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Which Manufacturer ?

D

DennisP

Joined
Dec 23, 2024
Messages
105
Points
78

Folks, I am a newbie at this hobby and am enjoying it massively. My fist build is the OcCre Polaris and as some of you have witnessed I made quite a few errors in the first planking, many of which were pointed out to me in the posts on here. But having completed the first planking and corrected the errors, by partially removing some of the planks and redoing it. I became happier with it enough to go and complete the second layer.
That is a lot easier as the planks are thinner.
However, I have made many mistakes and learnt so much from my own errors, but you only realise they are errors later on in the build. Plus I have learnt so much from you guys in your comments.
I am now on the fitting out of the main deck and hope to start the masts and simple rigging very soon.
My question relates to the instructions as they have not been clear enough, maybe because of the translation from Spanish to English, but the instructions are not easily interpreted and I have made mistakes following them religiously. Do others struggle with the instructions. Plus is there good manufacturers instructions and some not so good please.
I was thinking of maybe another OcCre ship as my next build.
I think someone said to me a while ago to read ALL the instructions before you start, of course I did not and just ploughed on. I wont make that mistake again, plus I wont repeat many of my first model mistakes.

IMG_0207.jpeg
 
Well, this is just one man's opinion with the full disclosure that I've never built an OcCre kit. That said, this ain't my first rodeo, either. At the risk of hurting somebody's feelings, I would say, based on what I've seen and read from others building OcCre kits, that their instructions are problematic. Many seem to have experienced the difficulties you've mentioned. In my opinion, the European kits don't come close to measuring up to the American and British kits. Now that you've got one build under your belt and are considering another, which presumably will be a more challenging kit, I would think that the deficiencies in the OcCre instructions are reason enough not to bother building another European kit. OcCre has been around a long time and has a wide selection of kit subjects, and their Polaris is an often recommended "first kit" for newcomers, but I would expect your time ... and money... would be much better spent on a kit from manufacturers such as Model Shipways (https://modelexpo-online.com/model-shipways-historic-model-ship-kits), Bluejacket Shipcrafters (https://www.bluejacketinc.com/), Syren Ship Models (https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/ ), and Vanguard Models (https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/).

I suggest you study as many build logs as possible for any model kit you are considering buying. They are not all created equal and some are wildly overpriced for what they are. See the MSW kit database for information on many commercially available kits: https://www.bluejacketinc.com/.
 
Great looking ship. You asked if there is a good manufacturer? I have built 5 different ship of different manufacturer. Vanguard Models are the most informative and explicit that I found. All ships are fun to put together through.
Bobby K.
 
Your ship looks great ! Yes, many of us have issues with kit instructions. I think that much of it is because there is no way they could put in all the variables without the instructions becoming a 3000 page set of volumes that no one would want to pay for. :p As a result, they make certain assumptions and some of them bite us hard. Even accomplished builders have issues with them. Even when they are written in our native language. As you get more experience, you will learn things that will help to fill in some of the gaps. Most importantly, have a good time.
 
DennisP said:
However, I have made many mistakes and learnt so much from my own errors, but you only realise they are errors later on in the build. Plus I have learnt so much from you guys in your comments.
I am now on the fitting out of the main deck and hope to start the masts and simple rigging very soon.
Click to expand...
Well done Dennis.
...henry
 
I have built three OcCre kits and have been reasonably satisfied with the instructions though the coloured illustrations of the rigging do occasionally lack clarity.
The worst rigging instructions I have encountered are Artesania Latina. My current build of the Cutty Sark has a plethora sails,, each with lifts, haliards, clewlines, buntlines and sheets. Most other manufactures include a deck map with numbered pin rails and an indication of where all the running rigging connects. Not so with AL. Petersson's book is not a lot of help because CS has a completely different arrangement of pin rails and bitts and many more sails than 18th/19th century ships.
 
