HMS Victory - Mantua 1:78 Build log

[richardjjs]

I looked up the Mantua victory, all shrouds, rat lines and wooling are black. I am sure you have looked at lots as well.
Bobby K

not sure what woolings are but according to Instructions on Caldrcraft All Ratelines are White
It might be worth downloading their instructionas they are HM Dockyard approve and will give you more info
Jotika.com

Mantua HMS Victory – Deck Detailing Progress ️

More progress made today as the deck fittings continue to take shape. Several key features have now been installed, adding more life and authenticity to the build.

On the upper decks, the cannon stations are now in place, complete with finely crafted carriages and scale rigging preparations. The companionway openings have been framed with elegant turned balusters, giving a refined yet functional look that mirrors the real ship’s design.

Forward, the grated hatches have been added, providing realistic ventilation points for the lower decks. The boat supports are also fixed in position, ready for the ship’s boats to be mounted later in the build.

The stern area has received its railing and decorative framework, giving a true sense of the ship’s commanding presence. Small details like the rope coils, stairs with rail supports, and deck furniture really bring the Victory’s character to life.

Each step now feels like she’s slowly transforming from a bare deck into a fully equipped warship of the line.

Next up – more fittings, more rope work, and the beginning of the intricate rigging stages!

Scale: 1:78
Kit: Mantua Panart HMS Victory
Build Stage: Deck fittings installation

#HMSVictory

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looking very good nice work
Standing rigging IS TARRED BLACK
Running rigging is not so its whitish

 

[Bobby K.]

Different companys have Different plans, I would look at a lot of logs and then decide. I have heard of white rat lines, but it's makes no sense, the shrouds are tared and sailors running up and down the ratlines would certainly stain those white lines. It is your ship, you get to decide how you want it to look. Will be looking forward to seeing what you build, and the colors you use. Best of luck on your adventure.
Bobby K

 

[richardjjs]

That’s strange. My kit has a lot of the light coloured ropes.

thet where tarred to prevent rotting guess you could blacken then when fitted
Do use BeesWAx OBlock) to prevent hairs on the ropes
Super Glue on the end helps you push it through the rigging

 

[Bobby K.]

You can buy better thread, hairless, the bees wax is good as well. I use a needle threader for rigging lines through blocks. some are stubborn so they get CA , but I like to use as least amount of CA when rigging. It will stick to your fingers and then you jump and it all comes down, lol
Bobby K

 

[AllanKP69]

If this model represents HMS Victory after her 1803 major refit/rebuild, she likely had no rope wooldings as they were no longer used by the British after 1800. If you are depicting her before she was deemed unfit for service in 1797 the rope wooldings were wrapped to 12 inches width,, nailed to the masts and protected on top and bottom with 1.5" wide wooden hoops. From what I could find, the rope would have been protected with pine tar, so darker than running rigging, i.e., more of a dark brown, the same as the standing rigging, but not black. After 1800 iron hoops that went over the cheeks, and iron bands that went under the cheeks replaced the rope wooldings.

The standing rigging was protected with a pine tar known as Stockholm tar, and some ships later used pine tar from America as well. Medium to dark brown would be appropriate depending on how the sap was treated with heat and the temperature and amount of time it was heated. Black is more of a bitumen tar and a totally different material that was not used on rigging.

Allan

 

[AllanKP69]

You can buy better thread, hairless

Maybe consider getting or even making miniature rope rather than using thread. Some of them are as Bobby points out, without fuzziness/hairiness. The appearance is quite different.
Allan

 

[Phillipsart]

These two unpainted parts. Looks to me is for the rear mast. Where do these get attached. The plans are not clear on these two parts.

 

[Phillipsart]

Today’s progress on my Mantua HMS Victory build focused on a small but very important detail — the ship’s fire buckets.
These buckets, now mounted neatly under the overhang, would have been essential aboard the real Victory for fire safety. In the age of wooden warships and black powder cannons, fire posed a constant and deadly risk, so the crew kept these buckets filled with water and ready for immediate use. On the model, each bucket has been hand-painted and rigged in its stowed position, hanging from individual hooks just as they would have been on the actual ship.

Also visible in this section are the beautifully detailed cannon carriages with their tied-off ropes, deck ladders, and the work table beneath the overhang — all contributing to the authentic feel of an active gun deck. The netting above adds both realism and a glimpse into the ship’s practical layout, preventing gear or crew from falling from the upper deck during heavy seas or battle.

It’s another step toward bringing this historic warship to life, one detail at a time. ️

 

[Phillipsart]

You can buy better thread, hairless, the bees wax is good as well. I use a needle threader for rigging lines through blocks. some are stubborn so they get CA , but I like to use as least amount of CA when rigging. It will stick to your fingers and then you jump and it all comes down, lol
Bobby K

I purchased some scale of ropes from Canada for my Sovereign of the Seas build. Was not cheap. I’m in Australia.

 

[Bobby K.]

Yes they are pricey, but adds so much to a build, I am just learning how to serve lines, and going through lots of thead, I made 27 feet of 1.03 mm lines for my Astrolabe, No one will ever see it except for in pictures but better ropes make better model.
Bobby K

 

[GrantTyler]

That’s strange. My kit has a lot of the light coloured ropes.

