HMS Victory and Le Redoutable at Trafalgar (1/300)

[MartinJQuinn]

I think we've collectively run out out of superlatives. Really incredible work.

[marijn van gils]

Many thanks everyone!

+++Sorry, no translation available

Google translate begs to differ: 'super monkey boobs horny'

I'll take that as a compliment!

[Neptune]

I'm still looking at all the pictures, trying to find the 10 differences... Or are there only 7? I'm truly following the edges to try to figure out whether you didn't post the same picture twice

Fantastic work is all I have left to say

[marijn van gils]

Thanks Neptune!


One more pic:

[dafi]

"Grandfather, what big thumps you have!"

XXXDAn

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

"Grandfather, what big thups you have!"

XXXDAn

Where did your giant matchstick go, Marijn?

[MartinJQuinn]

"Grandfather, what big thups you have!"

XXXDAn

Now we know why Grandma was always smiling...

[marijn van gils]

[GewoonWouter]

It has been said over and over again - and you might get sick and tired of reading/hearing it - but boy, Marijn, this isn't just modelling anymore, this truly is art I keep looking at each update in awe. Cool shizzle, chap !

[zs180]

This is something (I have) never seen before in this scale with this genre of warships.
When finished, this diorama will be the jewel in the crown of your best works.
I really do wonder what you can possibly think of as a more motivating project that may come after this incredible masterpiece!

[Iceman 29]

It hurts my eyes. This diorama is going to be royal!

The attention to details pushed to the extreme.

We love that!

[marijn van gils]

Thank you very much Wouter, Gy�rgy and Pascal!

and you might get sick and tired of reading/hearing it

Nope!
Such nice words are always welcome and very much appreciated!

This is something (I have) never seen before in this scale with this genre of warships.

Neither have I! Which is one of the main reasons why I want to do it.
But that is also the most difficult part of it: I don't have a clear example to follow. I have some fantastic miniature wooden shipbuilders as examples like Donald McNarry and Philip Reed, but their work is of course still quite different as a style and technique, both in construction and painting. So I also borrow from 'steel' ship building, and from the other disciplines I have some experience with, but for this subject I still have to imagine myself how the final result should look like, more than with other projects.

I really do wonder what you can possibly think of as a more motivating project that may come after this incredible masterpiece!

Me too!
But I don't worry; the hard thing will be to choose...
There are still so many things I didn't try yet, and still so many ideas. But it certainly won't be as ambitious a project as this one (in regard to the amount of work)! No problem for the current project, but still it is a once in a lifetime kind of project...

[Dan K]

it is a once in a lifetime kind of project..

Sure, you say that now........

[marijn van gils]

Haha!

I know: never say never (again)...

[wefalck]

Most sailing ship modellers would want to present their model in sort of pristine condition with all the labour going into construction, painting and rigging. I can understand that. So it is indeed quite a novelty to show a realistic battle-scene. I gather it is an easier decision for those steam-ship era modellers, where comparatively less work goes into the construction of the model. Also, for post-1880 times we may have photographs that actually show ships what they really looked like in every-day appearance and even after battle.

It's a delicate decision how much wear and tear to show in a scenic display, where the subject actually has been constructed in all its details. I know this from my own current project.

[Vladi]

Fantastic, as all of your builds, but very special indeed. Congrats!

[marijn van gils]

Thanks Vladi!

Most sailing ship modellers would want to present their model in sort of pristine condition with all the labour going into construction, painting and rigging. I can understand that.
It's a delicate decision how much wear and tear to show in a scenic display, where the subject actually has been constructed in all its details.

Indeed! The same goes for most aircraft modellers and car modellers, and for a fair amount of figure painters and even armour modellers.
And I understand and respect that too, absolutely.

Wanting to display the beauty and technical interest of the prototype foremost is a noble goal. If that is what one wants to do, showing it in less than pristine condition may not be a good idea indeed. And indeed, if one wants to show that in a scenic setting or diorama, a delicate balance needs to be found to make it looked lived-in but still beautiful.

If on the other hand one wants to tell a story foremost, the 'beauty' of the prototype becomes secondary. The story dictates everything else, for example how much damage and weathering is necessary to tell the story as effectively as possible. That makes it easier to make this kind of decisions and 'damage' an otherwise beautiful ship.

Both ways/goals/styles are of course equally valid. The latter just happens to be mine, and working from stories forces me to try out new stuff all the time. That is: all the time stuff that is new to me (new techniques etc.), and once in a while maybe something that is new to the hobby.

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

If on the other hand one wants to tell a story foremost, the 'beauty' of the prototype becomes secondary. The story dictates everything else, for example how much damage and weathering is necessary to tell the story as effectively as possible. That makes it easier to make this kind of decisions and 'damage' an otherwise beautiful ship.

I can only but agree with you, Marijn. And this brings it all so much closer to the dramatic paintings of the historical event, which are the only images we have of the event which took place before the advent of photography. The only other testimonies we have are the written (and told) history and some of the artifacts, like the Victory as it is today, and the transom of HMS Implacable in the IWM, being the closest thing left of any of the French T�m�raires. And of course the technical drawings in the French and British archives.

But these are only elements of the story, and your way to tell it in full physical 3D is very welcome, next to the 2D paintings! And every story is always slightly different from the other stories from the same event -- just like a musical piece is different every time it is performed. So please go on telling your story, I'm hanging on your lips! (virtually then )

[Iceman 29]

"Victory Races Temeraire".

Victory took six hours to get within range. As they, at last, approached the enemy line Temeraire began to overtake.

Nelson, unamused shouted across to Temeraire.

�I�ll thank you, Captain Harvey, to take your proper station,�

�?Geoff Hunt

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

Very interesting painting, Pascale! Thanks for the caption as well.

And also noteworthy: this is the British Royal Navy HMS Temeraire of 98 guns, not the French T�m�raire of 74 guns, which was already broken up in 1803. However, the Redoutable from the title was of the same class as that T�m�raire...