Hello everybody!
I’m finally back working on my never ending Heller Soleil Royal!
As you all know I had a long break since mid 2022, I moved from one house to another and just took some time to set up everything again. Finally, I now feel the motivation to keep going. Let’s see how far can I go this time.
Just one appreciation word for all the people that keeps this forum going, it is really pleasant to be back a few years later feeling that nothing have really changed here. This might seam somehow nostalgic, but consider the dynamics of our world today, and how everything changes day by day, for me, this is truly amazing and a source of inspiration. Congratulations!
Lot’s of things are happening at the same time right now, when you have such a long break, one of the hardest things is finding out where to resume works… I just opted to open several working fronts!
My main goal at the moment is finishing the hull, with all it’s fittings and furniture. The hull paint work is almost finished, just some details here and there.
That’s how it looks today:
The next logical step, is of course the artillery, as I opted for closing the first and second battery ports, I just have to work with the third and fourth battery guns, which are respectively 12 and 8 pounders.
There is of course over the years several critics regarding Heller guns, but if we do consider the 12 and 8 pounders as reasonable for the third and fourth batteries, the Heller parts are not very far way, namely the guns tubes. Let’s assume that these would be bronze guns as a starting point.
The larger calibers, fortunately I’m not using them, they really look a little off scale, but these smaller ones are not really that far way, pretty good in length and diameter.
Regarding the carriages and trunnions, the Heller parts are not very satisfactory, but even so, they are very workable. I have already tried to improve them earlier, but not fully satisfied, so, I am still working on them:
I’m not sure how these will end, but I think they are getting better, bit by bit.
I also decided to include those vertical stripes/wales on the hull (I really don’t know how to call these..) that Heller completely forget, and seams to be fairly accepted that a vessel from this period should probably have them. Very complicated to do it, at this stage of construction…
I really did not wanted to this at this time, but it does look better and I just can’t justify their absence.
I am also working the masts, just like the bowsprit mast I still consider the best approach is a mix between machined brass and plastic, I am doing one by one. Just started the bowsprit top mast and the mais mast.
Lot’s of scratch building, but I think this is the only way to go, the Heller kit parts are just not good enough in my opinion.
There still is something special with this kit that I can’t rationally explain, but the fact is I’m still in love with it, even after thirty plus years, I bought it in 1987 by the way…
I’m not sure if I ever will get it done, but I just want to keep dreaming about it!
I will keep you updated as long as works keeps flowing.
All the best!