Volunteer | 21 Jan 2014 10:41 p.m. PST |
A few weeks ago in a previous post 11th ACR (Bob) mentioned he had a large fleet of 1/600th scale Napoleonic ships. My question is for you Bob: Can you please post pictures of your fleet? What make are the ships? Do you have a website? Regards, Vol |
11th ACR | 22 Jan 2014 12:07 a.m. PST |
The ships can been found at the Central California Wargamers site.link in the photos section and the files section. I will see if I can post some from there on to here. The ships are mainly the Airfix HMS Victory, and the Pirateolagy ships. 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 ship, 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 up 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 Motor-Tool." Bringing the ship down to water line is the easy part. Simply cut below the gun ports that are closest 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 cutout 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 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 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks and remove a section. 4. 74 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks. 5. 80 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks, add a section. 6. 98 – 100 gun ship of the line, 3 decks. 7. 110-120 gun ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section. 8. 130 gun ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section, add a 4th deck from a previous ships 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.
For Frigates and Merchantman you may wish to reduce the height of the masts and reduce the number of sails per mast by removing the bottom section of sail. As per painting and rigging your ships there are many good references out there. |
IagreewithSpartacus | 22 Jan 2014 3:11 a.m. PST |
If you want to be a bit elastic with scale, you can also use Peter Pig's 1/450 pirate ships for schooners, brigs etc. |
Dave Jackson | 22 Jan 2014 7:12 a.m. PST |
Files/photos closed if you aren't a member. |
Virtualscratchbuilder | 22 Jan 2014 7:27 a.m. PST |
Here are some examples of Airfix Victories cut down to '74s.
The big red four decker and the smaller ships in the pics are scratchbuilt. |
Dave Jackson | 22 Jan 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
Seems that "Napoleonic 1/600" link isn't working anymore? |
Volunteer | 22 Jan 2014 11:35 a.m. PST |
Very nice! Bob I have a dremel tool as well but I can't think of a bit I have that would make such a smooth even cut. Are you using a cutting wheel? The link you gave to the California gaming club is closed to members only. May e you could paste the photo url addresses into this thread so we can see them. Thanks virtualscratchbuilder for the pics. Your fleet is awesome. I remember seeing this before, maybe on your site or in a post, I can't remember where. There was something about procuring several of the Airfix Victorys at a bargain price from somewhere? I remember doing a search and they weren't so cheap anymore. Outstanding work! You can't tell they were modified at all. Regards, Vol |
11th ACR | 22 Jan 2014 11:54 a.m. PST |
Yes I used a "Cut-off Disk". I normally use two of them (stacked) to give a better cut. If you use one disk they break halfway threw the job being done. On average it takes about two min per hull to cut them down to the size you want. The Piratetolagy ships take twice as long as the ships are made of a rubbery type of plastic. |
The Beast Rampant | 22 Jan 2014 12:15 p.m. PST |
I have three of those Piratology ships I bought on closeout at Target to do something with. The QAR is definitely the best-looking of the lot. Either way, they were too cheap to pass up. I clamped down a belt sander and held the ships to it. Very quick and easy. I have no idea where they are since two moves ago. |
Big Red | 22 Jan 2014 12:21 p.m. PST |
I got mine from Virtualscratchbuilder. |
11th ACR | 22 Jan 2014 12:23 p.m. PST |
Yes I picked up about 10 of the Barbary Pirate ship for an Ottoman/Barbery fleet. link And around 20 of the others for Frigates Sloops and Corvets. link link link Just cut them down to the waterline you want, repaint them, and string them with rigging and rat lines, base them they look great. |
Volunteer | 24 Jan 2014 7:51 a.m. PST |
Don't know why I never saw these before. Guess I just don't walk through the toy dept. anymore since the kids are grown. I guess I should so I don't miss these things. |
11th ACR | 24 Jan 2014 12:20 p.m. PST |
