rigging

The drawings in the McGowan book are by Mr. McKay. In many ways they're better than the ones in his own "Anatomy of the Ship" volume. The latter took a little heat from critics when it was published, because it depicted some features of the present-day restored ship that are at odds with her original configuration. (Example: McKay showed the wales as thin boards fastened to the outside of the hull planking. As built, they were enormous timbers fastened directly to the frames.) Those mistakes got corrected in the drawings McKay made for the McGowan book - which, I believe, lists McKay as co-author. There are actually more drawings in the McGowan book than in the "Anatomy of the Ship" volume.

I think I can claim to be fairly knowledgeable about the old-fashioned art of drafting (though I'm a mediocre draftsman myself) and I'll go out on a limb and say that John McKay's drawings (especially his isometrics) are among the best I've ever seen. The rigging diagrams, though, are kind of hard to follow. Rarely do both ends of a line appear in the same drawing. That's why I recommend Dr. Longridge's Anatomy of Nelson's Ships. In addition to the beautiful drawings by another giant in the field, George Campbell, Longridge provides a written description of how every line runs. The book, though it's more than fifty years old now, really is a masterpiece.

Unfortunately all three books seem to be out of print, and used copies are expensive. But I strongly recommend that anybody building a model of the Victory lay hands on at least one of them.

I like this book a lot. It greatly enhanced my understanding of how rigging works. However, I would not use it as a basis for rigging the Victory, as its information applies specifically to models of small British frigates. I second the Longridge and McKay recommendations as they contain Victory-specific rigging drawings, and add a third, "HMS Victory: Her Construction, Career, and Restoration" by Alan McGowan. It has really good deck-by-deck drawings of the hull, and excellent drawings of the rigging.

That's as far as I plan to go

jtilley

I don't have a copy, but it has a good reputation. Probably one of the best in that particular category of book.

Two points, though. One - you're going to need at least one book that deals specifically with the Victory - either all bridge [later edit: that was supposed to read "Longridge;" I-phone spell checker strikes again] or McKay. Second - this isn't intended to be discouraging, but if you're just starting the Heller Victory now, it will be months - if not years - before you're ready to start on the rigging. It's one of the most time-consuming and complex plastic kits ever produced.

Good luck.

And I would say on the large Heller ships, such as the Victory and le Soleil Royal, that when you are ready to start rigging  you are only halfway done.  The rigging itself will take as long as all the rest of the steps up to that point.

However, while many folks assemble everything first and then start the actual rigging, you may find it easier to start rigging before the upper masts and yards are in place.  Do the lower masts and sprit mast rigging (shrouds and ratlines) before putting on the upper masts and spars.

Good idea, Steve. The more you read about sailing warships before you start, the more you'll enjoy the exercise - and the better the model will be.

your right about the time factor., jtilley., but I am waiting on some parts and tools to arrive, and I know some of this stuff can be hard to locate., so I am just filling in time till they get here

I don't have a copy, but it has a good reputation. Probably one of the best in that particular category of book.

Two points, though. One - you're going to need at least one book that deals specifically with the Victory - either all bridge [later edit: that was supposed to read "Longridge;" I-phone spell checker strikes again] or McKay. Second - this isn't intended to be discouraging, but if you're just starting the Heller Victory now, it will be months - if not years - before you're ready to start on the rigging. It's one of the most time-consuming and complex plastic kits ever produced.

Good luck.