After the Holidays, we’ve had a long wait for our latest shipment from England’s Vanguard Models, but it finally arrived yesterday, and we couldn’t be happier. Or, should we say Harpy-er? With this shipment we received the latest kit to come out of Chris Watton’s Vanguard Models company, and it’s amazing. This is the Royal Navy vessel HM Brig Harpy, 1796.
Here’s an update on Shipyard’s 1/72-scale laser-cut paper model of the British 10-gun sloop HMS Wolf, 1752. The model is now in the rigging stage and we think it won’t be long before we start to see the masts go up on this beautiful model.
One of the popular tools we have sold for many years is this classic from Excel Blades Corp., the Double Clip Extra Hands. We sell one with an attached magnifier. The arms that hold the clip is fully adjustable, as is the magnifying lens, allowing you configure the tools for the task at hand. Here is an example of how one is being used by a ship modeler to hold a yardarm steady while it is being rigged.
The tool uses small alligator clips to hold objects. So that these don’t mar the yard being worked on, small pieces of masking tape are wrapped around the yard, leaving a “tail” for the clips to clamp on to, though depending on the material being held, this precaution might not be necessary. Below, you can see how the magnifier is still attached, but folded back, out of the way.
Below is another view of the holder with the magnifier removed. Here, some blocks have been added to the yard.
Of course, every modeler has they own way of doing things and their own favorite tools. But, for around $30, this tool seems like it has some good uses for ship modelers. Check it out on our online shop here: https://www.agesofsail.com/product-category/hobby-tools-excel-tools/ Ω
This build of Shipyard’s laser-cut paper model of the English navy brig HMS Wolf, 1754 is a detailed and complicated kit, as you can see in this customer’s build log.
While this build is going well, we recommend newcomers to paper ship modeling try tackling the 1/72-scale laser-cut kit of the French lugger Le Coureur, or possibly the British naval cutter HMS Alert first. These are both excellent, well-detailed kits in the same scale as this HMS Wolf kit, but with less complex rigging, and of course, a lower pricing.
For those ready for the toughest challenge, there is of course Shipyard’s masterpiece kit, HMS Mercury, a full-rigged frigate, and a very complex build with its many cannons and 3 masts.
Any of these kits would make ideal gifts for the holidays, complete with paints, brushes, all materials necessary, photo based instructions, and several plans sheets.
Check out these and other kits at Ages of Sail. Ω
Check out this group if you’re a ship modeler and happen to live in the northern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s good to see active ship modeling groups. This one stopped meeting shortly after the Covid outbreak, but thankfully they’re back at it. Ω
Our ship modeling neighbor Will G., here in San Lorenzo, CA, sent us a brief update on his build of the popular Amati Greek Galliot kit. This early 19th century warship featured three lateen-rigged masts, and a pair of forward-firing cannons at the bow. As a type of galley, the ship could also be maneuvered by oars, allowing it to operate in dead calm, and to aid in quick maneuvering. Will had built the framework of the ship and was working on some of the basic details in his last email to us.
He pointed out that this model is built with a single layer of planking, something fairly common for some of Amati’s smaller ship model kits, like their Swedish gunboat kit and others. In order the help give the planking a nice smooth curvature, Will used small blocks of balsa wood to fill in the spaces between the bulkheads. This was then sanded down to make a nice, smooth curve to the hull, and to form a nice support for the hull planks. Even so, he says that planking, particularly at the bow, still had its challenges.
The balsa wood used as filler is very soft and is easy to file to shape, in this case, using a coarse emery board. He used one of the hull planks to check the fairness of the curve, and to make sure the balsa didn’t stick out anywhere. Balsa wood for these purposes is not something we carry at Ages of Sail. So, we recommend checking your local arts and crafts supply store, such as Michaels, or Hobby Lobby.
For the small amount of deck planking done so far, Will explained that he edged the deck planks with pencil to simulate caulking and to get the planks to stand out a little. He says he considered doing this with the hull as well, but decided against it.
