HMS Victory: Caldercraft or Artesania Latina

[darkening]

Hi,

 

I am about to finish my current project and looking for a new one. I've decided on the HMS Victory but I cannot decide on which version. I have narrowed it down to either the Caldercraft or the Artesania Latina (closed hull).

I've seen many reviews on the Caldercraft kit, all very good. But a lot less on the Artesania Latina kit. So I am still debating and hoping some of you fellow modelers can help me decide.

 

Price difference aside, I am looking for an enjoyable build. By that I mean great plans/instructions and well made parts using good quality materials. Having a toddler, my free time is limited, hence the focus on having fun building it and trying to decipher the instructions or fight a badly fitting part.

 

So, which one would you choose and why?

 

Thanks, happy building!

[Y.T.]

I would select a smaller size one AL at 1:84. Caldercraft is 1:78   It is 5.5 feet long. 

[GrandpaPhil]

I have heard that Caldercraft Victory is the best on the market.

 

It is the largest and most detailed kit of the Victory that is commercially available.

 

If I were going to buy another wooden kit of the Victory, that is the one I would personally buy.

[palmerit]

Any time I see people ask about which Victory kit - at least assuming Chris Watton's Amati kit is never released - I've seen people say that the Caldercraft is the best one. No direct experience though.

[darkening]

My only concern with the Caldercraft is that it doesn't have sails and the instructions. Not sure I would like to follow mainly text with minimal visuals. But maybe the plans add enough extra context.

[JeffT]

I'm working on the AL Anatomy version. There are no written instructions (video only) and no full size plans with this version. I did see that the closed hull version does have instructions but no words. I don't know if it has full size plans. You can look at the instructions on the AL website. Caldercraft does have instructions but not much for pictures; they are also available for download on the jotika website; but there are plenty of build logs to look at. As someone else mentioned, the CC is huge compared to the AL.

[hornet]

I built the Corel Victory, but have completed 3 Caldercraft kits - Supply, Bounty and Endeavour. Caldercraft sell kits with quality accessories and very good plans. I think it’s a case of you get what you pay for. 

[OllieS]

I have the Mantua Victory to start anytime now and I chose that one because at 1:98 the finished kit is about 1m long which is still a big chunk of space.

I would spend the money on the Caldercraft kit if it wasn't huge. There is a gap in the market for a very accurate kit in a smaller scale. A half size Caldercraft Victory at 1:144 would be the same size as my other models for example.