Redoutable 74 (1791)

My latest 1:1200 custom model is the French Téméraire-class 74-gun Redoutable (1791).

Here she is,  like most of my models, "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open, equipped with the following armament:

Lower gun-deck: 28 x 36 pounder long-guns

Upper gun-deck: 30 x 18-pounder long guns
Forecastle Quarter: 16 x 18-pounder long guns

                                 4 x 36 pounder guns carronades

On October 21st 1805 at Trafalgar,  Redoutable was commanded by capitaine de vaisseau, Jean-Jacques-Etenne Lucas. 

Under Captain Lucas' inspired and professional leadership, Redoutable fought valiantly losing 522 of a compliment of 643 when she finally struck to HMS Temeraire.

This Langton metal model was built  for me by Model J Ship. and again Julián has done an excellent job.

HMS Surprise (1796) 28-gun Unité -class frigate

My latest 1:1200 custom model is HMS Surprise. Not the frigate of "Master and Commander" fame exactly, but rather the historical 6th rate 28-gun Unité -class frigate of 1796. Here she is "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open. The French corvette l'Unité was captured in 1796 and taken into Royal Navy service and equipped with the following armament:

Gun-deck: 24 x 32 pounder caronades

Quarter and Fore-deck: 10 x 32 pounder carronades

2x 4-pounder guns as chasers

The model was made for me by Model J Ship. As usual, Julián has done an excellent job.

HMS Agamemnon (1781) 64-gun in 1:1200 scale

My latest commission from the talented Julián Fenández de Sevilla of "Model J Ship", Nelson's favourite, the 64-gun Ardent Class third-rate, HMS Agamemnon. The model is from Langton Miniatures and is shown "at quarters".

The quality of the model stands for itself. I would just add that the ordering process and efficiency of Julián makes the whole process a pleasure.

Once again, the ship is detachable from its scenic base so that it can be used in games of Sails of Glory. Of course, the larger models, such as this 64, are more noticeably to a different scale than the 1:1000 Ares uses in Sails of Glory. However I am gradually assembling enough of these custom models for a small engagement using SoG rules or Close Action from Clash of Arms games.

I like the idea of interchangeability. They are also such handsome pieces that just displaying them in my display cases is a source of much pleasure.

The photography is also by Julián. Note the roll of the ship which is something not normally seen. Since he makes the bases, such effects can be part of the finished model. This includes the ship's boats which are another option, along with the anchors and flags.

HMS Agamemnon was armed as follows:

Gundeck: 26 x 24-pounders

Upper Gundeck: 26 x 18-pounders

Quarterdeck: 10 x 4 pounders

Forecastle: 2 x 9-pounders

1805: HMS Euryalus vs Hortense

What if the screening frigates at Trafalgar had engaged, yard arm to yard arm? Here HMS Euryalus engages Hortense in a fictional engagement.

1:1200 vs 1:1000 Scale Model Ships

I have been comparing Rod Langton's 1:1200 metal ships, here represented by the 36-gun Apollo Class frigate HM Euryalus (1803) and the 1:1000 plastic ships by Ares, shown here by the 32-gun Concorde Class frigate, Hermoine (1779). I think they can be used together or as substitutes.

They will of course need common bases. I intend to make a Sails of Glory base and card for HMS Euryalus.

Hortense frigate, 40-guns (1803)

Master modeler Julián Fenández de Sevilla of Model J Ship has just finished my latest commission, Hortense (1803). This is the lead ship of the Hortense class of 40-gun French frigates. She was armed with 28 x 18-pounders and 12x 8-pounders. Hortense took part in the battles of Cape Finisterre and Trafalgar.

Once again, I asked Julián to make the scenic base detachable so the ship could be used in games of Sails of Glory if I so chose. His treatment of the ship's boat is quite ingenious.

HMS Pickle (1799)

Here is my new Langton Miniatures 1:1200 scale model of the Tops'l Schooner HMS Pickle. She carried 8 x 12 pounder carronades and a crew of 40. I have converted the model for use in "Sails of Glory" to carry dispatches, transfer the Admiral's flag, etc. 

Under the command of Lt. John Richards Lapenotière, Pickle performed valuable tasks at Trafalgar, not possible for the much larger Ships of the Line. 

She rescued survivors, towed dismasted vessels and was selected to take the dispatches: “Sir, we have gained a great victory. But we have lost Lord Nelson.”

This model was painted and lightly rigged by myself. I'm no Master Modeler and rarely show images of any of my own work. However, encouraged by my friend Jeff Lower (a real artist) I was encouraged to show what I have been able to do.

Here Pickle is compared with much larger rated vessels in the Ares Sails of Glory fleet.

I hope this shows that Langton 1:1200 models, at least the smaller unrated vessels, can be used alongside the 1:1000 scale SOG models. This opens lots of possibilities for customizing the fleet.

My next experiment in, terms of SOG compatibility, will be to see what can be done with Langton frigates, next time by a real Master.