HMS Victory by dafi - Heller - PLASTIC - To Victory and beyond ...

[dafi]

Hello Kevin

 

Do you mean the battens or the 2 stringers?

 

The single planks were needed as for the size of the top. To hold this planking together those circular battens of the traditional pre 1802 tops were needed. In 1802 came the order to build the tops out of fir - instead of oak as previously used - and in two halves as for more easy replacement. That changed the layout of the battens and also needed the introduction of the 2 big stringers on the topside, that acted as counterpart to the crosstrees.

 

Her in the Ulffers Seamanship of 1872 shows nicely the advantage of the new design: right side and middle the traditional top, left the new halves.

 

 

Also Nares 1862 shows this feature.

 

 

All the best, DAniel

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by dafi

[Kevin-the-lubber]

Neither, I mean the infill battens (or whatever they would be called) arrowed below. These days I imagine they'd be called a trip hazard :-). I realise these platforms were not for the faint-hearted and tripping was probably the least of your worries when someone was blasting cannonballs at the lower mast, but there must have been a reason they weren't just planked on top to create a flat working surface?

 

(Meanwhile, I'm eyeing up the carbon fibre rods on my daughters old kite and thinking, would she ever miss it..... would she ever know.....)

 

 

[dafi]

Yes Kevin, those are the battens. Those are needed while the top is lifted upwards as there is no other stabilization in between the planks and also after the rest on testle and cross trees to keep the package together.  The radial layout is also makes sense as the planking underneath is overlapping so this angle is good to keep both direction of planking together.

 

XXXDAn

Edited October 22, 2021 by dafi

[dafi]

Anyway nothing can be worse than Vasa´s top, with an inclination that makes it really difficult to stand ...

 

[Kevin-the-lubber]

Ah, now it makes sense. I knew there would be a good reason for it. Wow, that's a big platform, roomier than I thought. Sadly no longer present on VoP.

[Hubac's Historian]

Vasa’s topmen probably knew the ship would be sinking, even before she left the quay; that top foreshadows doom 😉

[Kevin-the-lubber]

It does hint at those round inflatable lifeboats on modern ships... does it have a quick release mechanism somewhere😊? In any case, plenty to hang onto once in the water....

[dafi]

Thank you guys 🙂

 

As I said, I needed some touch-ups, so I rounded the slots of the rollers at the end - usually the edges were drilled - and also the hole for the stopper knot of the cat tackle (or for the cathead stopper??) is there now. Also the cleat now sits in such a way that its bolts to should not get in the way with anything else 🙂

 

 

Checking the angles, fits so far 😉

 

 

 

 

And then first the colour samples. Here is the pure colour.

 

 

And then my usual treatment with black ink in the inner edges and white brushing of the outer edges. It looks quite different again 🙂

 

 

 

And here is the Order of the Garter in its original colours.

 

 

Whether it was so colourful around 1803 is questionable, since all decoration was cut back. Therefore, inspired by contemporary models, here is another version.

 

 

XXXDAn

[dafi]

As the better is always the enemy of the good, here comes the next step, or better saying come the next steps.

 

 

 

Stairway to heaven 🙂

 

XXXDAn

[Hubac's Historian]

Those look superb, Dan!

[dafi]

I already mentioned the next steps, now the next step was the rest of the entry port. Here, too, it is wonderful to see what else is still possible 🙂

But first define the size correctly and I realised that most entry ports on models are a bit too small, because they mostly align on the top edge with the gun ports besides. So I added a little more air at the top ...

 

 

... and provide them with a frame for the passage.

 

 

The scrollwork is presenting itself beautifully, note them in comparison with my epidermal ridges!

 

 

 

And what is even more important, even in this size well paintable, for this I tried different heights in some printer's rounds, but I think now it fits 🙂

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

XXXDAn

 

 

Edited November 12, 2021 by dafi

[Gahm]

Super!

 

Thomas

[amateur]

Hi Daniel,

 

Doesn’t it bother you that you can see the steps of the printer in the macro-pictures? Those are certainly not like the original 

 

Jan

[dafi]

Actually I do not bother too much about it 🙂

 

First they are not appearent with the naked eye,

 

second the paint is usually filling these steps up easily as they are that tiny,

 

third I could easily sand or scratch them off if they proove calling attention,

 

and possibly last I always turn the parts in a way, so that they are not in prominent places.

