travis

I've got bulkhead set now (not fun to bend!). All the primary decking is down too. Fairing the bulkhead wasn't too much work on the kit. With the prior ones I did it took more work to also deal with correct a lot of little defects but occre seems to make good bulkhead so it went faster.

This is actually my first attempt so I'm just figuring out as I go. Founds some small leds that are already soldered to wire and include resistors (at a model train supply on amazon). My son works with arduinos so he helped with the code. There's a couple examples on Google but for candle like flicker, the key is to randomly turn each led on and off at different rates to give the appearance of the flicker. Then the shift register chip to apply that affect to 8 leds individually. For the model, I'm just experimenting with where to place everything before I plank the hull

Frames are set (and staight!). Deck planking now. Forgot to start the pattern at the forecast deck but a brown colored pencil will probably look fine there. Getting leds set too. Some of the smallest leds I've worked with. I'm considering cutting a rectangle out of the back of the ship (below the overhang) and making that a sort of drawer to pull out the arduino (or batteries) I'd basically cut it out and then put right back so I can plank it. More to think about there.

Further along with bulkhead. I almost went for a building slip but in the end, I get the sense they are "novelty" and a good strategy of clamps is just as good. The real secret: Take Your Time!! I'm using l brackets I checked for perfect square and gluing a bulkhead at a time. There is a very slight bow to the central keel frame but it's slight and I can straiten that when I plank (and the decks might fix it too)

First post on ship #3. This is my first Occre. Definitely a step up for me. The quality is better than my last kits (not that they were that bad, I did really enjoy learning with them!). I know there are others out there that may be even better but I'm happy with what I got so far. Also got an awesome deal on black friday. I'm going to try an light this one too. My son is putting some good work to figuring out how to maximize an arduino nano to power up to 16 super small leds to flicker individually like candles. More to come on that. For now I just need to make sure I get the bulkheads right!

I know this is an old post but found this interesting for those still wanting to know. I found that artesania and occre have manufacturing facilities literally next door to each other in a rural area of spain. Can't help but wonder if the companies are either the same or at least associated? I do like both companies (my first two where Artesania and I just bought two from occre!) Was curious where the models were coming from (shipped from) and google showed this.

That's good to know Chris! Thank you.

Thank you for the feedback everyone. Losts of options. I think at this point i will focus on a solid build first and then attempt the cutaway next. I was leaning towards the Model Shipways options and then the day after writing this the prices went up! They were pretty well discounted and then they reduced the discout before I could buy For example, the Syren was $267 and now is $320. More than I planned so I will probably focus on an Occre for now. I think the Terror would be the best cutaway opporutnity due to available plans so maybe the next build will be the Revenge. Lets see what I decide this weekend!

Thought I'd get some advice here. So far I have completed to AL builds, the Virignia and the Bluenose II. Happy with how both turned out. Had to do a lot of mods/bashing. In part due to just the level of detail/quality from AL and my own need to go above and beyond. Looking for a next build and wanting to step up to a period ship. There are a couple ALs at a local shop near me but within my price range (200 - 300 USD) the option are the spanish caravels that I am less interested in. They do have an Occre Buccaneer but that one seems a little small/simple. Doing research, I'm thinking one of the following: Occre HMS Terror, Occre HMS Revenge, Model Shipyard's US Rattlesnake, and Model Shipyard's US Syren. Obviously, the quality is better with Model Shipyards but the Occre options look like nice builds too. I do like the challenge of needing to mod/bash a little. Curious what everyones thoughts on this might be! On another note, I am really intrigued with the cutaways. I love the idea of detailing interiors and being able to show the work (and maybe a little lighting too). Not many kits with cutaways. Occre has the Bounty but it is just outside my price range (almost $500). I though about just moding one of the kits above. I know it's hard to show with the POB but my thought was to frame up, lay some initial framing boards to firm up the frame and then carefully cut into a section, adding shoring and floors as I go. to make one portion of one side open as though that part had been POF. Adds a bit of risk (and maybe too much for my third build?). That might rule out the Shipyard builds as neither seems to have good below deck plans. The HMS Terror would probably be the best one to attempt. Any thoughts or anyone seen a build log where someone tried this. (or is it just a crazy idea and I should just get a little more experiend and target a scratch build in a few years!!)

Did you ever get this kit? I'm thinking about it too. I've done two ALs and it seems like Occre is a good step up from AL. I really like the idea of a cutaway.

Final pics (for now). Added rope hanks and cleaned everything up. I still need to run flag halyards but need laser transfer paper to make them and running low on rope. Also need more rope for dory tackle. AL stand is sub par but it will work for now until I get time to build a proper display stand.

Final sail

Staysail up bit need to get the fore top sail in first to tighten up.

More progress and finishing up on some of the riggings.rigging. added last jib and the main top mast.

And now the jib.

Main sail set.

I like that approach for ratlines. Allows to verify each one looks "visually:level before tieing. Might also help keep them spaced evenly. I thing you could put a repositional sticky back on there so the shrouds would be lightly stuck at the interval while tieing off. I tied every knot on this build as a true clove hitch so positioning was painstaking to get right! For the Jensen book, I did almost purchase it as well but held off when I realized that the AL kit was not correct to any version of the bluenose. There is some mixing ov versions in their kit and some components that don't match any version! Classic for AL. They can keep their costs/prices slightly lower due to a lack of accuracy. I did do some of my own research to scratch modify some items to match the current day bluenose design. Some. I just left what AL provided as it wasn't worth moding. In the end, my building may not truly be accurate but it's only for.me anyways and I like how it's turning out for my own purpose!

Next sail in progress. Couple more lines to rig and then I can move to the main gaff

Jumbo jib set in place. Couple lines yet to tie off but first sail pretty much rigged.

Here's what I went with. I'm using walnut belay pins everywhere else but kept the kit supplied metal here (they are slightly longer and thinner and maybe accentuate the metal chain?).

That was perfect. I'm surprised I didn't stumble on his log before but got it bookmarked now. Not only did he have a good design for what I needed (and good pics!), he had close photos of the actual setup on the bluenose II. Perfect!

Davit is probably a more correct term than cathead!

Looking for advise if anyone has details on catheads for this kind/era of schooner. Trying to figure out how the chain on the cathead to the anchors is attached (to the rail?). You can see in the Pic how I just have the two ends temporarily dropped crossed each other over the bowsprit. Just looking for the best approach to attach there near the catheads and how that would typically look. Haven't found that particular detail in my searches.

Final shrouds ready. Now it's robands for the main sail boom.

Ratlines set. Added running lights. Now the final shrouds that go from top mast to rail.