Le Superbe - 1:75 - Mantua by Fred P. with improvements

Joined
Apr 13, 2021
Messages
74
Points
113

Location
Grenoble, France
Hello friends,
Four years ago, I started building the Superbe, a French 74-gun ship from 1785. Quickly, I found that the quality of the kit did not satisfy me and I tried to improve it, using a monograph from the Musée de la marine de Paris and the book by Jean Boudriot on this class of ship.
But enough chatter, here are the photos of the finished model after about eight months of work (not full-time ;))

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Now, more details :
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The fire hearth is removable in order to see its details :
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Kind regards,
Fred
 
I'm battling with my build, which has turned into a kit bash. So much wrong with the plans compared to Jean Boudriot's. 2 plan sheets show the mizzen channels as different lengths, for example. Mantua has them mounted higher than the main channels, whereas Boudriot & others mount them at the same level.
 
I like your ships boat, the ones in the kit look more like motorboats! I'm proposing to remodel mine, but I need to get the finishing touches of the hull sorted first.
I'm finding lots that do not look right, therefore they need to be altered to 'look right'.
 
Hello Stuart Little
Mantua's kit is indeed not perfect and it is a good idea to improve it using Jean Boudriot's books.
The rowboats that came in my kit were plastic and I built one quite quickly and without a plan. I am not very satisfied with the result because I find it too wide. I plan to build a new one.
Regards,
Fred
 
I'm battling with my build, which has turned into a kit bash. So much wrong with the plans compared to Jean Boudriot's. 2 plan sheets show the mizzen channels as different lengths, for example. Mantua has them mounted higher than the main channels, whereas Boudriot & others mount them at the same level.
Because Mantua and Heller kit are based on Sané's plan

 
Hello Stuart Little
Mantua's kit is indeed not perfect and it is a good idea to improve it using Jean Boudriot's books.
The rowboats that came in my kit were plastic and I built one quite quickly and without a plan. I am not very satisfied with the result because I find it too wide. I plan to build a new one.
Regards,
Fred
Bonjour, Fred, that's interesting because the 3 boats in my kit are wood, constructed of several layers of laser cut ply to represent 'clinker' built when sanded. Unfortunately, these have decks, which means they could only hold a few men & not very much cargo. That job can wait now! I'm at present, re-planking the hull & re-sizing the gunports as far as the wale above the gun deck ports. I also discarded the etched ply decorations & transom, replacing them with scratch-built parts. Furthermore, I have a copy of; 'Fitting & rigging a 74-gun model ship' by Francis Jonet (Ancre). Very helpful.
Mantua's plans show the bowsprit boom offset to port - it should be to starboard - I corrected mine after following the plans!

Regards Stuart L.
 
Hello Stuart Little
Mantua's kit is indeed not perfect and it is a good idea to improve it using Jean Boudriot's books.
The rowboats that came in my kit were plastic and I built one quite quickly and without a plan. I am not very satisfied with the result because I find it too wide. I plan to build a new one.
Regards,
Fred
Bonjour, Fred, after a few months rest from 'Superbe', during which I bought vols 1, 2.& 3 of Boudriot's books (French edition), a bargain on ebay UK for £23.32 ! I've built a new Beaupré & vague to his drawings, although the drawings indicate them being 1/72 scale - some are not. I shall now press on with the rigging, now the information is at hand.
 
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