Great inbox review as usual.. :) Too large a kit for me to do but I have to agree it looks rather beautiful, before it's even built!! :) :) Nice detail and the wood grain is exceptional.. it's good to know Heller can make some really great stuff when they want to!! :) :)
These kits are so exciting to build. Each time you work on it the thing grows and grows. The problem comes when you think what you are going to do with it when it is finished. I did a scratch build of Victory fifty years ago, It needed 28 of lead for ballast, it was wonderful doing it all for myself and I finished it. Fortunately we lived in a large house but every photograph in the house seemed to have this bloody ship in the background. I sold it long ago but every time I pick up a saw my wife looks at me and says "It isn't another ship is it?"
It was 55 years go when I started ii and over forty years ago when I sold it. It floated at over one metre on the water line. It was a lot of fun but it had to go. I put it into auction and I think it made about £150 which was probably cheap but there you go.
So you got this kit about 7 years ago. Those that are interested and have been hanging out for you to build it so should we just move on and come to grips that you will not build it in our life time? Thanks
Really Heller? No studding sails OR bowsprit squaresails? Are you sure there isnt a sail sheet missing? It even includes ALL the studding yards. Either you got duped one sail sheet or Heller's trying to piss off purists like me.
There might be, to be totally honest I don't really care as I'm not planning on using them. The details are really faint, and I found a seller online that makes them out of fabric. I'm planning on just investing in those instead.
This is a kit that I call " wintertime project ". This winter I got revells " torch fock ". A lot of time invested ( and beer ) in building . well worth it in the end .
For Ratlines, I thread through the verticals, as you describe, and then tie the outer lines with a simple slip knot and put on a dab of superglue with a toothpick (as small as I can make it ). If you work carefully enough it comes out quite well.
Yes that ship is awsome and very big i have one myself ive been working on it for awihle Be prepared for a real butt kicking with this kit it is not For beginners The cannons which are 104 Each one has to be separately built Very tedious a nerve wracking Take your time and go slow The only thing I really don't like about this kit Is Drop instructions I think Heller Could have a better Job with the instructions They're very difficult to read Other than that The HMS vicary Is the best plastic ship kit available
I could never commit myself to a kit this big! I have Lindberg's 1/500 Victory, which looks like it would be about the size of a large rowboat for this Victory. The vacu-formed sails here don't look that promising, but you are right about the hull. It's amazing.
Ahoy A wonderful kit a Museum piece once fi9nished I built one of these kits 23 years ago and still have it in my collection protected with a dust cover I highly recommend. for a tip replace the yards and mast with wooden dowl, using the kits mast and yards as a template the plastic on all Heller kits are almost like that of resin not very forgiving if bumped or bent it will snap like that of a dried twig no matter what type of plastic glue you use or instant glues the parts arte difficult to glue back and still; have the strength it once was before broken. So for a tip replace all of your mast bowspirit yards spankers gafts a small lathe is a must to use to taper the yards and mast. if you don't have a latyhe use a hand drill chuck up the wooden dowls and turn on the drill use a file to shape the yards or mast when the drill is turned on. Not trying to scare you on this Beautiful kit just share my wisdom on my person experience on the is kit this the best plastic kit anywhere in the modeling market a highly detailed model it is. Also the kits rigging chord leaves a lot to desire throw it away and get yourself some better rigging thread you can generally find this type thread at a sewing store or carpet store they come in different sizes. get yourself a cake of bees wax for the rigging thread. The wire in the kit is useless its for the channels where the dead eyes are backed from against the hull at the channel bottoms. replace it with brass strips glued to the bottom of rthe channels using instant glue. Other then that this is my two cents . enjoy your build Canadian winters can be very harsh and cold this will makle a great project for winter time it will keep you busy. Great inbox review Take your time on this read and familerize yourdelf with the instructions before proceeding.Frankie Day
Thanks Frankie, I'll have to look into a lathe then :D I appreciate your comments, I'd really like this kit when it's all done to be a really nice model, so I'd really like to throw as much good and small details into it. I know what you mean, and this one's most definitely going under glass. My Dad recently destroyed his old USS Constitution, because the dust completely got to it, luckily he was able to rebuild it, and build 2 more :D
I have made two of these: they take me a little over a year to make..When finished, it is beautiful, BUT: you will get frustrated , as a lot of pieces do not fit as good as they should and it takes a lot of customizing to get done. some tips: throw away those cheap sails, either make it without, or order aftermarket cloth sails on Ebay...also, their enclosed rigging thread is too light and only 1/10th of how much you will really need. Oh yes, and that "machine" for making the shrouds is bogus, don't even bother, just do them by hand on the model. The rigging instructions will drive you crazy, you need other reference books, and various online help for that. so, overall, it is a chore and quite a project, however, as I said, when it is completed, it looks magnificent.
