ROYAL LOUIS 1772 - Heller 1/200 scale.

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Starting my New Build of 202....

The "ROYAL LOUIS" 1/200 - Heller.

The Drawing of the Hull, the distribution of the artillery and rigging were drawn from a description of the ship's lines by Comte d'ESTAING dated 25 September 1772.

The building plans were prepared by the famous Naval architect MR, OLLIVIER.

The ROYAL LOUIS was a first rate ship, it was armed with 120 cannons, including 32 x 36 calibre guns each weighing nearly 5 Tonnes.

In 1779-1780, ROYAL LOUIS was a lead ship of the Blue-White Squadron, which was part of the so-called "Comte d'ESTAING" America Squadron.

Prep work done to Hulls inside and out to make the paintwork more applicable.

Cannon carriages started, 4 different sizes, 40 done only another 80 to go, then on to the Cannons themselves. This will be the most time consuming painting within the kit itself, even more so than the stern gallery architecture. 648 parts plus alterations, Big job ahead, quite probably replacing the masts with wooden ones as well.

Happy modelling everyone
Staysafe and take care
⚓⚓⚓
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That is a real nice model a bit old you have the Rebox 2017 kit from the original 1968 release. If I don’t make a mistake it is the 1780 version of the Louis. With the exception of the vacuform of the sail you will find the building of that ship a pleasure.:)
Here a link to some one that build the other box (same kit) Aurora/Heller project on hold for now
https://www.laroyale-modelisme.net/t22966-royal-louis-heller-au-1-200?highlight=Royal+Louis
Thanks for that link, just a pity it's in french so I have no idea what is getting said lol...
Just painting the cannons and carriages just now, the carriages are a pain, not sure if its mould release or something else, I have tried washing the parts with little difference, so the carriages are taking 1coat then a touch up if not another, as the surface is not very applicable for paint.
Hehe ho no rush mind you the 80 or so I've done so far are looking good though.

Regards
Rob.
 
Starting my New Build of 202....

The "ROYAL LOUIS" 1/200 - Heller.

The Drawing of the Hull, the distribution of the artillery and rigging were drawn from a description of the ship's lines by Comte d'ESTAING dated 25 September 1772.

The building plans were prepared by the famous Naval architect MR, OLLIVIER.

The ROYAL LOUIS was a first rate ship, it was armed with 120 cannons, including 32 x 36 calibre guns each weighing nearly 5 Tonnes.

In 1779-1780, ROYAL LOUIS was a lead ship of the Blue-White Squadron, which was part of the so-called "Comte d'ESTAING" America Squadron.

Prep work done to Hulls inside and out to make the paintwork more applicable.

Cannon carriages started, 4 different sizes, 40 done only another 80 to go, then on to the Cannons themselves. This will be the most time consuming painting within the kit itself, even more so than the stern gallery architecture. 648 parts plus alterations, Big job ahead, quite probably replacing the masts with wooden ones as well.

Happy modelling everyone
Staysafe and take care
⚓⚓⚓
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Hallo Rob alias @Rob. T.
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake

I am looking forward to follow you building log .....
 
Happy birthdayBirthday-CakePopcornBeer

2 things for the paint I know from experience from Heller kit (Soleil Royall, Real de France and a few military truck/tanks) you have to wash the spruce with dish washers soap or apply a spray mat base coat (I use industrial metal mat primer) before applying the final colour paint.
I don’t know what they use on the spruce but it affect the paint.
 
Happy birthdayBirthday-CakePopcornBeer

2 things for the paint I know from experience from Heller kit (Soleil Royall, Real de France and a few military truck/tanks) you have to wash the spruce with dish washers soap or apply a spray mat base coat (I use industrial metal mat primer) before applying the final colour paint.
I don’t know what they use on the spruce but it affect the paint.
Happy birthdayBirthday-CakePopcornBeer

2 things for the paint I know from experience from Heller kit (Soleil Royall, Real de France and a few military truck/tanks) you have to wash the spruce with dish washers soap or apply a spray mat base coat (I use industrial metal mat primer) before applying the final colour paint.
I don’t know what they use on the spruce but it affect the paint.
Thank you Charles and yes I have washed the parts, but still having too touch them up. I am thinking since I used to work in a plastic injection moulding company, I think it's a combination of Heat, oil and plastic at slightly too high a temperature that causes this surface contamination.
As I have also came across a couple of "shortages" regards the smaller cannons. By shortages i mean a job description meaning through the moulding process causing deformed or partly missing or totally missing cannons.20210226_104429.jpg
 
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Update on my ROYAL LOUIS 1:200 Heller kit.

32x 36 pounder Cannons (Main Battery)
34 x 32 pounder Cannons (2nd Battery)
All loaded.
Main Deck weathered and installed.
60 Deadeye straps installed.

Next stage assembling 32x 24 pounder Cannons with tiebacks and installing onto the main deck.

All in all coming together slowly, reading between the French and English(Download) instructions, as of yet no real problems at all apart from having to wash every part due to mould release so as to give proper paint application first time around.

Still swithering whether to paint waterline same light wood colour as Upper Hull then weather it, albeit the waterline does not have any wood grain mould effect on it, but I have lightly sanded it down to give a Matt finish rather than painting it white.

Long way to go, an enjoyable build taking my time.

