Malcolm Brown

Thanks, this is all very helpful and your Thanks, this is all very helpful and your examples look great! I’ll check out my local hardware store (Canadian Tire) for the fly fishing line. Their fishing section is quite extensive. For seizing, I have followed a process similar to yours (although I’m still in the early stages of learning). For example for bowsprit shroud: Heart clamped, wrap shroud (.75 mm black) around heart and pull 2 segments together tight. Single overhand knot - I like your idea of putting a tiny drop of CA to hold the knot tight. I hold the ‘loose’ end of the seizing along the length of the shroud and start wrapping with the other end overtop the loose end - 5 or 6 turns . Finish with a double knot and coat with white glue. Looks ok. Incidentally, my ropes are from Amati (sourced from HISModel). For the seizing, I used .18mm natural but I’ll paint it black. I started using .18mm black nylon that came with Amati ropes but the nylon is so slippery it was near impossible to keep tight. Will try again with the drop of CA. I’m not sure what you mean by “warpage” - do you mean with major components? I bought my kit in 1984 and the only thing that was off was one of those horrid plastic sails was ripped. I had no intentions of ever using them but I got a $20 discount on the kit 😁 It was still $CDN160 in 1984.

Thanks, that’s exactly the confirmation I was looking for!

To confirm, are each of the 4 hearts used for the bowsprit shrouds supported by a single collar? The above photo with unequal lengths (also described by Dafi on page 53 of his revised instructions for resin fittings and Longridge on pg 226) certainly seems to suggest this. Reason I am asking is the pdf file previously posted in comment #83 shows a single collar supporting both port-side and starboard-side hearts. As has been commented on already, different sources may sometimes offer conflicting perspectives so rule of thumb - default to Longridge. And Dafi, of course 😁

To clarify, this wire you are using is for fly fishing? I can see the obvious advantage of using wire since thread has a tendency to relax right at the critical moment when you’re trying to make a tight fitting. Is this something you would buy, say, at Cabelas?

Hello William, I am new to MSW and just launched my own build log for the Heller 1/100 Victory. Interestingly, I am exactly at the same point as you in my build. In more ways than one 😁 I too had rigged the bowsprit according to the vague Heller instructions and some homemade rigging bits (that was about 15 years ago). But now, as an ‘enlightened’ builder, I have removed all of this and am proceeding as you are with the Dafi supplied knighthead, hearts and a new set of walnut blocks. I will follow your build with intense interest. I also have a few questions that will follow…

Hi Kevin, I’m new to MSW and just launched my own build log for the Heller Victory yesterday. Like others in this forum, I originally bought my kit in the early 80s. Hull is mostly completed but now re-working a few areas with appropriate ‘bashing’ techniques. Just starting to scratch the surface re:rigging. I’m mind boggled by your digital printing skills and will watch your progress with great interest.

I have been aboard Victory in Portsmouth Harbour on three occasions. The first was in 1983 when my wife and I were on our honeymoon. I took a few photos and when it came to painting the hull, I used the photos to colour match to my model. What it boiled down to was Humbrol #74 Matt sunflower yellow with a ‘few’ drops of Humbrol #60 Matt burnt orange. Not sure how accurate it is based on more recent discussions, but I’m satisfied with the outcome. As can be seen, Victory was undergoing fairly extensive restoration at the time. Note the early Ford Capris in the lower left next to what I believe is a Ford Cortina😁

Thank you!!

Quick couple of questions: I just launched a new build log and added a few bits of introductory text and a few pictures. To continue adding content, do I simply select, “Reply to this Topic” and continue as above? Also, at what point is the content parsed into “pages’ - does the tool do this automatically when the content reaches a certain ‘size’ limit? Finally, If you add several pictures at once, can you go back and add text and/or caption them or do you have to do this for each picture as it’s being added? Many thanks in advance!

Thank you! I just sent you a query on that very topic 😁 Much appreciated!!!

Hi sorry for yet another question. I just started a build log for the Heller 1/100 Victory but it looks like I might have selected the wrong forum. I selected the 1801-1850 forum (Trafalgar took place in 1805 and Victory remained afloat until 1921). However, it seems my more learned fellow builders used the 1751 to 1800 forum. I fully realise the keel for Victory was laid in 1759. Anyway, am I able to change forums?

