HMS Victory by mdkboggle - Caldercraft

[mdkboggle]

Hi all

I am starting this log to show and share the building of the Caldercraft 1/72 HMS Victory.

This is my first real build of a wood ship so i can expect many errors to come,but first a little thing you will need to know.

First up is the fact that this kit was started by a good friend of mine who got as far as getting ready to second plank the hull but due to ill health,he sold the kit to me in the hope that one day it would be completed.

I have had the kit about 2 weeks now and i have done the second planking and i am at the point where the upper deck has been fitted and is ready for planking.

So

I will start the log with pics that have been taken in the past and finish with the latest up to date pics taken just last night.

Ok so first of is all the work done by my friend and i will post more pics shortly.

Thanks for looking and if you have any tips on building this model or you see me do something wrong,please feel free to chime in,it will be welcome.

 

Tim

 

 

[dafi]

Hello Tim,

 

nice to see this build here in all his glory!

 

The first time I really see somebody taking over someone else´s build and really working on it! Makes me happy and Bob too I think!

 

Good luck with it, all the best, Daniel

[robert22564]

Hi Tim, I'm also building HMS Victory as a first build.........I think I'm slightly in front of you and if that is the case then keep an eye on my log because if a mistake is going to be made you bet your bottom dollar I'll make it.

 

Good luck with your build.

 

Robert.

[Shipyard sid]

Greetings Tim

And another caldercrafts victory on its way. Good luck with your build. As usual the best advice is take your time and just enjoy it. There's advice galore on the site with so many Victory builds going on. Best wishes DAVID

[mdkboggle]

Hi Daniel,Rob and sid

Thanks guys for the warm welcome and for looking in so early in this build log.

 

I know Daniel from another build i am doing (Heller 1/100 Victory) and i have over the past 2 years grown to respect Daniels ability not only build a model but also his attention to detail and his level of research into any given subject and i am glad he has found me here and i will carry on picking his brains and swapping ideas over many more years i hope.

 

Robert

nice to meet you and yes you are in front of me and i am following your build.

I am not the silent type and i will be posting in your log and with a little luck we can feed off each other in the form of ideas on how to get something done and also mods to the standard kit we may be thinking of making.

With growing skills and a little luck i hope we both end up with a model we are happy with.

 

David

thank you sir and that is good advice about taking your time with a build and the fact that there are many builds of this kit under way and that there are many now complete that we can use as a build guide.

 

So,thank you all again and now i had better start to get this log up to date..

 

Tim

[mdkboggle]

Ok a little more catch up as i need to get this log up to date but if you see something in the pics and you want to know more info like why or how please just ask and i will give the info needed.

 

This concludes my friends build of this model,from this point on it is me doing the building.

I think my friend (Bob) did a fantastic job to this point and i still think it is a shame he could not carry on with the kit.

[mdkboggle]

DSC_0068 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

DSC_0199 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Fitting upper deck by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Ok this is where the build is now but my next post will show what i am doing at the moment and that is the entry port and upper gun deck.

this final pic shows the masts in place (dry fit) while the upper gun deck glue sets,making sure that the mast holes are in line.

 

 

[mdkboggle]

The instructions called for me to line the entry ports in a real basic way and i could see myself throwing those instructions over my shoulder and diving head first into scratch building and so,,,

 

I built a pair of basic boxes that sit inside the hull,,see pic.

My entry port linings by mdkboggle, oMy entry port linings by mdkboggle, on Flickrn Flickr

 

and the i added panels and a lining that fitted to the outer hull along with the step sill.

 

DSC_0217 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

After this work had been done i then fitted the camber beams and when dry i added the upper gun deck.

Now the gun deck was a pain to fit because i had to plain a lot of wood off the edges and also re cut the bulkhead tabs in the deck.

before i glued the deck in place i dry fitted the 2 inner bulwark patterns to check that the gun ports would line up ok and to make sure everything fitted.

All was ok so i glued the deck in place with pva,fitted the masts to make sure all mast holes line up and then i re fitted but not glued the inner bulwarks back in place because these help hold the edge of the deck down due to the deck camber.

Fitting upper deck by mdkboggle, on Flickr

So,that is it,up to date and read to rock on with the next part of the build.

 

Thank you all for looking and bearing with me to this point.

I hope to post more pics as the build goes on but for now,if you have any questions on what has been done so far or on what is to come,,please ask,,all input is good input.

Thanks again and back soon.

Tim

[dafi]

"... and swapping ideas over many more years i hope."

 

Years? Decades!

 

:-)

 

XXXDAn

[cobra1951]

I've been looking for my model ever since you came round my house, now i know what happened to it

 

Looking good mate

[mdkboggle]

Thanks all and good to see you here Bob

Thanks to all those out there that have stopped and taken a look at this build,you are all welcome.

Ok update time.

