Mike Dowling
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Gender
Male
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Location
Sutherland, Scotland
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Interests
Models, Natural history, photography
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mtaylor reacted to a post in a topic: Hello from the Scottish North Coast
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Hello from the Scottish North Coast
Mike Dowling replied to Scottish Guy's topic in New member Introductions
You might have a look at Occre kits. I have done a lot of them. They are not too badly priced, their instructions are really good (except perhaps for rigging) and their wood quality generally fine. -
Scottish Guy reacted to a post in a topic: Hello from the Scottish North Coast
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Hello from the Scottish North Coast
Mike Dowling replied to Scottish Guy's topic in New member Introductions
Welcome indeed to the growing Scottish contingent! -
ccoyle reacted to a post in a topic: Gorch Fock by Mike Dowling - OcCre
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Knocklouder reacted to a post in a topic: Gorch Fock by Mike Dowling - OcCre
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First deck on and gluing. I am not impressed with the poor quality of my planking but the supplied wood in this instance supposedly is sycamore which I don't think I have used before. The planks unfortunately were of a variety of widths and thicknesses and this along with that deck being in three pieces was not the easiest I have done. Because of the different thickness I just couldn't get a really smooth finish. For the rear and front decks I had some spare wood of a very similar colour and, as you will see has resulted in a much better finish. It is very unusual in my experience for Occre to provide such poor quality wood, they are usually so good. Never mind I will plod on!
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hof00 reacted to a post in a topic: Gorch Fock by Mike Dowling - OcCre
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hof00 reacted to a post in a topic: Gorch Fock by Mike Dowling - OcCre
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king derelict reacted to a post in a topic: Gorch Fock by Mike Dowling - OcCre
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All the bulkheads fixed on, they are not wonky at the back I promise, it's just the camera angle!! I have shelved the lighting plan for this one. With the construction and the sort of false deck in the middle it makes it very difficult at this stage to know where the lights will go in the right place for the portholes so rather than give myself a headache she can stay unlit.
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Fokker Dr.I by portchieboy - Artesania Latina - 1:16
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Sorry, I am a peasant!! I don't know what tensors are, but, when I made my Sopwith all the control wires ie. ailerons, rudder etc worked to start with but by the time I finished it the wires/threads had stretched and rather spoilt the plan. That was using the thread provided. I know how tricky it is to get all those wires in a taught in the first place and then to find them saggy is very disappointing so, if you can find something non stretchy it will avoid the problem. I did even think about using fine wire which might work?
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It is ages since I tried to do a build log on this forum so I thought it was about time I did! I have made loads of models since my last but not done logs on any of them. I love the look of the tall ships and I have recently finished the Occre version of the Amerigo Vespucci with full lighting and loads of changes to the kit instructions to make her more like the real vessel. I am going to try and light the Gorch Fock as well although I wonder sometimes why I set myself these challenges. I can already see from the instructions that I will have to make a few alterations to the kit but otherwise I hope to build her more or less out of the box this time without looking too carefully at the real vessel. At first look the instructions are the usual Occre quality, the wood looks good and the fittings fine. I will change the navigation lights so that I can fit lights. I don't like the photo etched stanchions but changing them costs a lot as I know because I changed them on the AV so I will put up with them this time. The sails again are usual for Occre but to be honest they do look OK in the end. I made some for the AV as the kit didn't come with them but they didn't really come out better so I will stick with those provided. Let's see what else I find as I go along. For those who want to know this is what is in the box!
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Fokker Dr.I by portchieboy - Artesania Latina - 1:16
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Mike Dowling reacted to a post in a topic: Amerigo Vespucci by DanielD - OcCre - 1:100
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Hey Daniel, your lights are certainly going to look spectacular, a bit like a Christmas tree by the time you finish!! A puzzle for you! You mentioned a while ago about the AV having three anchors. The Occre kit provides 6 including 2 which are supposed to be fastened to the rear of the ship. I have scoured the photos etc of the real AV and it may be that there are 2 at the stern and I can only see 2 at the bow. What do you think is right?
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