Soleil Royal by Hubac's Historian - Heller - An Extensive Modification and Partial Scratch-Build

[EricWilliamMarshall]

Wow, such a detective story! 

[Hubac's Historian]

It’s a first-rate mystery for sure!

[John Clements]

Your exploration of the archives is fascinating. I'm sure you will turn up a lot of interesting stuff even if you don't find the answer to your question. I envy your patience and single-mindedness; I really could not see myself undertaking such a task, not least because I never learnt French at school, only German (not by choice). I am still wading through all those gun tackles on the main deck and can only bear to do one a day.

I can't remember now why you decided to move the channels down a deck. They certainly look much better and more secure where you have fixed them.

[Bill97]

Marc I know I still have quite a ways to go on my Heller HMS Victory. And by the way thanks always for your helpful comments on my build blog. But I need your opinion about this model you are building. Would recommend or discourage me from putting the Heller 1:100 Soleli Royal on my Christmas wish list?  Now that I have gotten so engrossed in building a model the size and detail of the Heller Victory I don’t think I want to go back to smaller, less detail models. I think the work you have done on your build is incredible. I have read a number of times that the Victory and Soleli Royal models are in a class by themselves. Your thoughts? Or would you recommend something else?  Maybe something you saw at the show?

[Hubac's Historian]

Hello John - Yes, I suppose my obsession knows no bounds.  It is the puzzle-like nature of the problem of Soleil Royal - that, and the persistant sentiment that this just can’t be done that motivates me.

 

While there are some exceptions in portraiture, the early first-rate, First-Marine ships of the 1660s/70s carried their channels above the main deck guns, just as Heller has modeled them.  However, as the 17th C progresses, the channels move to below the main deck guns.  Presumably, this is a structural consideration, as the timber scantling at the main deck level would be notably more rigid than at the quarter deck level.

 

Well, Bill, I would always recommend the Heller Soleil Royal to interested parties.  The kit is definitely problematic, in many ways, but despite what its numerous critics have to say, it still delivers a very close facsimile of one of the world’s most admired museum models into the living room of the average person.  That is really something, in the grand scheme of things.  And, as I hope I am demonstrating, many of these problems can be corrected, or at least minimized.  All it takes is time and patience.

[Kevin-the-lubber]

I think, for me, this would definitely be one to re-make in its entirety in 3D, just using the kit as a broad reference but this log, together with all the links to other exceptional SR builds and modellers, as the guide. I’ve been re-reading from the start…. you added each bolthead by hand…. good grief Marc, it’s extraordinary enough that you even did that, but to do it so well! It makes the Victory look simple!

 

[Bill97]

Yes Marc, I have definitely booked your build blog for future reference per chance anyone in the family picks up on my Christmas gift hints 

[Bill97]

Woo Hoo!  Some secret family member has already checked Heller Soleli Royal off my Christmas wish list. That means the kit will be under my tree Christmas morning!  Of course it will go in my stash until I finish my HMS Victory someday. Hope you guys are still around for advice. 

[mtaylor]

1 hour ago, Bill97 said:

Woo Hoo!  Some secret family member has already checked Heller Soleli Royal off my Christmas wish list. That means the kit will be under my tree Christmas morning!  Of course it will go in my stash until I finish my HMS Victory someday. Hope you guys are still around for advice. 

I don't think MSW is going anywhere soon so you should be be good on that point.

[EricWilliamMarshall]

On 10/26/2021 at 10:12 PM, Hubac's Historian said:

All it takes is time and patience

Ha, that covers a lot of territory! But I think that is at the core of most of MSW as well.

Edited November 3, 2021 by EricWilliamMarshall

[Hubac's Historian]

From a life standpoint, my sister and I have made tremendous strides in sorting out our father’s affairs, and our current biggest hurdle is getting approval from his long-term care insurer for assisted living.  Steadily, we are getting there, and I appreciate those who have asked, just as I appreciate everyone who comes to visit me here.

 

I have managed to sneak-in a few hours, here and there, and I have completed all of the port side buttressing knees of the channels, and I got everything nicely re-painted and pretty.  In general, lowering the channels pretty dramatically changes the whole aspect of the model, and the difference is pleasing to me:

 

 

 

 

The mizzen channel knees were challenging to cope over mouldings and around the fleurs, but I am happy to have lowered them to here, where there is less interference with the frieze:

 

 

I am using this portrait of the DR, circa 1680, as justification for this placement:

 

 

I continue to comb through the archives, but I have yet to find anything vividly descriptive about the ship’s pre-refit external appearance.  Despite the beautifully florid cursive, I’ve come to realize the hard truth that the letter writers and record keepers of 17th C. France were basically clerks.  Mostly their correspondence has to do with SR’s comings and goings; armaments and dis-armements;  payments made/owed to painters and sculptors; cost estimates relating to her refit, etc.  It is all fascinating, and it will all get its due mention in my book, but it does not help me paint the picture of the ship.