Yeah this is going to be a massive undertaking, I'm not planning on using the sails, there's a set of fabric ones online or I'll just make my own. Not sure when I'll build it either, just glad to have one.
Wow! Throughout your review, I can really imagine how big... no... huge this model is when it is finished. And so many details, almost as exciting as a wooden ship model. Now I really can´t stop thinking of getting this model as well, some day... Thank you for your impressive review, well done! ;-)
That's going to be the problem with this kit, I'm not sure where it will live once it's completed. To be honest it's a kit worth getting on all accounts. It's beautifully done, and has the Heller charm to it :)
Yes this kit will be built. I just don't have space for it yet. There is a room where it will most likely go when it's completed, but that room hasn't been renovated yet. I'm also thinking of investing quite a bit extra into this kit, new sails and details.
ohhh mein gott , oh my gosh, ay dios mio !! wow O.O Dude that´s huge i´ve got the revell´s gift set and it fightens me but that is going to be awesome imagine it on a pond !!! hey dude good luck WOW i want to see it finished and the size of it at that moment. :) ;)
My older brother is the one who first showed me this kit, he keeps the hull on his desk shelf and awaits the day he decides to start it :D Man you are right on, this would be a really impressive site to see on the water :D
I was actually talking with my Dad about this kit today. And there are days when I want to start working on it, but I just don't have the room, and I know that this is going to be a brute of a long term project. I think I'll have to give up my regular modeling full time to be able to focus on this kit properly.
That thought has crossed my mind several times. Especially since I found a seller who makes real fabric sails. My Dad has built many sailing ships over the years, so I know how big they can get. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to build this one.
Have you even started on this yet? Checked your site and there are no updates on your progress. My guess is you gave up after considering all the rigging work.
Nope, and the rigging isn't that daunting for me, you just start and keep on going. I've done mass rigging before. I just haven't been in the mood to build this model
rebelsatcloudnine Ah, I hear you. It does require a certain mind set to delve into such an involving model. The dedicated space alone required to commence construction and painting, is a serious consideration. A number of years ago I built a 1/50 scale wooden plank on bulkhead of the pilot boat, Swift. Loved it! Took me 2 winters to complete and thankfully had a free area of the shop where I could leave it mid build. Making it easier to jump back into it the next winter. Here's hoping you find the "mood" for yours. Cheers.
Impressive size of a kit. The only thing that would beat it is the fact that the real H.M.S Victory still exists in 1:1 scale. She can be visited at Portsmouth harbour, England. Although she is best famous as the Flagship for the Royal Navy at Trafalgar in 1805, she was actually already 40 years old at that time. She was launched in 1765. Looking forward to your build of this impressive piece of maritime history. Regards the sails, I would be tempted to have them "furled", as if she was in harbour.
