Back in April 2022 I built a number of warships for my Belle Époque imagi-nations. They looked like this:
My scratch-built Burgundian battleships.
My scratch-built Schwarzenberg battleships.
My scratch-built Khakistani battleship.
Whilst they are perfectly acceptable, I've been thinking about building some new models to replace them. For inspiration, I have been looking at the MAJOR GENERAL TREMORDEN REDERRING'S COLONIAL WARGAMES PAGE. (Although the creator of the page - David Helber - no longer adds to it and the original URL no longer works, it is available thanks to it being archived by Wayback Machine,)
On the 'Ships and Boats for Colonial-era Gaming' page, David describes the models ships that he has built and used in his Colonial wargames, including the Ironclad Ram HMS Tempestuous ... which, with a different flag, became the SMS Dundermaus.
The model is 9-inches long and scaled to work with 25/28mm figures. As my ships need to look right alongside 15mm figures, I could reproduce something similar, and it would be just under 6-inches long ... which I think is eminently doable.
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An excellent model there Bob from David and one that has so much character to it, rather like your ones at the top of the post.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteTrying to get the model to look right is not as easy as one might expect, but if you can do it, the end results can be outstanding.
All the best,
Bob
That was a brilliant, entertaining, inspiring webpage. I'm still using some of his techniques for building buildings.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteWhoever managed to save the website for posterity did the hobby a great service.
All the best,
Bob
The Maj. Generals site is full of inspiration - I look forward to seeing your new models Bob.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteI only wish that the Major General was still developing his website. As you write in your comment, it was truly inspirational.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteA 6 inch long model for your 15mm will look just about right - I'll be looking forward to seeing the results of your scratch modelling of these vessels which I'm sure you'll do a good job. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteBeing able to make the models slightly larger should enable me to add some additional details.
All the best,
Bob
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteBack in the ship building business at last! Really great news and I am looking forward to seeing what appears. I reckon 6” long would work well and of course you can add smaller types to suit - down to around 3 1/2” would do nicely.
Good luck with anything resembling a ‘tumblehome’ - prepare for some industrial level sanding ;-)
All the best and very excited to see what you come up with.
DC
David Crook,
DeleteThe size of ships that you are suggesting is very much in line with my current thinking. As to replicating the tumblehome that was a feature of French battleship designs … well, that is problematic, but I’m sure that I’ll find a solution or a way around it.
All the best,
Bob
Oh yes, that is very "In Period" - I like them
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteCheers! I would like to make some slightly larger and more detailed models, buttthese will do in the interim.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteYou want to REPLACE those superb looking warships?!
Well, seeing what has inspired you, I quite understand. I think your planned 6-inch vessel will look 'comme il faut' with your 15mms. I found my 1:300 (roughly) Riverine vessels went well enough with my Airfix ACW figures, and my dhows and paddle steamer gunboat looked OK with my 'colonial' figures.
Speaking of the sailor brigade, I suddenly realised I have five stands of sailors in my own armies - not counting machine-gunners...
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI think that I could make better models if they were slightly larger … and that’s my plan for the moment. I also think that they will look better alongside my 15mm figures.
Why am I not surprised that you’ve actually got some sailors in you own armies? Does this now mean that we will be seeing them in action as a Naval Brigade at some point? I hope so!
All the best,
Bob
Exciting new project Bob, have always loved wooden naval pieces in wargames. Quinn
ReplyDeleteGlory to Ruritania (Quinn),
DeleteI enjoyed building these models and hope to use the same technique to build further ships for this project.
All the best,
Bob