Let's Build HMS Victory in 1/200 Scale

[joe100]

Recently I decided to step into the complex world of scratch built wooden ships. I'd always wanted to build something in wood from keel to mast, something napoleonic, something big. In the world of wooden ship models, it's hard to get away with small. So many of these ships have to be built in a larger scale than I'm used to and space is at a premium. I couldn't select a subject that was going to dominate the living room. It had to fit in my model display case as per "house rules", so I took my thinking laterally. I decided to build a cross section at the main mast of HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at Trafalgar. Most cross section plans are in 1/100 and larger and that really wouldn't do. I settled on 1/200 which would still be tall, but within my self-imposed limitations

Luckily, the "kit", if you could call it that, supplied the ribs as laser cut pieces in a micro triple plywood. In 1/200 it would have been darn hard to cut them myself with such a complex shape. That's really the only parts that were "given" to me to help me along, the rest of the "kit" was a pile of wood (not everything I needed either), some turned brass cannon, and the plans.

So I cracked along, fabricating most everything else. I won't go into tons of detail about the build because it's tedious stuff but if anyone has questions I'll gladly answer them.

Of course in this small scale, not every brace and detail is represented. The limitations of small. But, here are the photos I took documenting the build. Total time, 150hrs





























Finished Model

[daveathall]

The most fabulous battleship ever, 105 guns and history maker.

[Boothroyd]

Wow....love that cross section. Wish I had those manual skills and patience. Wonderful!

[TheBluePrince]

An interesting idea well executed

The real thing is currently in the midst of a 10 year restoration so will be great to go and see her again when it's all completed.

[Old Expat Beast]

That's one of my faves of yours Joe, a real beauty. I don't know where you find the time!

[teqp]

Wow, that is very nice. I love the detail.

[Langnam]

OK. I really don't swear, but that is pretty f'ing amazing. Wow, what detailing. 150 hours just for that small cross section. Can you imagine yourself, building the whole ship to that scale?

Awesome work.

[Runnin' Rebel]

That's some mad skills right there ! Great detail. I'd have to wear special fitting glasses to attempt that.

[GerardoG]

AMAZING! That is really amazing! Fantastic work, thank you for sharing!

[malarky_hk]

Very cool. I reckon you must have some steady hands and lots of patience.

[cop414]

Speechless Joe! I always love the posts on your ships, this one is absolutely amazing!

[AK797]

Amazing tribute to the man who saved us from Napoleon. I nearly bid on a cigar box that was made from timber from the Victory, a fitting place to store Winston Churchill cigars I thought, the other great hero of Britannia.

[Rockrolex]

Fabulous reproduction, Joe. Doing something on that small scale requires far more patience and dexterity than I have.

[SemperFi]

Truly amazing work Joe. That is simply a beautiful work of art. My compliments to you.

[Kingair]

Don't know what to say Joe . . .

Stunning !

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[GradyPhilpott]

I like the ballast stones.

[sco]

Very nice. I enjoy these posts much more than I thought I would. Keep up the great work.

[joe100]

Thanks everyone!

I've really wrestled with building a full-hull wooden ship and this was my compromise. If I were building a full hull, I'd want to do either HMT Bounty, or HMS Surprise of Jack Aubrey fame. "Quick's the word, and sharp's the action".

However, to do the full hull I'd need to invest in a lot of new tools and jigs since a large amount of my tools don't translate to wooden ships. I found this build to be a bit more challenging than usual because it's all pretty new to me. I learned a lot and I'm sore I could tackle something larger with confidence but I have several projects lined up and I know that I'd be investing at least a year in a full hull.

Next up I'm getting away from naval warfare and building a cross section of a WW1 German trench in 1/35 scale, complete with German officer figure. I want to show how western front trenches were built and held together. They were far more complex than a hole dug into the farm fields. Besides, I have a whole bunch of 1/35 scale corrugated iron and no use for it until now. After the trench model, I really need to get started on my WW2 Italian battleship Littorio. I've been collecting parts for about a year now but I recently finished collecting what I need. Littorio is going to be a big project since I'm going to ratchet up the level of detail.

The trench model is going to be a bit of a departure for me, but I've done dioramas like this in the past. I've wanted to understand more about how trenches were built and since the British and French trenches are widely covered and documented, I wanted to do something less common which will require deeper research.

