Thanks for the suggestions.
I agree with you Jim about the rigging, in fact, I wasn't planning on doing much, if any, of that on this first model. I've also run into a similar problem with the deck furniture, trying to work and fit those small pieces is a bit tedious for me. Plus, in this kit at least, the material used for those pieces dosen't take stain very well. I don't like to paint wood, but that's just me.
Which brings me back to the Brig. My interest initially was the size, but then when I discovered that the hull was painted and partially covered in copper, I started having second thoughts. On my schooner, except for the few areas in the bow where things got really messed up, I was very happy with the results on the rest of the hull. The mahogany for the second planking layer stained nicely and then I finished it with Tru Oil. I went with Tru Oil because I didn't like the amber tint the shellac added.
So my thinking was get the Brig, but then source some material for a second planking layer that I could stain and finish to my liking, however, paying that kind of money for basically just a hull seems like something the government would do, so I'm still looking around.
Thanks again.