I'd like to build her when she was in the Trafalgar battle, at least in those same colors, which I've heard is basically how's she's painted now. I'm going to look into the possibility of making some new sails, if I can't get them to work properly I'll probably display her docked :D
Um, slightly! HO is about 1/72 scale which would make them about 9 foot tall on this ship! There are some white metal 1/100 scale British Seamen and Marines available out there. I think they're in the 15mm Minifigs range.
your are very fortunate to get one with English instructions as well
I did build the "Soleil Royal" the other big big ship in 1/100th wonderfull I sold it a long time ago...
Great inbox review as usual.. :) Too large a kit for me to do but I have to agree it looks rather beautiful, before it's even built!! :) :) Nice detail and the wood grain is exceptional.. it's good to know Heller can make some really great stuff when they want to!! :) :)
I agree, my Dad is a huge fan of their ship line. I especially like their Solei Royale, a very impressive ship :D
impressive! on a side note congratulations on smkr's group build the tie was awesome
Oh cool, I'll have to check that out, thanks.
These kits are so exciting to build. Each time you work on it the thing grows and grows. The problem comes when you think what you are going to do with it when it is finished. I did a scratch build of Victory fifty years ago, It needed 28 of lead for ballast, it was wonderful doing it all for myself and I finished it. Fortunately we lived in a large house but every photograph in the house seemed to have this bloody ship in the background. I sold it long ago but every time I pick up a saw my wife looks at me and says "It isn't another ship is it?"
May I ask for how much did you sell it? I just won an auction of the H.M.S. Victory 20 mins ago and I'm super excited (not the Heller model).
It was 55 years go when I started ii and over forty years ago when I sold it. It floated at over one metre on the water line. It was a lot of fun but it had to go. I put it into auction and I think it made about £150 which was probably cheap but there you go.
Can't really remember, it was forty years ago when I sold it at auction. I think it made two hundred pounds whi@@AdioAurel
Yeah...I'll be sticking with the smaller kit put out by Airfix personally.. Gods, that's a large kit.
Oh yes! I loved that Mr.Bean reference! Awesome vid, cheers
Thank you so much, I've been waiting for someone to catch that reference :D
rebelsatcloudnine Made me smile :) keep it up!
Nice video mate. Never owned a sailing ship kit (im into cars and historical figures) but this looks fantastic. Hate those sails though..
Hooooly.... What a big ship :) but..... In a few days.... I'll get hellers soleil royal 😀
Marco‘s Modellbau I have the Soleil, it’s a beautiful model but some parts don’t fit, easy fixes though and GOOD LUCK
Marco‘s Modellbau I have the Soleil, it’s a beautiful model but some parts don’t fit, easy fixes though and GOOD LUCK
How's the set going?
What a nice ship
Does the ship come of any figures
I can't recall, I stashed this kit a while ago and it's stuck behind stuff.
rebelsatcloudnine ty
good quality .
1:100?? great size!!
Yes indeed, I just have no idea know that I've got it, where it will live once it's completed :)
So you got this kit about 7 years ago. Those that are interested and have been hanging out for you to build it so should we just move on and come to grips that you will not build it in our life time? Thanks
That is one big ship. You could sit in the box and row away.
Ha ha, I'll use the Victory as a life boat :D
this is way more detail than my Yamato and Bismarck kit. ❤️❤️❤️
Really Heller? No studding sails OR bowsprit squaresails? Are you sure there isnt a sail sheet missing? It even includes ALL the studding yards. Either you got duped one sail sheet or Heller's trying to piss off purists like me.
There might be, to be totally honest I don't really care as I'm not planning on using them. The details are really faint, and I found a seller online that makes them out of fabric. I'm planning on just investing in those instead.
This is a kit that I call " wintertime project ". This winter I got revells " torch fock ". A lot of time invested ( and beer ) in building . well worth it in the end .
