WELCOME  ABOARD

 

When I started to find some interest in naval modeling two years ago, I was surprised to discover how Internet can be commercial.  Carrying out research on a well determined model, I fell down systematically on the same online stores  and the sites praising the "museum quality" of their “handmade” models. That was not what I am looking for.   Fortunately, I could find out some modeling forums.  These forums taught me what I know, enabled me to meet very interesting people :experts in naval history, experts in modeling, amateurs or just  like me, curious.   I was particularly impressed by Mr Gerard Delacroix’s website (Marine et Modelisme d' Arsenal), who skilfully combines the site itself and a forum, visited by the elite of the arsenal modeling ; Philippe Coupard’s website, about HMAV Bounty, constitutes to him one of the objectives that I fix myself: a bilingual site, which gathers a maximum of information on a quite precise model; DryDockModels, opened to all, rested by John Luberti and profiting from the priceless technical support of Bradley Kratochvil; Fine Scale Modeler Magazine website, with its tens of thousands of members, allowing to quickly evaluate each action undertaken and the astonishing success for the “group builds”; finally, Hubert Sicard’s website, evolutionary, I always visit with interest.   With regard to the HMS Victory, many sites treat history of this vessel.  The bicentenary of the battle of Trafalgar brought back this vessel in the middle of the topicality and increased the interest for a model however already treated by many manufacturers of kits. Difficult to however be able to compare the various models available.  Difficult also to find a help with construction.    Also, it seemed essential to to me to try to gather on this site, information relating to the various models of the HMS Victory.  Which one to choose?  Is it with my range?  Will be able I to finish it?  Here are the principal questions which we will try to answer on this site and the forums which are associated there. With the launching of this site, will begin the group build of models of the HMS Victory.  Characteristic: group build relates to all the models.  Criteria? No, it is just asked to begin the model at at the beginning of 2006.  The site will build itself, at the same time as the models will be built and than information will be exchanged between the model makers.   It is my first Web site, I launch it in a non-commercial state of mind, the only things I want are pictures of your models (even if you do not take part in the  group build and even if your model is already finished, whatever its levels of detail and quality) like any useful information in your possession on the various models of HMS Victory. Thank you.                                                               Michel VAN RENTERGHEM