 

XXXDAn

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by dafi

[Kevin-the-lubber]

Impeccable, Daniel. I have yet to tackle the entry port but doubt I will have the patience to do it at this level of detail. What software are you using for the scrollwork?

[dafi]

Illustrator and Cinema as for the rest.

 

XXXDAn

[mtaylor]

Wow... I thought you took this kit to new levels before but the 3D printing is adding so much to it.

[Bill97]

On 10/22/2021 at 5:26 AM, dafi said:

Anyway nothing can be worse than Vasa´s top, with an inclination that makes it really difficult to stand ...

 

Daniel it is great to finally put a face with the communication!

[europapete]

That's a great photo. Really gives us scale to these things. 

[europapete]

Good evening Dan and all. So, here I am perusing an open Victory box full of Heller and Dafi goodies. Looking at the hull halves, I know the anchor chock/rest/chin has to go and a new one positioned elsewhere, the rigols have to go, the top wale needs widening, the woodgrain has to go, the two bow ports on each side need opening, the stern 3rd row door needs opening, the lines on the stern piece need adjusting, the "pins" on the top f'castle need rebuilding. The hull halves need thickening at the level of the decks. So, as I hold the two hull halves here, what else do I need to do to them?  The big Q is do I add the Admirals entrance for Trafalger or not?  Regards, Pete in RI

[europapete]

I am thinking/leaning towards a waterline display, and feel I can best replicate the limited area of copper bottom exposed with paint rather than copper tape. However, suggestions and ideas are welcome.

[Hubac's Historian]

Will you cut away the lower hull for your waterline display, Europapete?  If so, I will advise you to assemble the hull, whole at first, and then attach sturdy bracing beneath the lower deck, before cutting.  I learned the hard way that cutting before assembly makes it very difficult to fair to a true waterline, for one, and it also introduces distortions to the upper hull that do not become apparent until much later in the process.  It was nonetheless necessary for what I was doing, but for the Victory these problems can be avoided.

[europapete]

Hmmm.....good advise, thank you. I will probably cut slightly below the waterline, not on it, in order to make a seascape. Also I had better return this thread to Dan and open my own when I do get started. Sorry Dan, didn't mean to intrude. Regards, Pete in RI

[Hubac's Historian]

Open a thread and I will gladly follow.  I love these Heller Victory logs!

[dafi]

No prop Pete, looking forward to see your thread 🙂

 

All the best, Daniel

[72Nova]

Hi Europapete,

 

Another alternative is to simply set into a waterline base without cutting the hull like this, just a thought. Dan you probably recognize this from another site long ago?

 

Michael D.

 

[dafi]

Hello Michael,

 

of course 🙂

 

Nice to see it again!

 

All the best, stay safe, DAniel

[europapete]

Neat idea Michael, thank you. Looks like a nice build, Is that the Heller Royal Sun?

[dafi]

Happy new year to you all, happy modelling and stay safe!

Empty the vaults still: I did the fitting cat blocks fore the cat heads 🙂

 

 

 

XXXDAn

 

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by dafi

[dafi]

But also bigger things happened, but never had the time to report.

The force was with me!

 

 

But before it was back to the model again 🙂

 

Repairing battle damage. I had simply installed the first beams without pre-bending but under tension, the correct curve was so automatically achieved, and it had worked quite well. At that time. What was not considered:

 

 

Wood works, and in the meantime the beams had simply become longer and they were suddenly 2 mm higher and had even taken the supports with them :-≠

 

Removal of the whole beam was not possible without too much collateral damage, so a cut was made in the middle with the resin saw ...

 

 

... and sawed out the overhang and ...

 

 

... it fits again 🙂

 

Accordingly, the coamings of the middle deck could finally be continued.

 

 

Also the small kitchen could finally get its foundation. And the tiler was also there.

 

 

So things are happening again in the state of Victory 🙂

 

 

Greetings, DAniel

 

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by dafi