Paul Jarman

Great job well done Greg. Loads of great detail. Can't pick any one area that stands out. If I had to it would be the rigging, the planes, the boats and especially the great weathering job. Paul PS Forgot to add to the standouts all the photo tech you have patently added to add to the realism of the finished kit. Still have to do a double take each time i look back through this unbelievable build to believe that a plastic kit could look so good. Looking forward to whichever kit you decide on next and will follow avidly. Paul

Welcome aboard Dilbert. You are right this is a very interesting place. You will soon make lots of new friends. Look forward to you starting a log. Paul

Difficult to add any more than has been said Patrick. Amazing details and such a small scale. I will have ships boats to build about the same size, but i won't need to add any where near as much detail. I would struggle to build a model as good as you have even with my magnifier. Are you going to place her in a diorama, maybe moored at the Yacht club. Paul

I've taken to using Vallejo's paints. they brush on nice and smooth and coverage is excellent and are very vibrant, They also come in a good sized bottle. Paul

Brilliant tools dremmel's. I took mine to my portholes and drilled them all out the wrong size. A few weeks later though all is fixed as will yours. Will be better for a second planking or is this just single planked? I have looked at buying this kit myself. The only thing that puts me off as with a lot of Billings kits is planking the hull in two parts. This does look like a nice kit though and i will check in on your build and watch your repairs. Paul

I had the same thoughts. It could apply to quite a few ships of that time. I would think it would apply to HMS Agamemnon as well. Paul

My turn to say no problem Eddie. You said nothing wrong. Checking out your link I see what you are after. Hope you manage to get what you want. Paul

Sorry About that Eddie. Paul

So sorry for your loss Renato, I know only to well the pain of losing a beloved pet. My dog Jason passed away 11 years ago, not a day goes by I do not think of him. Paul

Hi Eddie is this what you are looking for. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Quick-Grip-54122-One-Handed-Clamps/dp/B001DZQ3HA/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493556067&sr=8-4-fkmr2&keywords=Irwin+modeling+clamps Paul

Brilliant thread this. Great work Eddie. Looks like a lot of wood there. Nice looking fittings kit as well. I have this kit on a wish list along with an aircraft but was not sure if I would get any enjoyment from this type of kit. seeing yours and Danny's build of the stagecoach and how good the parts look I am quickly coming round to the idea of building one of these alongside my ship. Now seeing how good your aircraft model looks Danny I will almost certainly buy a couple of these kits. Even if I don't start them now I will have them for my retirement. Some good advice on the glue tips and the dust buster am sourcing these as I write. I use cocktail sticks for the small adhesive jobs. They are perfect from the tin and can be gently sanded to a pin sharp point were tiny drops of glue are required. They are cheap and cheerful and I buy them in packs of hundreds, I use a lot but they are worth it. They are also good for manoeuvring small parts into place as well. Know what you mean about the clamps, haven't used that brand but have not found a really good brand to hold the larger gaps in place. I find the elastic band method as good as clamps. the thicker bands have a good bit of strength especially if combing three or four together. Paul PS. Have found these on Cornwall Model Boats. Am being drawn to the kit for the Jenny. They also sell the Stagecoach kit. http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/Model-Airways-Kits.html

Glad I could help. If I was going to build the Victory again I would paint her in the new colours. I know what you mean Eddie, the yellow ochre is very bright. I have used it on my model and it does stand out. Sorry for the size of the link I pressed submit before pressing the set as link button. I have tried to edit it but can't. If one of the moderators can alter it to a link instead of the way it is feel free to. Paul

Have you seen this small documentary on HMS Victory's Trafalgar colour scheme? Anyone planning to repaint? I do love it when the experts suddenly find new info on all things ship wise and we modellers have to decide whether to change our build for realism. Good luck to anyone deciding to repaint. For new Victory modellers you have the opportunity to paint her as she looked at Trafalgar.

Welcome aboard, You are going to enjoy building this kit. I was building this about two years ago. I had the planking completed and had a serious accident with it and could not repair it. It would be good if you could start a build log, as I will follow with interest. Paul

HI all, I found these on amazon. You may have seen the Expo hand held mitre guillotine if not it is an excellent tool. Great for cutting different angles. And only cost £17. The tweezers only cost £7 for the set and are by far the best I have ever used. I have tried all different types some that have cost up to £20 each. The ones, especially the flat nose type hold very small pieces firmly. No more bits flying across the room. Paul

Brilliant, Great job on all that rigging. Paul

Nice work Danny, I may just consider buying one of these kits. I did not realise they were so detailed.

You are so welcome Heinz, and thanks I will definitely be following. Paul

Heinz, I believe the words Wow, Amazing, Incredible, Fantastic, may all come into play here. Stunning work (oops another word I forgot in the list) . I have never seen the Victory looking better. great use of wood and looks good without the copper bottom which would spoil the way you have built her. The gun ports are outstanding. I half expect to see them spring open and the cannons pop out and deliver a broadside. Will follow this build with interest.

Never read a nautical novel in my life. But being interested in as much as building the kits I decided I would give it a go. I have just finished reading a none fiction book The Era of the Clipper ship. This was very good and very detailed with info on just about every clipper ever built. As for the fictional books I have started with the Hornblower series. I am reading Mr Midshipman Hornblower so I can follow him from the start of his carrier. I am only three chapters in and hooked. I will get the whole series. Then I will give some of the other recommendations a go. Paul

Billings Titanic is pretty epic in size. At six feet long with plenty of opportunity to modify. Need a lot of space to build this kit.

Astonishing build. looks amazing Greg. I am building the 1:200 Missouri and don't have the kind of patience you have with phototech. keep up the great work you are doing. Paul

Welcome back Manuel.

Always a difficult choice, sails or no sails. Must say I like the look without as you can see the details better. Good advice with beeswax, I Use this myself, it also makes the tying better for the smaller knots.

Hi Andrew, I think this is a great job for a first attempt at a wooden ship model, especially one so small. Rigging and knots is not my strong point, but I think yours look fine and will get better the more you build these kits. The kit I am building is large and a lot easier because the parts are of a decent size, I will however have to build 11 ships boats, all plank on frame. I practice with different knots using a good size piece of rope. I then drop the sizes once I have the knot worked out. Downsizing to different sizes of string, then to shoelaces, then on to cotton thread. Once I am down to the smaller size then I hit the problems. By doing this I have surprised myself at some of the knots I can tie. Look forward to seeing the next kit you choose.