New HMS Flirt from Vanguard Models

The two-masted brig HMS Flirt is a brand new release from Vanguard Models of the UK, and Ages of Sail has it in stock. Designer Chris Watton has outdone himself again with yet another fantastic 1/64-scale wooden ship model kit.

HMS Flirt was a 14-gun ship that was one of the new flush decked brig-sloops built in the latter part of the 18th century. She and HMS Speedy (another Vanguard Models kit) are of the same class. In terms of kits, the most obvious difference is the hull of the HMS Flirt kit is not copper sheathed.

This new kit from Vanguard models features internal structural parts laser-cut from sturdy MDF sheets and birch plywood. All the visible parts are laser-cut from beautiful pear wood sheets, including details such as ladders and gratings. Meanwhile, making construction perfect and simplified, the deck comes as a laser-scribed lime wood, complete with all planking and treenail detail.

Note that photo is from a limited Special Edition version of the kit. The only difference in materials that the Standard Edition kit that Ages of Sail sells is the wood type.

The hull of this kit is double-planked, using high quality lime wood for the first layer, and pear wood for the outer finish layer. For masts and yards, the kit includes walnut dowels. The 14 4-pdr cannon barrels and 1/2-pdr swivel guns are cast in black resin for maximum detail, and the kit includes black acrylic cannon balls. For the metalwork, 3 sheets of photo-etched brass parts are included.