I like these older boats. Thanks, Harry. I'm reminded of a story. A galley was tied up at a dock but there was a single rower still on board, rowing away for all he was worth. When asked what he was doing he replied, "If you had a wife and family to support you'd be putting in a bit of overtime too!".
Fascinating theme here Harry, it's very nice to appreciate vessels from ancient history. Lovely pair of reviews, very fair minded and objective- gets full marks and thanks from me.
Great video Harry and a good comparison. I recently built the Zvezda Carthagenian trieme, and I believe the same hull is used on all three Zvezda ships (Greek and Roman) but with different bow sections. A few minor fit issues but it builds up well. I replaced the plastic sails (don't like 'em) with my own hand sewn cloth sails. Quite a pleasant kit to build, pity I can't post a photo here.
Very helpfull video for a subject that seldom gets videos, much appreciate being able to see differences between these. Heller kit was surprising but they do have good and bad kits like all manufacturers.
I enjoyed this two part series a lot, great comparison mate! Its a joy to see that the classic ships of the antiquity get some attention, too, since they are just gorgeous and took part in some of the largest sea battles in human history, like Cape Ecnomus. I built a few of the Zvezda ships before, love them! Not sure why you seem to be not that impressed by them, but each to his own! The other two ship kits were unknown to me before, so that was cool to see. Thank you for that!
Oh I like the Zvezda Trireme, its just in comparison to the Heller and IMAI kits she is less detailed and appears fiddler to assemble. However I did say of all 3 the Trireme will be the most impressive when finished.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Indeed, i will agree on that mate! I wonder, will there be a new tooled ancient warship kit at some point? I would not mind that for sure :) I actually thought of scratchbuilding a smaller version of a Roman liburna in 1/32 or even 1/24 scale ever since i saw the remains and the reconstruction of such a ship in a museum nearby. They served as patrol boats on the Danube river. The reconstructed ship actually works, there are a couple of good photos of it available.
Like the comparisons between these types of vessels, and looking forward to the build(s) even though it's unlikely I'll ever do anything like them myself. (Never say never!)
Great video again! I'm completely envious, I'd love all three kits but particularly the Roman bireme as I built the small scale version of it as a kid. Even in small scale it is a nice kit but quite clearly even better in the larger version. So you have made one Tasmanian green with envy. Thanks again.
Bonjour Harry , do like the Heller one ( black) the best ,, but did I see sinkage across the deck? Looking forward to them being built mate 😊😊😊😊 was great to meet you yesterday, was a great day! 😊😊😊have a good one
Loved the video Harry 👍 that heller aroura kit looks like one that I'd like to do, evil bay here I come. Hope you can get everything sorted out soon and have you found your glasses yet 👓🤓👍👍
Hi Harry, Great ships, I remember drooling in front of my toy store in Paris while looking at the Bireme Heller, now I have to have it, thank you very much for that, mister Harry! It's like handing a drink to a recovering alcoholic. The only thing that stops me for now is the sails, I don't know how to make them, could you make a tutorial or explain when and if you have a chance. On thing about the anchor, in my vague memory, it was a block of stone, perhaps it was Roman or perhaps there were variations. Thank you for the video, always a pleasure to watch.👍🏻 Yves.
I did make a video on how to make sails for the Bounty, but when I build the Bireme, I’ll show in detail how to replicate these squared sewn sails of ancient Greece and Rome
Hey Harry, I've got a 1/72 scale Trireme Roman Warship from Academy, so that's another choice. Not built it yet so can't comment on fit an all, but there's some beautiful parts in the box and a good amount too, got a load of 1/72 scale roman figures as well, so should build up as a nice diorama. Looking forward to seeing what you do with these. Cheers mate !
Hi mate, if that is the same Academy Roman Warship I had, and I don’t see any others in Scalemates, it’s another Penteconter with one layer of oars. Not a trireme. Not a bad kit and about the size of my Heller Bireme Imperator. Should look good with figures.
The details really look nice on them. Should really pop after some weathing or wash or what ever you use on a ship to bring out the details. Haha. Awesome video Harry.
Harry great review but can I please ask not having watched the whole videos whether the scale is compatible so are they all about the same dimensions for figures or is the Imai one more for 28mm-1/56(1/48) figures? Or would you think all would look great with 1/72?
For that Imai kit the 1/72 figures would look too small. I would go with the ones closer to 1/48, after all the Penteconter only has about 13 oars per side and a full compliment of 40 sailors.
Now upgraded to Waffle 4.0! Thoroughly enjoy your videos, ship or not, plastic or wood.... Not bought many more ships after Revell's 1/350 SMS Dresden and SMS Emden double kit, Eastern Express' 1/110 Trinity House Lightship "South Goodwin" and my three USS Yorktown CV-5 and CV-10 (1/350 and 1/200), but knowing your arm twisting magic (black such), you'll work it in such way that I hypnotically buy something in the shape of a ship....like the good obedient subscriber that I am....plus, like everybody else, one does want to be in Bask The Cat's good book, right?