I agree with you there Bill, I think that this on in particular will last me a few Winters :)
Crazy model ! Over 2000 parts 😬
WOW!! Never seen such a huge kit. This would take me years to build ;-D
Yes, this one's going to be a long haul :)
For Ratlines, I thread through the verticals, as you describe, and then tie the outer lines with a simple slip knot and put on a dab of superglue with a toothpick (as small as I can make it ). If you work carefully enough it comes out quite well.
get rid of those sails please
Yes that ship is awsome and very big i have one myself ive been working on it for awihle Be prepared for a real butt kicking with this kit it is not For beginners The cannons which are 104 Each one has to be separately built Very tedious a nerve wracking Take your time and go slow The only thing I really don't like about this kit Is Drop instructions I think Heller Could have a better Job with the instructions They're very difficult to read Other than that The HMS vicary Is the best plastic ship kit available
I could never commit myself to a kit this big! I have Lindberg's 1/500 Victory, which looks like it would be about the size of a large rowboat for this Victory. The vacu-formed sails here don't look that promising, but you are right about the hull. It's amazing.
You can really bring out the detail in sails by washing it with a coat of Agrax Earthshade from Games Workshop
Ahoy A wonderful kit a Museum piece once fi9nished I built one of these kits 23 years ago and still have it in my collection protected with a dust cover I highly recommend. for a tip replace the yards and mast with wooden dowl, using the kits mast and yards as a template the plastic on all Heller kits are almost like that of resin not very forgiving if bumped or bent it will snap like that of a dried twig no matter what type of plastic glue you use or instant glues the parts arte difficult to glue back and still; have the strength it once was before broken. So for a tip replace all of your mast bowspirit yards spankers gafts a small lathe is a must to use to taper the yards and mast. if you don't have a latyhe use a hand drill chuck up the wooden dowls and turn on the drill use a file to shape the yards or mast when the drill is turned on. Not trying to scare you on this Beautiful kit just share my wisdom on my person experience on the is kit this the best plastic kit anywhere in the modeling market a highly detailed model it is. Also the kits rigging chord leaves a lot to desire throw it away and get yourself some better rigging thread you can generally find this type thread at a sewing store or carpet store they come in different sizes. get yourself a cake of bees wax for the rigging thread. The wire in the kit is useless its for the channels where the dead eyes are backed from against the hull at the channel bottoms. replace it with brass strips glued to the bottom of rthe channels using instant glue. Other then that this is my two cents . enjoy your build Canadian winters can be very harsh and cold this will makle a great project for winter time it will keep you busy. Great inbox review Take your time on this read and familerize yourdelf with the instructions before proceeding.Frankie Day
Thanks Frankie, I'll have to look into a lathe then :D I appreciate your comments, I'd really like this kit when it's all done to be a really nice model, so I'd really like to throw as much good and small details into it. I know what you mean, and this one's most definitely going under glass. My Dad recently destroyed his old USS Constitution, because the dust completely got to it, luckily he was able to rebuild it, and build 2 more :D
I have the 1/180 scale Airfix Victory.
Michael Mitchell I built her too . 6 months to build . well worth it .
I have made two of these: they take me a little over a year to make..When finished, it is beautiful, BUT: you will get frustrated , as a lot of pieces do not fit as good as they should and it takes a lot of customizing to get done. some tips: throw away those cheap sails, either make it without, or order aftermarket cloth sails on Ebay...also, their enclosed rigging thread is too light and only 1/10th of how much you will really need. Oh yes, and that "machine" for making the shrouds is bogus, don't even bother, just do them by hand on the model. The rigging instructions will drive you crazy, you need other reference books, and various online help for that. so, overall, it is a chore and quite a project, however, as I said, when it is completed, it looks magnificent.
Yeah this is going to be a massive undertaking, I'm not planning on using the sails, there's a set of fabric ones online or I'll just make my own. Not sure when I'll build it either, just glad to have one.
I live in Portsmouth an have an annual pass for all the naval sites
Wow!
Throughout your review, I can really imagine how big... no... huge this model is when it is finished. And so many details, almost as exciting as a wooden ship model.
Now I really can´t stop thinking of getting this model as well, some day...
