Models and Electronics
Building The Jotika HMS Victory (Page 3)
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A stunning start to page 3 of our series following Brian Trotts build of the Jotika HMS Victory kit.
690 hours
I finally visited the Victory at Portsmouth to get some photos. There was scaffolding and plastic sheeting over the stern, but luckily the trophy of arms was still visible. The 105 photos I took was probably a little bit over the top, but the trophy of arms at the stern is now in place (690 hours into the build). I’ve also started the channels, gun hatch lids and mouldings (the blurry bits to the right). A new (sharper) photo will be posted soon (of the full side view). |
716 hours
This stage should be channels, and then gun hatches, followed by the mouldings but I found it easier to do all three at once, as hinted at in the instructions. After 72 hours (two months) I’ve done about 1/2 of the work (one side), so at this rate I won’t start the rudder until the New Year. This part is very fiddly (especially the chain plates) but the end result is very effective, with so much fine detail. Photos are a bit of a problem as most of the detail is black on black. I’ve temporarily removed the boomkins in the bow (see 560 hour photo), as they were rather delicate And no matter how careful I was taking the Victory in and out of the display case, they kept hitting the sides and one even snapped in half (nothing a bit of super glue couldn’t fix). I’m not even thinking about putting the stern lanterns on until I get a bigger display case (if I ever find one that’s 5 foot wide!!) |
779 hours
The second side of gun port lids, channels and chain plates and mouldings are all finished. The rudder is also in place and I was very pleased to find I had enough copper plates! It only took me ten hours of work after finishing all the gun port lids before I knocked one out of position. It only bent a bit, as they are all secured with two brass rods but the ropes had to be re-done. I guess this won’t be the last one. |
811 hours....
.......and I’ve reached the momentous position of having finished the first part of the construction - the first of the two instruction manuals. The hull is completely done, and it’s on with the masts next. The final part of the construction was all the ropes across the hammock cranes, handrails, and the poop deck barricade (plus the four anchors which are attached much later). Actually, I’ve started the ship’s boats next, as they will fit in the display case – unlike the masts!! |
896 hours....
The instructions say the ship’s boats will take about two weeks of evening work. Well, I guess I must be a bit slow as it took me about 85 hours (that’s about 6 hours per evening over two weeks) It actually took just over two months, but it was fun. Each boat is a little miniature double planked creation. Apart from the size, the main difference between them and the full sized ship is that the bulkheads have to be removed and your handiwork is “exposed” on the inside. The instructions show the boats with just a few oars inside, then they tell you they actually had 4, 8, 14 and 16 oars altogether so it ends up looking very crowded. I think I could have arranged them a little better though. You need to make sure make sure you keep the planks tight into the bulkheads as there is a tendency for them to splay out a little. The boats are a very tight fit when placed in position, with less than a millimetre to spare, so it’s no good having them too big. |
910 hours
The masts are started (well the bowsprit anyway). I think this is the first time when carpentry skills (or lack of them) become more important than model making skills. The angled joint to fit the cap on was a real challenge and I got it perfect first time – just a pity it was a mirror image of what it should have been. The second attempt was not quite so good unfortunately, but I couldn’t face making a third one and it was to be painted black anyway. It became obvious during the bowsprit construction that just sanding and filing would not be good enough and a lathe was going to be worth investing in. I’ve now got a miniature one for doing all the masts and yards and it’s so much easier (although lathing an 8” length of 6mm dowel down to 2mm one end is a bit hair raising!). ( you can do this in an electric drill - it's what I used for a number of years. Allan) |
937 hours
I’m nearly finished on the foremast. The photo shows two stages, the one after painting is difficult to photograph (all the detail being black), and so the left hand one is before painting. I chose to do the banding in plastic-card rather than paper. The card is stronger and (more importantly) comes pre cut in perfect strips (Ok, cheating a bit). If you’re making the Victory, and haven’t got to this stage yet, I found the topmast caps (fore and main) needed splitting to fit over the topmasts (the mizzen topmast cap comes pre split). The caps split very easily as they are solid wood not ply. They glue back together again with no join showing at all. |
1000 hours
At 11:00am on Saturday the 25th June I completed my 1,000th hour on the Victory, nearly 2 years after starting – quite a moment. The picture here shows progress at around 990 hours (I’ve started on the yards since then). The masts are just placed in their holes, so not fully aligned in the photo. With the masts in place, the scale and size of the ship really comes home and I realise carrying it to and from a cabinet for the final stages of the build will be fun – you have to bend quite low to get under the door frame for example! Guess I will have to think about a dedicated room (I’m sure my wife would like to get me out of the kitchen!!) |
1044 hours
, and I’m putting the finishing touches to the yards. This is the main yard and is surprisingly complex to make – there are some 69 parts making up just this one yard – not including all the threads. The lathe has proved invaluable. |
1054 hours
I’ve finished all the yards. Here they are, laid out in all their glory, alongside the masts, bowsprit, booms, gaff and other nautical bits and bobs. The next step is the glue the masts in place. Oh dear, now I really will have to look for a new home for the Victory, as it’s about to outgrow its current display case... |
1055 hours
Work has finally started again. After the long delay looking for a new cabinet to keep the Victory in (the old one wasn’t big enough for the masts) I built one. A 5 sided glass case will be the final choice, but totally impractical during the build phase. Display cabinets were too expensive, so I’ve gone for a temporary DIY job – Four bits of contiboard, a big bit of hardboard, and three pieces of Perspex to keep the dust out. Its nearly 5 foot by 4 foot by 2 foot – a bit unwieldy getting it up the stairs, but I now have a Victory room (or is it the Trafalgar room?) to work in. The masts are glued in place and I’m now adding the pendants. Next photo will be the start of the shrouds… |
1065 hours
.... another momentous point - the start of the rigging - first two shrouds in place on the foremast - quite tricky, as there are so many things to catch your fingers on - better get used to it though. I used a jig (of bent brass wire) to get the spacing right between the dead-eyes - much easier now. |
1111 hours
I’m well into the rigging. The shrouds are almost finished, and this shot shows the main mast lower shrouds, lower futtock shrouds, carthapins, topmast shrouds, lanyards etc. If you’re making this model (and haven’t got to this bit yet) pay attention to the instructions for the carthapins (I didn’t, and they are not quite right – they shouldn’t all line up with the futtock shrouds. Its quite tricky getting all the tensions to all balance up, but the secret seems to be - don’t over tighten any of the ropes. I did over tighten one, and the deadeye snapped off and shot across the room into the landing (the rest were a lot better!) |
1120 hours
1120 hours and all the shrouds are done. Next it’s on to the ratlines. Several thousand knots to do and my eyes and fingers will only allow about one hour at a time (about 100 knots). The picture shows work-in-progress – the loose ends are trimmed when the glue has dried |
1126 hours
Not long since the last update. This photo shows one side of one mast. The biggest problem is avoiding the rest of the model while my fingers are concentrating on tying the knots. A few close encounters with the gun ports and fences, but no serious damage. I’ve made a little ruler showing the distance between ratlines on a piece of plastic-card – essential when gauging the last six ratlines which have to be shorter than the rest. I’m currently at 1148 hours (but the rigging is just more of the same) – Next photo will be when all the ratlines are done – hopefully before Christmas (I'm around 5/6 of the way through) |
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