Clearing a small outbreak of Modeller’s Block

The component parts of what will become a frigate displayed so that you can see the ‘layered’ approach to the hull. Note the cutouts on the gun deck layer - only eight per side I know but it is intended to be purely representational. The masts are not fixed but it is handy to store them like this whilst waiting for sealer or paint to dry.

As mentioned previously I currently have five models under construction - all of which are fully masted. The masts took me around a day to build and the hulls would be a lot less - or so I thought.

I kind of hit an unexpected road block with the hulls when it came to deck guns. I was completely unprepared for this and it has delayed progress by a day or so but I think I have successfully managed to clear the blockage in the creative process! My deck guns are lovely little models and they look very effective on the only models that are so far carrying them - the pair of 90 Day gunboats I built a short while ago. I fully intend adding these to a couple of other ships I am building but not to the current batch.

Now here is the thing. Whilst I never intended mounting the full suite of deck artillery on the frigate and four sloops I am building I wanted to at least show the heavy pivot guns. I duly assembled one to see how it would look at it was just plain wrong. It was too large. For some reason, and this is why progress came to a complete halt, the guns looked fine on smaller models but not on the ones I am building. 

I was by turns stumped, at a loss, annoyed and frustrated by this but after a day of head scratching think I have a workable solution. All will revealed once the ships are finished but the picture above will offer a small clue as to how I solved it.

My stride may have been interrupted slightly but I am now back in the race and pushing on with the five models in question.

Late Edit. Everything is now sealed and jigged up for painting so tomorrow will see the brushes out and the undercoating commencing. Normal service has been resumed - or something like that...