Yea I know I am going to bring mine down to waterline with a Dremal saw blade.
I picked up 75 of the old Airfix HMS Victory a few years ago dirt cheap. I converted them for everything from a 130 gun ship of the line to a 28 gun Frigate.
I am mainly looking for the Barbary Galley now. I need around 20 of them. I want to do up some as is, as Barbary Galleys and then do some as Swedish and Russian ships of there army fleets.
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Here is what I did with the Victory models.
Building a 1/600 scale fleet.
I originally got the idea from "Virtual Scratch Builder site virtualscratchbuilder.com Using the Airfix HMS Victory in 1/600 scale you can make just about any ship from a 28 – 130.
After getting your ships, first assemble parts 1, 2 and 3 this is the two sections of the hull and the deck. Use a few rubber bands to give some pressure so it set op tight. Using standard plastic model glue let it set for a few hours to become hard.
Then take a fine tip marker and mark were you will make your cuts. Once marked make all of your cuts. You may use a hobby knife, or as like me I use a "DREMEL Moto-Tool."
Bringing the ship down to water line is the easy part. Simply cut below the gun ports that are classiest to the water line leaving about 1/16th of an inch space. This is done if you are building a 1 2 or 3 decker.
In the area of the stern of the ship you will make a cut out of the hull were the rudder would be. I take piece #16 the (nameplate) for the stand and cut it and place it in that location so you have the area below the stern windows filled. You do not have to do this on a 3 decker as it cuts perfectly as per the original kit.
To make a ship shorter or longer then the original kit you must remove or add a section from the hull. These changes are best made when before the ship is cut to water line.
To make a ship shorter remove the section between the Cargo Hold and the Middle Mast. Then glue the two sections back together.
To make a ship longer insert a section from a ship that was made shorter by putting it behind the Middle Mast. Then glue the three sections back together.
Below is a list of different numbered gunned ships and what you need to make them.
1. 28 – 38 gun Frigate, 1 deck and remove a section.
2. 44 – 50 gun Frigate, 1 deck.
3. 64 ship of the line, 2 decks and remove a section.
4. 74 ship of the line, 2 decks.
5. 80 ship of the line, 2 decks, add a section.
6. 98 – 100 ship of the line, 3 decks.
7. 110-120 ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section.
8. 130 ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section, add a 4th deck from a previous ship 3rd deck being removed.
9. Merchantman, 1 deck, and remove a section, sand down gun port if you like.
Once the ship is reassembled give it a good primer coat then finish assembling, painting, rigging, flags and mounting your ship on base.
As per painting and rigging your ships there are many good references out there.
On the "Yahoo groups" "WoodenWalls" in the files section there is a very good article NAVAL.xls Napoleonic Ships Painting Guide by Roy Trochim
If you have any question contact me at badbobalbino@aol.com
Bob Henry
