<h2>HMS Victory – Nelson’s legendary flagship as a large wooden model kit</h2>
<p>Hardly any other historic sailing ship is as closely linked to British naval history as the <strong>HMS Victory</strong>. The famous ship of the line was built at the Royal Dockyard in Chatham and launched in 1765. As a three-deck first-rate ship of the line, the Victory was one of the most powerful warships of her time. However, she achieved the fame that endures to this day four decades later as the flagship of <strong>Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar</strong>.</p>
<p>On 21 October 1805, from aboard HMS Victory, Nelson led the British fleet against the combined French and Spanish naval forces. The British fleet won a decisive victory, though Nelson himself was mortally wounded during the battle. The Victory survived Trafalgar and was preserved. Today she lies in the historic dry dock at Portsmouth, remains officially part of the Royal Navy and is considered the oldest warship still in service in the world.</p>
<p>With its three gun decks and <strong>104 guns</strong>, the HMS Victory embodies the era of the great ships of the line like almost no other vessel and is consequently one of the best-known and most popular models in historical ship modelling.</p>
<h2>The HMS Victory by OCCRE on a scale of 1:87</h2>
<p>With this elaborately designed wooden model kit, <strong>OCCRE presents the HMS Victory on a scale of 1:87</strong>. The finished model measures an impressive <strong>1,172 mm</strong> in length, combining impressive scale with a size that is still easy to display.</p>
<p>The kit is clearly aimed at <strong>experienced ship model-makers and experts</strong>. In total, the model consists of <strong>5,388 individual parts</strong>. OCCRE estimates a construction time of approximately <strong>1,000 hours</strong> – meaning the Victory is not a project to be completed in a few weeks, but a challenging long-term build in which the hull, decks, guns, superstructures, masts and, finally, the complete rigging are developed step by step.</p>
<p>The model is officially licensed by the <strong>National Museum of the Royal Navy</strong> and depicts HMS Victory in her famous guise as Nelson’s flagship.</p>
<h2>A high-quality mix of materials for classic ship modelling</h2>
<p>The hull is constructed using traditional timber-building methods comprising the keel, frames and planking. OCCRE uses different types of wood depending on their respective functions. Poplar is used, amongst other things, for the load-bearing structure and the decks, whilst lime, African walnut, sapelli and mukali are used for battens, planking and visible details. </p>
<p>For intricate fittings and ornamentation, the manufacturer combines wood with <strong>brass, photo-etched parts and cast metal components</strong>. This creates the level of detail required for a model of this scale, particularly on the guns, the stern section, the fittings and numerous small equipment parts.</p>
<p>The kit also includes <strong>sails and rigging</strong>. The rigging is constructed using twine of varying thicknesses, so that once completed, not only the imposing three-masted ship itself but also the Victory’s complex rigging can be fully represented.</p>
<h2>Modern construction support despite a traditional building method</h2>
<p>A special feature of this OCCRE version is the combination of traditional wooden model shipbuilding with comparatively modern building support. In addition to illustrated step-by-step instructions and a parts overview, OCCRE provides comprehensive <strong>video tutorials on assembling the HMS Victory</strong>.</p>
<p>Particularly for a model comprising several thousand components and featuring complex construction stages such as planking, gun decks, masts and rigging, this visual support can offer a significant advantage over construction kits based solely on plans.</p>
<p>Laser-cut wooden panels also make it easier to produce the basic structure and many individual parts with precision.</p>
<h2>What sets the OCCRE Victory apart from other HMS Victory kits?</h2>
<p>The HMS Victory is available as a wooden model from various manufacturers. However, the models sometimes differ significantly in scale, size, construction method and focus.</p>
<p>With a scale of <strong>1:87</ strong>, the OCCRE Victory is, in terms of size, situated between the more compact models at a scale of approximately <strong>1:98</strong> from manufacturers such as Corel or Mantua and the particularly large <strong>Caldercraft/Jotika Victory at a scale of 1:72</strong>. The latter measures almost 1.40 metres in length and, with its double planking, individual copper plates for the underwater hull and very comprehensive classic blueprint documentation, places particular emphasis on maximum historical and structural detail.</p>
<p>The modern Artesanía Latina version on a scale of <strong>1:84</strong>, on the other hand, is directly comparable in size to the OCCRE Victory. With around 6,500 parts, it has an even larger number of components and uses, amongst other things, copper strip for the underwater hull.</p>
<p>The OCCRE Victory takes a slightly different approach: with <strong>5, 388 parts, a length of 1,172 mm, an included sail set, photo-etched parts, high-quality wooden components and comprehensive photo and video instructions</strong>, it offers a very comprehensive expert kit without reaching the dimensions of the particularly large 1:72 version. </p>
<p>This makes it particularly suitable for model-makers who wish to build a large and detailed Victory, whilst at the same time valuing modern and clear assembly instructions.</p>
<h2>An extraordinary long-term project for experienced model-makers</h2>
<p>The HMS Victory from OCCRE is no ordinary wooden model kit. With over 5,000 components, several gun decks, elaborate superstructures and a complete rigging system, it ranks among the most comprehensive projects in historical ship modelling.</p>
<p>The result is a display model over one metre long of one of the most significant sailing ships in naval history. It is precisely the combination of classic wooden model-making, metal and brass details, extensive rigging and modern video assembly support that makes this version an interesting alternative to the Victory kits from other manufacturers that have been available for some time.</p>
<h3>Contents and features</h3>
<p>HMS Victory wooden model kit<br />
Laser-cut wooden components<br />
Strips and components made from various types of wood<br />
Brass and photo-etched parts<br />
Cast metal parts for fittings, guns and ornamentation<br />
Sails made from cotton fabric<br/>
Ropes of varying thicknesses<br/>
Illustrated step-by-step assembly instructions<br/>
Parts list for identifying components<br/>
Access to video assembly guides<br/>
Model stand<br />
Etched brass plaque with model designation</p>
<h3>Technical specifications</h3>
<p>Scale: 1:87<br/>
Length: 1,172 mm<br/>
Width: 406 mm<br />
Height: 785 mm<br />
Number of parts: 5,388<br />
Estimated assembly time: approx. 1,000 hours<br />
</p>