This is the third installment of my review series of Model Space’s Sovereign of the Seas model ship kit. Just to recap what I am working on, the Sovereign of the Seas kit is a 1/84 scale multimedia wood based model kit depicting the largest and most heavily armed ship afloat during the 17th Century. Model Space’s scale model kits can be purchased either by subscription or as a complete kit. The subscription breaks down the build and payments into manageable monthly installments. Each month a new Pack arrives with a new set of instructions and parts for that pack. The subscription continues until you receive all of the parts to construct the model or you cancel the subscription.


Link to Pack 1 Review

Link to Pack 2 Review

Sovereign of the Seas – Pack 3

The other day I received the third installment in the twelve month subscription to Model Space’s Sovereign of the Seas ship kit. As with the two previous Packs, this one comes in a sturdy cardboard box containing individually bagged parts for each stage of Pack 3 as well as a new set of instructions.

With Pack 3 comes with a fifty-seven page full color instruction magazine. As seen with previous editions of the magazine, this is broken down into two sections. The first section, “Age of Sail”, is a nine-page layout containing historical information giving the reader/builder some colorful background of shipping during the time the Sovereign of the Seas ruled her domain.

Upon reaching the second section of the magazine, we quickly realize that the bulk of this Pack is the continuation of the planking of the first layer to the hull. There are a lot of bamboo planks to be added to fully cover the hull. The instructions clearly define every step of the installation of the planking; right down to the proper tapering of the planks and filler pieces.

Throughout the instructional magazine more of the fitting out of the ship’s launch is covered. The painting of the base launch was completed in Pack two, now the interior floor boards and fitting are installed. Also defined by the instructions this time, is the construction of two more cannons as well as more exterior framing to the aftcastle section.

Pack 3 - Parts

There are ten packages of parts included with this new Pack. The majority of these packages contain more bamboo strips for planking of the interior hull section. Along with these bamboo strips, more Sapele and basswood strips are included. These strips will be for the finished planking of the hull later on in the build. Included in two of the packs are the parts for the aftcastle, longitudinal reinforcements (stringers for the second gun deck) and two cannon.

Conclusion

At first it does not look like there is much that has been included in Pack 3, as most of the parts are the planks for the inner hull; however, this constitutes the remaining amount of wood planking to fully cover the hull with bamboo, Sepele and Basswood. The initial planking of the hull is the point where understanding to why the instructions break from certain tasks to something completely different. This breaks the somewhat tedious construction processes up. The planking of the ship is a long process even with experience. The small breaks keep the interest of the builder.

By the time Pack 3 arrives, some of the planking has commenced and the overall shape of this beauty begins to emerge. If you are unfamiliar with plank bending techniques before Pack 2 and 3 arrive, it is best to do a little research on how this can be done. There are several bending irons and hand tools sold to make this process a lot easier. If you can wait until the arrival of Pack 4, as part of the second free gift which comes in the Pack, there is a set of hand benders included which will make the process a lot easier. Personally I used my soldering iron, and the rounded heat shield section of the tool, to slowly bend the planks using a small wooden template in the shape of the bow to creak the curved sections of planking. The inner hull is a rough base to the hull. The inner hull does need to be done correctly and smooth for the outer hull to be installed correctly, some of the planking will need to be sanded after installation, fairing the hull in preparation for the next round of planking.

A small tool (Push Nailer) for installing the brass nails when planking, which is provided as a Free Gift by Model Space in Pack 4, should probably be shipped with Pack 3. The bulk of the planking is covered in Pack 2 & 3. Depending on the skill level of the builder will of course define how quickly this tool will be needed. However, the planking can be installed using a small tack hammer and a small pair of pliers to hold the nail. I most cases the slow process of planking will allow Pack 4 to arrive before the builder has completed the first round of planking.

Sovereign of the Seas Pack Reviews

Written Reviews

Link to Pack 1 Review

Link to Pack 2 Review

Video Reviews

Link to - video review of Pack 1

Link to - video review of Pack 2