Happy Modelling Everyone
Staysafe ⚓⚓⚓
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ROYAL LOUIS ARMED & READY
update - HELLER 1/200

Decks all fitted and weathered along with Capstan, Stairs, Rudder and fittings.

120 Cannons now mounted with tiebacks on all 5 Decks. 74 Cannon port Arches mounted as is 66 Cannon Hatches.

Royal Louis Figurehead and architecture fitted and weathered.

Transom and side Galleries all fitted and Weathered.

Bowsprit cut and mounted, modified from Dowels.

Next stage will be to Measure, cut and modify dowels for All Masts Yards and Flagstaff.20210402_122450.jpg20210330_222657.jpg20210402_120255.jpg20210402_123347.jpg20210402_120026.jpg20210402_115934.jpg20210402_115635.jpg20210402_115333.jpg20210402_115310.jpg20210402_065610.jpg20210402_065528.jpg20210402_064634.jpg20210329_111827.jpg20210329_111758.jpg20210328_095837.jpg20210324_161922.jpg20210323_142545.jpg20210321_214026.jpg20210321_144834.jpg20210321_144816.jpg20210318_055815.jpg20210317_155852.jpg20210317_155842.jpg20210317_131019.jpg20210317_131007.jpg
 
ROYAL LOUIS - 1/200 HELLER WIP UPDATE.

Improvised on poor kit Rigging instructions, Standing rigging now done, finished with all Walnut Heart blocks, Deadeyes, single and double blocks.



Next stage will be the Running rigging, again which I will need to improvise on.

I will also work as I have done before per mast, regards to Running rigging then Shrouds and ratlines for that particular mast then move on to the next mast and so forth.



Happy modelling everyone ⚓⚓
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ROYAL LOUIS - Heller 1/200 WIP
Not had much time of late for working on my Royal Louis due to work and other projects

Running rigging done for the Foremast.
Rigged the Foremast deadeyes now rigging the Shrouds. Yes it's a long process but very satisfying and therapeutic seeing your kit slowly coming together they way you want it.

Happy modelling everyone and staysafe
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ROYAL LOUIS - 1/200 HELLER
WIP Update.

Finished the Ratlines on the Foremast, and have improvised and added extensive rigging to the Bow and Spritsail as far as I can atm, as I will be adding home made cloth sails later, so will be adding more rigging after this.

Next stage I am rigging 36 pairs of deadeyes for the Main mast, then it will be running rigging, Shrouds and ratlines again.

Just as a matter of curiosity I counted the amount of knots I tied for the foremast ratlines, 466 in total no wonder you get tired and need to take breaks now and then.

All the best everyone and Happy modelling
#staysafe ⚓⚓⚓
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A bit of Improvisation scratch building for the Royal Louis - 1/200 Heller while I take a break from the ratlines.
These parts aren't in the Heller kit, but in the Mamoli Royal Louis kit.
It's an Animal pen for the likes of chicken and pigs obviously for officer consumption.
This is installed at the back of the Poopdeck. I just thought it would be good since that part of the ship is quite bare on the Heller kit.
Made from Coffee stirrers you get from coffee shops and similar other places. Painted with Humbrol Matt 94 Brown Yellow, Revell 84 Leather Brown and weathered with Humbrol Dark brown wash.
Also a bit of detail Improvisation on the life boats.

All the best
#staysafe Robert ⚓⚓20210627_090901.jpg20210628_104640.jpg20210628_104926.jpg20210620_131634.jpg20210621_154025.jpg20210621_191223.jpg20210708_103615.jpg
 
1759 ROYAL LOUIS
1/200 HELLER
MODIFIED WIP Update.

All shrouds and Ratlines finally finished along with scratch built animal pen lifeboat sails and rope shanks for decking detail.

Next stage plan will be measuring, cutting and hand sewing 21 sails then rigging them with blocks to rig to the yards. After which there will be more rigging of the ship with the likes of braces and backstays etc...

Trying to do my utmost within my capabilities to bring out the best in this ship at this scale.

Happy modelling everyone
#staysafe ⚓⚓⚓
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1759 ROYAL LOUIS -
Heller 1/200 WIP UPDATE

Jib sail, Fore Topmast staysail & Foremast staysail all sewn and rigged.
Next stage will be to cut and sew Mainmast Topgallant & Topmast staysails as well as Mainmast staysail then rig them up.
Rigging all the staysails first as it will give me more room to manoeuvre when I go to rig Fore, Main & Mizzen sails with regards to their own rigging and eventually the backstays.

Happy modelling everyone
#staysafe ⚓⚓20210814_151435.jpg20210814_151405.jpg20210814_151323.jpg20210724_111421.jpg20210725_092356.jpg20210725_092336.jpg20210726_061034.jpg
 

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After 8 Months of loving this build, heavily improvising and pushing my capabilities, my 1759 ROYAL LOUIS - HELLER 1/200 is FINISHED.

5 months of building the kit and rigging her up and 3 months to Hand sew 20 sails and add reef lines, Bowlines and Braces, I can honestly say I feel burnt out, strained but very happy.

It may not be perfect or historically accurate but I have pushed my own capabilities to the max, I still have a lot to perfect and learn, if I can.

But for now I can sit bk and enjoy her as I hope some of you will.

Happy modelling everyone and keep building and enjoying our great hobby and Art.

All the best and #staysafe
Rob ⚓⚓⚓
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