FanfarePrint

Well, everything has now arrived for me to start my build but there'll probably be a few days yet before I'm ready to start anything worth photographing.  I've spent the last week looking at every build on here (of Polaris, Swift and Virginia 1815), trying to gather as much detail as I can, about what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.  This is my first build and so is a learning curve - though I'd still like to be able to produce something that I can put on the shelf and be pleased to say 'I built that'...

What I don't want to do is build Polaris 'straight out the box' - I'm not intending to make massive changes (my thoughts of re-rigging her are, I think a little too ambitious for one who can only just tie his shoe laces and has never rigged a ship before!!) -  Rigging is, at the moment, a dark art to me, though I'm reading as much as I can as well as looking at photos of similar vessels and, of course looking at all the builds in here.

So, there are a few things I've been thinking about and I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I've got to thank Bob Cleek for his thoughts on the Polaris in my earlier post  which I've spent a long time pouring over, taking out as much detail as I can - really appreciate your help Bob (and would really appreciate any more you might have too!)

Wooden hoops will replace the brass rings (well, paper, probably soaked in CA glue to be precise).

I really don't like the eye bolts in the deck and would far prefer to replace them with a belaying ring around the mast (other than a fife rail?) what are your thoughts, also on the belaying bars on the frames?

I've taken some inspiration from Giomun and his Swift build - I hope that's ok my friend?  I would really have liked to cut the deck and frame work to give at least some idea of a hold, but I'm still thinking about this - too deep and it'll affect the integrity of the frame I think, to shallow and it won't have the effect I'm after.  

The coverings of the hold, I'd like to change to gratings (removable if I can sort out how to cut a hold that's worth looking into) and also the addition of a smaller piece of grating for'rard of the original.

I'd really appreciate your thoughts, and suggestions - I'm always open to constructive critism and always have an open mind.

Ive attached a couple of photos, the plan gives indications of my intended changes which, I hope makes sense.

They're all quite small changes, but enough to keep me interested and to help make a slightly different model than that pictured on the front of the box.

Thanks so much for your help and support - without it, this build - and the builds of many of the members here, especially us 'newbies' wouldn't get off the ground.

Best wishes all

Sam

Thanks so much for the wonderful welcomes guys!!

11 hours ago, Bob Cleek said:

To put a finer point on it, "... there was simply very little need for sailors to go aloft in the ordinary operation of the ship." There would be occasional need to go aloft for maintenance tasks, usually performed when the vessel wasn't sailing, although somewhat rarely there would be a need to go aloft to repair a block or untangle a fouled bit of running rigging at sea.  In such instances, some vessels such as Polaris might have wooden slats lashed to the two shrouds instead of ratlines, or even ratlines lashed simply to the two shrouds, but this would be perhaps more for sending a lookout aloft than anything else and wouldn't be seen on any vessel that didn't have a need for that, as would, for example, some fishing vessels and pilot boats. It was far more common of vessels of Polaris' type and size for sailors to climb the masts using the mast hoops as hand and foot hold, a practice a skilled sailor could accomplish with as much, if not more, ease as climbing ratlines.

 

I mention this primarily because I checked this model on line, being unfamiliar with the kit, and I noted that the Occre Polaris model pictured shows mast hoops which are excessively separated (the distance between them being far too great.) They should be about a foot apart. The TurboSquid Polaris 3D model more correctly spaced mast hoops, although perhaps even these are a bit widely spaced. 

 

Occre Polaris: (https://occre.com/en-us/products/polaris-starter-pack)

 

 

 

TurboSquid Polaris: (See: https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/polaris-ship-model-1766063 for more pictures.)

 

 

Note that the two wooden horned cleats fastened to the deck of the Occre version are apparently incorrect. Horned cleats are for taking stresses horizontal to their fastenings, not in line with the fastenings. A deck cleat as shown would be for belaying sheets or the like, not a line running straight up.

 

The TurboSquid Polaris shows what is in my experience an unusual (if not entirely fanciful) shroud rigging method. They show deadeyes and lanyards to which is attached a length of chain with a tackle hooked to the chain and running aloft to a pendant from the upper mast band block hooked to the chain. It's impossible to see for certain where the fall of the tackle is belayed, but it would seem the falls were belayed to cavel cleats port and starboard of the masts. The deadeyes and lanyards and the tackle serve the same purpose of tensioning the shrouds, so it's beyond me why they would rig both on the same shroud. Though less common than deadeyes and lanyards, shrouds with a tackle in line to provide a purchase weren't unheard of in smaller vessels and certainly the arrangement was standard for "running" backstays. (Obviously, such a tackle on the shrouds would preclude any sort of ratline or climbing battens on the "running" shrouds.)

