I must admit after complaining about the
rigging, the Victory has been fascinating. It’s the opposite of most model builds in as much as it’s widely regarded as the most thoroughly documented war machine ever built. I’ve got books with astonishing levels of detail including the make up of every multi-part rib and the exact workings of every aspect of it. It’s also been in continuous service with the Royal Navy since it was built, also unique.
It had already had its first refit when Nelson got hold of it at the time of Trafalgar, she was launched in 1765 so 50 years old by Trafalgar.
So like B-52s now!
There’s about 2000 oak trees went into her, and it turns out that the New Forest was actually cultivated as a key military resource to provide timber for the fleet I learnt as part of this.
She’s also a bit like triggers brush, in so much has been replaced over the years, there’s very little of the original left. Like most war machines all kinds of modifications were made during her life as well as repairs and battle damage, so the question becomes, you are building a model of Victory WHEN? most people, myself included go for the Trafalgar version.
I live in North Wales and a small town near me made all the copper nails that secure the essential copper plates these things were covered in, for the duration they were in use for the entire Royal Navy.
The first published engineering tolerance for anything ever made in the world was for the naval guns these things were equipped with, they were bored for the first time by a giant waterwheel again in another obscure little town near me, to a tolerance of ‘half an English shilling’ this was a game changer, as the bores had previously been cast in and were all shapes and sizes, never straight and prone to exploding. After this, English guns became stronger, safer, and significantly more accurate, a key factor in our naval dominance.
Again in the 18th century the first factory was built (so not Henry Ford) to make the thousands of blocks and tackles these warships each needed - who knew?
And so on…
I’ll get me coat.
Nick