Disaster of a Build?
This has been quite an epic read. It's reminding me of the Odyssey, one of those stories where the hero, that's you Maltbyguy, keeps on battling despite all of the obstacles that fate places in his way. Remember that Osysseus did get home in the end, a bit battered and a whole lot wiser. I've learned a lot from reading about your mistakes, about your learning. You're brave to be so open about it all. I'd like to see you finish it but don't do it for me. It's your kit, your decision. I'll tell you what's in my mind at this point in the log though, just in case it's useful.
I can't deny that some parts of your model are a bit wobbly if compared with some of those built by folks who are on their fifth? tenth? PoF model. You can't deny that if you compare your build with the nine out of ten models like this that never get started, or are abandoned, you are doing very well indeed. Perhaps you bit off more than you could comfortably chew with this very complex kit, but you are choking it down bite by bite. It won't be museum standard, yet perhaps the next one will.
If you carry on, you'll end up with a model ship which will impress everyone, except yourself. When you build another one, you'll be travelling a similar road and you'll know the way right to the end. It will be brilliant.
If you stop now you will either give up the hobby entirely, which would be a real waste, or you'll build that second big PoF brilliantly ... up to about this point, and then you'll be a novice again for the rigging and deck furnishings and everything that you haven't yet tackled on Blandford. Half the build will be the second one and half will be a first attempt. You'll be disappointed again.
On the subject of building, how are your skills now compared to back in February? I bet you've built up your skills and knowledge no end. You could start looking at Blandford as your apprenticeship, build it just for the learning and when you're done, build your masterpiece. That way of thinking takes away all the pressure to be perfect, that's pressure that you are applying so only you can relax it.
And February 12th? That's only 236 days ago! You've done so much in a very short time. Is a fundamental problem that you need to slow down and spend more time thinking and planning the next move. I'd expect to take well over a year to get to where you are now with a first PoF of this size.
Oh I got a bit bossy there, I think. Sorry. I do want you to finish Blandford though - I want to read to the end of the epic.
