14 Gun Cutter - Langton 1:1200

Here is a 1:1200 scale 14 gun cutter from Langton, with studding sails. This was a fun kit, a type of ship I like a lot, and a chance to fiddle around with studding sails. There's something fun about packing as much sail as possible on to a model, and I like the effect that it makes with the rigging.

 And once again a comparison shot, with a 20 gun brig and a 40 gun frigate.

Rowed Pinnace - Langton 1:1200

Wanting to try the smallest vessels I could, even in this already very small scale, I've painted up a 1/1200 pinnace, with crew, from Langton. It's about the size of my first finger nail, when well trimmed. The set includes six pinnaces, three rowed and three sailed (the latter do not contain crew).

These little vessels were the largest class of ships boats, used to move people and supplies between ship and shore. 

At first I tried painting hair on the crew's heads, just little dabs of paint, but it made it too hard to notice them. They stand out better while bald. Clearly the scurvy is raging in their ship, let's hope they are pulling for a shore rich with citrus fruits. 

 Here are a couple comparison shots, with a 14 gun cutter and a 40 gun frigate, also Langton models.

Baltimore Clipper - GHQ 1:1200

 I've just finished working on another 1:1200 scale ship project, this time GHQ's "Baltimore Privateer". Sometimes referred to as Baltimore clippers, these very speedy little ships were built along the eastern seaboard of the United States, especially in Baltimore, and were popular with smugglers and privateers.

 Now, GHQ ships are a bit different from Langton's in a number of ways. They tend to be a little bit smaller than their Langton equivalents, and they usually sit lower in the water. On that point I think GHQ probably has the advantage in historical accuracy. GHQ's hulls also tend to be a little crisper in detail.

However, the most significant difference is in the masts and sails. Unlike Langton, GHQ offers no brass sails (or ratlines) and the sails are usually molded in one piece with the masts. The masts themselves are flimsier than Langton's which has definite effects on how one has to go about the rigging process.

I've mounted this model on a trimmed down piece of resin sea base (from Langton) and added davits to the rear from which to suspend the ship's boat.

40 Gun Frigate - Langton 1/1200

Here are some photos of another 1/1200 scale Langton ship I've just completed, this time a 40 gun frigate. I really like this one, I think it's a very attractive ship in itself, and I really enjoy the Langton models. Unfortunately I ran out of GHQ anchors to add, and Langton does not supply such pieces. Also, I'm not crazy about the ship's boats that are molded in, they seem a bit out of scale to me and I would prefer to be able to add GHQ's more crisply molded pieces. But overall these little guys are a lot of fun.

White metal ship and masts, brass sails, brass shrouds and ratlines, 'invisible' mono-filament thread for rigging (I use the 'smoke' colored so that it is easier to see while working with it, and then paint the appropriate color with slightly watered down acrylic paint) and a resin base from Langton, 80mm long.

Gauls and More Gauls - Relic 28mm

 Here are another couple batches of 28mm Gauls from Relic. The first group of four is their Gallic Warriors set, and the second their Gallic Swordsmen. Great sculpts as always from Mike over there.

Shield transfers are from Battle Flag, and bases are Litko.