Kit ReviewMantua HMS Racehorse
 

Hi everyone

This is my first post on the forum so apologies if it lands in the wrong section.

I have just finished my 4th kit, Mantua's HMS Racehorse.
I bought the kit on ebay. It was sold second hand but all the parts were present and undamaged.
The keel and bulkheads were reasonably accurately cut and fitted together quite well.
Having built other kits I only read through the instructions superficially and then built the ship by reference to the plans. I was caught out once or twice as most of the drawings are to scale, but one or two are not. Care is needed.
The quality of the cast metal peices is not as good as I would have liked, the figurehead is really just a shapeless blob of metalwhich vagually resembles a an animal. The wood is generally of an acceptable standard and plentiful enough to allow for the need to repeat work if a mistake is made.
It would be helpful if the manufacturer included a few spares of the smaller blocks and fixtures. Its very easy to lose a tiny block and they provide exactly the right number, so once again care is needed. I ran out of rigging thread, but I do tend to be a bit wastful with it. I can't be bothered to try to tie a knot with a tiny length of thread when it is mauch easier if you have a length in each hand.
The finished model looks pretty good and I would recommend this kit to any modeller who has a bit of expereience on beginner kits. At UK£80 new, it is reasonably good value for money.

Best wishes

John

Re: Kit ReviewMantua HMS Racehorse
 

Thanks for the review, John. Sounds like a nice kit. Do you have some pictures you can post of the completed model?

Re: Kit ReviewMantua HMS Racehorse
 

Hi John,

Nice review. I've always wonder about that kit, so it's nice to read your description and assessment. I too would love to see you post some pictures of your model!

Clare

Re: Kit ReviewMantua HMS Racehorse
 

I have the same kit but there are two problems with the brief history of the ship as provided by Mantua/Sergal; HMS Racehorse was not a bomb vessel, nor did Midshipman Horatio Nelson ever serve aboard her. While on Arctic exploration, she sailed with HMS Carcass, on which Nelson served. Following the Arctic, HMS Racehorse was converted to a bomb vessel and renamed HMS Thunder. Therefore, the kit should be built as HMS Thunder.

Mine is an early version of the kit. Mantua/Sergal provided for the gunports in the plans but did not include the cannon. I have to provide those seperately. But, it is otherwise a nice little kit that should be an easy, enjoyable build!

Re: Kit ReviewMantua HMS Racehorse
 

Hi

I was interested to read about the history and yes I agree it should be called Thunderer and yes she was lightly armed with cannonades for self defence and these are not included in the kit.

The cheaper Mantua kits certainly represent good value for money, but they don't always accurately represent the ship that they are named after.

I will see if I can post some pictures.

Best wishes

John