Short John Bronze said:
I have built three OcCre kits and have been reasonably satisfied with the instructions though the coloured illustrations of the rigging do occasionally lack clarity.
The worst rigging instructions I have encountered are Artesania Latina. My current build of the Cutty Sark has a plethora sails,, each with lifts, haliards, clewlines, buntlines and sheets. Most other manufactures include a deck map with numbered pin rails and an indication of where all the running rigging connects. Not so with AL. Petersson's book is not a lot of help because CS has a completely different arrangement of pin rails and bitts and many more sails than 18th/19th century ships.
Click to expand...
Hello John, Thanks for your comments, the benefit we have being in the UK is that we could travel down to see the Cutty Sark in the flesh at Greenwich. When I walked the River Thames from the Thames Barrier to the source ( 185 miles ) a couple of years ago I walked right past the Cutty Sark and it was a maze of wires / ropes. So trying to replicate that must be a nightmare.
Anyway thanks for your comments re the instructions. I have not made my mind up about which model I will do next or which manufacturer to go with, but, I will build a more advanced ship model and or build the Artesania Latina Sopwith Camel. I used to do a lot of offshore racing in yachts for 20 years, which gives me my love of boats, then I learnt to fly and had several different aircraft for 10 years and that too gave me my love of flying. Don’t do either now, big mistake giving up but we all move onwards and upwards. No regrets.
Ah, interesting that a book did not help help you John re the rigging as I was thinking of getting a couple of books on that subject because as I progress to more advanced models I need to know more about rigging. Interesting that twenty years of sailing modern yachts does not help me one bit re old time rigging, but hey, its there to be learnt.

IMG_2462.jpeg
 
Bob Cleek said:
Well, this is just one man's opinion with the full disclosure that I've never built an OcCre kit. That said, this ain't my first rodeo, either. At the risk of hurting somebody's feelings, I would say, based on what I've seen and read from others building OcCre kits, that their instructions are problematic. Many seem to have experienced the difficulties you've mentioned. In my opinion, the European kits don't come close to measuring up to the American and British kits. Now that you've got one build under your belt and are considering another, which presumably will be a more challenging kit, I would think that the deficiencies in the OcCre instructions are reason enough not to bother building another European kit. OcCre has been around a long time and has a wide selection of kit subjects, and their Polaris is an often recommended "first kit" for newcomers, but I would expect your time ... and money... would be much better spent on a kit from manufacturers such as Model Shipways (https://modelexpo-online.com/model-shipways-historic-model-ship-kits), Bluejacket Shipcrafters (https://www.bluejacketinc.com/), Syren Ship Models (https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/ ), and Vanguard Models (https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/).

I suggest you study as many build logs as possible for any model kit you are considering buying. They are not all created equal and some are wildly overpriced for what they are. See the MSW kit database for information on many commercially available kits: https://www.bluejacketinc.com/.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your comments and the links all of which I am looking at to help me decide. I appreciate you taking the time to put this together for me which WILL help me. Many thanks. Dennis
 
I've been a bit remiss making entries into my log, but I'm currently finishing up the rigging and then on to the sails. Here in Texas, Spring means getting things done in the yard and around the house before the temps start hitting 100* (37.7*C) or more so my progress is on the slow side.
Awaiting on my order from Model Expo... I decided my next build will be the Model Shipways Bluenose. I'm not ready to dive into plank-on-frame just yet and there is a lot of good build information here and elsewhere.
I'll snap a photo of my Polaris and post it here for your amusement. Keep up the good work. You're doing great.
...henry
 
Bob Cleek said:
Well, this is just one man's opinion with the full disclosure that I've never built an OcCre kit. That said, this ain't my first rodeo, either. At the risk of hurting somebody's feelings, I would say, based on what I've seen and read from others building OcCre kits, that their instructions are problematic. Many seem to have experienced the difficulties you've mentioned. In my opinion, the European kits don't come close to measuring up to the American and British kits. Now that you've got one build under your belt and are considering another, which presumably will be a more challenging kit, I would think that the deficiencies in the OcCre instructions are reason enough not to bother building another European kit. OcCre has been around a long time and has a wide selection of kit subjects, and their Polaris is an often recommended "first kit" for newcomers, but I would expect your time ... and money... would be much better spent on a kit from manufacturers such as Model Shipways (https://modelexpo-online.com/model-shipways-historic-model-ship-kits), Bluejacket Shipcrafters (https://www.bluejacketinc.com/), Syren Ship Models (https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/ ), and Vanguard Models (https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/).

