JDillon

Thanks Keith, i've danished oiled the hull and will be keeping it natural as per your recomendation, it has a few light spots though, i will give it another coat then use Occre Satin varnish like i did on the deck. do you varnish the paint work also? I used the Judea Bitumin paint on the keel, amazing paint it gives the right colour for wood and a worn rinish. Seems to sell out quick, got mine from Poland, only 1 per customer! but i've just seen Cornwall MB have got fresh stock in.

I'm a fan of your work Baltic, regardless of scale or accuracy it has helped me with mine. I've made the davits for the rear tender, im just glad you did it as i was going to do that but had no reference to use. Trouble with a first build is you have to learn, first time ive painted a model in 30 years, im confident my second build will be 80% better. Also the Taff rails did not line up with the prow piece despite the bulwarks being spot on. New builders beware, detach from sprue and dry fit them after you attach bulwarks to the deck to check as it will be to late if you wait until the instrutions tell you to fit them.

It is from the Granado kit, Gregory. So its an item that comes with some kits and not an aftermarket purchase. thanks for clearing that up for me.

I came accross this and was trying to find if this POF building jig is available to buy? I have seen several build photos that use something like this, looks like its a lasercut built frame. Sorry still new to this so don't know its its official name.

Amazing work, do you sell any?

Don't quote me on this but i think Silkspan has been discontinued for a cheaper and more robust material from China, and is becoming extremly harder to find, i did try to source some but didn't have much luck, i have a model aircraft shop fairly local so im going to pop in there and ask next weekend as im going to fashion my Polaris sails with it and then unfurled sails for Terror. Joe

I agree Keith, cannon idea has been shelved, i'm going to try staining the hull using Mahogany Danish Oil (I,ve found several tins in the garage unused) first bit of good luck i've had in ages. Going to stick with 2 ships boats for now. if i painted the top of the prow and rudder black above the water line do you think that would look ok? I've found both Underhill books on facebook very cheap 😮, im hoping they can post if not will have to order of the internet next week, very expensive though. will stain and paint tomorrow and post pictures for review.... I have also asked DanielD for some advise on doing some LED's on the Terror (Not his spinning prop though) as that needs a plan early on. Have looked online a schooners, most are black and white or white and wood, some red below water line and green. Do all model builders go through this indicision or am i being a knob? if it was a cheap airfix kit i would buy 3 or 4 and try out different schemes - expensive ships are a bit harder to muck about with. But hey its a learning and i suppose it would be a boring hobby if it was all straightforward and easy. Joe

Looks amazing Dan well done, i will be following closely. I am nearly ready to start my Terror build, Just assembled the keel and bulkheads, this will take me a long time but i will start a build log when i get home and that way everyone can jump in at each stage to advise before tackling each task. Deck planking to be started soon. I have Clearway available to impart his vast wisdom to me, i was hoping to get Keith S and yourself onboard also? I was thinking of installing candle effect Led's no spinning prop like you though, i have no idea about electrronics and was hoping you could advise should you have the time. I will beg if i have to 🤣 I think i will go for furled sails on mine just so we have some variety in our builds. Keep up the amazing work Joe

Any update Geo?

I agree it would be impractical in the real world but he has made some modifications that make it look very nice. I originally planned to have a small row boat off the back on mine also, i personally feel the kit lacks a little, as my first build i thought it would be good to add a little extra so i could improve my skills, i am fully aware that the kit is for a beginner, hence why i chose to follow those new starters before me. I'm just not happy with the 3 tone wood effect of the finished article and want to put my little spin on it without being unrealistic, i think the build logs are a valuable asset for us to see the amazing skill of the membership. I was curious as to what can be done modification wise but as a newbie i've fallen into the trap of being lured into astetics over practicality or period correctness 🤣 As the Polaris is not based off any official vessel I think we have quite a lot of flexibility. However I do value everyones comments on my first build log and always welcome imformation that helps with my lack of knowledge and understanding. I would like some advice on what i can adjust on the kit so its not so boring...... to me anyway. (My Terror will be as accurate as I can get it thanks to Clearway, Keith S and DanielD (appoligies for no other mentions but i haven't gotten around to viewing any other Terror build logs yet) as i will be trying to follow in their footsteps. But thats my next build and will comence after this build.) I am not experienced enough to know what the best route to take with this is yet but i like the red and black of Baltics Subs, build but i'm struggling to find paint scheme for the hull, i'm leaning to the outer bulwarks being white. It's the hull im getting flustered with. Its my first build and the outer planking isn't great, i would like to have it painted below the water line and have a stained wood above but stopping at the rubbing rail. But im not experienced enough to get the wood of the rudder and prow to match the vaneer and it doesn't look right (see RH-J's picture with the Occre inner bulwarks and blue outer bulwarks a few posts back on here) a credit to RH-J as it does look very nice. Joe