 

The incorrectly portrayed cavel cleats inboard of the chains (for halyards) and the quarters (for mooring lines) shown on the TurboSquid picture are correct for the period of this vessel, but they have improperly shown a bar fastened between the rail framing instead of a length of wood attached to the inboard face of the frames and extending beyond the frames to form a horn to which line could be belayed. Note also that the rail fraiming on the TurboSquid example appears incorrect. I would think there should be far more frames forward. The Occre Polaris shows more correct frame spacing, although, off the top of my head, I can't say whether the Occre example is entirely correct, either. Eyebolts set in the deck would not be expected, as horn cleats or belaying pins in a mast band would be more proper. (The foot of each mast is an frequently used working area and the less underfoot to trip the seamen, the better.) 

 

So, what I'd say is that if you are of a mind to start "kit bashing," which I consider an option with nearly every kit, there is much to improve upon with the Occre Polaris. I'd encourage you to do some research and rig her as contemporary authorities would indicate was common practice for the period. At the very least, toss the shiny brass rings pictured in both examples in your "slop chest" and make your own wooden mast hoops. There's instructions for making them easily here in the forum in a recent post. Metal mast hoops are not used because they would create serious chaffing damage to the mast and the only brass on a working boat of this period would be bell and the skipper's keys! All other metal would be wrought iron painted black. Moreover, with respect to the TurboSquid example, I doubt copper oxide antifouling paint was even invented at the time of this ship.  All of these details are easily researched and that task can be every bit as satisfying as building the model itself. You can easily greatly improve upon what the kit manufacturer has provided and produce a first-rate model of a very interesting vessel type.

 

 

Having poured over the 3d pictures of Polaris, it's pretty evident there are quite a few differences between this and the original Occre model (which I will try and build into the model). 

There appear to be some belaying pin and rails attached to the bulwarks - sadly none of the pictures give a good view of these - has anyone a suggestion for a better view of something similar (actually, I'm not even sure if they are normal belaying pins - they almost look like they're fixed, and just used to store ropes tidily?).

The rigging certainly looks more involved, and something I'd like to try (particularly the shrouds), however, I'd really like to be able to study the layout in detail (bearing in mind I have never attempted any rigging before) so am trying to find good sources that could almost walk me though the rigging layout - has anyone any ideas for sources that might help?

I really appreciate your help guys

Sam

Thank you so much for the welcome and thank you so much for your thoughts guys.  I apologise for not having introduced myself properly before (a point I've now remedied!) - put it down to being a bit over eager!  You're quite right allanyed my first name isn't Fanfare, but Sam.

Bob, I really appreciate your in depth explanation of why not to include ratlines, which makes perfect sense.  

Time to do more reading, and research I think, before starting to make any changes!

Sam

Good morning to you all from Cornwall, UK (and apologies to those who have read my post about rigging before having introduced myself!)

I'm Sam, a total novice when it comes to building in wood, although not a total newbie when it comes to modelling, having quite a lot of experience in card and paper.  I've been considering making an attempt on a wooden ship for some time, and have skirted around the edges of the facebook forums and sites such as this one and have now finally taken the plunge, ordering Occre's Polaris (rather than get my 'A's mixed up - Ambition and Ability - I thought it prudent to start with something that I have at least a good chance of finishing whilst also producing a passable model.

I've already got a few ideas to make a few changes to the model (hence the rigging post), but we'll see how it goes.  I am always open to constructive critism, and welcome the thoughts and ideas of fellow members - I'm here to learn, to question and to improve my own skills and, hopefully, share some of that with you all along the way.

So, here goes - that start of a new hobby!

Sam

Good afternoon to you all!  Well, I've taken the plunge and ordered the Polaris - it'll either be the start of a new hobby or it'll put me off for life!  Either way it will fulfil the long-term wish I've had to at least try.

Although my first ship, I'd like to try some things other than make it straight out the box, and I'd be really grateful for your thoughts...

Rather than have the rigging tied off to eye bolts, I'd like consider using belaying pins and pin rails, however, because there is only the minimum of rigging I'm not sure it'll a] work and b] look right.  I note that amongst build threads i've been trawling through someone did something similar in their build of the Virginia 1819, however this seems to have more rigging.

Secondly I'd like to add additional shrouds down to the chain plates to be able to add ratlines - looking at photos of similar vessels, some have them, some dont.

I'd really appreciate your thoughts and ideas - please don't hold back, if you think it's all a daft idea tell me, but try and let me down gently guys!!

Looking forward to you thoughts