Vasa from Corel

[Snxz]

Hi,

I started this kit something like 3 years ago. Although I’m happily under a parental leave from the hobby, I’d like to share the progress so far with the hopes of continuing the thread in the future.
I started the work with 2 main ideas in mind:
- even though I know the original colour is red, I fell in love with the model in blue mant years ago so I’ll keep that configuration… call me nostalgic
- from the outset, I knew the kit had many inaccuracies and I was determined to make as many modifications/improvements as I can make, given my limited tool set and my even more limited skillset. In that regard, I’m using as documentation sources the Landstrom book and a lot of pictures available from the restored ship located in the Vasa Museum.

I’l post now (if I manage to) a few pictures on the process to the point I’m right now (I’m feeling kinda lazy with ALL the pics I have so only a few will be uploaded)

I’m also super bad with all the nautical terms in english so be patient with me

 

[dockattner]

Thank you for sharing your photos. You have a wonderful model in progress!

 

[Jack Sparrow]

so you find there are some shortcomings with the kit? Did you have to do some major changes?

 

[aurélien wolff]

I'll fellow because I'm tempted by the airfix kit (for later). Are you going to paint the sculptures so they're polychrome?
https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/exhibitions/power-and-glory
I'll go for the red on mine, I might go for a "what if it hadn't sank on its maiden voyage?"

 

[Snxz]

so you find there are some shortcomings with the kit? Did you have to do some major changes?

Hi Jack, I found many measurement errors in the plans, discrepancies between the part list and the plans and even among different plans. Also, since the bulkheads are pre-cut one of mine had a totally wrong size and I had to remade it from scratch… fortunately, I was already aware of these problems with the Corel kit and therefore mentally prepared
The reason why the Corel guys don’t update the kit (error corrections, addition of laser-cut parts instead of pre-cut elements, etc…) is unknown to me and I’m sure it can be a long, separate discussion.
On the bright side, I’m enjoying the experience a lot as I’m growing in my skills/nautical research -Corel kit also lacks a lot of elements from the original ship or directly got them wrong… i.e.: I remade the bow, the stern and the galleries as well- joy level is being 200%

cheers,
Guzmán

 

[Snxz]

I'll fellow because I'm tempted by the airfix kit (for later). Are you going to paint the sculptures so they're polychrome?
https://www.vasamuseet.se/en/visit/exhibitions/power-and-glory
I'll go for the red on mine, I might go for a "what if it hadn't sank on its maiden voyage?"

Hi Aurélien, I’m terrible with paints so I’ll leave the sculptures as such

cheers,
Guzmán

 

[Donnie]

Outstanding - beautiful - very realistic.
So, I observed the black rigging type line in your planking. Are you simulating the real tar/rope that they would use in real ships? That is really amazing if that is what you are accomplishing. If so, that means you are drawing each line (string) beside each plank ??

 

[rick robbins]

I'm trying to finish The Vasa presently, only in plastic, & I went with the red color scheme after seeing a video from the museum in Sweden. But this is something else! You are doing a great job, & it's beautiful! Rick 1011

 

[PeterG]

Hello Snxz,

I, like Paul Attner have recently completed our Vasa models and I remember when initially doing ‘kit research’ that the Corel kit was older, inaccurate in many aspects, and not updated by Corel. However, while this appears true, you have recognized this and accept it to move forward. You have also used the blue colour for the topsides which is now thought to be incorrect - however, so what?

It is YOUR model, and you are doing an outstanding job!! From your photos it is coming together beautifully and looks very impressive. The Vasa is a complex and large modelling project. To undertake it and go forward with this kit as you have, shows a love of the art of ship modelling, accurate or not, and you will create a ship that is outstanding and uniquely yours, as they are for all of us.

Keep up the great work and I look forward to the finished product,

Regards,

PeterG

 

[jeep]

Enjoyed your post. Very nice work. Where did you get inspiration for the deck ? Using black thread is rather exotic, not used by many.

 

[Snxz]

Thanks for your kind words guys! This is a real encouragement and I hope to be able to retake this project as soon as my 11-months old daughter grants me some spare time

@Donnie , @jeep yes, I‘m using std black sewing thread to simulate the tar between planks (and yes, there’s 1 thread at every joint). Some years ago, I was looking for alternative ways for doing this in order to avoid painting the side of the planks in black and I came across this technique used by someone in some random forum (cannot remember, sorry). I thought it was worth to give it a try, specially because it provides regular spacing between planks (0.15 mm if I recall properly) with a very appealing result in my opinion. However, I’m not sure if I’ll go for it in the future due to an issue I found and wasn’t able to foresee at the beginning: for very thin planks (these are 0.6 mm thick), sanding the surface once all the threads were in place was a complete headache as the threads kept stubbornly going out of place (I didn’t glue any thread fearing that some glue stains remained and revealed super evident after oiling the surface… I relied on the deck elements to keep things together). In the end, I managed to put everything in place but it’s clear to me that the thicker the planks, the better for this thechnique.

@PeterG you’re absolutely right, we need to make models we’re happy with. In my case, I’m not looking for 100% historical accuracy, just a nice model which got me impressed when I was a kid; as a bonus, I’m taking the opportunity to start abandoning the ”regular” kit building and digging deeper into scratch building.

sorry guys, I think I talk too much… English is not my mother language and I tend to go in circles over explaining things. I need to learn to summarize better (here we go again… )

cheers!