Advice on next build - Occre & Shipways

[travis]

Thought I'd get some advice here.  So far I have completed to AL builds, the Virignia and the Bluenose II.  Happy with how both turned out.  Had to do a lot of mods/bashing.  In part due to just the level of detail/quality from AL and my own need to go above and beyond.  Looking for a next build and wanting to step up to a period ship.  There are a couple ALs at a local shop near me but within my price range (200 - 300 USD) the option are the spanish caravels that I am less interested in.  They do have an Occre Buccaneer but that one seems a little small/simple.  Doing research, I'm thinking one of the following:  Occre HMS Terror, Occre HMS Revenge, Model Shipyard's US Rattlesnake, and Model Shipyard's US Syren.  Obviously, the quality is better with Model Shipyards but the Occre options look like nice builds too.  I do like the challenge of needing to mod/bash a little.  Curious what everyones thoughts on this might be!

 

On another note, I am really intrigued with the cutaways.  I love the idea of detailing interiors and being able to show the work (and maybe a little lighting too).  Not many kits with cutaways.  Occre has the Bounty but it is just outside my price range (almost $500).  I though about just moding one of the kits above.  I know it's hard to show with the POB but my thought was to frame up, lay some initial framing boards to firm up the frame and then carefully cut into a section, adding shoring and floors as I go.  to make one portion of one side open as though that part had been POF.  Adds a bit of risk (and maybe too much for my third build?).  That might rule out the Shipyard builds as neither seems to have good below deck plans.  The HMS Terror would probably be the best one to attempt.  Any thoughts or anyone seen a build log where someone tried this. (or is it just a crazy idea and I should just get a little more experiend and target a scratch build in a few years!!)

[mtaylor]

This can end up a really deep dive into kit bashing.  Possibly cut away the interior of the the bulkhead so you end up with the fake framing and a deck beam?   Adding more framing (scratch work for sure)?  

 

I do recall seeing some others that have done this though very few.   

[RossR]

US Brig Syren will require a lot more work framing the gun ports and stern vs laser cut bulwarks  if that interests you I would go that way.  if you ultimately what to scratch build, it will do more to prepare you than an Occre or AL kit will.    However, I would love to see a cutaway on an Occre Terror.  

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  'Always thought that 'cutaways' were a lot of trouble, and I'm challenged enough just to build a project.  A couple of thoughts on a 'next kit':

 

  Model Shipways Fair American 1:48 (priced from $215 - $269, depending on source ... sometimes for less with someone selling an unbuilt kit on Ebay) - claimed O.A.L is 26" including bowsprit (18" hull? - not sure) This is a great scale to do rigging with scale rope of various diameters, as scale blocks/deadeyes will be larger and easier to handle & strop.  There are guns on deck, but not too may guns - and not too many masts/yards to rig.  It can be made with or w/o sails.  There are builds to refer to on MSW.

 

  Blue Jacket Shipbuilders Harriet Lane 1:96 priced similar to above (note: avoid the older, smaller scale version of this 1:144 w/ solid hulls);  This is a transitional warship with paddle wheels and some sails.  The ship, when built, only has 3 guns (in the kit), which was OK at the time for a Coast Guard Cutter.  With the outbreak of the Civil War, there were 3 more guns added ... so I'd try to procure an extra set (or duplicate them myself - a nice side project).  CAVEAT:  looking at the builds on MSW, most find that the guns are forced into a slight downward angle by the top of the gun ports ... 'don't know what caused this oversight, but the most practical fix is to abrade the bottoms of the gun carriages (and the notch for the square axle beam), which lowers the height of the carriage (the barrels are scale, as determined by others).  Deepening the notches for the trunions (and trimming the tops) can be another tweak.  1:96 is more fiddly to rig (the blocks, etc. are half the size of 1:48) - but with the 180' length of the original, the 23" hull (not including bowsprit) is a decent sized model of a cool looking ship.

[travis]

Thank you for the feedback everyone.  Losts of options.  I think at this point i will focus on a solid build first and then attempt the cutaway next.  I was leaning towards the Model Shipways options and then the day after writing this the prices went up!  They were pretty well discounted and then they reduced the discout before I could buy  For example, the Syren was $267 and now is $320.  More than I planned so I will probably focus on an Occre for now.  I think the Terror would be the best cutaway opporutnity due to available plans so maybe the next build will be the Revenge.  Lets see what I decide this weekend!

[ccoyle]

Model Expo has sales coming and going all the time. Never pay MSRP for one of their kits -- it'll go on sale sooner or later. This being October, they'll probably be offering "spook-tacular savings" before long.

 

[travis]

That's good to know Chris!  Thank you.

[mtaylor]

It seems that many times, their kits are cheaper on Ebay than in their website.   Sometimes not. The catch is, when you see a price you're comfortable with, you need to jump right then and there because of how they change prices.