Albatros by vvvjames - FINISHED - OcCre - 1:100 - First Build

[vvvjames]

On 11/28/2025 at 7:44 AM, Baker said:

From now on you are truly a full member

This makes the injury 100% worth it.

19 hours ago, GrandpaPhil said:

 

That just means that you will have to start another one!

All too true, I nabbed an HMS Beagle kit from OcCre during their black Friday sale and I'm ecstatic. It should arrive shortly after finishing this boat up!

 

20 hours ago, Geordie Tyne said:

Lovely rigging there. Your ship is looking fantastic

Thank you Geordie!

 

Thank you all for the stories, and I hope all of your weekends were relaxing. I have gotten some good ship time in and passed the last big hurdle, which was attaching the forsail and mainsail to the brass rings which were already on the masts. 

I can think of a thousand different ways to have gone about this build to make this particular job easier. I made this way harder than it needed to be😂. I ended up weaving thread in between the brass rings and the sail at equal intervals. 

Pain in the ***. 

But with that over with, everything else is straight forward! Only a few more sails to attach!

I am dreaming about my next build already, when I take on the Beagle Ithink I will try furled sails, I do think the sails hide a lot, but what shows looks fantastic.

I believe my next post will be the finished build! Hip hip!

Best,

James

[RVB]

On 10/24/2025 at 2:34 PM, Keith Black said:

 Great planking job for the fist go, James. She's looking right smart. 

I agree totally the planking looked great. 
There is something to be said about feeling proud and successful about building accomplishments. Also don’t feel bad about your mistakes. Remember you don’t really learn much from successes but you surely learn a HELL OF ALOT from mistakes. We’ve all been there and mistakes make you a far better builder. 
Also nice looking build for you first boat. When ever you have a problem feel free to message me. Hopefully from all my failures I might be able to help. 

As always Best Rick

Edited Wednesday at 01:48 AM by RVB

[vvvjames]

1 hour ago, RVB said:

I agree totally the planking looked great. 
There is something to be said about feeling proud and successful about building accomplishments. Also don’t feel bad about your mistakes. Remember you don’t really learn much from successes but you surely learn a HELL OF ALOT from mistakes. We’ve all been there and mistakes make you a far better builder. 
Also nice looking build for you first boat. When ever you have a problem feel free to message me. Hopefully from all my failures I might be able to help. 

As always Best Rick

Well said Rick, I've been learning so much from this build; half from this forum, the other half from mucking something up. After the initial panic of a blunder, it actually becomes quite satisfying to problem solve and (hopefully) mend it.

Thank you for the kind words.

Cheers,

James

[RVB]

James the thing I learned the most was when I was ririgging Model Shipways USS Niagara. I learned NOT to drink 4 beers while doing intricate rigging. I reached in and broke off a couple Yards. Took 2 weeks to correct the destruction. 
Best Rick 

[AlfredoCampos]

Hey James, I'm really sorry I missed your log before! Love your work, quite a perfeccionist, looks beautiful

 

In my Albatros I had already decided to rig the carronades. And like you, I am very disapointed with the model's door and stair, and I'll follow your idea for the stair and adapt (instead of making from scratch) the door.

 

Cheers!

[vvvjames]

3 hours ago, AlfredoCampos said:

Hey James, I'm really sorry I missed your log before! Love your work, quite a perfeccionist, looks beautiful

 

In my Albatros I had already decided to rig the carronades. And like you, I am very disapointed with the model's door and stair, and I'll follow your idea for the stair and adapt (instead of making from scratch) the door.

 

Cheers!

Thank you Alfredo, you're too kind! Looking forward to seeing your Albatros come to life. I am planning on making a post with the things I wish I had known beforehand, and all the mistakes/misinterpretations with the instructions I've ran into throughout the build. I should be finished with the build tonight! Woohoo!

Best, 

James

[AlfredoCampos]

34 minutes ago, vvvjames said:

Thank you Alfredo, you're too kind! Looking forward to seeing your Albatros come to life. I am planning on making a post with the things I wish I had known beforehand, and all the mistakes/misinterpretations with the instructions I've ran into throughout the build. I should be finished with the build tonight! Woohoo!

Best, 

James

Occre's instructions, at least for the Albatros and the Bounty Launch, are an absolute mess lacking much needed detail!

Eager to see your final result and that post  

[vvvjames]

Hello all, 

I'm pleased to announce the completion of my first model ship! The Albatros is done as far as the kit instructions are concerned. I'm still mulling over the idea of barrels but I'll sit with my victory for a while before adding anything. 

Thank you all for the support and assistance, this ship would not look as passable if it hadn't been for this forum. 

Drum roll...

Tadaaaa

Here's a photo dump!

 

I started this whole project as a means of connecting with/mourning for for my dad, I didn't realize how quickly I'd grow to love it. I have a lot more respect for the intricate works that he made in his lifetime, and I can't wait to eventually make something that gets close to his level. He'd be proud of this one! I am very much excited for my next build, which will be the HMS Beagle. It doesn't get here for another week so in the meantime I may start a build log for a gingerbread house and enjoy the pleasant updates you guys post!

One down, many more to come! 

Thank you all again, sincerely.

PS i want to post a list of all the things i wish I had known going into the Albatros build, as well as instruction mistakes/miscommunications I encountered! 

Edited 12 hours ago by vvvjames

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Very well done!

[Keith Black]

 Congratulations on completing your first build and doing such a swell job of it, James.  I know you Dad is looking down with pride and a smile.  

[JacquesCousteau]

Very nice work!

[Ronald-V]

Great result! Well done!

[Knocklouder]

Nicely done Sir,  Congratulations , she is a beautiful ship   

Bob  M.

[Baker]

Congratulations, your first model is ready.

Nice work.

[Geordie Tyne]

Congratulations on the completion of your first ship. You have done a fantastic job with her. I eagerly await your new build log.

 

Regards

 

Geordie