Monday, 4 August 2025

Some Age of Sail Experimentation


Side by side - the base model is at the rear with the filed, single decker in the foreground


A better view of the lower profile of the single decker


Viewed from the stern - the reduction in height is more noticeable

Aside from the whole decorating thing, I have been thinking about what to do with the recently acquired Risk style age of sail ships. The base model is a stylised two decker so adding a deck to make a first rate or trimming it down to make a single deck frigate type should be OK. They will all be the same length but given that I would only use these on a gridded playing surface, the sizes are not that crucial.

A fairly substantial amount of filing was needed - the plastic is pretty hard which makes for a durable model - but since I will only need around eight frigates it would not be too onerous an undertaking. Now to take a look at three deckers!
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9 comments:

  1. Peter4 August 2025 at 21:31

    Do you plan to paint these in the same glossy style as your ACW ships?

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    1. David Crook8 August 2025 at 10:07

      Hi Peter,

      The ACW ships are sealed with satin varnish which gives a slightly glossy sheen. I will certainly use the same for these models methinks - it does add an old school charm to them.

      All the best,

      DC

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  2. david in suffolk5 August 2025 at 13:12

    They look good - I remember as a kid being impressed by 'P.Dunn' in his book 'Sea Battle Games' doing similar things with the Airfix HMS Victory - he must have had to buy and build dozens of them!

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    1. David Crook8 August 2025 at 10:10

      Hello there Mr Barnes,

      I remember trying to cut the hull down of a model of HMS Victory for gaming - it was an unmitigated disaster! I was never able to get the cuts accurate so abandoned the idea.

      These models just need a filing - a lot of filing as the plastic is quite hard.

      All the best,

      DC

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  3. Mark Cordone5 August 2025 at 14:22

    Looking good thus far.

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    1. David Crook8 August 2025 at 10:11

      Thank Mark! Dominion of the Age of Sail anyone?

      All the best,

      DC

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  4. Aly Morrison7 August 2025 at 19:21

    Looking good David…
    They will certainly come to life when they have a coat of paint on them…

    All the best. Aly

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    1. David Crook8 August 2025 at 10:11

      Hi Aly,

      I certainly hope so!

      All the best,

      DC

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  5. Archduke Piccolo8 August 2025 at 22:18

    Quite handy little fleets these ships will make. I was thinking, that if the lack of a spanker proved too irritating to ignore, suitably sized quadrilaterals of plastic card glued to the mizen ought to fill the bill.

    Your creation of frigates is pretty effective. One tends to notice the single vs double line of gunports more than anything else. I'll be interested to see how you conjure up your 3-deckers!
    Cheers,
    Ion

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