HMS Victory — Nelson's Flagship Model, Painted Medium | Admiral Line

Painted in the Nelson chequer — yellow strakes between black gun-port lids — the scheme the fleet wore at Trafalgar and the reason British ships were recognisable through smoke.

The chequer is the hardest finish in the catalogue to get right. Three continuous gun decks means three bands of yellow that have to hold a true line along a hull that curves in every direction, with every port lid picked out black. It is done by hand, one port at a time.

Construction

• Plank-on-frame hull, hand-painted in the black-and-yellow Nelson chequer
• Three gun decks with cast cannon both sides
• Three masts and bowsprit, complete hand-knotted rigging
• Hand-stitched linen sails
• Gilded stern gallery, quarter galleries and royal arms
• Ship's boats, capstan, wheel, anchors and rudder
• Solid wood base and engraved brass nameplate
• Fully assembled

The ship

Launched at Chatham in 1765, a 104-gun first rate. Nelson ordered the yellow-and-black scheme across his fleet before Trafalgar so his captains could tell friend from enemy once the powder smoke closed in. He was killed aboard her on 21 October 1805, in the battle it helped win.