Thank you for your impressive review, well done! ;-)
That's going to be the problem with this kit, I'm not sure where it will live once it's completed. To be honest it's a kit worth getting on all accounts. It's beautifully done, and has the Heller charm to it :)
Are you going to build it? I would be interested in a building series...i am thinking to buy it myself but its quite expensive...
Yes this kit will be built. I just don't have space for it yet. There is a room where it will most likely go when it's completed, but that room hasn't been renovated yet. I'm also thinking of investing quite a bit extra into this kit, new sails and details.
ohhh mein gott , oh my gosh, ay dios mio !! wow O.O Dude that´s huge i´ve got the revell´s gift set and it fightens me but that is going to be awesome imagine it on a pond !!! hey dude good luck WOW i want to see it finished and the size of it at that moment. :) ;)
My older brother is the one who first showed me this kit, he keeps the hull on his desk shelf and awaits the day he decides to start it :D Man you are right on, this would be a really impressive site to see on the water :D
what a wonderful looking kit so looking forward to seeing this built
Me too, it will be a very slow process, but I think a fun one too :D
I think the time has come to start this build.... ?
I had a cutty sark model the same size and never finished it. It will take years to do it.
I was actually talking with my Dad about this kit today. And there are days when I want to start working on it, but I just don't have the room, and I know that this is going to be a brute of a long term project. I think I'll have to give up my regular modeling full time to be able to focus on this kit properly.
Nice review. I'm gonna put this ship on my wishlist. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jose, Heller recently released this one again :D
Do never forget that in a sailing ship the hull is not even half the size of the ship, with all the spars out this ship is is enourmous...
That thought has crossed my mind several times. Especially since I found a seller who makes real fabric sails. My Dad has built many sailing ships over the years, so I know how big they can get. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to build this one.
The side stairs! Noooo! They are WAY to narrow!!
Have you even started on this yet? Checked your site and there are no updates on your progress. My guess is you gave up after considering all the rigging work.
Nope, and the rigging isn't that daunting for me, you just start and keep on going. I've done mass rigging before. I just haven't been in the mood to build this model
rebelsatcloudnine Ah, I hear you. It does require a certain mind set to delve into such an involving model. The dedicated space alone required to commence construction and painting, is a serious consideration. A number of years ago I built a 1/50 scale wooden plank on bulkhead of the pilot boat, Swift. Loved it! Took me 2 winters to complete and thankfully had a free area of the shop where I could leave it mid build. Making it easier to jump back into it the next winter. Here's hoping you find the "mood" for yours. Cheers.
Impressive size of a kit. The only thing that would beat it is the fact that the real H.M.S Victory still exists in 1:1 scale. She can be visited at Portsmouth harbour, England. Although she is best famous as the Flagship for the Royal Navy at Trafalgar in 1805, she was actually already 40 years old at that time. She was launched in 1765. Looking forward to your build of this impressive piece of maritime history. Regards the sails, I would be tempted to have them "furled", as if she was in harbour.
I'd like to build her when she was in the Trafalgar battle, at least in those same colors, which I've heard is basically how's she's painted now. I'm going to look into the possibility of making some new sails, if I can't get them to work properly I'll probably display her docked :D
She is a fantastic ship, not been to visit for ages but live just down the coast. Could always pop down and take reference photo's if you want.
Thanks man, I'd really like to see this one in person one day, do they give tours of the ship?
They do give tours of the ship, you have to book one at ticket office on the day. Open every day from 10am till 6pm.
would HO scale sailors be too big for this ship?
Um, slightly! HO is about 1/72 scale which would make them about 9 foot tall on this ship! There are some white metal 1/100 scale British Seamen and Marines available out there. I think they're in the 15mm Minifigs range.
I subscribed
So giant kit!)
Yeah, much bigger than I remembered it :D
Frigging epic kit.
I agree :D
What is a Deckull????
It's a common pronunciation of the word outside of the U.S.