"1/1200 French Port" Topic

I just finished my latest project, a French port for use with my Langton and GHQ ships. I've been thinking about this ever since Bosco05 poste his port back in September. I made it in two sections that snap together.

The white objects are unpainted ships I set to see how they would look at anchor. I still have more I want to do, like set a partially completed 74 in the crib next to the slipways with the two hulks under construction. And a French flag above the fort and the town would look right.

More photos at volsminiatures.blogspot.com

Any comments, ctitiques or suggestions would be appreciated.

Nice work, well done!

Whoa, Vol, this is awesome! The water looks beautiful, very shiny and "wet" and the wave lines throughout are subtle and realistic. I like the look of the surf crashing against the rocks too. The town looks like a tightly packed, bustling community, the docks themselves look busy and occupied. And I'm impressed by how smoothly the two halves fit together. The whole thing is really fantastic. It makes me want to get working on some terrain pieces!
- James

Amazing work. Agree with whitejamest on all points, especially those wave lines such a great touch of realism.
My only suggestion is unless this is a specific French port don't make the flag a permanent attachment so it can double as any nation.

Wow! that is a great looking port. I really like the ship yard with the ships under construction. I think I'll add that to my port!

Nicely done

Miles

Absolute master-stroke placing the ships under construction on the slipways- gives it the feel of a real, working port; at first I thought the town part looked a little crowded – that is a lot of buildings, but when you think of real dock areas in similar circumstances that is exactly how they are – so an excellent piece of work.

One small comment – maybe the interior of the fort looks a little too clean and empty? I realise that this is down to the model sculpt itself, but maybe it needs something to make it look busier?

Indeed… very nice. Another small point… ships are usually built with the stern facing the water so that when they are christened there is no danger of the sliding ship crushing the christeners.

Really nice. Another project for me to try my hand on.

So many projects, so few hands …..

Thank you everyone for your comments. I know the town is a little cramped. I wish now that I had purchased the individual buildings rather than block housing. It kind of limited the choice of layouts. I was really dissapointed there was no room for the cathedral.

That is a great idea about making removable flag poles.

Thank you Miles. Since you were my inspiration, your kind comment means a lot.

I'm not sure what to put in the fort. Maybe a building? I'll have to think about it.

The back end of the ships were really ugly and they looked better bow forward. I did find a painting and some old photos with sail ships this way.

Ok, I did a long search of 18 & 19th c. Shipyards and only found one painting with a small sloop bow forward. I'll flip them around when I get back home in a couple of weeks. Sorry for the error. I'll try and dress up the sterns too.

Hi Vol. Old Engish sea ports would be tightly packed as you have done. Parts of Portsmouth U.K. not bombed in W.W.2. look like as you have shown but the dockyard itself is more open as you have done. Also think scale 300-700 plus crew in a ship of the line, if living in a town,would be tightly packed. In older parts of U.K. towns streets are very narrow 10 to 15 feet. I put 2 buildings in my Toulon Tower 2x M3 the ones shown in the Langtons Dockside Series. Your port could be in any part of Europe,I think Ashenduke is right. A Great model
Rory

Thank you Rory. I really wanted to attempt Toulon but that would have been a huge terrain piece I just don't have room for. When I get the ship hulks swapped around and the flags and buildings in the fort I will post the photos. Thanks all of you for the kind comments and great suggestions.

Vol

Outstanding.