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Buccaneer 1/100 OcCre - My First Build

Rebus

Rebus

Joined
Mar 13, 2025
Messages
282
Points
128

This is my first time to build a wooden ship. I have wanted to since a young age. Did not find this forum until after I started. I am starting a build log part of the way through.

Would like to have comments on what I have done so I can improve on the next build.

SOS has been a great help to me and a wonderful source of information to help improve and learn the skills I need. Thanks to the community for having a place to dialog and learn this craft.


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MThomas said:
From the looks of it I'd say that you've done this before! LOL
If this is your first wood model, you're off to a 'GREAT' start!
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Thank you so much for your nice comment. I have built other things but it has been a long time with anything of great detail. Most things I have built are just assemble kits that you display. Have tried plastic models in the past but so much more enjoyable to work with wood and fabricate parts when needed.
 
Last night I was able to prepare the Bowsprit and its yard. Varnished them today. Hope to finish them tomorrow with all the pulleys and blocks.

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Cut the parts, stained, and varnished them for the Foremast today. Took some time to learn how to read the plans. I'm happy that I think I got it right.
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Depending on how the Bowsprit goes tomorrow, I may do the pulleys and blocks for the Foremast.
 
great work... i also became a member of the forum during the making of golden hind...i learned a lot in a short time. i didn't open a production diary because it's almost finished but i will display the pictures here when it's finished...
 
Quality work on show there. The only comment I can offer is that the photos show the wood grain to be non-scale (of course). A major problem with modern photography is that you can see stuff that a real observer may not notice.
One way to minimise the effect is to use grain filler and rub back to a smooth finish. The pics seem to show a gloss finish, and were you to swap to a matt finish the effect would lessen. In my French polishing world it’s a frequent requirement, the answer to which is to knock back the gloss using pumice powder. Pumice is fine enough, and sharp enough to take off the shine whilst leaving the finish. It’s all about handling the reflected light from the finished surface.

If the way it is is the way you like it, then ignore all the above. Fine work as it is.
 
Jim Fortnam said:
Quality work on show there. The only comment I can offer is that the photos show the wood grain to be non-scale (of course). A major problem with modern photography is that you can see stuff that a real observer may not notice.
One way to minimise the effect is to use grain filler and rub back to a smooth finish. The pics seem to show a gloss finish, and were you to swap to a matt finish the effect would lessen. In my French polishing world it’s a frequent requirement, the answer to which is to knock back the gloss using pumice powder. Pumice is fine enough, and sharp enough to take off the shine whilst leaving the finish. It’s all about handling the reflected light from the finished surface.

If the way it is is the way you like it, then ignore all the above. Fine work as it is.
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Thanks for the comments about wood grain. That is something I will think about on future builds.

To be honest, since this is my first attempt at a wooden ship, I am grateful to have it look like a ship. It has been way more fun than I thought it would be. In my younger years, I did work U.S. Navy subcontracts for almost 12 years as a shipyard worker before becoming a pastor. So far the shipyard vocabulary has been at a minimum. LOL
 
Last two nights work: Got the blocks on the Bowsprit and its Yard and finished with the blocks on the Foremast. Took me a while to understand where each block went and what line to use. I hope I have everything right guess I will find out when I get to the rigging.

One question for the experienced shipwrights who have done this ship before me. Can I tie the Yard on the Bowsprit prior to mounting it on the ship or is there a reason I should wait until later? Now the line is just wrapped for the photo.

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As this is a fictional ship this may not apply, but just as an FYI, spritsail yards were hung with parrels up to 1640 on English built ships exactly the same as was done on the fore and main topsail yards. After 1640 they were hung with slings. No matter how you go about rigging it I would hang the yard after the sprit is in place, but maybe others have found it easier to pre-rig it. I would pre-rig any blocks and such as you have already done.

Allan
 
Wow! This looks very nice, you’re doing an excellent job so far, especially for your first ship. I must warn you, it is an addictive hobby, and soon you will start to wonder where you are to display multiple ships. And if you are going to put them in cases! ROTF
 
AllanKP69 said:
As this is a fictional ship this may not apply, but just as an FYI, spritsail yards were hung with parrels up to 1640 on English built ships exactly the same as was done on the fore and main topsail yards. After 1640 they were hung with slings. No matter how you go about rigging it I would hang the yard after the sprit is in place, but maybe others have found it easier to pre-rig it. I would pre-rig any blocks and such as you have already done.

Allan
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Allan,
Thank you so much for answering my question about mounting the yard. I am learning so much building this ship. Had to do some research and study to understand parrels and slings for yards. Thank you for the start to understanding shipbuilding in the 17th and 18th centuries. I enjoyed searching and understanding. Looking forward to building more after this one and getting them more accurate.
Rebus
 
Dean62 said:
Wow! This looks very nice, you’re doing an excellent job so far, especially for your first ship. I must warn you, it is an addictive hobby, and soon you will start to wonder where you are to display multiple ships. And if you are going to put them in cases! ROTF
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Thanks for the compliment.

I think your warning has come too late. I am already enjoying this so much that I am trying to find ways to finance this hobby. The next one is a cross-section my wife bought for me that she wants to display in the dining room. So yes that one will most definitely have a case, since I have young grandkids (6,8,10, and 12) and young ones next door (5,2, and 1 week) who visit often during warm weather. Dreaming up and researching how to do that now.

Yes, I am captured already. ROTFROTFROTF
 
Rebus said:
Had to do some research and study to understand parrels and slings for yards.
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If you are not sure, I can post some drawings from James Lees' Masting and Rigging English Ships for you as well. Give a shout if you do need them.
Allan
Rebus said:
and getting them more accurate.
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For some of us independent research to confirm or correct things can be half the fun. If your next model is a real ship often there are contemporary plans, contracts, and scantlings readily available on line, many for free, some others in books. All you need do is ask.

Allan
 
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