Paul0367

Think I've come cross model ship buildings worse job, framing canon ports. Only manage a few and get fed up

Cheers guys it's nice to know I'm on the right track with this, slow stuff on the way. Frames

Hey I've been routing around and checked out what your upto, nice (fighting) build. I do like the plank intervals on this kit, just shy of three per canon port, more scale than the constructo version and similar to the Caldercraft approach

Upper Wales added to ports, awaiting sanding

I was messing with the camera on my phone when taking the picture through the cannon cut. I find the timber very good quality, ok Manzonia is a swine to bend also the Ayous is tough but I have no past experience in model ships to compare there quality. You on the other hand with your back catalogue will know the kits well. Take a look at the image above of the plan view of the victory, you will notice the timber used at the very rear is not the light Ayous, therefore does not match the decorative pieces that drop down towards the cabin. (Ayous would not conform) and as I was painting her it wasnt a problem. ? can she stay natural

Portside canons also cut, which completes the hull, just so much framing to do

Back to ships, random picture from Canon port of munitions

Back to ships, random picture from Canon port of munitions

Oh Mike, Mike, Mike your killing me. I pondered for a while on the to paint or not to paint issue and I chose to paint, that said ive not painted any yet but now you have thrown a curved ball into the mix again and now im podering. I do like the wood effect as its very classy and can sit in any room and look ok, in a glass case of course. HEY ! whats a Spitfire doing on a model ship site, well thats my other hobby, she houses a 0.91 4 stroke engine and has split flaps with glass fibre covering and full rivit detail curtesey of dots of clear wood glue prior to topcoat, also panel lines and battle scars. She also has retractable under carriage controlled by air and valves for slow scale rise and fall. I built her in 2002 and she has flown twice, yep I know twice but she was a dream to fly and still lives with me today. Sorry I went off on planes, just ive not done that for quite a while and got carried away. You do planes and as i'm a brit it had to be our girl, I am sure you would have gone for a P51 Mustang.

All ready for the framing

All Canons cut ready for the framing to start, well I said all there is a little matter of the other side to do. The larger square section on the top centre deck which ive yet to cut, what is its purpose. ? I ask as it appears to be hidden in the rigging / ratlines

Cheers for the compliments, Mike the more I progress the more I wish I had gone the Caldercraft route. I selected the Contructo due to price and didnt want to shell out the Caldercraft sort of money and the fact I had no idea if I could even build a ship. In comparison with the mentioned kit the contructo has far inferior castings but hey you get what you pay for. A few more pictures of the canon being cut

I have agonised over the paint or not but if you lookat my log a fellow member sent a painted image of the ship and she is beautiful. hate the thought of painting wood after the effort to make her varnishable but I set off to build her as she sits in dry dock, I will be adding sails though

Planning for the canon cuts has been an eye opener, someone on here once said he had a few on another contructo kit but different ship, that hit the ribs. My reply was that manufactures go to great lengths to ensure the kits are corectly lined up and this should not really happen,,,, whoops sorry I hold my hands up, they don't, or at least on this model they didnt. I have used a vernier guage and measured every canon port on the plans (twice) transfering to my hull and mine strike 8 ribs,, the first one you can see I have cut also hit a rib, yes the very first one. Please if your building this kit check before hand because the lower canons although inconvenient is not a real problem, just shave the ribs away but what would be a huge problem is the canons on the top deck which can not afford to hit the ribs, these can be seen from behind and would ruin the model. see picture, look at the rib in the distance behind the hatch, if you followed the plan you would strike this and worse its neighbouring rib also. Whist im ranting let me take the time to whine about the figurehead casting. I was happy with mine at first I then researched the colour scheme and came accross the Caldercraft version ( ok expensive kit ) but the figurehead is beautifully made / cast. these are available to purchase and think is a no brainer. Oh rant over. The picture of the hull has the top row of hatches ommited, honestly I forgot to place them on prior to the picture but you may be able to pick out the marked positions. next post should be all cut holes, I am skipping and returning to previous jobs just to take the repetitiveness out of the work. thanks for looking.

