Hello, my friends!
Here is a model that I have been working on for a while now. The original build thread is on the Cardmodels.net forum here:
http://www.cardmodels.net/forum/showthread.php?t=818
I mistakenly titled it 1/200 scale, while it is actually 1/250, as most WHV kits are. The idea of this build was to take the WHV kit and enhance it to build a model as closely as I could to the actual ship which is presently in Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. This is one of my favorite ships, one I have made a hobby to study for over thirty years. I am lucky to have collected a large amount of information, photos, plans, etc., which have helped in my attempt to improve upon this kit a bit. I will provide updates here as I think it is interesting to see how the basic kit can be modified a bit, and maybe some of the ideas will be found useful by others.
This is were I am so far:
[Blocked Image: http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/6453/hullsofaroct2420053ri.jpg]
One of the big differences in my build and the original kit is the modification of the head rail area, where I have opened up the rails, compared to the closed and simplified method used by the kit designers. This is how I did the head rails:
[Blocked Image: http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/2087/closeupofstarboardbow78zc.jpg]
I also completely rebuilt the quarter galleries, as the simplified method used by the kit did not give her the appearance I think is rather striking. This photo from earlier in the construction I hope shows what I am referring to:
[Blocked Image: http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/2130/angleviewofstarboardquarter69g.jpg]
I also had some fun adding details that the kit just does not provide. One is the cathead:
[Blocked Image: http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/9949/closeupofstarboardcathead49oi.jpg]
I also enhanced the transom quite a bit, rather than just settle for the printed kit part:
[Blocked Image: http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/9963/viewfromportquarter1218040it.jpg]
I also added a bit more detail to the parts, such as the charley noble (smoke stack) fife rails and pin rails, etc., as well as rigging and building the cannons and carronades like the original:
[Blocked Image: http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/1047/anotherviewfromportofforecastl.jpg]
I also have added the brass cages (made of wire and silk thread) like on the original, which the kit just does not provide for, and detailed the helm, added binnacles more true to the original and the skylight with the proper build, colors and the protective rail:
[Blocked Image: http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/9260/obliqueviewofquarterdeckdetail.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/3886/rebuiltskylightandrailing10252.jpg]
Here is a close-up of the skylight on the quarterdeck with the rail:
[Blocked Image: http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/1923/closeupofnewskylightandrailing.jpg]
I hope to update this thread as I continue in the build, but it is a slow process due to the minimal free time I have to spend enjoying this build...but slowly but surely it will continue, and I hope you will enjoy seeing her develop as I go along.
Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.
Cheers!
Jim