Here is a link to the build log of the pictures i used for my gun ports size enquiry.

Hi Cathead, wasn't sure how to link as im new to this but the photos are from Baltic Submariner's build log on MSW, i did mention the authors name so they got credit. Joe

Hi Keith, i was looking at doing something like this that Baltic Submariner has done.

Any ideas on the correct size in mm to cut out gunports?

Quick update, Hull is almost and i have learned lots on this build. Great beginner model even with its flaws so far, but i suppose if it was perfect then i wouldn't have learn valuable skills. Trying to decide what colours to paint, I did want to have a wood running above the waterline and below the rubbing rail, but as the rudder and front keel are of a darker wood, or eve. sanded light they do not match up when staining. i was thinking white hull black rubbing rail white bulwark mahogany taffrails with black and mahogany deck features. see attched picture. I like RH-J's scheme but my ocd just cant take the mismatched timber on the keel 1😂

Looks great Rowan, i'm loving the RN colours. Did you stain the wood Hull or is that just a clear coat? I would be lying if i said i wasn't tempted to copy yours but i'm still in 2 minds. I've attached a couple of pictures. the white and wood looks nice. I really really like the pine and black, but as the hull of the Polaris is sapelli the pine stain will be too dark and it would'nt look as good and i would never be happy with it. Alternative is to ebony stain the whole lot black and have the middle rail and the top rail white, then do the deck features black, white and wood. see last photo. I have to make a decision soon or i can't progress. I could start on my Terror and wait until you finish yours 😅 just out of curiosity where did you source a colour picture to get your paint scheme ideas? Joe

By the way, the polaris is very similar to the "SWIFT" Virginia Pilot Boat 1805.

Thanks RH-J i've had a few issues myself following the instructions. i'm a complete beginner and doing the polaris- see build log. ive just finished the hull and am just bending the outer bulwark planks. Did the decking different too as i thought Occre's stick and cut meant i didn't lean anything about planking and penciling in lines was a complete cop out. I messed the joggling up but i learnt something by doing it. i dont like it wood, to me it doesnt look right. im thinking of ebony staining the hull with whiite rails, i attach a picture of what im thinking. interested to see what modifications you are going to do, im a little stuck as most just build as the box picture because its their first build. I put orange frog tape on the buwarks to protect from the damp planks whist they were clamped. I acually like the contrast with the pale and the sanded but nothing else hull. Thinking an orange stripe of paint on.

Wishfull thinking on my part i suppose, probably a typical newbie thought after deliberating the replies and agreeing to everyones comments. Thank you to everyone who commented and helped me to see how impossible an idea like this would be to accomplish 😂

All good points I suppose, more than double is a bit excessive though. I suppose i'm lucky here in the UK, i'm glad Vanguard Models isnt overpriced ive got my eye on that beautiful Sphinx for my next build Chris 😉 Joe

Welcome Gill, lets se how long it takes into your first build before you start buying your next build 😂 i only managed to wait 4 days now im hooked. Looking forward to seeing how you get on. Many amazing and talanted people on here so please dont hesitate to ask questions. Joe

Welcome Steve

The same kits on other websites. Newbies please search around for better prices.