Sovereign of the Seas - Mantua by Brian

Bri62 · Friday at 5:10 AM

Did a bit this morning, a few problems one being I have no Idea where the waterline is and the instructions are really bad and two the panels for the bulkhead is damn near impossible to shape to the shape of the deck bulkheads (scallop shaped) If I soak in water it de-laminates so decided to wing it and build the bulkheads with planks.

Mike Dowling · Friday at 5:22 AM

You are quite right, it was a 'guess where the waterline goes' and I put mine a bit above your green line. You have done an amazing job on the deck bulkheads. I had terrible trouble bending the damn things. I wish I had thought of your brilliant fix.

Bri62 · Friday at 5:27 AM

found one of the waterline

although the hull shape differs one of the many discrepancies of this kit.

Bri62 · Friday at 5:29 AM

Mike Dowling said:
I put mine a bit above your green line

Agreed Mike It needs to go up a little

Bri62 · Friday at 7:56 AM

Done for today.

torn on which way to go as for the colour of the inner bulwark..... Red or natural wood?

Bri62 · Friday at 10:47 AM

Mike Dowling · Friday at 11:07 AM

I tried red, hated it and went to black-much better!

Bri62 · Saturday at 3:39 AM

This is coloured natural walnut and as the cannon carriages are red I think this looks ok

the backside of the deck bulkheads will be red ochre.

Bri62 · Saturday at 5:52 AM

This is the red ( Admiralty red ochre)I decided to use rather than the scarlet red I see used on lots of builds Honest opinions.

Mike Dowling · Saturday at 7:07 AM

I left the side bulkheads natural wood as you have. Your red occre is a good choice but my preference was for black both sides.

Bri62 · Sunday at 9:24 AM

Had a couple of hour today just tidying everything up.

Fitted some heads

Gotta perform surgery (thanks Mike)

Bri62 · Sunday at 10:11 AM

Major surgery needed as I forgot to put blocks behind the fwd facing guns. All good though !!

Bri62 · Monday at 1:34 AM

Bri62 · Monday at 4:40 AM

Everything back to how it was

Mike Dowling · Monday at 12:08 PM

Nice fix well done.

Bri62 · Tuesday at 3:18 AM

Had an hour this morning just to see what they look like, there is more to go on this bulkhead.

Bri62 · Tuesday at 7:02 AM

Two down many to go

Bri62 · Tuesday at 10:56 AM

Bri62 · 2026-07-22T05:39:05-0500

Early start and managed to do a few gun ports. This kit is not the same quality as the Victory and having to wing a few things that don't quite fit properly but that's the beauty of wooden kits (you can fettle stuff)

Bri62 · 2026-07-22T10:40:43-0500

Bit more progress!