Tuesday 24 March 2020

28mm Spanish Galleon in plastic PART I

Hello guys!

Since 2015 I'm involved in an ambitious project. A few years ago I asked for opinions on plastic models of galleons in order to convert the model kit into a wargames ship,  for naval skirmish games, secenery and such.  I can use it as naval gunfire support in field battles, like Niewpoort or the Dunes, or in siege operations like Tarragona, Barcelona or Dunkirk.

Now there are games such as "Blood & Plunder" that involves ship fighting and land skirmishes together, and you can adapt a ship with home rules to almost every wargame rules, using it as a mobile artillery battery or a building that can be occupated.

I found the ship on Ebay and ordered it for 65 euros, it is a the Revell Galleon at 1/96 ... don't be scared, the model is by no means  1/96 in fact I suspect it is 1/65, judging its measures.

As it is a display model kit, it comes with the complete hull, so I decided to make it "waterline" by a major conversion of the hull, cutting it very carefully, in order not to break it . Then I needed to sand it down.

With the 2 part hull already glued, the fun began with the true building process.


the ship today




 the two part hull prior to cutting it


ta daaaaa, waterline ship


tesing the scale


testing the scale 2.




time for painting,

I used tamiya paints and airbrushed the base colours, and then all the highights. As its bare plastic, I tried to emulate the wood planks by painting different planks in creamy colours andeveral shades of browns with brush , these planks were later unified with oils, and drybrush








at this stage, it starts to resemble a galleon :)


There is still a lot of work to do! I have replaced the kit's plastic lantern (boat lantern) with a metal and "glass" one purchased from a model ship shop, and purchased metal and wood cannons as well as deck light guns






As you can see, the masts were added and painted, as well as the ratlines, with a simple drybrush, the sails are true cloth sails,  bought in Radek's ship store, great service, but not cheap!  the sails of the plastic ship were terrible (imho) so replacement was compulsory for me...
I painted a red and yellow pattern as it was common in early galleons in Spanish service. I also used some Northstar 1672 miniatures to show you the compatibility of scales (they are Tercio de la mar de Napoles) Spanish Neapolitan Marines.

Nowadays you can find a fantastic galleon by Firelock games, but I think it costs more or less 300$, so my option was more than good, for 65 euros (plus cloth sails).

Now the most boring part is rigging the ship, but this is a gaming ship, so the rigging will be VERY simple, because is difficult to playe with a lot of ropes over there, and it is time consuming too!  guns,  anchors, flags and some rigging and the ship will be finished, I will definitely complete this post with a part II.

Thanks for watching!

17 comments:

  1. I've got that kit sitting in my garage, seeing yours makes me want to see if I can get it built and painted. Great work, well done.

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    1. Many thanks! well, you know what to do ;)

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    2. How did you mark out the waterline? And then what did you use to cut the plastic?

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    3. Hi! I did by eye, and looking reference pics, not difficult, but cutting the hull was difficult, with a modelling saw, very carefuly, it took me a couple of sessions.

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  2. Great find and amazing work!

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  3. That's a great looking ship Jose!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ray, I hope to finish it soon.

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    2. Hi Jose, Beautifully done and great post. I too have that kit lying here for the past 2 decades collecting dust! Having seen your blog post I am now considering doing the same. How did you waterline the hull? As there are no "defined waterline" marks on that kit hull?

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    3. Hi mate, many thanks :) I did by "eye" with a razor saw, I draw a curved line in the hull, watching the box art, so it is not a perfect or exact waterline, but for wargaming is nice enough for me.

      Cheers

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  4. Brilliant Jose that makes your model even more amazing thank you kindly. :)

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  5. Patiently waiting for PART TWO! :)

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    1. (Can you fit a figure with a 25mm base into the crow's nest?)

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  6. I am late finding your blog. Wow, this is an impressive post! I have cut many plastic sailing ship models to waterline to use in gaming, but never one this large to use for 28mm minis. You absolutely nailed the deck planking, beautiful effect! I looked for a Part II to see how it turned out with the cannon and rigging, but couldn't find the post.
    Regards,
    Vol

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    Replies
    1. Thank you mate!! There is no part two (yet), it is still in the drydock waiting for its completion... I now, I am late... shame on me. Too many projects at the same time. By the way, I hate rigging... and don't know well how to do it.

      Cheers!

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