Polaris by chadwijm6 - OcCre - First Build

[chadwijm6]

Hi All,

 

So my Polaris has arrived, along with the Occre Work Stand, starter kit tool pack and paints recommended by Cornwall Model Boats, who have been very helpful,  which were quite a bit cheaper than the Occre paint set. I've also invested (a term I use often when explaining all the parcels arriving to my very understanding and supportive Wife) in some files, a pin pusher, sanding sticks, glues and filler. I suppose there will be other purchases along the way.

 

It's coming with me to Brussels and I'll start her once I've finished my Airfix Titanic. 

 

I've been reading through Ilia's build log, what has completed a fantastic Polaris and I'm sure I'll be returning a lot for inspiration and tips!

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[chadwijm6]

So finally I've begun. I feel like there will be a lot of sanding in this project!

 

But so far so good and I'm enjoying it already. 

[chadwijm6]

So a mixed couple of days.

 

I forgot to pencil line the decking along the edges before glueing them. So the deck just looked like solid wood. So I thought, I know, I'll draw them on. Didn't have a pencil as I'm away at the moment, so I used a pen. Not perfect but didn't look too bad. I then sprayed some satin varnish on and the pen went blue, was originally black, and ran and smudged. I let it dry, tried to sand it down but to no avail. Still looked awful. So I thought maybe if I paint it brown and have a brown deck. Looked awful. So then I thought I'll buy some more timber and just start again on the other side but first I'll try and make sure it will bend and still fit the false keel. And it snapped.

Disaster.

So I contacted Occre, explained that I'm an idiot and they are sending a me a new deck part, free including postage. Amazing! Even more amazing that they replied to my enquiry at 10pm. 

I've ordered some more timber for the deck to replace what I used.

So when it arrives I'll hopefully have learned from my mistakes and I can try again. 

Every day is a school day!

[brunnels]

12 minutes ago, chadwijm6 said:

So I contacted Occre, explained that I'm an idiot and they are sending a me a new deck part, free including postage. Amazing! Even more amazing that they replied to my enquiry at 10pm. 

I've ordered some more timber for the deck to replace what I used.

So when it arrives I'll hopefully have learned from my mistakes and I can try again. 

Every day is a school day!

Occre seems to have fantastic customer service from what i have seen.  Have you checked if your kit came with enough extra timber to replank?  My Occre beagle came with quite a bit of extra wood, almost enough to plank the boat again. 

[chadwijm6]

28 minutes ago, brunnels said:

Occre seems to have fantastic customer service from what i have seen.  Have you checked if your kit came with enough extra timber to replank?  My Occre beagle came with quite a bit of extra wood, almost enough to plank the boat again. 

It does have a fair bit but to be sure I ordered some more, it was only about £10 so I thought better to have too much.

Great customer service though.

[chadwijm6]

And Occre were as good as their word, a new deck has arrived and it's planked ready to be sanded and vanished. Much happier with this effort, still not perfect but better.

[ibozev]

Hi James, I'm happy to hear that you've got your new keel. Indeed Occre have one of the best return and warranty polices!

Unfortunately I think you made a mistake with the deck planking. You didn't have to cut the extra deck planks, which are above the holes for the ribs. The idea is to hide the ribs with the deck.

[chadwijm6]

32 minutes ago, ibozev said:

Hi James, I'm happy to hear that you've got your new keel. Indeed Occre have one of the best return and warranty polices!

Unfortunately I think you made a mistake with the deck planking. You didn't have to cut the extra deck planks, which are above the holes for the ribs. The idea is to hide the ribs with the deck.

🙄 ... You're right. I'll have to go with it now but I'll see if I can repair it when the deck is attached to the false keel.

Thanks for spotting that Ilia

 

 

[chadwijm6]

The deck is attached to the false keel and some beech wood filler has been ordered to try and rectify the mistake that @ibozev pointed out, fingers crossed that it doesn't look too bad.

Just waiting for the reinforcement parts to dry before sanding beings

 

 

[chadwijm6]

I've filled in my mistakes. And they've had a sanding and a coat of varnish which I'll leave to dry and then apply another.

 

I'm pleased with the outcome, it's not perfect but it's better than it was.

 

Work can now continue with building it instead of rectifying mistakes, until the next one of course!

 

[David_T]

Hello James;

 

Looks like our projects are of similar vintages.   Keep at it.

 

David