Heller's 1/100 scale Victory.

[Tim A.]

Here I go again with Heller's huge 1/100 scale (over 36") model of the Victory, the flagship of the Royal British Navy, commanded by Lord Nelson, who died on its deck during the battle at Trafalgar. It is a museum now and is the oldest commissioned warship in the world.
This will take me years to complete and I'm sure I'll be doing a few different projects to get away from it, like I did with the Constitution. but, given my age, I think this will be my last major model build.
I'll be working from the holy grail of books on Victory, The Anatomy of Nelson's Ships.
I've also added a painting of Victory depicting when it was moved to its permanent drydock in 1922. It was done by my friend Richard (RJ) Holden. He's done several paintings of Victory and

built over 20 models of the ship.

 

[Rhino]

OH MY! She's a grand ship, indeed, Saar!

"Oh a drop of Nelson's blood wouldn't do us any harm...."
Captain Tim, share us the story of Lord Nelson's blood, won't you?

 

[moon puppy]

We're going to have to found a museum for all Tim's ships. Alexanders Maritime Museum of North GA maybe?

 

[Rhino]

We could make a forced perspective room. USS Constitution, then, HMS Victory on down to my Roger B. Taney. It would only need to be 5 feet deep!

 

[Tim A.]

We're going to have to found a museum for all Tim's ships. Alexanders Maritime Museum of North GA maybe?

There's definitely not enough room in our house!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I will be watching this with interest Tim. I have one of these kits. It has some warpage issues, but nothing I have not dealt with before. The Vac formed sails hit the trash can as they were toast and I won't build another tall ship with the sails on it anyway.

 

[Sharkmouth]

EPIC builds with progress, unlike my decades long stillborns!

 

[Tim A.]

I will be watching this with interest Tim. I have one of these kits. It has some warpage issues, but nothing I have not dealt with before. The Vac formed sails hit the trash can as they were toast and I won't build another tall ship with the sails on it anyway.

So far the major pieces that make up the basic hull don't fit together at all...haha. there will be a lot of sanding and tweaking before permanently attaching them. It's going to be a fight.
The kit sails are terrible, of course. I'll use silkspan again.

 

[Tim A.]

First step is to remove all of the ejector marks and there's a lot of them. At the same time I'm sanding down the too pronounced molded wood grain. I did this on the Constitution build. It takes a tremendous amount of time and sanding sticks. I wish manufacturers would quit do it!
The other pic is of the basic parts that make up the hull, none of them fit worth a damn...yet.

Anyway, it's a start.
There are a couple of companies that offer upgrades for this kit. I'm contemplating which to go for. Right now I'm looking at the photoetch from Dafi.

 

[Rhino]

So it begins................

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Good to know Tim. Would you mind posting the links to the companies with the aftermarket items?

The part circled in red is missing on mine, and I will have to scratchbuild it (might be the other side but you get the idea). The part was broken off and not in the box. The box was NOT in the best of shape.

 

[Tim A.]

Good to know Tim. Would you mind posting the links to the companies with the aftermarket items?

The part circled in red is missing on mine, and I will have to scratchbuild it (might be the other side but you get the idea). The part was broken off and not in the box. The box was NOT in the best of shape.
View attachment 180264

Uhho, I don't know how to add links.
Google Dafi Victory photoech and you'll find his website, you have to email him to order from his site. He is considered the absolute best for upgrades to the Heller kit. The other company is Hismodels. He offers photoetch, wood decks, cannon rigging and sails for the Heller kit. Both are in Europe.
BTW, watching Dafi's build of this kit, which turned into a business for him is pretty interesting. I guess you could say he's made a career of it.
That piece you're missing doesn't fit the profile of the hull where it's supposed to go anyway, so no big loss ...haha.

 

[Tim A.]

So it begins................

Yep, I'm already cursing, but I'm old stubborn and determined!

 

[moon puppy]

Uhho, I don't know how to add links.

Simply pull up the website you want so share.
Copy the url from the address bar

come back to your favorite forum and just paste it into the post like this.

Etch Parts for HMS Victory 1:100 (Heller Kit)

don't you love how the wood grain is in the injection mark also? What are they thinking doing that?
Sending sanding zen.