 

I have been planking the upper gun deck using the four butt shift pattern and a plank length of 85mm and a overlap of 17mm.

I marked out the deck down the centre then from the main mast hole,fore and aft in 17mm spaces as can be seen in the pic.

I then pinned a full length plank along the centre line so my planks would not move and twist in a curve.

 

DSC_0237 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

I made up the planks using a template i made from scrap wood.

Each plank was cut to length then formed and held in blocks of 10 to 15 planks,sanded and then using a worktop pen that is waterproof,the planks were coloured on one side and one end to form the caulking lines.

 

DSC_0239 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

 

Working from the middle of the deck i planked toward the bow and stern and out toward the bulwark but at this point the bulwark is still only dry fit and will be removed.

 

DSC_0241 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

The openings in the deck were re cut after the glue had hardened.

 

DSC_0240 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Only when the first side of the deck was planked did i start to plank the other side of the deck.

 

DSC_0243 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Now,the instructions for the kit call for the bulwark to be fitted and then for the planking to butt up to it but i am not going to do that and so the deck was planked out to under the bulwark and then the bulwark was planed along its bottom edge only allowing for a tiny bit of vertical movement allowing the gun port linings to line up square and true.

This will now allow me to sand and finish the deck and for the bulwark to be planked and pre painted before fitted and so should give a nice finish,,,,we hope lol.

 

DSC_0242 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Ok,now its back to planking and before i forget,i used boxwood and not the kit supplied stuff.

 

Back soon and thanks for looking.

Tim

[robert22564]

Wow, that's impressive work, looks great Tim.

[cobra1951]

Great job Tim, that is exactly the way i was going to do it 

[mdkboggle]

thanks Robert and bob

I am just glad i did not do it wrong

Now i have completed the deck and after sanding with fine grade paper i then rubbed the deck down with fine wire wool ,this removes any "fluffy" bits left from using sandpaper.

i then used a wood dye called  English Light Oak by Culron and used a lint free cloth and just applied a little at a time,wiping from stern to bow.

Looking at it now,i am over the moon,i think it looks well and yet i thought i would mess this up for sure.

Take a look

Dye on deck, light English oak by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Dye on deck, light English oak by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Dye on deck, light English oak by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

At this point i have not made my mind up about varnishing the decks or using a natural oil later and on this point i would like some guidance and advice.

Ok back soon,stay safe all.

Tim

[cobra1951]

Great job there Tim. Go look up Danish oil it puts a great finish to the wood and also gives protection. I know Rusting do it not sure about anybody else

[mdkboggle]

Cheers bob,i thought they only made Bacon i will go and look it up.

Thanks again sir.

Tim

[mdkboggle]

Thanks Bob for your help.

After staring at the deck for hours i came to the conclusion that it was far to flat and uniform in colour and so i sanded it back and used the dye to build colour in some places more than others in order to highlight the planking.

The camera makes the deck look a lot more yellow than it is here on the model.

My decks will will be darker and of a light oak colour rather than the bare planking found on victory today,more of a wet look about them.

Anyway,thanks for looking and back soon.

 

DSC_0287 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

[cobra1951]

Deck looks fine to me mate even in the colour it is in the picture. Don't forget once you get more fittings etc and cannons on the deck to break it up and the bulwarks in and painted, it will look even better, because while it is bare your eye is drawn to the colour rather than anything else 

Edited April 22, 2015 by Cobr@

[mdkboggle]

Hi all and thanks for looking at this build.

Ok,time for a small update.

I have fitted the inner bulwarks,lined the gun ports that have no lid and taken the second planking up to the bottom of the quarter deck gun ports.

I have also base painted the lined gun ports and inner bulwarks as well as re sanded the hull and sealed the wood so it will not distort in any way when later painted and the copper tiles are fitted.

My next step is to fit the wales and line all the other gun ports and at that point i will tidy everything up to a finished state before i move on to tiling the lower hull.

 

DSC_0317 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

DSC_0315 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

DSC_0316 by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

ok thanks for looking guys.

 

Tim

[foxy]

'Hey you old sea dog you', glad to see the build here Tim and what a job you are doing, great stuff.

 

Love your planking, I bet Bob is nashing his teeth at not being able to continue, nice of you to step into the breach.

 

Watching with Interest.

 

Frank.
 

[mdkboggle]

Hi ya Frank

Good to see you here and Thanks for your comment sir,glad you like it so far but as you know me,there is plenty i can mass up yet

Yes it is a shame Bob had to let the model go but i am sure those teeth of his are biting down on another build as we speak.

I have to say,building this kit is nothing like the Heller 1/100 Victory i am building (or was building till i got this kit)but i am taking some of my ideas from that build and working them into this model,ideas like the state of the finish on the ship in 1805 and some of the mods ie the prince of wales plume on the stern may go overboard yet lol,we shall see.

