HM Cutter Trial 1790– Vanguard Models

HM Trial Cutter – 1790

The set includes:

• Laser-cut and engraved MDF and pearwood elements.

• Linden wood deck, laser-cut and engraved, with details imitating wooden treenails.

• 2 sheets of chemically etched brass.

• High-quality 3D-printed parts.

• 3 historically accurate movable keel segments (drop keels) with winches.

• Double hull planking: first layer in linden wood, second layer in pear wood.

• Walnut mast dowels.

• Various rigging thread thicknesses – black and natural – as well as all the necessary blocks and fittings.

• A full-colour, detailed instruction manual and eleven sheets of plans, also including drawings of the masts and rigging.

• Set with laser-engraved imitation wooden pegs on both the inner and outer side panels.

Instrukcja – HM Trial Cutter

Model dimensions:

• Scale: 1:64
• Overall length: 570 mm
• Overall height: 495 mm
• Overall width: 285 mm

History – HM Trial Cutter – 1790

“Trial” was built by Thomas Dusterville in Plymouth to a design by Captain John Schank (ordered on 1 December 1788). It was 65 feet long (approx. 19.8 m), 21 feet wide (approx. 6.4 m), and had a tonnage of 123 tons. The crew consisted of 45 people. The hull was fitted with three retractable Schank-designed keels, which provided directional stability in shallow draft and under sail.

On 28 June 1793, Trial captured the privateer Le Feret (14 guns) from St. Too little. In 1797, it captured the privateer brigantine Le Courier de la Mer. In 1798, while patrolling the invasion flotilla at Le Havre alongside a frigate and a bomb vessel, Trial used her ability to sail close inshore during a brief engagement with the frigate La Confiance (36 guns) and the corvette La Vesuve (20 guns). The frigate ran aground, was abandoned, and was later burned by a British landing party. The corvette was also driven ashore, but was later refloated and escaped thanks to the intervention of superior French forces.

Trial was withdrawn from active service in 1810 and converted into a storage ship in Waterford. As early as the 1940s. In the 19th century, it was located in Callao, Peru, serving as a coal depot, and was ultimately sold in 1848 — a very long service life for such a vessel.

Upon first entering service in 1790, Trial was armed with eight 3-pounder guns. In 1793, 4 12-pounder carronades were added. This exact armament configuration has been faithfully reproduced in the model kit – a total of 12 guns. The Trial was also adapted for mounting swivel guns on the bulwarks, but research indicates they were never used, so they have not been included in the kit. It is worth noting that once carronades were introduced on ships, the need for swivel guns disappeared—they were far more effective in the same role.