Polaris by Baltic_submariner - FINISHED - OcCre - 1:50 - kit-bashed

[Baltic_submariner]

Hello, 

 

after finishing Le Renard I decided to make my own version of popular Occre's Polaris schooner. Kit is really wonderful and allows for many modifications as for my information didn't represents any real ship but it's just more a generic schooner. Very cute schooner what should be added. My plan is as follow:

- arming her with at least 10 guns with maybe 2 stern chase guns although I will must to modify her stern for gunports ( not many space for two guns ) Polaris is bigger than HMS Pickle which was armed with 8 carronades so 10-12 guns with slightly lower weight should be possible I think,

- stacks of cannonballs near guns,

- mounting lifeboat on deck,

- rerigging ship into topsail schooner which will require some modifications in rigging,

- some experiments with gratings,

- possible other modifications.

 

Did on XVIII-XIX century ships pirate/corsair/merchant raiders was practised hiding of guns/disguising of armament like on XX'th century both World Wars Armed Merchant cruisers from Germany or Entente/Allied Q-ships? I wonder about rotary carronade on the middle of the deck like I saw on few models ( it was not heavy mortar on bomb ships for sure ) and I wonder how logical it could be? Didn't such corsair/raider could be overweight due to this? Asking seriously.

 

I made and glued skeleton of Polaris which was pleasurable as everything fit very good. I decided to change a little order and place deck to the skeleton first instead planking deck first. Some reinforcements near frames to keep strenghtened structure. Probably unnecesery but it didn't hurt. I made lines of false keel and frames for mounting deck and laying king plank.

 

 

 

[BranPie]

Will be following this with interest. I'm building Polaris myself - my first build - and am also thinking of doing some modifications. Nothing like what you're planning, just upgrading some parts (like the plastic deadeyes and blocks, possibly the rigging thread) and adding some detail here or there. Hoping you'll be building faster than me (shouldn't be too hard, I've been going for almost three months and I'm only on first planking) so I can steal some ideas.

 

BTW: how are you liking that building slip from Hobbyzone? I'm thinking of getting one (waiting for restock), but it's always nice to get some opinions first.

[Baltic_submariner]

6 hours ago, BranPie said:

Will be following this with interest. I'm building Polaris myself - my first build - and am also thinking of doing some modifications. Nothing like what you're planning, just upgrading some parts (like the plastic deadeyes and blocks, possibly the rigging thread) and adding some detail here or there. Hoping you'll be building faster than me (shouldn't be too hard, I've been going for almost three months and I'm only on first planking) so I can steal some ideas.

 

BTW: how are you liking that building slip from Hobbyzone? I'm thinking of getting one (waiting for restock), but it's always nice to get some opinions first.

Thank you!

 

This kit seems for me as very good base for various modifications so any changes I think should be justicable especially when for me this deck seems just empty but it's only my opinion and it's not any form of critique this kit as kits for beginners should be easy and very understantable. This kit so far is very understandable.

 

Yes, the deadeyes and blocks made from plastic didn't seems too realistic and I'm also thinking about replacing them. Deadeyes are mostly covered by ropes but blocks looks artifically.

 

I'm not sure did I'm skilled enough to rate this building slip but at least for me this slip seems to be better suited for slightly bigger ships like HMS Terror and similar size. You can perfectly build on her ships like Polaris although she will be sit too low in the "trench" so I used some small mdf positioning pieces as filling in this "trench". Maybe it's other trick which I didn't realised. Now Polaris sits well and it's stable. This stand is out of stock at least from January in their shop when I searched for this so maybe you should seek for another shop. 

 

Unfortunately in my building slip there was no instruction so some elements were strange for newbie although "build log" and review from MSW helped a lot.

[Baltic_submariner]

From the update I made deck and planked the hull. So far many work for sanding the hull but I think I'm at good direction towards finishing of the first layer. In gunwales I cut 5 gunports per side. There will be two more gunports in rear.

 

 

I collected some armaments of various producents and size. Carronades looks too much out of scale and maybe they could be placed on some ship of the line but not schooner. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

This 28mm guns looks stunning with all ornaments and I'm still didn't decided did I use them on Polaris.

 

Carriages looks rather universal so I definitely use few of them.

 

Smaller barrels. Bigger ones will be starn chase guns while smaller maybe I'll convert into swivel guns. This guns are from RB Model.

 

[Baltic_submariner]

I made something with Polaris and now she is closer to the end. As I decided I modified some parts of kit to customize her look. 

 

I added amunition in storages on deck and 2mm bearing balls work nice as immitation of cannon balls.

 

Anchor lift made from few pieces of wood which remained from tapering of masts and planking. I always collect such materials as they always can be usefull without need for awaiting of delivery of wood from hobby shop. Deck was too empty in bow area so I must improvised something.

I wonder about her armament? 4 bigger long guns, 6 medium long guns, 2 smaller pursuit guns and 4 swivel guns on gunwales. Le Renard which was of similar size had 14 guns so such schooner I think could have 12 guns plus 4 swivel guns? Two lifeboats are planned. One on cargo doors and second on stern derricks.

 

Black Pirate Flag I think will be good too.

 

 

 

Edited March 31, 2021 by Baltic_submariner

[Baltic_submariner]

Polaris has has been finished. I added two dinghys on her and covers of gun holes. 

 

 

[Wintergreen]

That was quick going! Did you build it in just about 4 weeks? Incredible. And a interesting alteration with guns and Jolly Roger 🙂

Well done!

[Baltic_submariner]

On 4/9/2021 at 9:41 PM, Wintergreen said:

That was quick going! Did you build it in just about 4 weeks? Incredible. And a interesting alteration with guns and Jolly Roger 🙂

Well done!

Thank You!

 

Due to "popular diesese from Asia" I have locked in 80% my work place so I can work in home. That means after making up my teaching online work I can fully become a shipwright in my table placed shipyard  

 

I saw that many people makes Polaris and I'm really not suprised as kit is just wonderful but looks so empty on deck. Polaris I'm sure on 99% didn't presents any particular schooner but it's rather generic ship. Due to this I decided to add something to her. I can't do wrong with my fantasie. Guns were most obvious choice. Anchor winch was another thing which in my opinion should be added but I fully understand why it wasn't included in kit. Cannon balls made from 2mm bearing balls which are very cheap.

 

Now I have big desire to try some of cross sections as they look interesting and during work with plastics I've never saw such similar models.

 

Edited April 10, 2021 by Baltic_submariner

[Havelock]

Fantastic build. Love the upgrades! No one is going to mess with that schooner!

[Baltic_submariner]

16 hours ago, Havelock said:

Fantastic build. Love the upgrades! No one is going to mess with that schooner!

Thank you for appreciation! Your Polaris look great too! 

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!