Le Soleil Royal ZHL Build Log [COMPLETED BUILD]

[Vfordyce]

Lots of progress for your first week looks magnificent. That's a lot of little boxes, l was happy when they were all installed on the Pearl and there where olny 20 to do. Did the parts for the work stand come with the kit?

It didn’t come with the kit. I bought it from Billing Boats for my Connie. It’s a big one, so it can accommodate this beast. They call it a “building slip.” I was a bit concerned that the light colored wood would show through the gun ports so I painted the lower decks black. I also didn’t want white to show up through the cracks in the decking so I painted the false deck black too. It was probably a bit of overkill, Tony, but black paint is cheap and I didn’t paint it that carefully on just the off chance it would show through.

 

[Vfordyce]

Guns are bronzed. I’ll have to use a toothpick to blacken the insides.

 

[paulb]

Do you have a great start and your work looks first rate.

 

[Vfordyce]

Do you have a great start and your work looks first rate.

Thanks, Paul.

 

[Vfordyce]

Toothpick works well in blackening the mouth of the cannon.

 

[Vfordyce]

I tried putting some black wash on one to see if it would bring out any details. I think the one on the right looks more bronze.

 

[debauchery]

I tried putting some black wash on one to see if it would bring out any details. I think the one on the right looks more bronze. View attachment 247252

You "bronzed" the guns yourself, correct?..... mine are grey.

 

[Gilbertm]

You "bronzed" the guns yourself, correct?..... mine are grey.

I painted mine in grey as well

 

[WarrLight]

Great to see you get started on this beautiful ship Vic...good luck. Will follow with great interest.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Hello,
I noticed there is a sail kit available from ZHL for this ship. Did you purchase that set? Also, if you did, are there rigging instructions available for the sails or does one have to use past experience to install them?

 

[debauchery]

Hello,
I noticed there is a sail kit available from ZHL for this ship. Did you purchase that set? Also, if you did, are there rigging instructions available for the sails or does one have to use past experience to install them?

I am working on this ship. Sails can be purchased through Cornwall. They come with instructions. Otherwise, sail rigging is basically similar.

 

[Gilbertm]

Hello,
I noticed there is a sail kit available from ZHL for this ship. Did you purchase that set? Also, if you did, are there rigging instructions available for the sails or does one have to use past experience to install them?

Hello
You can get a set of sails from Mantua (same size)
see the following link https://www.mantuamodel.co.uk/products/accessories/688/sail-set-soleil-royal-detail

 

[Vfordyce]

You "bronzed" the guns yourself, correct?..... mine are grey.

I used some rustoleum hammered bronze spray paint, one coat each side. After they dried, I mixed acrylic black with water and covered the cannons, three or four at a time. Then I wiped them with an old t-shirt to make them look darker and to bring out the details. I’m sure there are better ways of doing it, but that’s how I did it. I think they turned out okay. The original ship had bronze guns. They were lighter than iron but more expensive. That’s apparently why they were only on royal class ships.

 

[Vfordyce]

Hello,
I noticed there is a sail kit available from ZHL for this ship. Did you purchase that set? Also, if you did, are there rigging instructions available for the sails or does one have to use past experience to install them?

I didn’t see the set of sails from ZHL. I got my sails made for the Mantua model from Cornwall. They’re supposed to be the same size. Someone else shared that information with me. They are light material and have all the stitches and bolt ropes done. They also have a rigging plan. I haven’t studied them in detail yet, nor have I had an opportunity to compare them with the ZHL set. If you get them, please let me know how they turn out.

 

[Vfordyce]

Great to see you get started on this beautiful ship Vic...good luck. Will follow with great interest.

Thanks, Reggie! I’m watching yours too.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I didn’t see the set of sails from ZHL. I got my sails made for the Mantua model from Cornwall. They’re supposed to be the same size. Someone else shared that information with me. They are light material and have all the stitches and bolt ropes done. They also have a rigging plan. I haven’t studied them in detail yet, nor have I had an opportunity to compare them with the ZHL set. If you get them, please let me know how they turn out.

After some quick comparisons, I think I will go with the Mantua ones. They look to be bette quality than the ZHL ones.
But they are 100$ more costly. So that will go into the "like to have" bin.

 

[Vfordyce]

I placed part 13–the transom bulkhead support—on and discovered that part 16–part of the false keel—needed to be placed first. I don’t see this mentioned anywhere in the instructions. Now I’m officially calling them destructions. I had to take apart the aft section with a small hammer and a box cutter so I could attach part 16. It’s all fitted now, but this could have been disastrous!

 

[Gilbertm]

I placed part 13–the transom bulkhead support—on and discovered that part 16–part of the false keel—needed to be placed first. I don’t see this mentioned anywhere in the instructions. Now I’m officially calling them destructions. I had to take apart the aft section with a small hammer and a box cutter so I could attach part 16. It’s all fitted now, but this could have been disastrous!View attachment 247517

Hi Vic
I believe I had the same issue
And I agree with you on the very poor quality of the instructions

 

[Vfordyce]

Fitting the transom. I’m visualizing the grandeur of the ship from this angle.

 

[Vfordyce]

Looking at the gun carriages. Does the recoil rope go through the carriage on French ships of the period, or around the ball at the back of the gun?