At this time i have fitted the lower wales both sides and i am about to set about building the middle wales.

Anyway,chat soon Frank and thank you all for looking and for your likes,pm's and tips on this build.

 

Tim

[mdkboggle]

Hi all

I have completed the wales,woop woop.

Using a micrometer i measured the position of the wales in relation to the top of the gun ports all along the side of the ship.

This formed a line i could follow,rather like dot to dot and this worked fine until i got to the lower wale where it curves around the bow.

I first set the planks so they formed a relatively level line round the bow and then realised this was not right at all because the planks wanted to bow outward at the bottom of the plank,leaving a gap.

 

So i then had to strip the front part of the wale back,cutting it just in front of the first lower gun port.

I then joined new planking to old and went back round the bow,this time letting each plank take its natural route meaning it curved up toward the deck (see pics)

This worked out fine and now i am happy with it although i do feel i could and should have done this job better.

I then re cut any planking away from the gun ports and then used a little filler in places just to tidy up and then sanded the hull again but not so much as to make all the planking flat as is seen on Victory today.

I have now sealed the hull ready for painting but before i do that i may line all the other gun ports.

 

Well that's about it for now,all that's left is for me to go and strip the glue off my fingers and grab myself a Coffee

 

Ok,thanks for looking guys.

 

Wales fitted by mdkboggle, on Flickr

Wales fitted by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Wales fitted by mdkboggle, on Flickr

Bow wale position by mdkboggle, on Flickr

Edited April 29, 2015 by mdkboggle

[robert22564]

Looks good to me Tim. I had the same issues doing my wales too, what I'm learning is that after a certain task I sit back and think that's crap, but after a little sanding and just generally making good I then think "yeah that's better", so what I think I could have done better ends up better anyway.

[cobra1951]

Amazing how adding a few more strips of planking in the form of a whale gives a hull a whole new look and feel. And it will look better again once it's had a final tidy and a coat of paint or two. Well done mate

[mdkboggle]

Hi all

Thanks for looking and thanks for the likes.

Bob

I agree,when tidy things change a lot and i never tidy until i am done completely with a section of the build because i do sometimes go back and change things.

 

Ok Update and a warning of a long post and pic heavy.

 

I have lined one side of the ships Gun Ports as follows

First i made some tools and jigs for the linings out of scrap wood.

Hull painting and gun port prep by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Next i cut a template of the gun ports out of card using the plan for the size and shape and stuck this to a scrap plank as shown so the ports could be checked for shape and size before lining.

Hull painting and gun port prep by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Then i cut up 2 x 2 mm balsa wood to line the inner part of the port to form a ledge,this gives the final linings a little more to glue to.

Hull painting and gun port prep by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Using the tool i placed the balsa in the port as shown

 

Hull painting and gun port prep by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

So i ended up with this

 

Hull painting and gun port prep by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

 

Next i painted the 6mm walnut red ochre and when dry i then cut this into the sizes needed for the top/bottom/sides of the ports and using another tool i made of the correct size to hold the lining i placed the liner in the port as shown.

Remember to set the lining 1mm back from the second planking or your gun port hinges will not fit later.

 

Placing the linings by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

I found the best way to do the job was to follow the instructions and place the sides and then the top and bottom.

Working till the job is complete.

 

Gun ports lined. by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Gun ports done by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Because the linings were painted before fitting we get a good clean edge between the yellow and red with only a small amount of touch up that may be needed later,probably when the lids are fitted.

 

Finally a close up of the tools i made,,,left side is for the balsa and right side is for the walnut linings.

Lining tools by mdkboggle, on Flickr

 

Ok that's it for now.

i hope this helps others but remember i am new at this and i am sure there are better ways of getting this job done.

 

Thanks for looking and back soon.

 

Tim

Edited May 5, 2015 by mdkboggle

[cobra1951]

Nice neat job on the linings Tim well done

[mdkboggle]

Hi all

Just a fast update

I have completed lining the gun ports and i have painted the first side of the hull.

 

Painting hull by T

 

m Doman, on Flickr

 

Hull painting bow by Tim Doman, on Flickr

 

DSC_0380 by Tim Doman, on Flickr

 

I will tidy up the lines later and i may alter them if needed but this will do for now.

 

Thanks for looking guys

 

Tim

[cobra1951]

Starting to look like the Victory we all know

[dafi]

Lovely work,

 

please do double check the size of the entry port. I always have the feeling, that it is far too narrow on the Caldercraft kit, especially to be seen in relation with the quite large canopy!

 

Check the plans at NMM or McKay for best reference :-)

 

Cheers, DAniel

Edited May 11, 2015 by dafi

[diablo0007]

Hi Tim,

 

Nice start

Im doing the same ship and we are in same stage till now,

I hop that we can help each other in the future

 

Good luck