC]

Their are really nothing to said the building go easy and without any surprise all the piece go with each other perfectly without a glitch.
I start by putting the bottom deck that went in like a charm
As you can see the deck came with even the tree nail already made
The same with the stern
The top deck is in one prefab part and the raise part are also one prefab pieces. All the little detail are laser cut and easy to install, even the grating is one beautiful piece.
A tricky part is to glue the top deck to the hull as most of the parts are prefab you have to be careful to do not damage the first layer of the plywood. So far so good

 

[Charles QC]

The next step is to install some planking at the stern it give a nice finish to it
Follow by the balustrade and the support for the row
This is follow by the installation of the rail that came in 2 pieces glue to getter and fit perfectly on the balustrade no adjustment needed
The 2 mast install and just to show the perfect alignment of them
Show all the part that will build the ammunition box and for the first time since I start that build I am not impress the box glue on the deck

 

[Charles QC]

Some advancement
I install what will be the support for the 2 tarp that will be install later
all the parts necessary to make the oar
a trick to have the paddle center easily I calculated that the thickness of a business card + my steel ruler = ½ the distance necessary to have the paddle center show the end result
the oar complete and as you can see the handle are not nice so I decide to paint them.
all of them paint they now look a bit better you notice that one side is laser mark and not the other side
the first major mistake in the kit those part are the support for the anchor they supplied 3 left side and 1 right side so using a pencil I mark the other side of one to have it nice sorry I forget to take a picture
on the boat I have 2 barrel he before and after I just use chestnut ink and boltgun metal paint from Citadel color, all the part before installing.
Now different view of those parts install, at this point and before making all the rope work around the oar the barrel and other part I spray the boat with a solid coat of water base varnish.
The next step is the pose and rigging of the gun

 

[Charles QC]

The building and rigging of the gun
all the parts that will be necessary to build them
the 2 carriages before I spray them with varnish and complete and ready to install on the boat
different view of them install at there place
complete and rig in place I have to said that there are no instruction at all to how to rig them the only way of doing them was studying the picture carefully.

 

[Charles QC]

Work continued on the launch at this point I was suppose to build the stand but as I have build even before starting the ship it was not necessary.
But what I did is make it nicer by planking it and now the boat sitting nicely on the stand.
But the post is more about the rudder all the parts necessary to build it the last picture
the result

 

[Charles QC]

One more step
The 2 mast are rig It was an easy work not really complicated
That was follow by finishing the rest of the furniture

 

[Charles QC]

The making of the sail.
Here step by step of the making of my sail
First I trace the contour of the sail follow by 2 more line 2mm inside and 2 mm outside
for the making of my sail I use the same glue that I use to glue the second planking on my ships a non toxic water-based rubber contact cement that cure in around 20 minute and stay flexible when dry. So using that kind of glue I fill the 4mm that make the edge of the sail and wait around 10 minutes to let it dry a bit then cut the sail to size
I then fold the edge to have a nice finish using the handle of a pair of pliers I press the edge to equalize the border. both sail prepare
Show the line that I trace to represent the sheet of canvas that are made the sail
Is the sewing of the rope that made the edge that is follow by the vertical line themselves The sail complete and the sail sew to the yard.
It look as a complicated process but in fact it is not.
In fact it do not need any sewing skill it just need patience.

 

[Charles QC]

That it the model is complete.
Installing the sail was in fact not complicated at all it went nice and easy I just study the picture carefully

Now it is time for the review of that kit
It is the perfect kit for a beginner as most of the part are already prepare. The only difficulty is the fact that is no writhen instruction at all only picture so in some step you have to study maybe 3 or 4 pictures in the same time.
But even with that small problem that was a very enjoyable kit to build
So I do recommend it for a beginner or an experienced modeller that need a break