Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes by damaartenman - OcCre - Scale 1:85 - Spanish frigate

[damaartenman]

Hello Everyone, Started my second build, the Mercedes from Occre.

 

I always try to picture every step, but this time i didn't think about it all of the time. The instructions from Occre are a bit minimum compared to the Polaris which i have build first. Thank god there is internet and a site like this one 🙂. It is so good to have experienced builders telling there tips and tricks.

 

I did not want to upload to much pictures, because it would take to much space on the servers. Up until now everything is standard i think, if someone is going to build this kit, please take 30 minute to make yourself a jig like i did to bend the planks and at a later stage the inside of the deck boarding. An absolute lifesaver.

 

The plastic tubing is my plank soaker.

 

As i will progress, i will upload more photo's so other people can check what i am doing wrong and prevent them from making the same mistakes.

 

[damaartenman]

After a short brake, second planking and some sanding is done. You always think you messed it up and after some sanding and putty it turns out ok 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2024 by damaartenman

[Ronald-V]

Nice smooth planking! 👍

[0gri]

I'll second that Ronald,very, very nice.mercedes builds into a great looking model,i look forward to following your project.

[Landlubber Mike]

Beautiful planking!

[damaartenman]

Thank you all for the nice words.... I had some time to continue the build and was wondering about the instructions supplied by occre, follow them or do it different. I first fitted the false keel and next fitted the rubbing strakes against it. It was easier to do, and i am also thinking about not painting the rubbing strakes black, because of the nice wood colour it has got now. Also fitted the rear, seemd more logic to me.

 

[BurgundyModels]

Following along on this one. This ship is very interesting to me. Beautiful planking job!!

[0gri]

Hi damaartenman,i agree its a shame to paint the wood,could i suggest a coat or two of walnut stain to darken the strakes?

[damaartenman]

On 9/28/2024 at 1:15 PM, 0gri said:

Hi damaartenman,i agree its a shame to paint the wood,could i suggest a coat or two of walnut stain to darken the strakes?

That would have been a perfect idea.........but i already put some clear varnish on it 😞

I thought let 's protect the wood a bit and put some varnish over it. I could sand it down again maybe. Did a test with some left overs:

top is no varnish , then the light varnish , half dark varnish ,  dark varnish.

 

 

[0gri]

Ah,best laid plans and all that. the bottom sample looks good,i've never tried this but if both of your stain and varnish are the same base (water?) you could try mixing some stain into the varnish to darken it a little more?

[damaartenman]

On 10/1/2024 at 2:55 PM, 0gri said:

Ah,best laid plans and all that. the bottom sample looks good,i've never tried this but if both of your stain and varnish are the same base (water?) you could try mixing some stain into the varnish to darken it a little more?

 

I have tried, did not work, so i sanded the varnish of as much as possible. I think i got it sorted now 🙂

Lesson, never varnish to early 

[damaartenman]

So i did not have much time to work on the model, but i made some progress. I made the top part of the davit. I did not use small blocks to make the bend parts. Instead i cut the wood with a small saw and then soaked it and next bend it. Also i made the anchor davit. Before i placed the wood i have painted everything black were needed.

[damaartenman]

After a longer period of not been able to work on the model i could finaly do some work. And i found a mistake in my build. When i fitted the rubbing strakes, i did not pay attention to their position. I looked at the pictures and guesed what the position should be. It turned out to be to low. Now my quarter galleries are to low as well. So, for the person who is going to build this model as well: upper rubbing strake is about 1 plank away from the gun port. I did 2 planks and now i am about 5mm to low with the gallerie 🙂 not a big issue for me, but it is not perfect. It does puzzle me that in the pictures the lower casting part is at the same height as the stern. The way i have got it as well. It also seems to be two different builds what they have used for the instructions. Good thing though, they had included some 1x1 in the kit, i think some left over from cutting planks. they were perfect for the windows. 1x1 is not mentioned in the parts list.