HMS Beagle 1:60 scale Occre by embojo

[embojo]

I'm probably going to use the graphite pencil method of simulating caulking. I'm now wondering about making the deck houses before getting onto planking the deck. I want to add a waterway eventually.

 

[embojo]

I went ahead with the deck planking, after adding some small curved pieces atop the bulkheads to add camber. Then I started work on the doors, following others in making new ones.

 

[embojo]

Working on deck houses. I think the cabin wall planking needs more attention. The deck camber is just about visible. I've added some curved strips to the top of the quarterdeck for the quarterdeck camber. I couldnt resist adding a few interior details to represent a cabin. The left-hand facing door led into the chartroom/Darwin's cabin which had several book cases and the large chart table. In the kit, this area is bisected by the false keel, but it was fun to do.

 

[embojo]

From the Marquardt book, it is clear the openings of the deck house doors were raised above deck level, which I guess was standard practice to reduce water flooding below decks in rough weather. This must have been particularly important for Cherokee-class brigs like Beagle, given the amount of water they were prone to ship? Darwin talks about the deck being flooded with several inches of water, but doesnt mention his cabin being flooded, In this light, I couldn't believe the cabin doors opened flush with the deck, and decided to give them a 'step'. I plan to continue the waterway across the cabin walls below the doors. I also wanted the doors to be recessed in a frame - they opened inwards.

 

[embojo]

Meantime, slowly working on the deck houses and companionways. I wish I had a mini table saw and a sander... maybe next time. I think my angle cutting could be better but its a learning exercise. I'm waiting for some brass black to arrive before adding window bars, hinges etc.

 

[embojo]

Aaaaargh! OK, now I'm feeling really frustrated. The Marquardt AOTS book is great, but it's also very annoying! For the deck houses, he has a nice 3D view on page 83(marked as not to scale) showing the chart room and gun/mess room skylights with 5 windows on the long sides. Thats what I went with, although I struggled with the small windows. This morning I was looking at the Occre instructions and then went through the book again. On page 81, he has a 3D drawing of the same chartroom skylight with only 3 windows on the long side, and In all the plans/ side elevations in the book, he shows the skylights with 3 larger windows per long side, which is also what the Orre kit has. Unfortunately I think I am going to have to remake the skylights . That will mean larger windows. Then I'm worried they will look out of proportion to the Companionway/captains skylight which was the most complex to make. (Marquardt doesn't show any windows in the walls of the companionway unlike the Occre kit, and most other pics of other ships companionways don't seem to have windows).

 

[embojo]

Two of the deck houses redone. I'm feeling a bit better. Brass black should be arriving on Thursday so I can add the metal work/handles etc.