The long wait is almost over. The ship that cemented my love of the Age of Sail now produced by the top kit manufacturer is almost at my door, I couldn't be more excited. I honestly couldn't believe how fast the package is coming from the UK to the Center of the US.

When I was 16 my dad took me to the theaters to see a movie I had never heard of, and had no Idea what the premise was and the title of the movie was pretty odd. That movie was Master and Commander, and from then on I would always love tall ships of that era. A couple years ago I started building model ships with my main goal being to eventually build HMS Surprise. Well to my astonishment at that time the kit selection for Surprise was pretty bad, either inaccurate model kits in scales I didn't want, or praying that Caldercraft would wise up and release their kit. Much to my enjoyment Chris announced that he was going to release a Surprise kit, and the instant I heard that news I went to my Spouse and told her that day I was setting aside a savings fund for this kit and she agreed.




My plan for this kit is to make a version based off the books, but also taking many inspirations from the movie Surprise that we all love. Chris makes kits that are hard to improve upon, but if I see the chance I will try to improve parts where I can or even add some fun easter eggs related to the books.

You DO know it's obligatory to do a photo of the box when it arrives? 😉

1 hour ago, Jim H said:

You DO know it's obligatory to do a photo of the box when it arrives? 😉

Yep, this Pennsylvania Yank knows that.

Cheers! Ron

Great photo Ron, you look like a kid a Christmas. I cant wait to see the unboxing.

The first unboxing. I'll leave more detailed "parts unveiling" to others in order to share the joy with them. I will just mention that the Building Manual is approximately 2 lbs. and there are 27 large plans, several printed in two colors (rigging ones I believe).

29 minutes ago, modelshipdood said:

Manual is approximately 2 lbs. and there are 27 large plans, several printed in two colors (rigging ones I believe).

I have had college text books that are smaller and they charged me hundreds of dollars for them lol.

Looking forward to your build

1 hour ago, modelshipdood said:

The first unboxing. I'll leave more detailed "parts unveiling" to others in order to share the joy with them. I will just mention that the Building Manual is approximately 2 lbs. and there are 27 large plans, several printed in two colors (rigging ones I believe).

Super fast delivery too!

You going to open a build log and share the journey? I presume with sea modelled in too?

4 hours ago, Jim H said:

You DO know it's obligatory to do a photo of the box when it arrives? 😉

Maybe the Admins could organise a Surprise box arriving photo competition! 😆

I wish you a lot of fun with your new project.

42 minutes ago, Jim H said:

You going to open a build log and share the journey? I presume with sea modelled in too?

I plan to open a Build Log when I start on the tophamper as I'll be adding working sails in addition to all the normal rigging. Subsequent to this I plan to post my seascape making process. Since I won't be planking very much below her waterline (Wales) owing to the seascape presentation, I can't contribute much in guidance that others will certainly better explain in their logs.

I'm already planning to include the implementation of a host of new detailed components when it comes to the rigging, like: scale-accurate "mice", parrels, shroud cleats, belaying pins, etc.

I'm fortunate to live in a large home to accommodate this large model displayed in a large diorama; and - a benevolent (and oh, so generous and understanding) Admiral.

Good luck. Looking forward to the seascape!

So what have you done since Wednesday then? You have had the box for a full 4 days.....

Have fun!

Michael

5 hours ago, Michael said:

o what have you done since Wednesday then? You have had the box for a full 4 days.....

Unfortunately my box is still trapped somewhere on a UPS Truck. Supposed to deliver tomorrow now, but they have said that the last 4 days lol.

Have any other American Surprise customers had to pay extra Import charges? My package has been held by customs for nearly a week now, and now I get an email that I have to pay nearly $200 more dollars to be delivered.

29 minutes ago, KillicksToastedCheez said:

Have any other American Surprise customers had to pay extra Import charges? My package has been held by customs for nearly a week now, and now I get an email that I have to pay nearly $200 more dollars to be delivered.

Yep. I paid this identical amount to UPS. This is the Trump Tariff on shipments from the U.K.

Import charges are normal. In fact, the US still get off very lightly compared to us saps in Europe (also, the amount the US pay is very dependent on which county they're in, it seems). As the majority of my materials (pear, lime etc) and photo etched sheets are from the EU, the amounts I pay in import duties can be eye watering at times - at the very least 20% of the total shipment cost, sometimes as high as 35%, plus whatever the shipper adds on top for other fees.

12 minutes ago, modelshipdood said:

Yep. I paid this identical amount to UPS. This is the Trump Tariff on shipments from the U.K.

Thanks, wasn't sure since you and others had received their packages so much faster. Hopefully that nitwit is long gone by the time I have to order my next Vanguard kit.

I paid my customs cost immediately upon being notified of how much it was. At the time of that notification they said I could pay it now or pay the driver. Paying the driver would have cost about 10% more. I actually paid those fees prior to the package leaving the UK I don't know if that sped things up but from the time it left the UK and I received it was just over 72 hours.

Just now, myxyzptlyk2003 said:

I actually paid those fees prior to the package leaving the UK

Weird how they didn't ask me to pay anything until today, but you were able to pay quickly it seems.