I agree. This one has been a while in the works. It will be nice to see it finally get done. Mine is sitting on the work bench. Haven't had a chance to work on it since last November or so.
this project has a long history or it seems as if does. it began as a building project drawn by Jeff Staudt back in 2010 at the time is was a free download building project by Model Ship builder.
Then it was considered as a possible kit and group build project. The idea was to create a 3D model as a building aid but that never did happen, reasons it was never carried through is unknown. So a group formed to discuss how to go about producing a kit. The group was faced with production issues such as
1 the original drawings had to be converted to cutting files
2 cost of laser cutting
3 should laser parts be offered or just sheet stock and let the builder do the cutting
4 milled wood or rough stock
5 cannons were a big issue first a model had to be made either 3D modeled and printed or machined. Once there was a model should each cannon and mortar be 3D printed or should a master production mold be made and the cannon and mortar cast? or offer no mortar and cannon and let the builder make their own.
6 anyway you look at it there was time and money needed up front and no idea if the project would even be able to recover the investments costs.
7 to hire a 3D artist to create the 3D building aid model was really expensive
in reference to comments by Don in the
new forum topic about learning from mistakes to create a group build this is it and Dons comment waiting 2 years is a valid statement. Waiting on different people to complete a task ran from days to months to years. Heck you can't rush anyone willing to volunteer their time and to hire people is very expensive but paid help does get the job done fast and professionally, it was just where does the money come from?
finally after some investments for master models and molds, getting work done one prototype kit was produced and Winston volunteered to build it. But life goes on and things get set aside, Winston is not a dedicated model builder, he actually has a life beyond model ships. but here is the very first prototype build.
so here we are and lets see if a prototype gets built. As Dave b said in his build log this is a hobby and building should be a slow and fun past time. Well I agree but in this case it is build fast and skip the fine details and gloss over the finer finish. This is about designing and how to make it work and not to produce a finely crafted model.