HMS Victory as a Storyboard Diorama.

[JohnReid]

This is the final part of the ceremony,the raising of the flag at the stern.Notice one of the ship boats at the stern is being hauled up on the davits, while the other is still battened down.I show only two men hauling on the davits' ropes but of course there would be many more in real life.I have taken a little artistic license when telling this story when I thought it appropriate to do so ,however the overall story is based in fact.

 

[Hardy]

Thats amazing, superbly intricate. Im a bit of a fan of Nelson and really interested in the victory. I must be with a name like Hardy!

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Sub-storyline.
In addition to the main storyline there are other stories going on here.
The officer sitting under the flag at the bowsprit cap has a telescope in his hand.He is actually scouring the horizon looking for enemy ships.
When in harbor at dawn and especially when under bare poles,the ship would be extremely vulnerable to enemy attack ,sneaking up under the cover of darkness. The ships crew would all be on alert and all guns would be run out prepared to fire.When the all clear was given normal ships routine could begin again.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Besides the obvious activity on board, this picture represents so much more.
The black sailor dressed in white hauling on the rope at the extreme left of the picture represents Victory's varied crew at the time of Trafalgar.Besides a mixed racial group ,there were also French deserters and many other nationalities,willing participants and press-ganged individuals.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Storyboard Dioramas long history.
Storyboard ship dioramas have as long a history as any other type of modeling.Sailing vessels with figures aboard have been found by many archeologists digging around in our human past.A more recent example would be this model from the time when Admiralty Board models were popular.
Made in the late 18th century in Buckler's Hard shipyard in Hampshire U.K. ,where this type of ship was actually built,this cut-away type example shows on board activity using scale figures on all decks.
This model inspired my Victory but I opted not to do it as a cut-away.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

Copper plates were made from individual pieces,that were weathered and glued on.The nails were made from copper wire ,cut to length and one end sanded flat.Holes were then drilled into the hull and the nails were hammered in for a tight fit.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

New pics of the Victory storyboard diorama.
I was playing around taking pics of my Victory model tonight trying to make it look like the title says "Drumming Daybreak." The rising sun,a plain old 60 W bulb stood in for the sun.
I am quite pleased with the pics considering that Victory is now in glass case which makes taking pics very difficult during the day due to reflection.
I am very happy that I went with the wood/brass look as it seems to get a richer patina over time, unlike paint which tends to deteriorate.

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]

 

[JohnReid]