Kit review Belle Poule - Occre - 1/90 - review by kevin

[Kevin]

1:90 Belle Poule

OcCre

Catalogue # 15007

Available from OcCre for 449,99€

 

The "Belle Poule" was a 60-gun French Navy frigate. Frigates were versatile and fast warships designed for speed and manoeuvrability, performing roles in both combat and exploration. Frigates like the "Belle Poule", were known for their speed and manoeuvrability, making them ideal for a variety of tasks, including pursuing and attacking enemy vessels, as well as for exploration and patrol missions.

 

Although its construction began in 1828, the Belle Poule was not launched until 1834. It was one of the first ships to be built in a covered shipyard, allowing builders to delay construction when political and financial circumstances were unfavourable. Its design was inspired by the USS Constitution frigate class. It was commissioned in July 1835 and displayed quite good sailing properties. What really made this ship "Belle Poule" famous was the repatriation of Napoleon's ashes aboard the Belle Poule from the island of Saint Helena to France. An event that will be remembered as it marked the end of the Napoleonic era and left a significant impact on the course of the history of France and Europe.

 

 

Edited June 2 by Kevin

[Kevin]

The kit 

Scale: 1/90

Width: 385mm

Height: 765mm

Length: 1085mm

Difficulty: Medium

Number of pieces: +6,600

 

First impressions were wow, there is a lot of kit for the money, in what is quite a heavy box. like a lot of Occre kits the package is similar to others in the range, a simple folded base keeps everything in place with a generic coloured lid with a pasted photo of the build, having said that one of the plastic cases had been damaged, allowing some of the contents to be loose, but everything was accounted for, this was not caused in transit as noting was around it to do that sort of damage

wood package

the wood stock provided has been cut well with no splintering, for me the veneer is the best i have seen in a kit, although its a long time since i purchased a kit with it contained

bulkheads are plywood,

 lime for first planking

sapelli veneer for the outer hull

sycamore decking

and a variety for the rest

it would be nice if some of the wood stock could be identified rather than bundled together

 

The rest of the wood package is lasered stock and the lines are very clean with very little scorching on either side

its nice to see the wooden boats enclosed rather than the metal ones

 

However no deck camber has been built into the kit, i think this applies to all Occre vessels. including the new release HMS Victory i will try and raise the centre line when it comes to building this, i just need to work out what else would need to be changed like hatch coamings, skylights 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 2 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Photo Etch

4 heavy gauge sheets, comprising, of chain plates gun port hinges, windows, doors and railings, 

Fittings

again its pleasant to see some detail without a lot of clean up being required, there are a few seam lines, but in most cases hidden from view

this is the figurehead, i think some homework is required to find out what it is meant to be

1/4 galleries, don't think i have worked with metal ones before, the detail is quite crisp, im sure some dry brushing will bring out the detail

 

the anchors are nice a clean, but to me they look a little over scale

a small selection of the ships teeth

cannon balls

lots of metal strips to help make up chain plates

trays also contain all the rest of the required bits 

 

rigging thread and sails

lots of thread is provided in various sizes and two colours natural and brown, this does not look so fluffy as my last build, but i personally will be replacing the brown with black

a full set of sails comes as standard, i cannot tell you at this time if they are in scale to the build, but they look very well made indeed, i may use these to achieve my first ever rigged vessel with sheets set

 

 

Edited June 2 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Instructions

nice to see we have a fully detailed instruction book off over 30 pages in A3 size, i notice a lot of of companies are cutting down on these to save the planet, but very limiting when you dont have easy access to the internet

here are a few pages from the said book, there is also s step by step videos on YouTube 

 

a link to all videos (2) Barco Belle Poule - Paso a paso - OcCre - YouTube

 

 

 

the next booklet is a full cutting list parts identification and more detailed instructions on achieving what the photos show in the book, as well as rigging plans

 

Edited June 2 by Kevin

[Kevin]

