HMS Victory Noel C.L. Hackney -- Ships and Modelling

This book was first published in 1970 as a companion publication to the Airfix Victory Kit. The intention was to describe how the original kit could be modified and added to to make as accurate a scale model as possible.

I have just acquired a copy on e-bay because it is recommended for both wood and plastic modellers. It cost me just over £20.00 but I have also seen copies on sale at Amazon for over £40.00.

There are a three short chapters describing the history of the ship.

The rest of the book describes step by step the detailed tasks which need to be completed in order to make an accurate model. There is a chapter on the rigging for the guns and another with a detailed colour scheme. I haven't as yet had a chance to compare it with the colours on the HMS Victory official website.

There is an extensive description of the rigging, this must be useful one day in the distant future when I start to rig my Victory model. Currently I am trying to understand the rigging of HMS Halifax, a much smaller ship but is rigged fore and aft like a schooner as well as having square rigged top sails!

Overall this book is not a bedtime read but as a source of information it will prove invaluable.

Mike T

Bought this myself a while ago,very informative even though it's aimed at Airfix kit.g