abandoned kit/ loss of confidence

[Tony1955]

Ive been working on the Occre Endurance for over a year. I have struggled with the poor quality wood, and the poor instructions. Over the past month it has caused me to doubt my modelling abilities, and Ive developed a total hatred for the kit. Once or twice I have been on the point of breaking it up. I have now abandoned it certainly for the foreseeable future, probably for good. Its certainly given my confidence a knock. Have any of you chaps had similar experiences with model boat building?

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Ive been working on the Occre Endurance for over a year. I have struggled with the poor quality wood, and the poor instructions. Over the past month it has caused me to doubt my modelling abilities, and Ive developed a total hatred for the kit. Once or twice I have been on the point of breaking it up. I have now abandoned it certainly for the foreseeable future, probably for good. Its certainly given my confidence a knock. Have any of you chaps had similar experiences with model boat building?

Hi, Occre kits aren't great, but not very bad either. Leave her alone for a while and try something else, another more simple learning experience before tackling the Endurance anew. That ship bears its name well.

 

[Corsair]

I have definitely been at the point of almost destroying a model. The more complex the model, the more likely it is to happen.
Leave it be for a little while and work on something else. Give it a little time and you can go back to it for more work.

 

[Tony1955]

I have definitely been at the point of almost destroying a model. The more complex the model, the more likely it is to happen.
Leave it be for a little while and work on something else. Give it a little time and you can go back to it for more work.

Several weeks ago (before the Endurance crisis) I placed an order for Pavel Nitikins Nef. Its not due for a few weeks yet. It will certainly be a few months before I have the confidence to even think about starting it, and I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew.

 

[Roger Pellett]

First of all, it’s probably not you, it’s the kit.

Here’s my story: Since moving from the banks of the Ohio River to the shores of Lake Superior I have been slowly working off and on building a model of a Great Lakes Steamship. I recently realized several things. First, at my age and at the rate that I was proceeding I probably would not finish it. Second, work done many years ago did not meet current expectations. And last, I was just tired of working on it. So, I recently boxed it up and started on a new project that I believe can be finished in a more reasonable length of time. By doing so, I’ve discovered that I’m having fun!

I’m a scratch builder so I am able to control the quality of materials and to “design” my system for building the model. I also don’t know what kits are available in Great Britain. I would try to find a high quality kit of a simple vessel. Maybe a British offshore fishing vessel? Look here on SOS for kits that would be available that offer better materials and instructions.

Roger

 

[DAWarden-(Jaager)]

It could be that experience and skills have progressed to a point where inferior quality materials and someone else's market limited design are pushing your frustration buttons.

If you can imagine a world with more than commercial kit subject choices and economy quality African junk wood species - there is another world.
Scratch.
Different problems to solve. Material quality at least a magnitude better. If you are constrained by historical authenticism - the limits are surviving plans and being able to obtain a copy. With no such limits, you can do your own reconstruction of vessels that never had or have lost any plans.
Just wade in slowly and with respect for how complex going too ambitious can become.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Is the Endurance your first try to ship model building? I gave up on two kits since my return to modelling: the French Chebeq from Mantua and the Allège d'Arles from Soclaine; both by being overconfident and expecting too much of myself at the start. No, it isn't the kit quality that counts at the end. Every model, plastic, wood, kit or scratch, is something of an adventure, even after a dozen builds. You know where you start but never where it will eventually lead you. So take heart, you losing patience and confidence with this, after all not that easy kit, is perfectly normal and just part of a learning process. You can't learn to walk without stumbling and falling down from time to time. The important part is getting up and to carry on, a bit bruised maybe, but on. That Nef of Winchelsea is a real beauty and also on my (maybe!) whishlist, for very much later. I just got myself a "monster kit" on ebay (AL HMS Victory Anatomy), totally unplanned and at an unbeatable price ... Busy for a while, I guess. And then there are still the other kits in my stack ...

 

[AllanKP69]

Occre . I have struggled with the poor quality wood, and the poor instructions.

You are not the first to find this. If scratch is not your preference maybe consider a kit from a high quality manufacturer for the next build instead. Hopefully it will bring back the love of the hobby. There are a few, including Model Ship Dockyard and Vanguard that come to mind based on build logs and comments from the model builders.

 

[Tony1955]

Is the Endurance your first try to ship model building? I gave up on two kits since my return to modelling: the French Chebeq from Mantua and the Allège d'Arles from Soclaine; both by being overconfident and expecting too much of myself at the start. No, it isn't the kit quality that counts at the end. Every model, plastic, wood, kit or scratch, is something of an adventure, even after a dozen builds. You know where you start but never where it will eventually lead you. So take heart, you losing patience and confidence with this, after all not that easy kit, is perfectly normal and just part of a learning process. You can't learn to walk without stumbling and falling down from time to time. The important part is getting up and to carry on, a bit bruised maybe, but on. That Nef of Winchelsea is a real beauty and also on my (maybe!) whishlist, for very much later. I just got myself a "monster kit" on ebay (AL HMS Victory Anatomy), totally unplanned and at an unbeatable price ... Busy for a while, I guess. And then there are still the other kits in my stack ...

Endurance is my second Occre ship kit, the first was the titanic. The last kit before Endurance was the Amati Santa Maria, that went really well and I thoroughly enjoyed working on it. Endurance has just been a trial - its now put away.

 

[Tony1955]

First of all, it’s probably not you, it’s the kit.