Will soaked the planks to be able to impart a slight curve to the hull planks, which is needed at the bow. It also helps keep the planks from breaking or splitting when bending them around curves.
To hold the hull planks into place, he used a variety of plastic spring clamps where possible. But, where the balsa block were put in place, he could use simply office push pins.
Will says his work is far from perfect, but he’s enjoying the build. We think the work looks wonderful, and we’re looking forward to more updates on this project!
Those of you who are interested in learning more about this Amati kit, can find more info on our web listing here: https://www.agesofsail.com/product/greek-galliot-wooden-boat-model-kits-amati-165-2/.
Special thank you to Will G. for keeping us posted on his work.
Do you have some build photos and information to share? Be sure to use the comments section below to let us know! Ω
Did you know that Ages of Sail carries a large selection of card model lighthouse kits from the Polish card model kit manufacturer, Shipyard? These kits come in different forms. We recommend the ZL-series laser-cut kits, which include paints, brushes, and landscaping materials, and are all in 1/72 scale. HO scale kits are also available, but only in paper kit form, which provide sheets of color-printed parts that must cut out by the builder.
Crowdy Head Lighthouse Paper Model
Here is an example of a laser-cut kit of Australia’s Crowdy Heady lighthouse in 1/72 scale.
Take a look at the detail in the close-up photos of this kit.
These kits make a nice, relatively quick project for those looking to take a little break from ship modeling. Check out this kit and more here. Ω
We spotted this article on blackening metal parts (brass) that Amati shared on Facebook today. This is a pdf article posted on the website of the Midwest Model Shipwrights, a long time Chicago based ship modeling group.
Check out the article here: https://midwestmodelshipwrights.com/pdfs/Blackening%20Metal%20Parts.pdf
This is an interesting and active ship model club. So, while you’re at it, check out their information filled website here: https://midwestmodelshipwrights.com
Looking for a really grand project for this Winter? Maybe something without all the rigging work, but lots and lots of fine detail? Check out this monster of a ship model kit. OcCre’s new 1/200 scale Battleship Missouri kit is BIG, measuring just over 53″ long – that’s almost 4-1/2 feet of ship model!
This is an Advanced Level ship model kit that consists of well over 6000 parts and takes an estimated 1400 hours to complete. Are you up to the task?
The kit includes precisely scaled parts in metal and wood, and the large size makes it ideal for creating an accurate display of this famous warship, aboard which the Japanese formally signed their surrender, marking the official end of World War II.
The Mighty Mo, as she was nicknamed, was an Iowa-class battleship, the last battleship commissioned during World War II, and as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She also served two tours of duty during the Korean War before being retired to the reserve fleet in 1955. Then, in 1984, she was reactivated and modernized and saw service in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
The Missouri was decommissioned in 1992 and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, where she can still be seen today.
Build your own masterpiece model. This kit is available to ship and can be yours today!
Take advantage of Ages of Sail’s free domestic shipping offer on all orders of $250 or more.
To learn more details about this kit, including pricing, visit our shop here.
Ship modeler Jon Peterson has been sharing an update on his build of Artesania Latina’s Vasa kit. This 1:65 scale wooden ship model kit is a big one, measuring some 42″ long when complete. Jon has completed the hull planking and is making very good progress.
Swedish Warship Vasa, by Artesania Latina
He comments that he likes the Artesania Latina kit, “because the instructions make it easier to complete certain steps on the construction. Nothing is left to guess work because of the pictures. They have a lot of tools to make your modeling go to the next level, and the design is easy to follow.”
Jon kindly provided us with some photos of his construction process to share with our readers here.
While he acknowledges that he has a long way to go on the model due to limited time available to work on the model, it’s clear he’s making great progress with beautiful results! We’re hoping he continues to share photos of his model progress with us.
Learn more about this kit on our web shop here
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