WIP: the HMS Typhoon

[Vladimir Leonov]

The HMS Typhoon is a frigate operating in His Majesty's Royal Navy. She is a 24 gun ship, with two 10 cannon broadsides, 2 cannonades on the bow and two movable 12-pounders on the quarterdeck (not finished). Using CGH's guide as a starting point, I did modify the design somewhat by moving the lowest section of the base forward so there is a more gentle but higher curving motion towards the rear, thus making the sides look more natural and not having any bulky top heavy cabin + quarterdeck. Right now the masts are somewhat unstable, despite my best efforts. I'm currently working on some supports and the ship will feature full rigging and sails upon completion, however I would like to be able to make any changes from any of your suggestions before I commit to tying down everything on board . Because of my intention to full rig this ship, no the deck is not removable and there is no defined interior. I simply don't have enough cannons to fill all the bays, and this ship is for display purposes anyway. A few final matters I need to get in order to finish the main ship is I need to order 20 yellow flags to conceal the cannon bays and 2 wide center sections (I had to custom make some for building because I only have 3), so I'll be placing a bricklink order soon as well.

Once again I apologize in advance for some grain/blur in the pictures, still workin on that new camera! This ship has consumed almost every useful lego I own, so help me to make it perfect!

[Ratshot]

It looks pretty good but here are a few suggestions...

1. Its not super important but I would recommend that you change the color scheme, it seems a little ere.

2. The pole on the front of the ship is a little to low, consider raising it.

3. The rear part of the cabin is really different looking. I would suggest straightening it.

Over all its a very promising ship, good luck on the final touches/improvements

Ratshot

Edit: Consider using this tutorial when photographing your ship in the future.

Some of you images are a little hazy.

Edited October 23, 2009 by Ratshot

[BrickPerfection]

The way you placed the masts is accurate; the overall hull shape good

A few suggestions:

Hmm well basically I would replace pretty much everything that is red in your cholourscheme with black and tile the entire deck in either tan (plywood) or reddish brown (teak). But i don't know if you can/want afford to order that many bricks at BL.

As mentioned already, your figurehead is a bit low, I suggest to lift it up by 1 brick at least, if not 2.

Also your bowsprit should be closer to the bow so that it looks as if it would come out of the hull (which it, historically, did).

Placing 4-6 guns on the topdeck would look good and realistic as well I think, preferably MOC cannons smaller than those at the gundeck (a typical RN 6th rate would have 12lb on the gundeck and 4 or 6lb on top; from 1770 onwards also carronades)

The general shape of the stern looks quite good , but it definately lacks decoration. Maybe you can exchange the windows with lattice ones? (from the BSB for example)

Perfectionist

Edited October 24, 2009 by Perfectionist

[tedbeard]

I'm actually really digging the colour scheme - well, maybe not the white decking.

I particularly enjoy your stern. Some interesting angles and a fancy style that really works for me.

[Admiral Ron]

Great ship, I would, as everyone has said, change the deck to one color. One other thing I would change is the bow, perhaps not have it just abruptly end, maybe make it a little smoother. Other than that it is a good job!

[Ingmar]

I don't agree with those who think that the colour scheme is not good, in my opinion the red and the yellow stripes get very well together, even if it is not a historical reference. And, of course, I think it is greatly important to remember that you built it with a reduced collection of parts and that Bricklink is not an obvious solution. I also notice a great improvement compared to the other pictures taken during the building that we could see in the CGBH's thread, where the cabin was not realistic at all and the shape generaly chaotic. Your ship looks quite original but above all very honnest if you say that you had to sacrifice your useful parts, I don't know if I would have been able to do so in the same situation. The lake of ornaments is not a problem I think, since a sober ship can get an impressive style, but in your case it is true that that the stern is quite sad, and the bow a bit one weak...

Well, I don't have a lot of experience, but if I had to provide some pieces of advise, I would suggest you to build a consistant bow, to improve the stern that look wired with this angle, and last but not least, try to make the deck in one colour, because it looks very confuse with that patchwork.

Finally, your ship is a very good surprise and quite original but you have some things to improve in order to make the next update interesting, and I'm sure it will be very nice too with an integral rig

Just a curiosity I'm wondering ; which set are your canons taken from ? I had never seen this model before..

[Vladimir Leonov]

Thanks for the suggestions! I rebuilt the bow to be closer to the hull and it is higher up. I agree, it looks much better. The color of the deck will be changed to all tan soon, the windows on the stern will be lattice and I also plan to have yellow piping along the edge of the stern in similar fashion to Perfectionist's Achille. These modifications will not be possible until I have some spare cash for a bricklink order (new brakes and rotors. Goodbye, spending money!) I've also added headrails to the bow, but they are white for now until I can replace them all with yellow.

I see there are mixed feelings on the color scheme. My choice of a yellow for the main stripe was from the HMS Surprise in Master and Commander. Granted the rest of the ship was brown, but what am I to do when most of the LEGOs I own come from the era of yellow, red and blue?

which set are your canons taken from

They're just the standard cannons from Pirates I, most likely from SES, and I added the wheels.