Here’s my story: Since moving from the banks of the Ohio River to the shores of Lake Superior I have been slowly working off and on building a model of a Great Lakes Steamship. I recently realized several things. First, at my age and at the rate that I was proceeding I probably would not finish it. Second, work done many years ago did not meet current expectations. And last, I was just tired of working on it. So, I recently boxed it up and started on a new project that I believe can be finished in a more reasonable length of time. By doing so, I’ve discovered that I’m having fun!

I’m a scratch builder so I am able to control the quality of materials and to “design” my system for building the model. I also don’t know what kits are available in Great Britain. I would try to find a high quality kit of a simple vessel. Maybe a British offshore fishing vessel? Look here on SOS for kits that would be available that offer better materials and instructions.

Roger

Thanks Roger, you are so right. No point in struggling and getting frustrated. Several weeks ago I ordered Pavel Nitikins Nef. Ive only heard good things about his kits both in instructions, materials and support. Its going to be a while before it gets to me, so i have time to maybe do a plasic kit or just take a time out.

 

[Tony1955]

You are not the first to find this. If scratch is not your preference maybe consider a kit from a high quality manufacturer for the next build instead. Hopefully it will bring back the love of the hobby. There are a few, including Model Ship Dockyard and Vanguard that come to mind based on build logs and comments from the model builders.

 

[Sastackrat]

I think you'll enjoy the Nef. There is just something about Pavel Nikitin's kits that are special. I've not got that kit, but I do have the Oseberg V3 and the Shallop. My "chuck it in the bin / set it on fire" moment was with a Mantua Albatross. Absolute rubbish.

 

[Tony1955]

I think you'll enjoy the Nef. There is just something about Pavel Nikitin's kits that are special. I've not got that kit, but I do have the Oseberg V3 and the Shallop. My "chuck it in the bin / set it on fire" moment was with a Mantua Albatross. Absolute rubbish

 

[Tony1955]

I've certainly learned that when a project becomes the struggle of man vs. kit it's time to put it all away and do something else.

 

[Tim Green]

I have shelved several kits at various stages of construction. I have resumed work on my Pinta 5 times now, shelving it once again this spring. But I have finished as many in the process. Some I may never get back to. While a couple I look fwd to completing, as I become a more seasoned modeler. Currently dropping my work on my Pen Duick (hull construction instructions too vague for me - I'll finish it later, when I feel more like guessing), to begin building the Oseberg V3 ... a kit I know I will work on until it is finished.

 

[Kruser1953]

I have found that my expectations of what I am able to accomplish from a model kit does not meet reality. Viewing some of the builds on this site and youtube that are museum quality makes me "thinks" why am I not able to accomplish this level of purity, then I realize I am not a Picasso or DaVinci and come to the conclusion that I will do the best with what I have, and once I have come to that conclusion I will either finish the model or start something new that brings me joy. If you are not enjoying yourself why are you punishing yourself.

 

[AllanKP69]

Picasso

Unlike ship modeling, the joy of modern art or even impressionism in earlier years is in the eye of the beholder. On the other hand, ship models are supposed to be an accurate representation of the actual ship, not a dream like (nightmare?) interpretation by a kit manufacturer. Sadly you got stuck with one the of worst manufacturers but please do not give up. There are a couple high quality kit manufacturers that will bring you back to the joy of a ship model build.
Allan

 

[Peter_h_s]

Ive been working on the Occre Endurance for over a year. I have struggled with the poor quality wood, and the poor instructions. Over the past month it has caused me to doubt my modelling abilities, and Ive developed a total hatred for the kit. Once or twice I have been on the point of breaking it up. I have now abandoned it certainly for the foreseeable future, probably for good. Its certainly given my confidence a knock. Have any of you chaps had similar experiences with model boat building?

Hi Tony,

A couple of years ago I arrived at the same place on the same model and for very similar reasons. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and love finding solutions and fixing problems. That’s one reason I continue to make wooden ship models. In the case of Endurance, poor instructions led to an uncorrectable error fairly early in the hull construction. Unlike you though, I took the permanent solution and threw the model away.

I’ve had this happen a couple of other times over the years, once with a POF hull from BlueJacket (Jefferson Davis - completely my fault: I cut the keel board because it seemed logical. It wasn’t. Reading and understanding the instructions would have helped!) Then with Confederacy where I became completely messed up with the size and count of the planks. Remember, I’m strongly Type A, so the thought of investing a further 400 hours into a model that could never be close to perfect put me off that model completely!

Despite these failures, I’ve carried on with this wonderful hobby and still get pleasure from finding solutions. I’ve definitely learned that I have “Perseverance” but not “Endurance.” What’s more, at my age the memories of frustrating builds fade more quickly.

Peter

 

[Tony1955]

Unlike ship modeling, the joy of modern art or even impressionism in earlier years is in the eye of the beholder. On the other hand, ship models are supposed to be an accurate representation of the actual ship, not a dream like (nightmare?) interpretation by a kit manufacturer. Sadly you got stuck with one the of worst manufacturers but please do not give up. There are a couple high quality kit manufacturers that will bring you back to the joy of a ship model build.
Allan

The Endurance is now in the shed gathering dust. Ive ordered Pavel Nitikins Nef. His kits certainly seem to be vastly superior to Occre. Its not cheap, but I guess you get what you pay for. Its going to take a while to get here so perhaps when it arrives I'll be ready to start again.

 

[AllanKP69]

I took the permanent solution and threw the model away.

That is perhaps the smartest action I have ever heard on SoS. Congratulations on not settling for inferior quality.
Allan