Should i get the constructo hms victory

[Nickk]

I hope this post is in the correct forum. :) but anyways I have the opportunity to buy a hms victory from constructo pretty cheap and i was wondering what you guys think since the company doesnt exist anymore? And does someone know how good the instructions and it in general is? Otherwise i was thinking about the new artesania latina non anatomy one . 

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Ahoy, mate !  You don't say if this will be your first ship model, or if you have prior experience.  If the former, a Victory may not be the best place to start.  I think there is a MSW topic on good "first models" to consider.  I didn't find a review of that kit on MSW, but there was one unboxing and one review on you tube.  Per an A.I. summary of my query on your primary question:

The Constructo HMS Victory kit is  a large, budget-friendly option, praised for its size and decent wood quality but heavily criticized for its poor, basic instructions, often requiring experienced modelers to supplement with other guides or kits for better detail, making it a mixed bag for those seeking accuracy and ease, though it can build into a nice display piece with significant effort. 

Pros:

• Large Scale: A big kit (around 1:94 scale, over 3.5 feet long) offering a substantial build.
• Good Value: Generally considered a great price for the size and wood included.
• Decent Materials: Wood quality is often good, with nice grain, though some pressed wood parts exist.
• Potential for Detail: With extra effort, it can become a good-looking model, especially the framed hull. 

Cons:

• Terrible Instructions: The biggest drawback; described as inadequate, basic, and among the worst in the industry, earning a low score.
• Lacks Accuracy/Detail: Compared to higher-end kits (like Caldercraft), it's simpler and less detailed, with features like deck camber often ignored.
• Advanced Project: Despite its simplicity in some areas, the lack of clear guidance makes it challenging, requiring an experienced builder. 

From the unboxing, there are some wood parts not laser cut, and you have to cut them yourselves.  Other wood parts are 'pressed' (diecut?) but may take care in getting loose.  The bulkheads appear to be laser cut.  There are a number of plastic fittings, but also brass ones.  There have been "simplifications" in the detail, so in the photo below from a reviewer (who said he found the kit difficult ... but persevered) it has the appearance of a better grade commercial pre-built model one can find for sale.

 

  But if the price is right, who knows what can be done with some effort.    

Edited Wednesday at 10:39 PM by Snug Harbor Johnny

[Ronald-V]

To be honest...if I wanted to build a Victory, only the Caldercraft one would be good enough in my opinion.  

[palmerit]

@Nickk I assume you’ve built a lot of models - can’t imagine taking on a ship the size and complexity of the Victory unless I had way more experience than I do now. And I can’t imagine building any kit of that complexity with poor instructions unless I could essentially scratch build a model without needing instructions. I agree with @Ronald-V that if I were going to take on the 1000s of hours to build a Victory that I’d want one with great materials and great instructions - and build logs and videos to turn to for help. 

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Another thought ...   There have been many builds of certain ships such as HMS Victory, USS Constitution, Cutty Sark, etc.  These are well trod paths, and I'd likely be more interested in building a project done less frequently - if only for the relative novelty.  The tips and techniques found in MSW builds are largely transferrable, at least to other ships near the period of the build examined.

[ccoyle]

Johnny has provided a great overview of the kit. I remember maybe twenty years that one of the modeling magazines (might have been Ships in Scale) did a review of the newest Constructo version available at the time, and the reviewer's verdict was that it wasn't a bad kit for the money and represented a step up in quality compared to earlier Constructo kits. That being said, I don't think you'll get much argument against the Constructo kit being several steps down from the Caldercraft kit, and even the Caldercraft version is a bit dated, since kit design in general has advanced significantly in recent years.

 

Cheers!