HMS Beagle by Tecko - OcCre - 1:60

[Tecko]

The kit ought to arrive sometime next week from Spain. It will be my second build.

My first build was a small trawler-type boat, a cheap Chinese product, built about seven years ago. It turned out okay.

I had a bit of a fallout with this Beagle model after I ordered the kit. Apparently, I found out that the kit plans do not follow the redesign of the ship as a survey ship, at the time Charles Darwin sailed with her. There are many Beagle plan versions, and there is still some doubt that the latest version was even drawn correctly. All this did not satisfy the little perfectionist part of me. So, I decided to build this kit in an ad-lib fashion.

Heck, I might even cut the hull out and place the ship in a diorama (afloat, so to speak). Leave the more elaborate planking experience for another kit.

 

While waiting for the kit to arrive, I have started researching the HMS Beagle and Darwin. The more I learn, the clearer my vision for the diorama becomes.

I am preparing by gathering reading materials and tools for model building.

Today I ordered some tools, which will take a few weeks to arrive. I also bought timber from a local hardware store for the base to build the kit on.

I can hardly wait to get started.

 

The base is the size of the diorama: 900 x 430mm.

 

[LoydB]

That base really brings home how freaking huge that is. Following.

[Tecko]

9 hours ago, LoydB said:

That base really brings home how freaking huge that is. Following.

Thank you @LoydB. I also realised that it may be a bit too big for the little space I have at home. 

 

The kit will be arriving soon, and I need to prepare a model base for it before I start building. My main concern was how to make a display case with the available materials. I want to be able to remove the model from the case if needed. Also, I need extra space around the model base for the display case. That is, the display base will be larger than the model base. Therefore, I had to compress the surrounding space around the model, which means the diorama will be smaller.

 

Please excuse my mud maps. I don't want to waste unnecessary time redrawing them.

Edited Saturday at 10:43 PM by Tecko

[Tecko]

I just cut, from plywood sheets, both display and model bases.

Both are slightly warped. What plywood sheet isn't? I will screw them together with each warp opposing the other. Hopefully, that will make a flatter worktop for making this model. 

[Tecko]

Secured the two bases, and everything looks straight and level.

My workbench got cleaned up and is ready to go.

 

FedEx said the kit would arrive today, but it's a no-show. 

[Tecko]

Since this build will be adlib, I am free to do what I like with the diorama part.

As a diorama, I always wanted to create a Kracken attacking a fishing boat, or more famously, a sailing ship.

My initial thoughts regarding the Beagle (see bottom-right, the easier version).

Shortly after making this sketch of a Kracken attacking the HMS Beagle, I came across the following information about Darwin's species collections.

The reason Darwin favoured this specimen above the rest is that it can change its colour pattern to blend into its surroundings.

Well, well, well! Last night, I came across an old movie on YouTube, and it was in colour...

You don't see much of the Kracken until 55 minutes into the film, and onwards. It's quite good.

[Tecko]

Just playing around to see if I will have plenty of room to include a kraken that is pulling the ship towards it.

There is plenty of room. 

[Tecko]

Well, the kit arrived.

I suppose I will share images of the unveiling as many others here do...

 

[vvvjames]

Shaping up to be quite the unique build log! Excited to follow along.

[Tecko]

27 minutes ago, vvvjames said:

Shaping up to be quite the unique build log! Excited to follow along.

Thank you, vvvjames.

[ccoyle]

The basic OcCre kits are nice, and they look good built straight from the box, but there is also plenty of scope for upgrading if you feel so inclined.

[Tecko]

3 hours ago, ccoyle said:

The basic OcCre kits are nice, and they look good built straight from the box, but there is also plenty of scope for upgrading if you feel so inclined.

Thank you, ccoyle, for the tip.

Yes, I believe many have upgraded by adopting a scratch-build approach to certain parts of the ship/boat. They seem to know what the boat ought to look like.

However, I would rather do such a thing once I gain some more knowledge and skill about building model period ships.

In the meantime, I will do some slight modifications to this model in a free-style way, building without fear of messing up what is expected to be accomplished. 

 

[Tecko]

Well, right from the start, I put the cart before the horse and got all confused along the way. I missed the page of instructions that shows images of parts with their part numbers.

I have now decided to number the parts as I need them. Some are too small to be numbered directly.

I forgot how quickly a tabletop can get cluttered up without doing anything yet.

A part of me is saying, "Oh yeah! Wait till you start building".

[vvvjames]

I did the same thing on my OcCre build, only found that page halfway into things, I ended up being lucky that everything was put where it needed to be😂

[Tecko]

6 minutes ago, vvvjames said:

I did the same thing on my OcCre build, only found that page halfway into things, I ended up being lucky that everything was put where it needed to be😂

Ha ha. Thanks, vvvjames. Perhaps it was not luck, but you have calculated insight.

[Tecko]

While researching how other builders followed OCCRE's instructions, at times, the deck was not flush with the tops of the bulkheads. I think the problem here is that some of the bulkhead slits are too long and drop into the spine too far.

 

So I decided not to follow the instructions in this case. Instead, I am going to use the deck as a template jig, and have the bulkheads fit flush to the deck before glueing. But first, I need to draw guidelines on the spine to ensure that the bulkheads will be 90 deg. The following photos show what I mean. I have not yet applied any glue, but when I do, I will use superglue to spot glue the bulkheads all straight and flush. Then, when all looks okay, I will use wood glue as welding-runs.