What's next?

[bigcreekdad]

Working on the rigging for my Vanguard Erycina build. I almost gave it up because of the tiny parts. Went back at it, and just really slowed down. Still, I find Vanguard's kits to be troublesome in areas due to the parts size. Also, I'm not crazy about photo etched brass, but maybe this is a trend.

My next kit will not have an overwhelming amount of rigging required (or so I think).

 

So....I'm down to 3 possibles:

 

1) Occre's Corsair. I built the Dos Amigos several years ago and was pleased with the kit overall. However, I did substitute cherry for the hull planking. I've attached a pic of that build in cherry.

2) Caldercraft's Badger. I have built three other of their kits, and liked them all, with my favorite being the Convulsion. I find their kit quality quite good, and this ship is one of the few with updated expanded directions.

3) Vanguard 's Cutter Alert...I know, I know, but I like this ship, and it has just enough rigging to keep me challenged, but not overwhelmed. I also have the book on the Alert, and this adds a little more interest in building this kit. Finally, my first build was Caldercraft's cutter Sherbourne. I quite liked that build and am curious how my second build will look.

 

Honestly,  I could probably live with any of the three. but was curious as to any thoughts others might have

[ccoyle]

Your observations about Vanguard kits are interesting. The thing is, the Vanguard and Caldercraft kits, besides sharing the same designer, Chris Watton, make similar use of etched brass and small parts. Etched brass is commonplace these days -- you'll be hard-pressed to find any wooden kits that don't make use of it. And the only way to get away from smaller parts is to go for larger scales (which might actually be counterproductive, since larger scales can include more fine detail).

 

That said, of the three kits you listed, the only one that wouldn't interest me, personally, is the Corsair, since that is a generic brig and not a historical vessel. But with your experience, you could build any of them, so choose whichever you like best -- just be forewarned that all of them will have that dreaded PE brass and small parts.

 

Cheers!

[bigcreekdad]

I've added the Syren to my list. 

Likely, I'll be dead befog I make up my mind.

[palmerit]

A different option might be the Model Shipways Gunboat Philadelphia. It's large scale 1:24 and does not have a ton of small rigging. Olha Batchvarov just starting a group build on her YouTube channel:

 

 

[BurgundyModels]

@bigcreekdad I suffer from the same decision paralysis when I get to researching new kits and builds. I will echo @ccoyle though in that most of these kits have some level of PE/tiny parts. I find that good tweezers and magnifying glasses help with those quite a bit! 

 

Just picked up the Syren as well. I think you'll do justice to any build you decide.