Not sure what you mean, unless you saw some sink marks I missed? That deck could be filled and sanded then re-planked with wood veneer, as I’ve done on a number of my ship builds.
@@HarryHoudiniModels There are lines across the deck. They seem to correspond to "braces/thicker plastic" under it to strengthen it. If you hold it at the right angle, they are very clear.
Hey Harry I built the zvezda Roman trire a year ago or so. The fit and finish is pretty bad, so I figure you'll enjoy it, lol! Hope your doing well, cheers from 🇺🇸👍
Interesting looking kits . However , each one with the same glaring omission: no drummer to pace the oarsmen . 😉 I guess you'll be going aftermarket for those?
The problem with all these kits, with all kits trying to resemble ancient Greek and Roman ships, is that they are absolutely not accurate. They are full of errors. Many things, even their shape, was very different. Not going into details here now, only saying that I study ancient ships and reconstruct them since over 35 years. :-)
@@HarryHoudiniModels MANY wrong things. A few of them cannot be fixed with scratch-building, as parts of the hull would have to be replaced entirely. I spoke to many model kit companies and offered to create new sets of ship models with them, but they have no interest. 😞
I like these older boats. Thanks, Harry. I'm reminded of a story. A galley was tied up at a dock but there was a single rower still on board, rowing away for all he was worth. When asked what he was doing he replied, "If you had a wife and family to support you'd be putting in a bit of overtime too!".
LOL
Fascinating theme here Harry, it's very nice to appreciate vessels from ancient history. Lovely pair of reviews, very fair minded and objective- gets full marks and thanks from me.
Glad you enjoyed it Nick
I have had the Heller kit in storage for over 35 years. You've inspired me to start it. (But I think I'll watch your build first😊)
May be a while… my work in progress list has grown to over two dozen I need finished first.
Have Bask earn her keep by painting all those rowing figures while you build that little Greek beauty. That will cut down on your build time. 🤣
Good thinking. But she will probably chew them
Great video Harry and a good comparison. I recently built the Zvezda Carthagenian trieme, and I believe the same hull is used on all three Zvezda ships (Greek and Roman) but with different bow sections. A few minor fit issues but it builds up well. I replaced the plastic sails (don't like 'em) with my own hand sewn cloth sails. Quite a pleasant kit to build, pity I can't post a photo here.
Ah this explains why the bow pieces are separate. Thanks Robert
They look pretty good for their age. Would be really interesting looking models.
RAMMING SPEED Boom boom boom boom 😛
Yep…
Very helpfull video for a subject that seldom gets videos, much appreciate being able to see differences between these. Heller kit was surprising but they do have good and bad kits like all manufacturers.
The Heller kit was the cleanest moulding and most detailed. I just had trouble dry fitting the hull and deck with mine.
Thanks Harry, I enjoyed your video.
Thank you Cos
Your doing the best one Harry the smallest one is that the one with that amazing stand like the vid
Yes those lions will make an unusual stand for it
I enjoyed this two part series a lot, great comparison mate! Its a joy to see that the classic ships of the antiquity get some attention, too, since they are just gorgeous and took part in some of the largest sea battles in human history, like Cape Ecnomus. I built a few of the Zvezda ships before, love them! Not sure why you seem to be not that impressed by them, but each to his own! The other two ship kits were unknown to me before, so that was cool to see. Thank you for that!
Oh I like the Zvezda Trireme, its just in comparison to the Heller and IMAI kits she is less detailed and appears fiddler to assemble. However I did say of all 3 the Trireme will be the most impressive when finished.
@@HarryHoudiniModels Indeed, i will agree on that mate! I wonder, will there be a new tooled ancient warship kit at some point? I would not mind that for sure :) I actually thought of scratchbuilding a smaller version of a Roman liburna in 1/32 or even 1/24 scale ever since i saw the remains and the reconstruction of such a ship in a museum nearby. They served as patrol boats on the Danube river. The reconstructed ship actually works, there are a couple of good photos of it available.
Like the comparisons between these types of vessels, and looking forward to the build(s) even though it's unlikely I'll ever do anything like them myself. (Never say never!)
Thanks Randal
I bet you will have a field day with the Posca pens Harry. Great vid, cheers for posting.
They will come in very handy to pick out fine details on these kits
Great video again! I'm completely envious, I'd love all three kits but particularly the Roman bireme as I built the small scale version of it as a kid. Even in small scale it is a nice kit but quite clearly even better in the larger version. So you have made one Tasmanian green with envy. Thanks again.
Glad you liked the video Keith
Bonjour Harry , do like the Heller one ( black) the best ,, but did I see sinkage across the deck? Looking forward to them being built mate 😊😊😊😊 was great to meet you yesterday, was a great day! 😊😊😊have a good one
Merci Mon amie… I would love a copy of the photo you took if you can email me one from my website link?