While I’m new to MSW I am not new to model ship building. In my earlier life, I built two period sailing ships: Heller 1/200 L'indomptable and the Revell 1/96 Elizabethan Man ‘O War. Sadly, these did not survive the decades since I built them. My current project is the Heller 1/100 HMS Victory. While I say ‘current’ my story is similar to that of others in this forum. I bought my kit around about 1984 but a busy career and family life meant the project became an on-again off-again proposition. Clearly, more off than on. I am now retired and motivated to push this project to completion. The hull of my model is mostly complete but the rigging is a whole other challenge and I will need help. And lots of it. Ian Grant, who completed a fabulous rendition of this model has already been immensely helpful to me. A few pictures follow: . I’m told this is a 1st generation kit, C1979. I believe Heller is now into its 3rd iteration. Hard to believe but in 1984 this kit was $CDN180! I am re-doing the bowsprit standing and running rigging since I originally rigged it per the kit instructions. That is simply no longer acceptable 😊 I’m glad I completed most of the finicky painting - aft gingerbreads, balusters, coats of arms, etc. (quoting Billy Joel) “when I wore a younger man’s clothes” 😉 Good news is, while my eyesight isn’t as sharp as it once was, my hand is still pretty steady. I built this temporary enclosure to protect the model while also helping to keep it dust free. It still managed to collect dust! My main work area (I have another for sub-assemblies) looks quite ‘proper’ with the Brown Bess musket on the wall (I fashioned a whole new forestock for it), the contemporary picture of Victory in Portsmouth Harbour and the Victory crest. My wife says it looks like a shrine…and I’m ok with that too 😁 You can tell by this picture of my bar area that I’m all things ‘Nelson’ - the Britannia Triumphant poster, the rum ration cup with Nelson’s image, Nelson’s portrait (I also have a same sized portrait of Lady Hamilton) and the battle line serving tray. Since I was a very young lad, Horatio Nelson has always been my #1 hero. In my adult life I can honestly say I have never missed recognising Trafalgar Day (Oct 21st). Whether in quiet contemplation or a raised glass. Or both 😁

Hey Mark, your build is looking great and I’m looking forward to following your progress. I am working on the same model and about at the same stage as you - a little behind perhaps. You mention above about the decks not being painted. SInce they’re still relatively uncluttered, I’m wondering if it would be possible to apply a wash to the decking. Something that would flow easily into the cracks and crevices of the planking with the excess being wiped off. Btw, I am also about to start an MSW build log so pls stay tuned. Still navigating my way through the process.

Brilliant, thank you!

Thank you for those tips! One more question, please. I submitted a hello message to the new member forum. Since I am building the original version of the Heller 1/100 Victory (there’s a 3rd generation version now available) I uploaded a picture of the box. Yikes, it took up a the whole page and something like 2.2Mg! As I submit pictures to my building log, do I need to re-size them so I am not taking up too much storage? I read the guide and saw no mention of re-sizing but I wanted to check. Also, if I am submitting multiple pictures, am I able to caption and add text to them separately - do I do this before hitting the “insert” button? Thanks!

Hello Everyone, While I’m new to MSW I am not new to model ship building. In my earlier life, I built two period sailing ships: Heller 1/200 L'indomptable and the Revell 1/96 Elizabethan Man ‘O War. Sadly, these did not survive the decades since I built them. My current project is the Heller 1/100 HMS Victory. While I say ‘current’ my story is similar to that of others in this forum. I bought my kit around about 1984 but a busy career and family life meant the project became an on-again off-again proposition. Clearly, more off than on. I am now retired and motivated to push this project to completion. I have poured through the building logs of several of the MSW members and am mind blown - while also a tad bit intimidated - by the quality of the builds and the amount of knowledge out there. I will need help. And lots of it. Many thanks in advance! Cheers, Malcolm

Hello MSW, I am about to create a build log for my HMS Victory - Heller - 1/100. I have already read through the logs of some of the completed versions of this kit, some of which are 2+ years old. I am utterly mind boggled by the quality of the builds and expertise that is out there. Do I need to ‘tag’ these folk or, assuming they’re still active on MSW and/or motivated to reply, will they receive alerts or notices concerning my updates? This all may become obvious to me as I start to go through the process of building my log. As an FYI, while I’m new to MSW I am not new to the Heller 1/100 Victory. I bought my kit in the early 80s (like others I see in this forum) and the hull is mostly completed. I am now retired and finally have the time, and motivation, to push this to completion. It’s redundant to say, but the rigging is more than half the battle and I will need to tap into that MSW expertise. Many thanks in advance!