Unfortunately the Piratolagy Ships were only at Target stores, and were only available for a year or so. I think they were around $5 USD each then. You can find them on ebay off and on. My daughter found one at a yard sail a few years ago. Cost 50 cents. They are made as waterline models , but to high of a waterline. Like no ballets on board the ship. So you still need to cut them down a bit. And as I posted earlier, it is a rubber type of plastic and it is thick. |
Volunteer | 27 Jan 2014 6:05 a.m. PST |
I just picked up one of the Airfix Victory models last night on Ebay for $9.99 USD ($14 w/shipping). I'll give it a try. |
11th ACR | 27 Jan 2014 5:50 p.m. PST |
Sounds good Volunteer. Just follow my instructions and you should have know problems. The hardest ship to convert for me was the Spanish, Santísima Trinidad with four gun decks. Taking the HMS Victory kit and making her in to a waterline, then adding an additional deck from a three decker that has had its bottom deck removed. easier said then done. For those of you joining the Central California Wargamers link to see the completed ships I am approving memberships as soon as I receve them. Bob Henry. |
11th ACR | 27 Jan 2014 9:38 p.m. PST |
When looking for the pictures they some are in the "Photos" Section but all of them plus the Rules our group use and the instructions for converting the ships is in the "Files" Section. In the file section of the site there are pictures of the ships in the following "Files". So best just go to the "Files". Battle of Cape Henry, American Revolution Battle of Cape Henry, French vs British, Con Quest 2004. Battle of Trafalgar 1/600 game of the Battle of Trafalgar played on the 200th anniversary. Battle off of Tripoli! Napoleonic Naval Battle between U.S. Navy Frigate's and Brigs VS Barbary Pirates Galleys. Pirateology Ships. Building a 1600 scale fleet..doc Building a 1/600 scale fleet. Nap. Naval Rules 2.0.docx UPDATED: Rules for 1/600 scale Napoleonic Naval warfare. Enjoy Bob Henry |
straylightOz | 06 Apr 2014 6:41 a.m. PST |
thanks good people for all of the info. TMP has come to my aid again. I purchased a selection of 1:600 plastic ships several years ago and they have lain idle. I have brought them out in preparation for "Little Wars: Adelaide" and on closer look and comparison with the HMS VICTORY airfix model, I can see now what the builder has done. He hasn't gone quite to the lengths described above and has got away with some sanding and judicious painting to give the appearance of 1, 2 and 3 deckers, but not changed the waterline length. They look good though and the PO has done a great job rigging them all up. There are 12 total, should make for a good multiplayer game using WHH Tafalgar rules modified for some reality. stu |
11th ACR | 06 Apr 2014 9:55 a.m. PST |
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11th ACR | 06 Apr 2014 10:36 p.m. PST |
PS I just picked up twenty more Pirateology Ships off the internet. Ten of them are Barbary Pirate Xebec's. So it looks like I will be building my Russian and Swedish Army Sqdn's. |
MacrossMartin | 07 Apr 2014 3:46 a.m. PST |
G'Day Stu, Have you seen the 1/600 range of card ships I'm working on? TMP link I intend to be selling these at Little Wars, so if you need any to fill any gaps you might have in your fleets for the game, just say so, I'll be happy to provide. :) - Martin |
11th ACR | 07 Apr 2014 1:47 p.m. PST |
Yes, I like them very much. But I think I will stick with my conversions. Unless you come up with something I don't have already. Bob Henry |
MacrossMartin | 07 Apr 2014 7:43 p.m. PST |
Hello Bob – Was that last post directed towards me? Sorry if I caused any confusion, I was waving at straylightOz. He and I will both be at the same convention come July. Not trying to hijack the thread. My apologies, regardless. :) |
11th ACR | 07 Apr 2014 9:05 p.m. PST |
Yes but no "hijack the thread" seen by me! Yes, I like them very much. |
11th ACR | 23 Apr 2014 6:55 p.m. PST |
As per my post on, 06 Apr 2014. link I ordered two boxes of, Glencoe Models, American Sails, USS Constitution and Gertrude L. Thebaud kit, from Michigan Toy Soldier Company, michtoy.com for $7.99 USD each link The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)is nowhere near to being 1/600th scale. She will make a good a small frigate. The other ship, the Gertrude L. Thebaud, well I'm working on a Russian and Swedish army fleets at this time so maybe I can get something out of it. |
Volunteer | 23 Apr 2014 9:44 p.m. PST |
I did too. The shipping was a penny more than the models cost. |
11th ACR | 28 Apr 2014 2:49 p.m. PST |
Looks like Squadron is carrying the Airfix HMS Victory kit. At $11.69 USD it's not a bad price. link |