Titanicphile

Nice recovery.  Goes to show how important it is to check all parts before gluing.  Looking forward to more.

As you can see, removed from slip and put into Amati's Keel Clamp.  Had this thing so long and it has been put to good use.  Worth every penny.

All deck sheets 9 of them have been set into their prospective locations.  Take your time, following the instructions and parts diagram.  This is almost a puzzle.  Played with it and found some smaller ones can be put into wrong spot.  Everything lines up and appears I can proceed to gluing up.  And yes, follow instructions and plank before you attach all deck pieces.

I am very pleased w/bulkheads.  Appears all are setting straight and square.  Fortune has smiled 😃 for me.  Not a warped one in the lot.  You will notice some are proud of their slot.  That's  because the frame/keel is setting completely into slip.  Now, if one followed the instructions.  You would glue'em up🧐.  If I may make a suggestion!  Remove decks from carrier 1st, set them onto bulkheads and see if all lines up.  If so, now glue the whole shebang up.  Allow the glue to fully set up before you fiddle 🎻 with.  I usually give this 24 hours to completely set.  This saves alot of headaches down the road.  I will post pictures soon.

Bulkheads removed from carrier.  Used a Squadron med grit file to clean laser charr and square up.  Each was opened up to slide in its slot.  Not lose or tight.  They should go into place w/o forcing or just dropping 🤔.  

For those building either this kit or Amati's, as suggested by member Paul Jarman, thank you Paul.  Go to Minibrass and be dazzled by their offerings.  Many different scales for a Titanic build.  One issue though.  They do not currently offer in 1/300 scale.  But if enough interest was shown.  Bet they would etch in brass one more scale. For the OcCre kit, you would have a replacement for the Skylights.

Check the site out.😃

Dean77, you got to checkout Minibrass.  I originally entered it wrong and was sent to a site that had nothing to offer.  But upon entering exactly as Paul Jarman suggested, good googly moogly.  I fired off a request to see if they could offer in 1/300.  I bet if all of use asked, they might agree too one more scale offering.  They have in every scale but 1/300.  Thank you Paul Jarman.

On 3/29/2022 at 3:20 AM, Paul Jarman said:

Looks to be a very nice kit. I am currently building the Amati version. Will follow along with interest.

I see that Occre are using the same Colour card for some of the detailing as Amati. I can replace all of mine with PE from Minibrass.

You might want to consider doing the same if there are upgrades available.

Good luck and enjoy building this version of this iconic ship.

Paul

I went too that site. I had no luck finding your referenced PE!  Tom's Modelworks has a super PE set for Titanic, but alas it comes in 1/350 scale. I am hoping I can get them enlarged to 1/300.  Another alternative, draw up and do your own.  I never have been very good at this other than very simple items.  Looking forward to your response 👍.

Any progress.  What are your thoughts on the peel and stick details supplied.  I like, but believe with the right approach. One could use to make look more prototypical than just stick the plates onto the structures.  Not too keen on how the skylights are depicted.  One could I believe easily scratch build that detail.  Overall very pleased with the kit.  I do believe OcCre's hull details are  approached in a better way than Amati's.  I ordered sets of porthole frames for card models that are the perfect size to add that missing detail rather than just a round hole. Looking forward to your progress 👍.

The gluing begins.  Using good Ole Elmer's white glue for the frame build up.  The keel is MDF.  The balance is ply.  At one time I was not a MDF fan.  But like all things, time and experience can change one's mind.  As you see, keel is longer than my building slip.  But once the framework is complete, will use my thrusty keel camp from Amati.  

Thoughts on OcCre.  This makes my 2nd kit from this mfg.  One will notice putting hands on, OcCre does not try to go the big box scheme.  The package is just big enough to a contain well arranged contents.  The wood is sealed, which I like.  Think about how much moisture a kit has been exposed to before you open 🤔.   Packaging is done in a orderly fashion.  Wood...some of the best I have seen for a kit in this price range.  No splits, half cuts,wood strips that are twisted and/or splitting.  Written and photo instructions.

Subject matters that are interesting and their kits run the gambit.  I looked at the other kit for this and though same vessel,  I liked this one better.  Customer service.  Had a warped frame sheet for the Terror.  Emailed, 1 week later, had the sheet.  No questions asked.  What's not to like.  No, these are not the high dollar kits.  But for the price, you get alot of bang for the buck.

9 hours ago, JeffT said:

How do you like the kit so far?

Impressed, the material is really good and the PE is heavy but for a project like this, perfect.  The photo instructions are clear and easy to follow.  I am about to start installation of bulkheads.  

Way beyond my skill set.  What a wonderful build and subject matter.  Here's a little story for you.  Every time I go to Washington DC, I go to Arlington.  On one occasion after watching the Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  I walked to the rear of the area this takes place.  I stopped dead in my tracks and stared.  A Park Ranger noticed me and ask if I was OK?  I replied, yes ma'am, and asked her a question?  She said in all the years she had been there, I was the first to point out what the object was that had my attention.  That question was, is that a mast from the USS Maine.  And it was.  She was so impressed by that, she asked me my name and how did I know that.  My response, what other vessel could it have been on this Hallowed Ground. Besides, from the design of and the color of it, it was obviously from a Dreadnought.  Funny how one comes upon History if one is aware.  Your build is truly a tribute to her, the USS Maine.

I have contacted Tom's Modelworks to see if it was possible to request a custom order for their 1/350 Titanic PE set to be enlarged to 1/300.  The OcCre kit contains nice PE.  But Tom's set has some details that the OcCre set does not.  Have not had a response yet.  

I looked at the Amati kit for awhile, then OcCre came out with their version.  After building the HMS Terror, I enjoyed that one.  I pulled the trigger for the OcCre kit.  Just going thru the kit, iding the parts and the keel has been removed from carrier sheet.

And so it begins.  Not to hijack Dean77 thread.  Just letting all know it is officially started.  I will post my own thread once I get further along.

I have been away from ship building for awhile.  Then one day I came across the Occre Titanic.  My jaw dropped and before I knew what the what, will be delivered tomorrow.  I will pull up a chair and watch your kit take shape.  Looking forward to seeing the next update.

Rick