Soleil Royal

Actually, PM (private message)  is easy to do. at the bottom right of the post of the person you want to send a message, just click the "Start Conversation" link.  

Just shoot me an email at nbaxt000@hotmail.com and we can go from there.  Thanks!

I would if I could. How do I PM?

I've got a copies of both the awful Heller version and the Aurora version.  But, the kit was issued under the Imai label, too.  Their instructions really clear up the rigging..I think they're the best of all three.  I can send you a copy of those if you want, and you'll have all three to go on.  Just PM me your mailing address and I'll get them in the mail.

A far easier way to get English instructions is to send me your mailing address. Someone sent an English set to me several years ago and I made a pile of copies that I've been sending to people. I still have some left if anyone has a need. They're the plans from the 70's when it was Heller Aurora and besides being in English also have better illustrations.

OK guys – Soleil Royal Plans in English – pay careful attention!

Go to this (Czech?) website:

http://www.radekshipmodels.cz/  using your Google Translate option to get it into English (makes the next bit easier)

Top left, under the heading “Contents Pages” click the item “product models and accessories”

On the right hand side two lists of ship kits appear (I can recommend a good old browse through this list another time)

Scroll down to the second list (I can’t work out exactly why there are two lists but it doesn’t matter) till you find “Le Soleil Royal” (lists aren’t in perfect alphabetical so take your time)

Click on Le Soleil Royal link and a page appears with some info, some box pictures and some build pictures.

Near the top of this page there is a link just under the manufacturer, parts and scale details called “Plan Board”

Click on this and you get a page with thumbnails to link you to jpeg images of the English plans

I’ve printed them and they are fine, comprehensive and make sense, although like all plans in all kits they could probably be a little better. I’ve even found that some ambivalences can be resolved by cross-referencing with the French plans and their much-maligned English translation!

Best of luck

Rob

PS I've reached the point with my Soleil Royal when I'm going to have to start assembling and stepping masts and making ratlines - otherwise known as "the scary bit"  (yes I'm going to use the dreaded "loom" - I got it to work fine with the "Superbe" so I'm going to give it a go)

PPS Many of the ship kits listed on the radek website have plans - a great source of info if you have lost or damaged plans, or just want to see whether that old kit on E Bay is worth a go!

My pleasure!  I keep trying to post the link, but I am having no success.

Bill

Thanks warshipguy, got it now!  Interesting site, there's a lot of information to digest

Sorry.  I tried the link myself without success.  I found the site by performing a yahoo search for "Ships named Le Soleil Royal.  It came up on page 4.  Try it and see if you have any luck posting the link.

Bill

cerberusjf,

Try this.

www.jans-sajt.se/.../MyModels_Heller_Le_​Soleil_Royal_100.htm - Cached

Bill Morrison

Sorry, but I couldn't get the link to work 

I think there could have been a jeer capstan on the focs'l, and maybe a flue from the galley on the focs'l too, based on plans of a 3 decker of 1692 in souvenir de marine. 

Check this link, about 4/5 down there is a reconstruced cross section showing a jeer capstan on the focs'l.

http://5500.forumactif.net/t52p120-soleil-royal-1669

Gentlemen,

Check out this thread!  It sheds a little light on the pinrail issue and some rigging issues.

  http://www.jans-sajt.se/contents/Navigation/Galleries/MyModels_Heller_Le_Soleil_Royal_100.htm

Bill Morrison

Let's reopen this thread.  I have often wondered about the deck furniture issue.  This kit has frequently been criticised as having too little deck furniture but it has the same rails and gratings as other sailing ship models.  Does anyone have any specific observations about precisely what furniture is missing, and how they corrected the alleged flaw?

Bill Morrison

warshipguy

 

I am one of those who actually enjoy the Soleil Royal and am striving to build a reasonable model from the kit.  It can be done.  I agree with the selection of brass belaying pins; I have also opened the quarter galleries while adhering to my summary of recommendations that I listed in the Ultimate Guide thread.  I have also painted mine according to Berain.

I have to say that I am getting a decent model of a 17th century French First Rate; no one can say for sure whether it is in fact a replica of Le Soleil Royal.  But that fact does not detract from my enjoyment of the kit.

Bill Morrison

Like Bill I definitely enjoy building the model. I think it is one of the best model ship kits I have had.  Into the rigging now, so progress has definitely slowed down.  The rigging instructions are far more detailed than any of the expensive wooden kits I have.

This is the second kit I am working on- the first (partially completed) got damaged in a state-to-state move several years ago.  Then Squadron had the kit on a super good sale so I bought the second.  First kit had English instructions, second had French.

