Are you new in ship model building

First step

The first step before starting to assembly a model ship, is to learn as much as possible about the model, read all the literature, the plan and the instructions.The art is to know all the steps the model construction before you commence this will save you time later on, if you read the instruction book and examine with care the plans,sketches and the pictures following the numbers.

Kit instructions

The instruction books have been written by a group of expert modelers taking one year of hard work, assembling the prototype, selecting the step by step construction, to make it easy for the expert as well as the beginner.Experts will know the benefit of reading the procedure before building and we recommend that beginners do the same.

Tools

When we are sure that we understand every step, we have to check our tools and necessary materials, lf we have the kit, we have plenty of wooden and metal components needing work. We describe the most important hand tools, but if the builder has more sophisticated help, the work will be easier. Nothing can substitute having the proper tools.
The first basic tool is the fretsaw with its table and a number of right blades, different thicknesses both for metal and wood.When you use a fretsaw, never cut on the printed line, but leave a little extra wood, to remove with sand-paper or appropriate file.The finishing of the slots must be done with a file to be sure of the perpendicularity of the parts and no play in the joints.Different thickness of the wood requires different blades for correct cutting and no damage to the small edges and corners. N. 0 and 1, the thinner blades, are used for max. thickness of 1,5 mm. wood, medium sizes as N. 3, 4 or 5 are to be used on hard and thick plywood.The new technology of the laser cutting has reduced a lot the use of the fretsaw for all our kits.
An electric fretsaw will save handwork, but the quality of a well-used fretsaw is surely better. A second necessary tool is the electric drill, small size, 12 volt operating, perfect for drilling till 3 mm. holes and for finishing parts with different profile cutters. The assortment of special tools for the drill is made with shell bits from 0,5 to 3 mm., different profile cutters, sandpaper holder etc. Wider holes will be cut with a hand drill or with a round file.
A pair of tweezers, small and medium size if possible, will help to handle the small parts and to make the small knots on the riggings. Round-nosed pliers will be used to bend metal wires and profiles, cutting nippers will cut rope exactly and brass wires.
For wood cutting and modelling, a number of balsa knifes with different blades will make life easier and help in producing good work.
Important tools are soft files, large or needle type, with different profiles: flat, round, half round, square, triangular etc. The finishing of the wooden surface is done with sand and emery-paper, coarse, medium and fine grain: 80, 120, 240.The paper is used by hand or glued on a flat plywood surface like a file. The beginner cannot forget the planking machine; a tool very useful to bend the plank edges and the strip clamp to cut the strips following the bilge line.
For cutting photo-etched brass sheets and thin ply-wood it is necessary that a pair of strong scissors as an electrician might use are obtained.
To clamp parts it is necessary that an assortment of pins, small nails and staples and of course a hammer are used.
The glue: we use two types of cement for all the work, a quick white glue and instant glue or cyanoacrylate resin, use small drops of cement as all times for the best result. Good calipers will help checking the dimensions of the parts.
For finishing, cleaning, varnishing and painting, we need a number of brushes, small, N. 0 or 1, and medium size N. 4 or 5. Any type of hobby sanding sealer dope is suitable for the finishing, nitro or acrylic. To bend the planking strips the planking machine Nr. 8150 or the 8151 are very important tools as well as the strip clamp, Nr. 8155 necessary for a correct strip tapering & to support the hull during the upper & side works.

Work place

Two words about the work place: the place in its self is not important , a specialized hobby corner or a kitchen table will surface, but everything must be in good order as it is very easy to lose small parts, which are time consuming and costly to replace.
Also utilize sun light for modelling during the day and in the evening we must select the correct electric lamp to check all the smallest details without problems.While working we must select the necessary parts and tools and to avoid confusion, putting aside the parts finished or not necessary at this stage.
For this reason we have recommended you read the instructions with care and to proceed step by step.Now the work is in your hands, we thank you for choosing VictoryShipModel kits and we wish you many hours of pleasure and an excellent final result.