I suggest you study as many build logs as possible for any model kit you are considering buying. They are not all created equal and some are wildly overpriced for what they are. See the MSW kit database for information on many commercially available kits: https://www.bluejacketinc.com/.
Click to expand...
Add Pavel Nikitin and Maris Stella to the quality list.
For my own list Billing's, AL, Corel, Mantua. Disar,, Dusek, Dumas, Mamoli, Panart, and.....OcCre are to be avoided. Unless You are going to use structural framework as templates for, practically, a scratch build.
 
Bob Ellis said:
Add Pavel Nikitin and Maris Stella to the quality list.
For my own list Billing's, AL, Corel, Mantua. Disar,, Dusek, Dumas, Mamoli, Panart, and.....OcCre are to be avoided. Unless You are going to use structural framework as templates for, practically, a scratch build.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you've indicted all the usual suspects there! ;)
 
Most serious ship model builders would agree that an accurately shaped hull is the basis for a good ship model. The old old kits that were based on solid hulls machined by the kit manufacturer to the subject’s appropriate hull lines, allowed building of very accurate hulls. This was possible because the kits furnished a lines drawing from which templates could be made to guide the final shaping.

The hulls built from POB kits get their shape by bending strip wood around bulkheads that are (sometimes) too widely spaced. Although builders could, after fairing the “first planking,” check the hull shape, I have never heard of one doing so and the kit might not provide an accurate lines drawing in any case.

Roger
 
hard to criticize model shipways "glad tidings " with enough study of the blueprints almost all is revealed
 
Bob Cleek said:
Peki, bu sadece bir adamın görüşüydü ve ben hiç OcCre kiti yoktum. Bununla birlikte, bu benim ilk rodeom da değil. Birinin parçacıklarının temizlenmesi, OcCre kitleri yapan diğerlerinin izlerime ve incelemelerine dayanarak, talimatların arızalı olup olmadığı. Pek çok kişi yaşayabildiğiniz gibi görünüyor. Bana göre Avrupa kitleri Amerikan ve İngiliz kitlerine yaklaşılamıyor. Şimdi kemerinizin altında bir yapı var ve muhtemelen daha zorlu bir kit olacak başka bir tane daha mevcut, OcCre talimatlarındaki eksikliklerin başka bir Avrupa kiti yapma zahmetine girmek için yeterli bir sebep olduğunu düşünüyorum. OcCre'nin uzun süreli faydaları ve geniş bir yelpazede kit konularına sahiptir. Polaris'leri ise yenilenmek için sıklıkla önerilen bir "ilk kit". Ancak zamanınızın ve paranızın Model Shipways ( https://modelexpo-online.com/model-shipways-historic-model-ship-kits ), Bluejacket Shipcrafters ( https://www.bluejacketinc.com/ ), Syren Ship Models ( https://syrenshipmodelcompany.com/ ) ve Vanguard Models ( https://vanguardmodels.co.uk/ ) gibi kitlerine harcanmasının çok daha iyi olduğunu düşünüyorum .

Satın alma satın alma miktarı herhangi bir model kiti için mümkün olduğunca çok sayıda üretim gününüzü incelemenizi bildirdi. Hepsi eşit yaratılmamıştır ve bazıları seçeneklere göre aşırı pahalıdır. Ticari olarak mevcut birçok kit hakkında bilgi için MSW kiti veritabanına bakın: https://www.bluejacketinc.com/ .
Click to expand...
Haklı olabilirsiniz. Occre gold arka kitini satın aldım. Bazı talimatlar yeterince açık değil... ama benim gibi yeni şeyler yapmak için araştırma yapmakta faydalı olduğunu düşünüyorum.
 
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