The Mantua kit has pretty good quality rope but the are all an off white. I dyed my shrouds and standing rigging black but this was a mission. Cheers Grant

 

[GrantTyler]

Today’s progress on my Mantua HMS Victory build focused on a small but very important detail — the ship’s fire buckets.
These buckets, now mounted neatly under the overhang, would have been essential aboard the real Victory for fire safety. In the age of wooden warships and black powder cannons, fire posed a constant and deadly risk, so the crew kept these buckets filled with water and ready for immediate use. On the model, each bucket has been hand-painted and rigged in its stowed position, hanging from individual hooks just as they would have been on the actual ship.

Also visible in this section are the beautifully detailed cannon carriages with their tied-off ropes, deck ladders, and the work table beneath the overhang — all contributing to the authentic feel of an active gun deck. The netting above adds both realism and a glimpse into the ship’s practical layout, preventing gear or crew from falling from the upper deck during heavy seas or battle.

It’s another step toward bringing this historic warship to life, one detail at a time. ️

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Lovely progress Phillip. Very impressive. Cheers Grant

 

[Phillipsart]

Mantua HMS Victory Build – Stern Lanterns & Deck Fittings Progress

Today’s work brought some striking visual upgrades to my HMS Victory model, particularly at the stern. I’ve completed the intricate assembly of the ship’s three grand stern lanterns — these iconic features now stand proudly in place, instantly giving the stern a commanding and elegant appearance. Each lantern was carefully painted with gold detailing and fitted with translucent red panels to replicate the warm glow of the real thing, and the twisted mounting posts were aligned precisely to match the historic placement.

Alongside the lantern work, I made significant progress on the deck fittings. The upper decks are now populated with additional cannon carriages, rigging blocks, and other fine details, adding life and realism to the build. The deck railings and safety netting have been secured, the capstan and other working components are now fixed in position, and the ladders and gratings are aligned neatly.

These updates not only enhance the visual authenticity of the ship but also mark an important step towards the rigging stage. With the stern now featuring its iconic lanterns and the decks increasingly busy with fittings, HMS Victory is beginning to truly resemble the formidable warship that once dominated the seas.

 

[Phillipsart]

Small Boats, Big Challenge!

Started work today on the lifeboats for my Mantua HMS Victory build — and I have to say, these little boats are almost harder to make than the main ship itself!
Working at this scale means every plank, rib, and seat has to be cut and placed with precision, and the slightest slip shows. The frames went together nicely, but bending and fitting those tiny strakes around the curves was a real test of patience. Once the hulls were planked, I moved on to the interior — floorboards, thwarts, and details that really bring the boat to life.

Even though they’re small, these lifeboats will be an important feature of the finished model, and I’m determined to get them looking just right. One down… a few more to go!

Next step — sanding, finishing, and adding all the fine details so they look ready to be lowered into the water.

 

[AllanKP69]

Making ship's boats is indeed a challenge. You might benefit from looking at some contemporary drawings and scantlings to make things easier. Making boats at scale is no easy task, but it can be done. Check out the build log here at SoS for Making a Cutter. It is more information than what you need but there are some things you may find useful. Victory carried a number of different types and sizes of boats, but you might want to consider just adding two or three and save yourself a lot of frustration.

One tip on your current boat, the planking is MUCH too thick so looks to be very hard to work. The planking on the smaller boats was less than an inch thick so at 1:78. about 0.3mm. This would make it much easier to plank.

Allan

 

[Phillipsart]

Making ship's boats is indeed a challenge. You might benefit from looking at some contemporary drawings and scantlings to make things easier. Making boats at scale is no easy task, but it can be done. Check out the build log here at SoS for Making a Cutter. It is more information than what you need but there are some things you may find useful. Victory carried a number of different types and sizes of boats, but you might want to consider just adding two or three and save yourself a lot of frustration.

One tip on your current boat, the planking is MUCH too thick so looks to be very hard to work. The planking on the smaller boats was less than an inch thick so at 1:78. about 0.3mm. This would make it much easier to plank.

Allan

Thanks Allan.

I will check them out.

The planking is what I have left. Most of the planks on the lifeboat is 0.5 x 3mm. Apart from the top first plank. It’s 1.5 x 4mm. The instructions call for 1 x 4mm for the top plank.

I did not have any 1 x4mm.

 

[AllanKP69]

I am curious as to what type and size boat this is, cutter, launch, etc. Good luck, these boats can be as challenging as the full size vessel. I am sure it was the same for the old masters as most, not all, contemporary models show no boats. (Probably more of a case of the ship being a subject for study which did not need the boats.)

Thanks Phillip, much appreciated.

 

[Phillipsart]

️ Progress Update – HMS Victory Lifeboats ️

I wasn’t entirely happy leaving the lifeboats in their plain wood finish, so I decided to give them a proper coat of paint – and I’m glad I did!

They now carry the same yellow and black scheme as Victory herself, which really ties them in with the overall look of the ship. To break up the color and add more depth, I fitted wooden seats across each boat, giving them a much more authentic and balanced appearance.

Each boat has been carefully detailed, and once mounted on deck, they instantly lift the realism of the build. Seeing them nestled in place makes the whole ship feel more alive – as if she’s truly ready for service.

It’s a small detail, but one that makes a big difference. Slowly but surely, Victory is coming together piece by piece.

️ What do you think – painted lifeboats or natural wood finish?