This is a good study about the Sovereign of the Seas, use google translator
https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=183&t=46754
https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=183&t=46754
I have the Amati castings decorations set. They are exceptionally well detailed in a style not seen in other interpretations, but many of the icons for each panel on the sides and stern of the hull are incorrect, which other kit decorations also suffer from. After studying the Amati blueprints of the Sovereign, it was noted that the shape of the stern gallery was too rectangular. Here are some example pictures of the Amati HMS Sovereign of the Seas. The militia weapons decorations panels are conspicuously missing from the sides of the hull.
The DeAgostini kit differs from the Mantua and Amati kit by having less detailed, gray metal castings, and the militia panel and Greek mythological characters were largely replaced by flags and random icons they probably got at Esty.com, instead of making the proper subjects from the Payne engraving or Van de Velde the Elder drawings. No attempt at accuracy was made in many of the castings as far as subject goes on the sides of the vessel, but some attempt was made on the stern. Overall, the model has a transom which is too wide, but is shaped well elsewhere. The kit was based on a scratch built model made by Giovanni Santi Mazzini, and the Italian model is featured in the movie ads and instructions illustrations, such that many customers have charged DeAgostini with false advertisement. The kit was made for beginners, and the detailed instructions are excellent for new builders. Someone looking to build an accurate model choose this or the Mantua model, and both have substantial problems in accuracy requiring lots of bashing to correct. The best models of the Sovereign are still the scratch built ones, with all the tedious decorations made by hand. It should be noted that the Manua kit is of the Sovereign after three rebuilds and modifications and at the end of its life, not as it was when launched.
Giovanni Santi Mazzini's original model:
DeAgostini kit as built out of the box
More kit pictures
Giovanni Santi Mazzini's original model:
DeAgostini kit as built out of the box
More kit pictures
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Hi Patrick
I did build the ZHL Soleil Royal about 2 years ago. See my build log of SOS HERE
The quality of the kit is pretty good and the service provided by ZHL is excellent.
The only elements that I did not like and had to change are the ropes and the blocks that were of pretty poor quality.
However, the documentation is crap and extremely limited.
You also need to keep in mind that the completed ship is quite heavy due to all the metallic decorations.
Good luck with your selection
However, most of the lavish decoration had been removed in the 1650s. Given that, and given that the Mantua kit includes those decorations, it's hard to see how the model is of the ship at the end of her life. This requires research. There are too many questions that haven't been answered.
Bill
T
I agree. This is why the decorations on the ship need to be researched for a specific version at a particular time using sources such as those previously mentioned and later paintings to figure out what the hull looked like.
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I have the kit. It comes in two boxes and they are quite heavy together as per @Gilbertm. There is a fellow that was working on this build that recasted the fittings out of a resin. I can't remember the guy's name, but I was intrigued by the idea of replacing all that heavy metal with lightweight resin.
The guy who had redone the decorations in resin is @Jay
Have a look at his build log where this is explained.
Rather than later paintings, I would rather peruse the contemporary paintings of the times. Later paintings might offer help but the farther away in time the better the chance of error, unless later paintings are based on newly found research.
Bill
IF you can find them. When the list of sources is short, you use what you have and try to parse out the bits that are dubious.