@@HarryHoudiniModels no worries Harry
Loved the video Harry 👍 that heller aroura kit looks like one that I'd like to do, evil bay here I come. Hope you can get everything sorted out soon and have you found your glasses yet 👓🤓👍👍
No glasses yet, but I did find my opivisor, which I had not used.
Hi Harry, Great ships, I remember drooling in front of my toy store in Paris while looking at the Bireme Heller, now I have to have it, thank you very much for that, mister Harry! It's like handing a drink to a recovering alcoholic. The only thing that stops me for now is the sails, I don't know how to make them, could you make a tutorial or explain when and if you have a chance. On thing about the anchor, in my vague memory, it was a block of stone, perhaps it was Roman or perhaps there were variations. Thank you for the video, always a pleasure to watch.👍🏻 Yves.
I did make a video on how to make sails for the Bounty, but when I build the Bireme, I’ll show in detail how to replicate these squared sewn sails of ancient Greece and Rome
@@HarryHoudiniModels Thank you Harry, I found the Bounty's sails video👍🏻( I tried before but it's hard to find in 7 years of videos).
Yes there are hundreds of videos now, but I did chapter all the Bounty series for quick ref and the option to click to that segment.
Interesting subjects. It looks they will take quite a lot of display space as with the oars they are not just long but also wide.
Yes I will need a bigger bath tub
Hey Harry, I've got a 1/72 scale Trireme Roman Warship from Academy, so that's another choice. Not built it yet so can't comment on fit an all, but there's some beautiful parts in the box and a good amount too, got a load of 1/72 scale roman figures as well, so should build up as a nice diorama. Looking forward to seeing what you do with these. Cheers mate !
Hi mate, if that is the same Academy Roman Warship I had, and I don’t see any others in Scalemates, it’s another Penteconter with one layer of oars. Not a trireme. Not a bad kit and about the size of my Heller Bireme Imperator. Should look good with figures.
The details really look nice on them. Should really pop after some weathing or wash or what ever you use on a ship to bring out the details. Haha. Awesome video Harry.
Thanks Clayton... yes same wash on a ship
Great old kits, kind of like us.
Very much, creaky, worn, wet on the bottom and often over looked.
Harry great review but can I please ask not having watched the whole videos whether the scale is compatible so are they all about the same dimensions for figures or is the Imai one more for 28mm-1/56(1/48) figures? Or would you think all would look great with 1/72?
For that Imai kit the 1/72 figures would look too small. I would go with the ones closer to 1/48, after all the Penteconter only has about 13 oars per side and a full compliment of 40 sailors.
@@HarryHoudiniModels many thanks and all the best, love your channel
Now upgraded to Waffle 4.0!
Thoroughly enjoy your videos, ship or not, plastic or wood....
Not bought many more ships after Revell's 1/350 SMS Dresden and SMS Emden double kit, Eastern Express' 1/110 Trinity House Lightship "South Goodwin" and my three USS Yorktown CV-5 and CV-10 (1/350 and 1/200), but knowing your arm twisting magic (black such), you'll work it in such way that I hypnotically buy something in the shape of a ship....like the good obedient subscriber that I am....plus, like everybody else, one does want to be in Bask The Cat's good book, right?
You must worship the cat!
@@HarryHoudiniModels
All Hail The Cat! 🙏🙌🏻🤲🏻
How would you fix/hide the shrink marks on the Heller deck?
Not sure what you mean, unless you saw some sink marks I missed? That deck could be filled and sanded then re-planked with wood veneer, as I’ve done on a number of my ship builds.
@@HarryHoudiniModels There are lines across the deck. They seem to correspond to "braces/thicker plastic" under it to strengthen it. If you hold it at the right angle, they are very clear.
Hey Harry I built the zvezda Roman trire a year ago or so. The fit and finish is pretty bad, so I figure you'll enjoy it, lol! Hope your doing well, cheers from 🇺🇸👍
Yes I expect it will need some finagling, but that’s ok, I like to fiddle. Thanks for the feedback Andrew.
Interesting looking kits . However , each one with the
same glaring omission: no drummer to pace the oarsmen . 😉
I guess you'll be going aftermarket for those?
He’s below decks under the bow… squint and you might just see him through the oar holes
@@HarryHoudiniModels 😃
some heller fine kits but it's still all French ummmm Greek to me
Ha ha… I sea what you did there…
@@HarryHoudiniModels sea I've learnt a lot from you you ol sea dog you
The problem with all these kits, with all kits trying to resemble ancient Greek and Roman ships, is that they are absolutely not accurate. They are full of errors. Many things, even their shape, was very different. Not going into details here now, only saying that I study ancient ships and reconstruct them since over 35 years. :-)
I would be very interested to know what inaccuracies there are, and if some can be easily fixed with scratch buidling?
@@HarryHoudiniModels MANY wrong things. A few of them cannot be fixed with scratch-building, as parts of the hull would have to be replaced entirely.
I spoke to many model kit companies and offered to create new sets of ship models with them, but they have no interest. 😞
King Waffle...it has been too long.
You can’t keep a good waffler down mate