H.M.S.

FLY Model Kit

Incorporating the ‘Captain’s Cabin, Coach Cabin & Stateroom’
about the author
NEW ADDITION on Page 9
November 2022
H.M.S. Fly build

Having started my modelling with a kit I wanted to see what it was like to build from a current model kit
and H.M.S. Fly (Victory Models by Euromodels and Amati) was recommended as being a very good kit; this
was purchased in October 2010.

Prior to building the model I wanted to find out more about H.M.S. Fly from a modeller’s perspective, but
little information was available except at www.hmsfly.com (currently offline). Nick Mott developed this
website and was very helpful in providing information to a fellow modeller and asked if I could send
photographs of my build for placing on his website. It was from this suggestion the idea developed to
explain in ‘fly on the wall’ details on how to adapt the model to include a ‘Captain’s Cabin’, so fellow
modellers could see how it could be achieved.

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London is an invaluable source of information and a very
special ‘thank you’ should go to those who work in the “Historic Photographs and Ship Plans Section”.
Every effort has been made to ensure information given in these ‘Guidance Notes’ is correct, but inevitably
a modellers discretion is required and should only be used as ‘guidance’.

The following links are for the ‘Guidance Notes’ written for www.hmsfly.com (currently offline), and have
been written over a number of years. Ideas have changed, technology improved, so there will be many
discrepancies in continuity, but the principle motivation of showing how items are built has never changed.
Additional materials will be required but these are widely available from normal modelling sources.

Prior to doing anything it is a good idea to identify all the parts in the kit: -
H.M.S. Fly parts list (purchased October 2010)

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Note: - At the end of these notes there is an index of items which were constructed whilst doing the
modifications.

It is very important to have a complete understanding of the modifications required to the basic hull, as
once started they cannot be reversed! This is explained: -
Understanding the changes to be made

The stern hull modifications required to be made to the hull are explained; do ensure the changes required
are fully understood: -
Hull modifications stern section

There is a link within the above document concerning the stern windows which should be read prior to
making any changes and this can also be seen at: -
Stern Windows

The deck below the gun deck, Part No. 19 is planked to add authenticity when viewed through the hold
grating on the main deck; guidance to deck planking can be seen at: -
Deck planking tips

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The hull is prepared ready for planking: -
Preparing the hull

Fitting the gun deck is explained at: -

Gun deck

Deck gratings are prepared and are shown at: -

Deck gratings

Fitting the Gun Port Patterns has been split into two parts, the forward and aft patterns; mistakes were
made during the fitting of the forward patterns and details of how they were corrected is also shown. The
aft patterns need to be modified to incorporate the Captain’s Cabin side windows. These are all at: -

Gun port patterns (Part 1 of 2)

Gun port patterns (Part 2 of 2)
Mistakes and corrections

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The living quarters at the stern comprise of the Grand Cabin, Coach Cabin and Stateroom and the position
of these cabins were determined by looking at the original ship plans of H.M.S Fly obtained from National
Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. These have been incorporated into the model and can be seen
at: -
Great Cabin, Stateroom and Coach Cabin Partitions

A video of the doors moving in the partitions can be seen at: -

Doors moving in cabin partitions

The furniture which would have been found in the cabins is not known so a ‘modellers discretion’ has been
used. These have been described in: -

Cabin Furniture

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• Great Cabin Table Candle Stand Video

• Great Cabin Chairs

• Great Cabin Chest

• Great Cabin Writing Desk

• Stateroom Cot Video of Cot Swinging

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• Stateroom Wash Stand

• Coach Cabin Welsh Dresser

• Coach Cabin Chairs

• Coach Cabin Table

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H.M.S. Fly’s Rudder passes through the Great Cabin, so a Rudder enclosure has been made to prevent the
sea elements from entering: -

Rudder Assembly and Great Cabin Video of Rudder-12 secs

Stern Fabrication and Great Cabin

Windows for the Great Cabin

The Partitions between the Great Cabin, Stateroom and Coach Cabin are positioned, so the cabin furniture
can be exactly planned: -

Fixing the Cabin Partitions

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The furniture needs to be planned, and then loosely fitted into position within the cabins. This is explained in: -

Planning and Fitting Cabin Furniture

Video of furniture being fitted into the Cabins

Planking the Hull - Introduction

Visualization of Hull Planking for HMS Fly

Hull Planking and Fibre Optics (Steps 1 - 3)

(There will be a total of ‘ten steps’ in these notes)

Hull Planking and Fibre Optics (Step 4)

Contents of document: -
Section A – Planking of Stern Counter Pattern
Section B – First 2nd planking run
Section C – Planking runs above first planking run
Section D – Preparation for creating ‘Rabbet’ for 2nd planking
Section E – Discussing the fitting of Cabin Partitions
Section F – Five planking runs below first planking run and preparation of Bowsprit Hole, Gun Port openings and Row Ports

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Hull Planking and Fibre Optics (Step 5)
Painting of Bulwarks

NEW addition
Rigging the Cannons (Part 1 of 2)
Initial preparation

Additional component parts have been constructed which have not been mentioned above, but
nevertheless will eventually be incorporated into the HMS Fly build. These items have been indexed
below: -

INDEX

Alexander Brodie Galley Stove (Part 1 of 2)

Alexander Brodie Galley Stove (Part 2 of 2)
Alexander Brodie Stove Video
The Alexander Brodie Galley Stove was actually made by mistake; it was advised this stove would not have been in HMS Fly.
Below is a Firehearth of the same circa date as HMS Fly.

Airbrush Painting

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Candle Lantern for The Great Cabin

Candle Stand for the Captain’s Table

Video of Candle Stand on Table

Cannons General Information

Carriage Eye and Breeching Rope Ring Bolts

Carriages, Drilling Holes

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Permanent Method of Fixing Carriages to the Deck

Carriages Painting & Fitting Preparations

Carriages, Laser Cut

Capstan

Firehearth H.M.S. Fly

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Firehearth Fitting & Fibre Optic Cable
Firehearth Video

Forecastle Bulkhead
Video of Opening Doors

Forecastle Ladders

Gun Deck to Second Deck Ladder

Ladders General

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Oil Lantern above Captain’s Table

Pump Assembly

Riding & Rear Main Mast Bit Assemblies

© 2022 Lloyd H. Matthews

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