 

Where are the artists sharing their wonderfully descriptive observations, when you need them?!

 

What I’m hoping to find is something along the lines of this:

 

 

”The morning fires shone brightly upon the gilded ornaments of Soleil Royal and her heights rose up and became one with the azure sky.  The warrior of the Americas clung resolutely to the port side, while that of Africa peered off in the middle-distance - daring his lesser adversaries to emerge from the morning mist.  Presiding above, with shimmering rays of gold and silver gilt bursting past his golden chariot is the Sun King, himself…”

 

And, so forth.  It must be out there, somewhere, right?

 

Anyway, I can now get busy with fitting and prepping the starboard upper bulwark for paint.  I can also go ahead and design my stove - that will make a nice little side project.  Before long, I can design and make the next tier of stern lights, which will enable me to finish off the wrapping stern walk.

 

As always, thank you for your likes, comments and for looking-in.  More to come!

[druxey]

Delightful photos, HH. The model is gorgeous, with the morning light shining off the gilding, the early rays throwing the carved works into high relief....

 

I do sympathise with your personal situation. Many of us have gone through what you are experiencing and know how tough that road is.

[mtaylor]

I feel the same way Druxey does.  I will add that I think our projects somehow help us keep centered and able to shift focus as situations in life change.  

[Hubac's Historian]

I appreciate the thoughts there, guys.  Thank you very much.

[t_corret]

Even in French Napoleonic uniforms, there was so much variation so rapidly, you can paint what you think is correct, spit in a critic's eye and ask them to prove you wrong. (Though you are too much a gentleman to do so.) Wonderful progress in both life and art!

[EricWilliamMarshall]

Beautiful photos of your beautiful work! I’m so glad to hear that you and your sister have made progress and may be near the end. That is never easy. I’m sorry to hear the correspondence wasn’t what it could be. Does it seem like that information may generate some new leads? It seems having information about some of the artists and craftsman may lead to something interesting. Be well.

[Hubac's Historian]

Thank you T_C and Eric!

 

Well, it is interesting to attach names of artists to the one aspect of the original ship’s ornamental appearance that was well documented: the great cabin ceiling.

 

Below, is the correspondence that details which artists were to be paid, and in what sum for the seven painted panels of this elaborate coffered ceiling:

 

 

The survey of 1688 details precisely what these paintings were composed of:

 

 

There are a couple of things about the ceiling drawing, apart from the artwork, that interest me.  First is the aft-ward taper of the ceiling, culminating in the round-up of the stern.  I have learned, over time, that this kind of drawing is often very precise and reflective of the true shape and reality of the thing in question.  The other main example of this is Berain’s stern drawing which reflects the pre-1673 reality of SR’s wing-transom.

 

That being so, it is really fascinating to me how closely the shape of the ceiling mirrors the aft portion of this drawing from 1679, by Etienne Hubac, which illustrates the ideal proportions of a first-rate ship:

 

 

Unlike SR, though, the wing transom in Etienne’s drawing is shown below the stern chase ports, in accordance with the Reglements of 1673.

 

Getting back to the ceiling, though, it’s shape is significant because the ceiling was preserved, during the re-build and then re-installed on the ship.  This suggests that the framing of the ship, and her shape would not have changed much - beyond the reduction of her sheer-line - even if much of the so-called dead-works (above the waterline) was horribly rotten and had to be replaced.

 

The other interesting detail of the ceiling drawing is the space and pilaster arrangement of the stern windows.  There are five full openings and two half-openings at the ends.  My Quebecois friend, Guy, believes that this may be why the Tanneron model only shows five stern windows, within the QGs.  Given my position that Tanneron’s model is a hybrid between what SR 1670 may have looked like, and what SR 1693 probably looked like - that makes some kind of sense.

 

Remember, though, that this ceiling drawing was made before the ship was taken to pieces.   Personally, I believe those half-lights, at the extremities, were likely false-windows that appeared whole from the exterior; their framing would simply overlay the timbering structure of the ship’s sides.  What this means is that the ship would appear to have 7 stern lights, between the open-walk quarter galleries.  The early constructions of the First-Marine seemed to favor a profusion of stern windows, or at least the appearance of such.  Along those lines, SR’s near-sister La Reyne, as drawn by the VdVlds in 1673 with 8 stern lights:

 

 

Consider, also, this drawing if the DR of 1668, showing 7 stern lights:

 

 

And the RL - also with 7 stern lights:

 

 

As for Tanneron, as I have mentioned before, he seems to have consciously departed from the Berain drawings of Le Brillant and L’Agreable, when making his models of those ships.