[Dyim]

Wonderful hobby and you showed fantastic skills

Kids came along and I put mine on hold. One of these days, I will get back to it.

[Danny83]

Great work

[damcv62]

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

Wow....love that cross section. Wish I had those manual skills and patience. Wonderful!

Same here! I would have smashed everything and tossed it across the room in the first half hour.

[bayerische]

Lovely work! Cool model too. Who's is it?

[TheVTCGuy]

Wow Joe, I wish I had your talent, your persistance, determination, patience, hell while I'm at it I'll throw in I wish I had your good looks too!

[dysondiver]

i dont know what words to use ,,,, fine fine craftsmanship ,, outstanding results.

[Dr. Prunesquallor]

I've always wondered how the masts were structurally attached to the hull. Is that the purpose of the housing surrounding the mast on the ballast hold? Is that packed with sand or gravel to "anchor" the mast to the hull?

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Originally Posted by joe100

Thanks everyone!

I've really wrestled with building a full-hull wooden ship and this was my compromise. If I were building a full hull, I'd want to do either HMT Bounty, or HMS Surprise of Jack Aubrey fame. "Quick's the word, and sharp's the action".

However, to do the full hull I'd need to invest in a lot of new tools and jigs since a large amount of my tools don't translate to wooden ships. I found this build to be a bit more challenging than usual because it's all pretty new to me. I learned a lot and I'm sore I could tackle something larger with confidence but I have several projects lined up and I know that I'd be investing at least a year in a full hull.

Next up I'm getting away from naval warfare and building a cross section of a WW1 German trench in 1/35 scale, complete with German officer figure. I want to show how western front trenches were built and held together. They were far more complex than a hole dug into the farm fields. Besides, I have a whole bunch of 1/35 scale corrugated iron and no use for it until now. After the trench model, I really need to get started on my WW2 Italian battleship Littorio. I've been collecting parts for about a year now but I recently finished collecting what I need. Littorio is going to be a big project since I'm going to ratchet up the level of detail.

The trench model is going to be a bit of a departure for me, but I've done dioramas like this in the past. I've wanted to understand more about how trenches were built and since the British and French trenches are widely covered and documented, I wanted to do something less common which will require deeper research.

German trenches were different, and also changed greatly over the course of the war. By the end of the war, they were building a series of mutually supporting dugouts rather than trenches which were very effective.

Great project! Look forward to seeing posts on future ones!

[joe100]

Originally Posted by Dr. Prunesquallor

I've always wondered how the masts were structurally attached to the hull. Is that the purpose of the housing surrounding the mast on the ballast hold? Is that packed with sand or gravel to "anchor" the mast to the hull?

The masts of victory sat on a wooden pedestal built directly over the keel beam. They would square off the last few feet of the mast to sit in a square notch in the pedestal, then iron collars would anchor it. These collars were then placed above and below each deck level.

The square structure you see is the bilge pump housing. They built it around the mast to save space. The mast was insulated from the pump however to avoid rot.

The stone at the bottom of the ship is ballast

[jatco]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

i dont know what words to use ,,,, fine fine craftsmanship ,, outstanding results.

.X2.
.
...Holy Sh*^.. that is incredible work Tony. I'm a carpenter (finishing).. and I can appreciate that craftsmanship.
Outstanding...

[slorollin]

Very depressing. No matter the subject, the internet continues to alert me to people with with skills and talents I can never hope to possess. Sigh......

Nice boat.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by slorollin

Very depressing. No matter the subject, the internet continues to alert me to people with with skills and talents I can never hope to possess. Sigh......

Nice boat.

Naw, I haven't done anything here that you couldn't learn with a little practice. I'd never built a wooden ship before but I read a lot of build guides others had written, and jumped in. The key to any scale model is not to start with something too ambitious. I've seen folks dive into hyper detailed 1/700 and 1/350 battleships and walk away shaking their heads. Gotta start small, and work up. That said, the right tools always help. I'd be lost without my air brush.

I'm pro all the most impatient person I know, so patience has little to do with the process. It's more about taking each task one at a time. Anyone can do this, just takes the will to see it through.