Le Glorieux 1/150

Corona enables me to spend some time on model building so I bought the model ship ‘Le Glorieux’ from Heller.

Le Glorieux

It’s a French third rate ship of the line, built in 1756. Equipped with 74 cannons she was sent into battle against the British. Together with 32 other French ships she joined the Battle of the Saintes against 36 British ships of the line in 1782.

Sailing ships at this time always fought paralell in a line. The side with the most and heaviest guns and favourable wind would win most of the time. The French had favourable wind, but the wind turned and the British sailed towards the French line. From port and starboard they fired their guns and shattered the sterns and bows of their French rivals.

The impact was devastating. In the middle of the chaos Le Glorieux was in crossfire and lost her masts. The captain - who climbed the shrouds for better overview - was fatally hit.

Four French ships of line - including the Glorieux - were captured and one ship completely destroyed. 3.000 French sailors lay dead in the water. 5.000 - including admiral De Grasse - were captured. Shock and awe was widespread in France. For the year 1782 alone, 15 ships of the line would be lost and Louis XVI had to levy more taxes to rebuild naval strength. Not long after he would need to call the Estates General and the French revolution was born.

The Glorieux was renamed Glorious. That year however she perished with all hands in a storm nearby Newfoundland.

It’s a plastic kit from Heller. Paint is from Humbrol. Primer, weathering and varnish are also applied. Ropes are from Mantua. Cannons are drilled.

References used:

https://www.modelships.de/Museums_and_replicas/Musee_de_la_Marine_Brest/La-Bretagne.htm

https://www.hismodel.com/plans-of-ships
https://www.wettringer-modellbauforum.de/forum/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=60465
https://www.wettringer-modellbauforum.de/forum/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=20300&pageNo=4
https://www.laroyale-modelisme.net/t13175-le-glorieux-maquette-heller-au-1-150
https://modelbrouwers.nl/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42075&sid=00c29a5f1a59c783412a97278f2b93c9&start=10

I hope to build a Greek wooden trireme model next time or a great locomotive model.

I love this kit. It does, however, have a glaring problem; while the hull has wood grain detail, it has no planking detail. John Tilley used to say that it looke to him as if the ship were carved out of a giant log. That said, you did a nice job! Well done.

Bill

Congratulations on a build very well done.[t$t]

Jim [cptn]

Stay Safe.

Superb! I think the sails look really nice.

She does deserve a better stand though.

Bill

Hi;

Just looked at this again. I like what you’ve done here. Now that said. I agree with the other comment about a better stand for that beautiful model you’ve done. Don’t take any chances in that great work getting Damaged by the inadequacies of that stand!

Thank you! Just curious what kind of stand do you recommend? This stand is sturdy enough. I put some glue between stand and ship to keep it in position.

Hi

Take the stand. Now widen it about two inches. Let the ship sit in it deeper. Anchor the stand to a piece of wood. Remember the ship is topheavy!

The bottom should be wider than the widest yard to support the ship without problems. I usually when building sailing or larger ships, create blocks inside with Lexan that I have tapped for four Lamp Finials. The finials screw in the ship at the widest part of the bottom and the furthest apart from Stem To stern

These finials are then inserted into holes in a wooden plaque that holds the Name Tag as well, being bound in place by epoxy in the holes.

Ah nice do you happen to have a picture of such stand?