 

Very pertinent to this ceiling discussion is the Berain drawing of L’Agreable from 1697, which shows 7 stern lights within the QGs:

 

 

Tanneron chose to model 5 lights:

 

 

Similarly, Berain’s drawing of the coronation of Le Brillant’s stern is notably different than what Tanneron chose to model:

 

 

 

 

Where is the lambrequin carving that should be beneath the central crown, and from which the swagged draperies hang down and frame Louis’ cameo relief?

 

Why Tanneron chose these departures, I cannot say.

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by Hubac's Historian

[EricWilliamMarshall]

Most fascinating!

[Hubac's Historian]

The stove is taking shape nicely.  I still have to build out the interior, which is clad in iron plating.  I’m toying with representing the brick work, on the top edge, but it will not be visible at all.  I have to also attach the three skids that the stove sits upon, on the deck:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a fun little scratch project.  There are also rings and other small bits of hardware that will be attached.

 

Thanks for looking in!

[Hubac's Historian]

The stove is ready for paint:

 

 

 

 

The best scale effect for the lining plate lattices was pedestrian typing paper cut into narrow strips and CA’d in-place.  I sanded coarse scratches into the planking, so that the exterior will pick up the Van Dyke Brown distressing well.

 

I still need to make the “metal” deck sheathing that goes beneath the stove sleepers, but that is a simple thing.

 

 

I’m close to being ready for paint on the aft, starboard bulwark.  I took even greater care in fitting this last piece because I did not want to deal with any putty at all, on the outside seam.  Paint touch-up was a real pain for the three bulwarks prior.

 

More to come!  Thank you for your interest and for stopping by.

Edited December 1, 2021 by Hubac's Historian

[mtaylor]

Nice stove. Love it  Would there have been a sheet of metal under the stove or brick? 

[Hubac's Historian]

Thank you, Mark.  As best I understand the time, the stove would have had metal sheathing on the deck.  The sleepers provide some extra separation from the stove box, and the box would be packed with sand, then a brick layer, and finally the bricks would be cloaked in these iron plates.

[mtaylor]

Ah...  thanks for that explanation.  I'm not very familiar with that era.

[Hubac's Historian]

Few people are, and at best - I’m making an educated guess, here.

[John Clements]

Fascinating. I see that in the St Philippe, it seems the stoves (2) were much further forward and on the second deck, although there is a comment that the Hubacs did not always follow the regulations.

[Hubac's Historian]

Hi John,

 

On the SP, there is no forecastle deck to provide cover, so the stoves would need to be placed on the middle deck.  For SR, it makes sense to place the stoves in the center of the main deck because there would be forecastle guns above where the vents need to be.  Also, from a practical standpoint, this heavy counterweight is better managed - if it does need to be higher up on the main deck - along the ship’s centerline, as opposed to the ship sides, which are already balancing the weight of the guns.

 

The other practical problem with placing the stoves between the guns is that it would make working the guns in that area that much more cramped and difficult.

 

I’m really relying in the English dockyard models as evidentiary proof that the stoves on a French First-Rate, with a forecastle, should be placed centerline, beneath the forecastle deck.

Edited December 2, 2021 by Hubac's Historian

[Keith Black]

 Marc, because the ship would be sailing with the wind, with the stove under the forecastle, wouldn't wind be a problem?  If the stove was under the stern castle, wouldn't that afford more protection? I know nothing of ships from this time period, just trying to understand the why of things.

 

 I look forward to seeing the stove painted, lovely bit of work. 

[Hubac's Historian]

Hi Keith,

 

Your question is a good one, and I can only surmise that the fore and aft faces of the stoves are boarded-up to provide a buffer from the following wind.  I wonder, also, whether the tall stern structure doesn’t  provide some additional buffering effect for beneath the forecastle deck.

 

The trouble, as far as I can see, with placing the stoves further aft is that there is less hull beneath the stoves to support their weight, and there is already a heavy super-structure above them.

 

I am always happy if anyone can provide hard knowledge on this subject, as I am really just reasoning through it in my own mind.

[Keith Black]

 Marc, thank you. As I said, I've not a clue but I've always wondered how they managed to cook on deck without burning more than the Captain's supper. There had to be embers aplenty flying about?

[Hubac's Historian]

I think that the Captain’s supper was often a dish served cold, as galley cooking likely only happened when swells were manageable.  That might be why Tourville was such a determined man - hell or high water, he wanted to run through the teeth of the enemy and get back to his warm hearth at home 🙃  C’est possible.