hi, I know building is the last thing your thinking about at the moment but keep this for the future, no matter how much you measure the hull plans and transfer to your model some hatches hit the main ribs in the hull. I used a vernier quage and measured the plan exactly and hit ribs. The lower ribs to be fair are not a problem only three hit the ribs but I had to adjust the four hatches which are on the deck, centre of the ship because the plan would have hit two of the deck ribs and that's on full view from just under the deck above. You can not actually tell I've moved them from the image but just bear I'm mind, measure twice cut once. My problem started from the very first cannon which, yes, hit a rib, so the allarm bells rang making me check all of them. Take care Oh you may notice the bottom two Wales curve up, the very bottom one actually cuts into the light Ayous timber, this is because the Wales on the real ship don't follow the cannons and running them straight makes the hull appear flat, well I thought so

hi, I know building is the last thing your thinking about at the moment but keep this for the future, no matter how much you measure the hull plans and transfer to your model some hatches hit the main ribs in the hull. I used a vernier quage and measured the plan exactly and hit ribs. The lower ribs to be fair are not a problem only three hit the ribs but I had to adjust the four hatches which are on the deck, centre of the ship because the plan would have hit two of the deck ribs and that's on full view from just under the deck above. You can not actually tell I've moved them from the image but just bear I'm mind, measure twice cut once. My problem started from the very first cannon which, yes, hit a rib, so the allarm bells rang making me check all of them. Take care Oh you may notice the bottom two Wales curve up, the very bottom one actually cuts into the light Ayous timber, this is because the Wales on the real ship don't follow the cannons and running them straight makes the hull appear flat, well I thought so

Another question is when to actually start the painting process. My guess is to paint her main sections i.e captains quarters black and paint the trims prior to fitting and just fit the trim and touch up the required areas where these are cut / sanded to size and assume the window frames are cut and fitted and painted afterwards. as this is my first ever attempt the help is much appreciated.....These are the things im sure most dont even consider when they think about building a wooden ship, I know i havnt until crunch time

I have studied the images and have run my Wales as close as I could to the real thing, that said it now gives me no option but to paint. I notice in the Constructo kit the Wales run almost straight with the light timbered gun ports. The kit done this way has a very flat appearance but after running the Wales over the light gun port colour timber she immediately looks curved and shaped. I had already installed the top double Wales and know they should have also curved up by approx 5mm, this may be addressed but may just leave them. The lower Wales do curve up and the lowest actually enters the coloured section. Why do manufacturers make and sell inaccurate kits, seeing these Wales on the original ship are quite difficult as the paint moves your eye off the lines. But having seen the images of the above ship, wow painted does look and scream I'm the HMS VICTORY no doubt about it. That image alone would have made me follow my initial painting route, stunning, Tlevine, really stunning. This site is unreal for imformatin , thanks guys for taking the time to leave an oppinion.

Keithw, I can honestly say I've followed the kit instructions but not actually noticed the Wales curve up to the rear, because of this I've chosen to do the same with my kit And that will mean the Wales will cover the kits light timber which means I'm going to go the paint route.

I've just been looking at the future of my build which may influence the to paint or not to paint issue. All the hatches for the cannons are what appears to be pewter, ( lead in colour ) we know what pewter looks like you all cry, this would no doubt have to be painted what ever I do. Tuesday I'm in Bracknell from Manchester and the real thing is only an hour further south. It would be rude not to pop down with a camera and go crazy. That said I was working in Portsmouth two weeks before I decided to build her.

I'm leaning to painted which when I had a lightbulb moment when my wife asked what I would like to fill the time whilst im flying (cabin crew) to her suprise I said a wooden ship. The Victory was first and only choice although since endulging I've seen some stunning ships being built. But painted was my intension, its only since building I've had to ask the question. I will paint some spare timber and get a feel for it.

I really thought this topic would help but honestly its harder to decide. I wouldn't be happy to have it looking stunning in natural wood only to paint it and it loose its appeal, I haven't looked into paint but what paint is used on the wooden ones. Oh and point taken about the wales on the real ship they run quite a way off the straight line you'd expect

Mtdormike, I know exactly what your saying and deep down I started this kit to be as intended like the Portsmouth example and totally agree the ship will probably loose its identity if left natural, I say the Portsmouth example, she will carry her sails. Richf, hi, I have seen your name on other topics welcome to newbie site

this is beautifully done, hats off stuff

KeithW, very diplomatic reply.I have spent hours getting her wood effect clean and joint free, paint it and I may as well dragged out some filla and just plonk it together, plus displaying a wooden ship looks class. All this said if I was to paint it the plastic kits would have made more sense. I will have to look at some painted versions I think.