Matador

Fantastic model! Great work. I have a small favour to ask. (I've asked this in other posts too!) I have the same model but have misplaced the building instructions during a recent house move. I have contacted Occre several times by email but never get a response. They do have a 'replacement parts' order form on their website but I don't know the part number of the building instructions. Could you check your copy to see if they have a part number anywhere? I'm referring to the actual colour building guide rather than the black and white plans for the rigging and masts etc. It would be greatly appreciated!!!🤞

Hi looks good so far. Planking looks great! I have a small favour to ask. I have the same model but have misplaced the building instructions during a recent house move. I have contacted Occre several times by email but never get a response. They do have a 'replacement parts' order form on their website but I don't know the part number of the building instructions. Could you check your copy to see if they have a part number anywhere? I'm referring to the actual colour building guide rather than the black and white plans for the rigging and masts etc. it would be appreciate!!!🤞

Hi Matt, Looks good so far. I'm thinking of getting this model myself, so I will watch your progress with interest. Steve

thanks Allanyed, this is helpful info. (long answer warning!) My first attempt at building a model ship has ground to a halt at the 2nd planking stage. Starting with what I though was a relatively easy project - Caldercraft's HM Cutter Sherbourne, I suspect my hull shaping went wrong at some point during a frustrating first planking (and heavily 'filler'ed') stage. This has resulted in bad 'clinkering' of the planks on both sides at the bow curves from the bulwarks down, which gets progressively worse with each sucessive plank. I also now realise fitting the planks while damp from soaking was also a mistake as several have shrunk when dry leaving even more gaps. With 2nd planking is about 50% finished, I'm certain the end result will be horrible, so have kinda lost the will to carry on with it. Given that all I really wanted to begin with was a decent looking model ship for my bookcase, I've decided to try Costructos 1:85 St Helena Schooner (Sexyauthors build log helped make my final decision). This model has a solid hull (no planking!) and so I hope will be an easier project. Rather than depict the St Helena ootb, I plan to add extra detail and a different paint scheme in order to depict a typical Royal Navy Schooner of the period - hence my enquiry about carronades. Thanks to the responses here and some further research, I think about 4-6 carronades would be the most likely armament. If a 12 pounder was 26" long then you are correct that at 1:85 scale a 12pdr carronade would be about 0.3" or just under 8mm. Therefore it would be my indention to cut a 15mm cannon barrel down to size and construct my own carriage/mount. thanks again for your info. Its exactly what I was looking for. S.

Thanks guys. @davyboy. If a 3pdr was 4'6 then I guess the 15mm cannon would not be too far off the mark @ uss frolick. Thanks for this. Would the 5/8" carronade (bluejackets smallest) be oversized for 1:85. It upscales to 4'6" which seems quite long for a carronade.

Hi guys, I have to say the wealth of information and inspiration on this site is tremendous! Could I glean from the wisdom here and ask what the appropriate size of carronades or cannons would be for a 1:85 scale model of an early 19c royal navy 4-8 gun schooner-brig. (incidently, would this type of ships have been more likely armed with cannon or carronades?) The smallest carronades I can find are listed as 20mm (Amati & Mantua) and I'm guessing these would be way oversized in 1:85. I can find cannons (Mantua) at 15mm would this be a more appropriate scale? (would a 3pdr have been 4' in length?) advice appreciated, Steve

Thanks for the response Brian. Just curious, what is the length of the ships hull?

HI Brian, that's a great looking build! Congrats. I'm also looking at the St. Helenna as new build (first serious build following a disasterous HMS Sherborne attempt) and 1/85 scale seems big enough for a decent model yet not too big for my bookcase. If you have the time I have a few questions. 1. I was under the impression a solid hull would be easier to begin than POB. Is that assumption right? (The hull planking is what sunk my Sherborne ) 2. How much shaping of the hull is required, Is it simply sanding or is some carving involved? 3. You mentioned a 'scored' deck. Was this difficult? Would it be possible to apply actual planking to the deck instead? 4. Are the sails pre-made or do you have to make them? Sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance! Steve

Hi all, I'm about to start Constructo's 1/85 scale St. Helena a 135 ton schoone-brig launched in 1814. My plan is to add extra detail and then paint it to model a typical RN Schooner of the same era. I'm wondering what the typical armament a similar sized RN vessel would have been. Would it be similar to HMS Pickle which I believe had 8 guns? (Would these have been carronades?) Also what size of gun/carronade would fit with the 1:85 scale ship? The smallest I can find is about 22mm. Thanks in advance, Steve