As I did my last order from Langton Miniatures, I decided to give a try and make a 1/1200 scale ship. After studying their catalog, I decided to take one of the famous 1 vs. 1 actions of the russian naval history, and according to rumors, one of my ancestors served on the Frigate Venus at the time. That action was taking of the swedish 62 gun battleship Rattvisan by russian frigate Venus under Captain Kroun.
Captain Kroun only recently got the frigate under his command - a few month before this duel, he was a commander of a 28-gun cutter Merkuriy. In may 1789, the swedish fleet was blocked by Christiansfjord. As there was a total calm, Kroun took the opportunity of using oars, first boarding a swedish brig, sending it out with a prize crew, and then approaching Venus, staying outside of her main battery sector. After 1.5 hours, Venus surrendered, and was towed out in the close proximity of nearly entire swedish fleet... Venus, which was built by Chapman, and one of the largest frigates afloat of any navy (26 24pdr guns, 18 6pdr guns) was repaired and taken in russian service, with Kroun being promoted and assigned to her as Captain.
Battleship Rattvisan was another of Chapman's creations, and a very stout 62 gun battleship, a member of the class of 4. As in 1790, a year later, the swedish navy ran a gauntlet through the entire russian fleet in the Vyborg battle, Rattvisan made it through, but her damage made her slow. Even if russian Commander in Chief failed to make effective chase, Venus and several other ships pursued. After a heavy battle, Rattvisan surrendered, both due to heavy losses and additional damage, and due to a russian 66 gun battleship approaching. 2 of her sisters were also taken during the battle. She later had a career in the russian navy, surviving several heavy battles in the mediterranean, during anglo-russian landings in Netherlands. As in 1807 Russia lost to France on land, and had to declare war on Britain, she was blockaded in Lisbon, and interned there. The crew repatriated, and the ship was transferred to Portsmouth and laid up. In 1813, she was sold to Britain, as she started to rot, and was scrapped. Venus was also interned in 1807, but in Italy, being transferred to the kingdom of Sicily for safekeeping (or sold). She was dismantled in 1814.
Rod Langton's 1/1200 kits of 40 gun frigate and 62 gun battleships match the drawings (colored Chapman from Wikipedia for Venus and NMM's drawing on Rattvisan) quite well. On Venus, the kit has one window less on the stern, but I decided to ignore it in this scale. 62 gunner kit is close to the plan, but has a poop deck as extra part, which at least the NMM plans dont show (and the model of her sister ship in swedish marine museum neither). It also has a significantly different stern, which is however easy to scratch build, as transom is a separate part in both ships.
Hull casting is nearly flawless, and only minor seam cleanup is needed. Detail is abundant despite the very small size (about 4 cm). Masts are a separate set, and are way too thick - probably so to make safe handling for wargamers. They can and will be replaced by Brass or Nickel silver rods. Etched sails are nice, even if a tad too thick, but will be used. Etched ratlines are quite thick, and the steps are very rare. I will see if I can get better ratlines, or use these. Maybe I would also just make my own ones.
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Venus.jpg [ 191.04 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Venus1.jpg [ 279.93 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Venus2.jpg [ 246.56 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Retvizan1.jpg [ 221.09 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Retvizan2.jpg [ 256.84 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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vmeste.jpg [ 146.23 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Machty.jpg [ 202.7 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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ParusaMetall.jpg [ 185.15 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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ParusaTravlo.jpg [ 344.18 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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Vanty.jpg [ 216.48 KiB | Viewed 1343 times ]
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_________________ Model kit manufacturer and distributor: https://b2b.modellbaudienst.deDistributor of Very Fire, Snowman, Milania Master Korabel, Falkonet, Microdisign in EU 1:350 HMS Diana 1794 - nearly released Further kits in preparation.
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