Wayne,

  I'm a new member and also have the Heller Soliel Royal 1/100 kit with French instructions. It came with 24 pages of the Enlish intructions and It's missing pages 25 to the end. If you could I'd like copies of those last pages. I'm willing to pay postage too. Thanks for any help.

Marc Pape

4812 Dupont Oaks Place

Fort Wayne, IN. 46845

pape66@aol.com

I received what appears to be part of an email from you passed on thru FSM but I've been unable to respond back and I'm utterly lost. After a frustrating hour I've given up. I guess this isn't the proper way to do things but I've never used a forum and can't figure out how else to reach you. Send me a note at jpesnel@nycap.rr.com .

I'm new to this and don't know how.

Jeffpez

   Its a total book all in English. Very clear on how to build. Alot better than using the French instructions.Get a hold of me thru the message area and I'll tell you how to get a set.

ROD

Do you mean the English translation at the back of the French instructions or an actual complete set of English plans? I only have a French booklet and it's been 40 years since French class (not that I learned much then anyway). Even if they're almost useless it's better than totally useless as I have now.

santa wrote:

Wayne,

I had to slow down my build and have recently resumed.  I have the gundecks installed, planked, and have planked over the inboad bulkheads and gunwales.  I have planked all decks.  The outer hull is painted shades of blue (see the Ultimate Building Guide) with gold strakes.  The inboard gunwales and bulkheads have been painted insignia red with gold trim. The stern and quarter galleries have been opened without too much difficulty.  That hole in the knee of the head has been filled.  All guns have been drilled out, the belaying pins have been replaced with brass. I have also added eyebolts and tackle to the gunports and cannon.

I recently ordered sets of parrels from Model Expo.  I also bought a second kit on Ebay fairly cheaply to help enhance the deck furniture.

I would post pictures but have yet to figure out how to do so.

How far along is yours?

Bill

The Soleil Royal model version is the 1977 Aurora/Heller Prestige series kit.  The instructions are all English.  I haven't checked as to the accuracy of the instructions....I guess I will find out with time.

I did check out the Soleil Royal model on Modelwarships.com #205.  Nice build.

Bill.....how far along are you with your kit build?  I was thinking about opening up the quarter galleries....but that level of scratchbuilding at this point gives me pause.  I will be posting some images of my build as soon as I finish the first (lower) deck of cannons and gunports.  Currently in the laborious process of putting three eyebolts on each gunport door.

Thanks for the input guys!

Wayne

Greetings!  I have been gone from the forum recently due to a broken foot that is slowly healing.  Then, I saw this thread!

I am one of those who actually enjoy the Soleil Royal and am striving to build a reasonable model from the kit.  It can be done.  I agree with the selection of brass belaying pins; I have also opened the quarter galleries while adhering to my summary of recommendations that I listed in the Ultimate Guide thread.  I have also painted mine according to Berain.

I have to say that I am getting a decent model of a 17th century French First Rate; no one can say for sure whether it is in fact a replica of Le Soleil Royal.  But that fact does not detract from my enjoyment of the kit.

Bill Morrison

waynec9436:   Visit the website, modelwarship.com, click on the gallery section, year 2009, and scroll down to model # 205, where you will find  the model of the SOLEIL ROYAL, by Sven Von Bremen. Here, there are many pictures that should answer your questions about the construction of your model. Hope this helps you.

                  Montani semper liberi !  Happy modeling to all and every one of you.

                                                       Crackers       

Actully there is a good set of  english instruction for The kit.during the late Seventies or early eight's the kits were under the Aurora/Heller title Prestiege Series. The whole book is in english and very well detailed. All of Heller kits produced under the Prestiege Series were in english. Also the kit was produced By Imai during the Eighty's and there instruction are good.

Rod

The Underhill book is a great one, but not really relevant to this particular ship.  Waynec9436 is right:  the essential source for rigging the Soleil Royal (or any other seventeenth-century ship model) is R.C. Anderson's The Rigging of Ships in the Days of the Spritsail Topmast.  Just be sure you get the book with that title.  (The same author's Seventeenth-Century Rigging is a revised version that, despite what the title may imply, omits all the material on non-English ships.)  It's a terrific little book, and widely available in a bargain-priced paperback reprint (the original dates from the 1920s) from Dover Books.

Waynec9436 is right:  it doesn't contain any overall sail or rigging plans.  But it describes the lead of each individual line, both verbally and in hundreds of little diagrams.  In many respects that approach works better for modeling purposes.