HMS Victory by Davesellindge - Constructo - Scale 1:94 - first build

[Davesellindge]

I have made a start on my model after reading the instructions over and over again. I have also been following Paul's build and already had good advice and help from him. His photos are also very helpful far better than those supplied. When attaching the

gun rails I put wedges in the top of the slots to hold them down on the bottom before gluing.

[dragzz]

looking good so far lots of great poeple on  the msw if u need just take your time no need to rush it keep up the great work

[Davesellindge]

Have done a bit more, I am working on the next deck, have cut 48 planks and corked them. Whilst fitting the deck I had a minor accident and broke the top of one of the bulwarks. Managed to glue it back and it seems solid. Got my paint and oil stain today so oiled the lower decks and painted the gun boards. While that is drying I have made a start on cutting out the stairs and hatches

[Davesellindge]

Have made 2 sets of stairs and the two hatches. 27th Sep fitted deck and have been putting the planks on every day having breaks so that I keep fresh.

Purchased cannon balls yesterday. Will make a start again shortly and should get it finished today.

[Paul0367]

I have found your build and I will for sure be popping back every time I post to see your progress. Enjoy her. Looking excellent

[Paul0367]

Hi , in reply to your message, I used paper for the back with black marker and put the frames on. If you look close the wood below is also raised using the supplied vaneer strips, I just shanferred the edges, amd added a little trim between. Oh and don't do what I did, that's instal the poop deck first and then decide to put in windows, then spend hours squeezing throught the gap between both decks.

[Davesellindge]

I had already thought about doing it before putting the deck on that's why I thought I would ask now ready for that stage

[Davesellindge]

Have just finished putting a thin coat of oil on deck unfortunately I put to much corking on the edge of the planks and when I sandpapered it I ended up with a grey mess on the deck.I tried to get off as much as I could without sanding the planks to nothing, I shell see what it looks like when dry and perhaps try sanding it again.

[Davesellindge]

I have a thought, I am going to try a sample for the main deck. One stain the planks  first the try black cotton as the corking does sound feasible

[Davesellindge]

Have made up my mind to continue with pencil for corking have fitted gratings and stairs, prepared top deck I found when planking the planks when drying curl slightly on the edges on the main deck I wanted to get the starter ones flat and hopefully get a good alignment for later. The reason for putting them on before the deck I was able to get clamps on them.

[Shipyard sid]

Greetings David

Well done , it's going really well. I note your discussions about the caulking of the planks. Using a pencil, black cotton , etc. Cotton can look to much in your face if you follow, and it can be a problem when sanding the deck. You can try just laying the planks up against each other, but not tight, and you will get the effect which you can see on the photo with no caulking at all. Good luck with your build. DAVID

[Davesellindge]

Thank you for the advice, yours looks really good. I have started putting the planks on and decided to use pencil but using a harder one and not putting so much on them. What I found is a lot of the planks are slightly curved and this does not make it easy 

[Davesellindge]

After five days I finished putting on the planks. I have not put the gun rails on as I thought it would make it easier to sand, mark nails and oil the deck first

[mtdoramike]

Beautiful work. Yes, no need to rush it, remember to read and re-read and check and triple check the plans. Constructo is notoriously confusing on their plans, but they are great plans. Most all Victory kits are a minimum of a two year commitment.  

[Davesellindge]

Over the last six days finished planking the deck, sanded it down plus the edges. Put nail markings on and oiled it. I am working on the poop deck windows this is day five making them.

[Paul0367]

Days, weeks, months and looking like years are going to be eaten up on the build, beauty about it you do it at your pace when in the right mood. Hey looking fantastic by the way.

[Davesellindge]

Nearly finished the windows for poop deck

[Paul0367]

Looking good mate, I'm going to pass on a few problems in a bid to prevent you suffering the same and like me wasting wood and time making parts due to bad ilustrations / manual. I have come to the conclusion that Constructo never actually sent anyone to the uk to study the real ship before they made this kit and thought that will do, close enough.

First the image posted shows the position of the curved rail (128) for the canons to protude, these are to be 22mm from the sides, per instructions but doing this puts them in the right position of the real ship but the diagram in the manual shows them far further out from the centre (pic 70) clearly they never followed there own instructions.

Other issue so far - Pic 69 item 126.... ok, they tell us the measurement for this which is 20mm long, they also show it shaped on the top and a slight taper to the bottom, Please fit the rail post 127 (pic 70) before you make these, then dry fit the rail 130 (pic 71) and then cut the shaped top to be just above the rail. I didnt have the right info and did it as per manual and...... you guessed the post needed taking off as mine ended up to low / below the rail. I have sent picture 78 which shows where they want us to fit the curved rail which is half over the quarter galleries, this is not correct on the real ship, they are further to the centre of the deck.

Edited October 18, 2014 by Paul0367

[Davesellindge]

Thank you Paul for the time and information on helping me, I thought I would be clever on the poop deck windows I tried cutting out holes and putting in window frames what a mess spent nearly five days on them. I have started again and I am copying yours and its looking much better will post photo's of both when done. Again in the photos in the manuel it shows them set in from the edge of the deck but I noticed you have them flush which makes sense as the side planking would not fit

[Davesellindge]

I am ashamed of my first attempt I do not know why I went so far, the second attempt is a bit better still a lot to learn

[Paul0367]

They look the part, and remember they are additions to the kit and make it more accurate. I say that look at my page re the pillars, appears were short on those too, we would'nt be able to squeeze 8 in

[Davesellindge]

Have put on poop deck planked it sanded it, marked it and gave it a coat of oil. Have done some other parts. The thing about the photos is show up the dust from sanding 

[Davesellindge]

I am slowly putting the hull planks on the hull with advice from Paul. I put 2 on in the morning and 2 on in the evening

[Paul0367]

Progress is slow on the planking but always worth the time, remember to take some off the inside top and bottom edge of the planks when on the curved sections this will enable the planks to sit close closing the gap a curve would cause. This is not quite as important if painting as filla will cover any gaps not to mention copper bottom if your going down that route

[Davesellindge]

Have drilled the mast holes the front one was a night mare only slight damage to deck. Back to hull planking

[Davesellindge]

Have finished the hull planking and have started on the sanding

[Paul0367]

Hey that's looking great, whilst you were fitting four planks a day I would have expected the 1000 piece jigsaw to be almost finished by now, whilst waiting for the glue to dry. 

[Davesellindge]

I am getting there still got the edges to trim where the stern post and the front fit as I overlapped the planks rather than try cutting them when I was putting them on. Whilst waiting for the glue to dry I work on the family tree on Ancestry so I keep occupied all the time. As it seems it might look okay, and I am going to paint it I might just oil the bottom below the water line.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Davesellindge

[Davesellindge]

Have not had so much time lately but keep trying to get a little amount done after working out what to do.Its takes me time getting my head round the plans

[Davesellindge]

Have been working on the stern hopefully it will look okay once I start cleaning it up