Caldercraft 1/64 HMS Diana Wooden Kit (9000)

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Most wooden boat kits require skill and patience to assemble. The easiest are usually those supplied with either a solid or plastic (ABS) hull so the masts and rig are the hardest part. Harder but the most usual form of construction for the hull is plank on frame and that requires the most patience and skill. Always a great value hobby, some models can literally take months to complete.

Building model ships is an absorbing hobby, but it can be even more enjoyable if the correct tools are used. There are some specific tools necessary to do the job, such as a good hand drill with a selection of miniature drill bits, something in the region of 0.5mm and 2mm as a general rule. Small files and wood rasps are very usefull, not just for cleaning up the decorative fittings, but also taking off any waste wood when releasing frames from laser cut sheets. A small pin hammer is a must, and can be used in conjunction with the Amati pin pusher, this clever little device saves on injured digits by allowing you to guide a tack gently into the frame with precision. Obviously a good selection of modelling knives is crucial, and the Expo metal shaft handles allow for a variety of cutting blades to be fitted, not to mention specialist chisels & gouges. Curved blades are best for making straight cuts, whilst a straight blade allows for intricate cuts. Miniature needle nosed pliers allow for manipulating small fittings as would a good set of tweezers. Vices and clamps are effectively a third hand, and a good magnifyer is also important, preferably one that's suspended on a free standing base. Fortunatly Antics supply a fantastic range of modellers tools from Expo. Some are some very specific tools for period ship building, plank benders for example reduce the risk of frustrating splitting or breaking of the often wafer thin planking strips, and the Amati Loom-a-line is an excellent rigging frame for building vessels with difficult to rig ratlines. see our hints and tips page for more info.

Remember! If on examination you feel you would prefer another model, you are free to return any item for a full refund, providing of course that it hasn't been started.

Caldercraft 1/64 HMS Diana Wooden Kit (9000)
HMS Diana, the second built in the Artois class was designed by Sir John Henslow. She was built by Randall & Brent of Rotherhithe, one of the largest merchant builders in the country. After eleven months building the hull, Diana was launched on the 3rd of March 1794. She was then towed to the Royal Dockyard at Deptford where she was fitted out. This included masts, rigging, anchors, coppering of her bottom, ordnance and stores. On the 12th of June 1794 Diana was ready to receive her full crew and spent the next 6 1/2 weeks working up at the Nore. The total cost of building and fitting out the Diana was £23,000.

The Diana kit was designed from original Admiralty plans and contains CNC cut timber throughout. The extensive fittings include brass 18 and 9 pounder cannons; black and natural hemp for rigging and 2,300 scale copper plates. The kit is supplied with full size plans, comprehensive instruction manual and drawings.

Scale 1:64, Length: 1180mm.
Skill Level 4

Diana had a very long and active career in which most of her time was spent in patrol, convoy and blockade duties. The highlight of her career was in August 1795 when on patrol duty accompanied by her sister ship Seahorse and the frigate Unicorn, they captured the Dutch East Indiaman Cromhout, another merchant ship and her escort. From the Cromhout alone the ship shared nearly £47,000 prize money. On the 30th of May 1814 Britain and France signed a peace treaty. On the 7th of March 1815 after a large repair and re-coppering Diana was sold to the Dutch Navy for £36,796. On the 27th August 1816 Diana was one of 6 Frigates in the Dutch squadron that combined with the British fleet under Sir Edward Pellow (Lord Exmouth), himself a distinguished Frigate captain, and took part in the famous bombardment of Algiers. On the 16th of January 1839, after an incredible 45 year service, Diana was accidentally destroyed by fire in dry-dock at Willemsoord. The model kit of Diana is depicted not as built, but after her first refit at Portsmouth in June 1796 where she was given solid quarter deck bulwarks, carronades to replace the 9lb carriage guns and a dolphin striker on the bowsprit. Diana measured 173ft from figurehead to stern, her breadth was 39ft 3 1/2 and was almost 1000 tons burthen. Main armament was twenty eight 18lb carriage guns on the gun deck, with secondary armament consisting of ten 9lb guns on the top deck along with eight 32lb carronades. There is no doubt that this configuration constantly changed throughout her career and at the end of her time in the British Navy she had fourteen carronades on her top deck.

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