Decided to build the Mantua/Sergal HMS Victory

[jimscars]

Hi everybody. Decided to build the HMS Victory, Mantua/Panart version. What made me decide to build it was back in 1973 or 1974 I bought this model while working at a hobby shop. Packed it away for later, waiting for the day I had time to build it. Well as things go in the 90's I needed money so I sold my stash which included this ship. I never lost my desire to build it so I'm going to give it a go. I'm hoping with the knowledge contained in the minds of the expert modelers on this site combined with what I learned building the Bounty that I'll be able to build a presentable ship model. I've decided to do a build log to open the door for any comments. Good and bad will be accept with equal enthusiasm. I'm sorting pieces now, deciding what to use and what should probably be replaced. I've ordered a building slip large enough to work with the 1:78 scale frame. once I receive that and I can start the build the pictures will start to flow. Let the fun begin!

 

[jimscars]

Forgot to say. I've got a planking mini-practicum by Robert E. Hunt. The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1660-1815. The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War 1650-1850. RIGGING First-Rate Ships of the Royal navy, circa 1805. HMS Victory Haynes by Peter Goodwin. Are there any other book anyone wood like that are indispensable for the building of this ship.

 

[GrantTyler]

Good morning Jim. A vintage kit to play with nice. I also built an old Sergal 1:78 victory kit and had plenty of fun. I will pull up a chair here. Enjoy. Cheers Grant

 

[AllanKP69]

Are there any other book anyone wood like that are indispensable for the building of this ship.

You have a good collection of books, but I would definitely add James Lees' book The Masting and Rigging English Ships of War.

Good and bad will be accept with equal enthusiasm. I'm sorting pieces now, deciding what to use and what should probably be replaced.

Looking at photos of the MP Victory model, you have a lot of opportunity to fix the mistakes with the books you have.
Allan

 

[jimscars]

Thanks for your input Allen. I checked Amazon for the James Lee book. It comes in at 170.00 used. Just a little to rich for my retired old bones.

 

[jimscars]

Just found it on E-Bay for 29.00. Ordered it. Thanks for the heads up Allen.

 

[AllanKP69]

Thanks for your input Allen. I checked Amazon for the James Lee book. It comes in at 170.00 used. Just a little to rich for my retired old bones.

Totally understood. There are four copies on Ebay for $75 or less....... It is worth every penny.
Allan

 

[jimscars]

Thanks Allen. I'm sure it will be.

 

[David Webber]

Thanks Allen. I'm sure it will be.

Another book that l’m sure will be useful if you can find it, is an old book by C N Longridge called Anatomy of Nelson’s Ships. It will guide you through every part of building your model, including the rigging just as if you were building it from scratch.

 

[Thomas]

I did that kit a few years ago and it was a fun challenge. If the instruction book they gave you is the same as the one in my kit, you are already in possession of some really good practical tips on modelling in general as well as the specific kit. A couple of things that I'd do differently--

The stern windows are done with the metal plates and I think with laser cutting and 3D printing, capabilities which didn't exist when I did the build, I'd try for something more realistic than the metal sheets. Also, with laser cutting of thin plywood you could have the windows open and maybe put lights in the stern for an interesting look. The archway over the side entry ports could also be improved with something other than the clunky casting in the kit.

The other thing I'd do differently is to re-engineer the frames for the small boats. They provide little kits for making the four boats and I found that the most forward "strakes" are too far forward. Just cut a notch and move them back a few mm. Otherwise, the planking bend at the bow of the boats is so extreme they look more like cucumbers than boats.

I do remember the rigging and mast plans being very straightforward and easy to follow and can't think of any issues there. If anything more comes to mind, I'll let you know.

Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Herby63]

Hi Jim,
I bought my HMS Victory kit from Mantua Sergal in 1994 and finished it in 2019.
That is 25 years, in which I built my house and made some other kits, but the last 4 years I spent solely on this ship.
After reading the manual, in which among other things was indicated that the holes in the decks for the main mast were in the wrong place, I purchased a copy of C N Longridges superb book Anatomy of Nelsons ships which apart from the introduction describes in detail how he made his quarter inch scale model in the ninteen fourties-fifties.
For a metric guy like myself this was a chalenge, but for someone who still uses imperial mesurements is should not be so difficult.
One of the first things I determined was the scale, as the length, with and hight of the kit do not match.
e.g. the decks are MUCH too high.
I took the longest measurable length of the main deck and determined, based on Longridges plans that is was 1/81.2
I threw away mantua's plans and recalculated every thing to that scale.
Using the materials in the kit makes a fine model, using relyable plans makes a superb model with some added materials.
So I ended up scratching my model based on the materials provided and Longridges book, and McKays Anatomy of the ship for the tabel of ropes and the description of the spear racks at the bottom of the masts.

I wish you lots of modeling fun, wwether you decide to follow the yoined instructions or if you decide to lift the model to a higher level.