Conclusion

The kit is classed by Occre as high difficulty with a build time of 800 hours, personally i don't think she deserves that level of difficulty and i measure the time it takes to complete in months not hours, so once i start i would suggest about 9 months on the build table, based on 2 to 3 hours daily

Shame to see no deck camber yet again, i will attempt to correct this

single planked with a veneer covering, i would prefer double planking, and may address this, although the provided wood looks ok

sails provided look good, the rigging thread, i will replace

the 1/4 galleries, im unsure about, unless they are generic, they would have been better in wood, with PE overlays IMHO

all in all i think for the price there is a lot of kit for the money, and will make a nice addition to anyone wanting a non British post Nelson sailing vessel, im looking forward to building her

 

update 7 june 2024

a lack of copper tape or tiles, to allow the builder the choice of finish, this vessel would certainly have been protected, link to museum a display provided by @wefalckhttps://www.maritima-et-mechanika.org/maritime/models/bellepoule/bellepoule.html

 

i would like to thank Occre for the donation of the kit for review and @James H 

 

Edited June 7 by Kevin

[James H]

That's a nice look under the hood. 

 

I definitely can't understand the lack of deck camber in modern kits. Looking forward to seeing you build this one.

[Papa]

17 hours ago, Kevin said:

However no deck camber has been built into the kit

Would the camber even be noticeable at this scale?

[Cristiano]

This kit appears a very good one, considering the presence of a very detailed instruction manual too.

The historical period chosen is interesting, post-Napoleonic.

My only doubt is related to the absence of the copper sheets for the hull.

Probably is considered a very expensive accessory to be included in the kit.

These types of ships already had copper hull cladding so the modeller is forced to purchase the sheets apart if he want to complete the model.

 

 

[James H]

5 minutes ago, Cristiano said:

.....so the modeller is forced to purchase the sheets apart if he want to complete the model.

 

A modeller could just use copper tape of the correct width and then cut the plates themselves. This approach has been used on VM's Grecian, HMS Indefatigable, and very soon, Harpy.

[Kevin]

with my standard of planking, its going to be copper tape for me

[Blue Ensign]

All those metal fittings look so ‘last century’ to my eye, and stub guns, takes me back to Norske Love of the 1980’s.

Times have moved on……..
 

B.E.

[GrandpaPhil]

Copper tape works beautifully for copper plating.

[Kevin]

i will sort the camber out by placing two 1.6mm deep strips either side of the centre line, after the frames have dried, watch out for a build log

Edited June 4 by Kevin

[Cristiano]

Thanks to everybody for the suggestion of the copper tape (which already had used in the past), but the sense of my comment was of a different meaning: since this type of ship needed almost surely a layer of copper sheets, why don't put it already inside the box?

An answer is not strctly needed...

[Kevin]

16 minutes ago, Cristiano said:

Thanks to everybody for the suggestion of the copper tape (which already had used in the past), but the sense of my comment was of a different meaning: since this type of ship needed almost surely a layer of copper sheets, why don't put it already inside the box?

An answer is not strctly needed...

i have amended the comments in my conclusion, to state no copper tape or tiles is included in the kit, and if i ever get the chance to discuss with Occre i will bring some of these  "why's " up

[catopower]

On 6/2/2024 at 5:33 AM, Papa said:

Would the camber even be noticeable at this scale?

Yes, except by average onlooker. I notice it every time I look at an OcCre kit.

 

On 6/3/2024 at 8:52 AM, Cristiano said:

My only doubt is related to the absence of the copper sheets for the hull.

Probably is considered a very expensive accessory to be included in the kit.

These types of ships already had copper hull cladding so the modeller is forced to purchase the sheets apart if he want to complete the model.

 

 

I think your idea of what constitutes a "complete" model is not universal. The sheathing is a sacrificial covering. Also, I know many people who don't like the look of the metal on a model, and would rather have natural wood that has the general color of copper plating instead.

 

[Kevin]

the comments with regards to camber and copper ta[e/tiles is just my opinion,