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Opinions? - Soleil Royal and Sovereign of the Seas kits
When spending over a couple hundred dollar, l always get on line and look at reviews…
on anything l buy
on anything l buy
Mantua/Sergal makes the best basis for a dramatic kit-bash that could then become a representative scale model.
Here is an example of what one builder has done to radically alter the Soleil Royal kit bulkheads so that the hull actually represents a French ship of the period:
However, this is a far cry from what will be built straight out of the box.
I have perturbated at length over the gross inaccuracies of the AL version of Soleil Royal. The PE, the ornamental castings and the bulkhead shapes are all excellent, but the scale and proportion of the thing are laughably wrong. The following is one of my favorite builds anywhere, but that has everything to do with the talent and dedication of the builder who is transforming those good elements into a first-class scale model:
Out of the box, there are no actually good representations of what these vessels looked like. If you have the time, talent and patience, though, you can create something worth the investment.
Here is an example of what one builder has done to radically alter the Soleil Royal kit bulkheads so that the hull actually represents a French ship of the period:
However, this is a far cry from what will be built straight out of the box.
I have perturbated at length over the gross inaccuracies of the AL version of Soleil Royal. The PE, the ornamental castings and the bulkhead shapes are all excellent, but the scale and proportion of the thing are laughably wrong. The following is one of my favorite builds anywhere, but that has everything to do with the talent and dedication of the builder who is transforming those good elements into a first-class scale model:
Soleil Royal- Re-engineering Artesania Latina's New Kit by NMBROOK
It's amazing how one's perception of the thing changes with it flipped right-side-up; to be clear - for the better!
shipsofscale.com
Out of the box, there are no actually good representations of what these vessels looked like. If you have the time, talent and patience, though, you can create something worth the investment.
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Thank you, Good advice. I'm also trying to get some response from actual builders as well.
Thank you. I have seen several comments concerning the AL kit. I have ruled that one out. I'm not good enough to start modifing kits as yet./
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Why am I not surprised by this post? Embarking on this project is a task for the imperturbable!
WAIT! Wasn't that the name of an English First rate of the period?
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I think this problem may be endemic with the kits of European origin.
dating back as far as the seventies in some cases. without much in the way of updating and revision. I have had that frustration with Mamoli kits (I'm now on my third). I have had to recreate many of the cast parts myself in order to build the models. Carving a new clarion angel figurehead for the" Flying Cloud" is the most recent example. Something I've never done before. Took me two weeks and one false start but, came out pretty well, all in all. I started a build log. The figurehead is on that. I'm also having to modify the structural parts of the kit to conform to a more historically accurate plan of the ship. The build is three parts mulling each step over, before actually taking the step. It' slow.
Best of luck with your efforts. Don't get discouraged or deterred. There is plenty of help out here. The models are in you, not the box!
Pete
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I've built the Mantua Sergal Soleil Royal and am working on the Sovereign of the Seas now. Both kits were 1980s vintage and I know they have made some major changes (I avoid the term improvements because I can't say) to the Sovereign of the Seas. I'd agree with everything written here. For what you pay the kits are very poor. The quality of the castings is very bad and the plans are a joke. The Sovereign of the Seas plans have contradictions between the sheets. You're basically on your own and you have to plan so meticulously to avoid problems because both are very complex ships. I majorly bashed the Soleil Royal and personally don't think that either ship can be built according to the plans and instructions provided. I'd definitely look at another manufacturer.
I’m perturbed by the laziness of the kit’s design, not by the process of making it into something better than the sum of its parts.Why am I not surprised by this post? Embarking on this project is a task for the imperturbable!
WAIT! Wasn't that the name of an English First rate of the period?
Lovely some old farts praising kits as old as Iam , in reality the new kit from AL the Royal Sun is super solid , if you dont like the planks you can easily and cheaply replace them , this guy with the chinese ship is next level , the Royal Sun from AL is abit fat but its perfect for 1:65 scale (not 1:72) length wise, the ZHL model has good planks but is not
even close to reality, the AL Solail Royal with upgraded planks (100$usd top) is literally next level compared to ZHL not to mention it has triple planking at some places , ZHL currently has 3,4/5 rating in amazon suitable for chinese trash. If you are a new wooden ship builder dont listen to guys that were born in ww2 praising kits that dont even fit made before laser technology existed. That being said all my tanks are plastic from China cause they make the best models atm but the golden rule is new tool -> old tool , comparing 2xxx tool to 2022 tool is a joke,
P.S. i checked AL website it seems they do 15% off every year on black friday (November) so you can get it for around 700 euro or less , ZHL 1:90 scale (107-109sm long , 61 meter : 90 scale = 67 sm not 107) AL 1:65 scale (not 72) 61 meter : 65 scale = 94 sm as it is. Both models are too fat . Double checked the castings of ZHL Royal Sun they are mid at best, def not better . Have a good day
even close to reality, the AL Solail Royal with upgraded planks (100$usd top) is literally next level compared to ZHL not to mention it has triple planking at some places , ZHL currently has 3,4/5 rating in amazon suitable for chinese trash. If you are a new wooden ship builder dont listen to guys that were born in ww2 praising kits that dont even fit made before laser technology existed. That being said all my tanks are plastic from China cause they make the best models atm but the golden rule is new tool -> old tool , comparing 2xxx tool to 2022 tool is a joke,P.S. i checked AL website it seems they do 15% off every year on black friday (November) so you can get it for around 700 euro or less , ZHL 1:90 scale (107-109sm long , 61 meter : 90 scale = 67 sm not 107) AL 1:65 scale (not 72) 61 meter : 65 scale = 94 sm as it is. Both models are too fat . Double checked the castings of ZHL Royal Sun they are mid at best, def not better . Have a good day