OcCre 1/100 Amerigo Vespucci

[Bill97]

Good day SOS modelers I am coming over here from the now defunct MSW. I want to do a synopsis of my OcCre Amerigo Vespucci build I began a little over a year ago and then continue with updates of my progress. I will try to make it clear and concise without boring everyone with a lot of photos and wordy text.

First let me introduce myself. I live in Louisville, KY, home of the Kentucky Derby. I retired from the military 16 years ago and started again a hobby I loved as a younger person before family and jobs limited my free time. I started again with plastic models and advanced my skills to eventually complete the Heller HMS Victory and Soleli Royal. As an adult I have a lot of experience with woodworking so I decided to try my hand at wood kits. After a lot of research I opted to go with OcCre kits. My first was the Endeavour and I followed that up with the Amerigo Vespucci that I am 13 months in to. I thoroughly enjoy the craft and am very much looking forward to sharing with everyone here.

Attached are photos of a few of my completed projects.

 

[Peter Schaap]

This is a test post to see if I am doing this correct. I am coming over here from the now defunct MSW. I want to do a synopsis of my OcCre Amerigo Vespucci build I began a little over a year ago and then continue with updates of my progress. If Jimsky says I am doing it correctly I will share my build.

A warm welcome Bill!

 

[Bill97]

Thanks Jimsky. Now that I know I am onboard correctly I will in fact edit and expound on my build.

 

[Bill97]

Ok gang now that I am up and running I am going to ask my first question for this build. I have searched every source I can find. I even have an interactive video of the actual Amerigo Vespucci that I can move around on to search particular aspects. This also is not providing an answer. Here is my question. Every ship model I have rigged in the past had some variation of a tackle to tighten the different stays. The end coming from the different positions on the masts either went through a block somewhere and then tied off at a rail or the end went to a pair of hearts that could be tightened with the lanyard. The rigging instructions for my AV simply have the different stays tied off one end at the mast and the other to an eyebolt at the deck or somewhere on the mast in front of it. I am confident this is surly not correct but I can’t find how it should be done. I suppose I could just rig the stays however I think they should be based on my rigging reference books but would like to know if I am right or wrong.

 

[Bill97]

I began the build of my OcCre Amerigo Vespucci April 1st last year. When preparing for the build I wanted to use some artistic license in changing some of the kit instructions. The biggest change was to add lighting to the ship to have it resemble the actual ship in port at night. I decided to run 4 separate circuits through the ship that would be controlled by switches I built into the base. I wanted two separate circuits for the cabin lights. Some could be on while others off or all on. I wanted a circuit for the deck lights. And a circuit for the distinctive green, white, red spot lights that represent the Italian flag to shine up into the masts. On this circuit as well are a red and green navigation lights mounted on each side at the bow and a yellow on the stern. Inside the base I have voltage regulators that protect the LED circuits that receive current from a block instead of batteries. Having a LED burn out deep inside my ship at this point would be disappointing.

More to follow.

 

[Bill97]

As I continued by OcCre Amerigo Vespucci build I made a drastic artistic decision which I like. As I life long woodworker I have always appreciated the look of a herringbone pattern floor. I decided, even knowing it was completely inaccurate to the actual ship, to lay a herringbone pattern deck planking. I did a center stripe of walnut the entire length and a narrow edge around the circumference of the deck then filled in with short pieces of deck planking. As I said I know it is inaccurate but like it.

 

[dockattner]

Well, that's something you don't see every day. I love the artistic license and free interpretation, Bill!

 

[Bill97]

OK call me crazy! The Amerigo Vespucci has three safety nets suspended under the bowsprit. The OcCre kit comes with wire mesh (screen wire) that is to be painted white and cut to shape for this purpose. I decided I would rather make my own safety nets out of heavy white thread. I had full expectation that this would be time consuming. I laid out a grid of 2mm blocks and on each grid lay out heavier thread to create the desired shape. I then began the process of tying hundreds of half hitch knots.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

I like your base and the LEDs you have added and the control system.

For netting up on the Bow Sprint, have you thought of using bridal vail sold at fabric stores.