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!

[Nickk]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I really appreciate it. My internet sucked a lotso i couldnt post anything

To answer a few points: I’ve built one ship before, a British brig from Mamoli. The first planking didn’t go perfectly and I definitely made a lot of mistakes. Mostlzy because the instructions sucked. After that I watched a lot of build logs and videos, and the second planking came out much better.

I know it will be a big project but I’ve always loved HMS victory. I visited her as a kid. But the Constructo kit having weak instructions kinda sucks. Still I’m considering itl bc id like to leave one side completly unpainted and the wood from the kit is quite nice. Maybe i will wait a bit and have a look at some others

Edited Sunday at 03:38 PM by Nickk

[ccoyle]

On 12/26/2025 at 11:09 AM, ccoyle said:

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

 

I found the review. It's in the March/April 2006 issue of Ships in Scale, Vol. XV No. 2., page 92. The author rated the kit's written manual 2.5/4 and photo manual 4/4. Overall he had this to say:

Quote

 

"I believe that Constructo has been working to improve the quality to (sic) their kits, and the effort definitely shows up in some parts within the kit. The plans and manual are excellent and builder-friendly, as is the packaging of the fittings. The three work very well together. The overall quality of the fittings was better than that of the average kit on the market. However, the wood left something to be desired. I found the wood for the most part to be grainy and easily splintered. In one case, a large section of veneer was missing. The hull planking for the most part was 2mm thick sapelly (Philippine mahogany). When trying to make bends, the strip has a tendency to break. The other problem is the distance between frames (almost 2.5"), which makes it hard to keep the planking from looking wavy between frames. I recommend purchasing some basswood strips and putting them on first so that you can sand and fill where necessary to achieve a smooth symmetrical hull that will provide a base for your finish layer of planking. Another option is to fill between frames with balsa wood, making provisions for the gunports, to provide a good base for the finish planking.

 

Overall, I liked the kit, although I would have a tendency to replace the supplied wood with cherry or the like. What is supplied in the kit will work fine if you plan to paint the Victory in the Nelson colors that are so readily recognized. You will need to do all the necessary preparation, such as sanding, filling, and and thorough priming to achieve a good quality finish coat."

 

 

The kit's final score was 2.5./4.

 

Keeping in mind that the review was written 20 years ago, I think it's safe to say that the Constructo kit was similar in overall quality and design to other kits of that era, but that those designs are typically dated in comparison to what's available today.

 

Cheers!