Frigate Orel 1/72 by Ark Models

The Russian Frigate Oryol, 1688
 

The content of the box (part 1)
The parts are large, sometimes oversized.
From the start, not expecting to achieve a realistic ship,
But it's a ship nonetheless, so it is worth building.  

The content of the box, (part 2)
Those ratlines do not look very appealing, and will be difficult to work with, but they will have to do. Custom ratlines can be made from sewing thread, but I do not have access to reasonably priced aftermarket deadeyes. 

And the kit itself is in a sorrowful state. Someone burnt half of it and the mess will have to be undone.
So I bought it at half price and tried to fix what I could. Better that than the bin.
 

The fixing of the hull, part one - coarse sanding.
The plastic is soft and peels away like old skin. 

The fixing of the hull, part 2 - smooth sanding
The same problems with the plastic. 

The fixing of the hull, part 3.
Liquid putty and again sanding.
Paint and repeat steps 1-3 until (somewhat) satisfied with the result. 

Starting to look like a ship. 

The fitting of the deck, in one big piece. 

Detail paintwork and oversized windows. 

Deck equipment installed. 

The ship's figurehead.
Poseidon? Neptune? Who knows... It will hold a golden trident in his left hand. 

Those ratlines... 

Kit improvements:
the upper bowsprit sail, which it is featured on the box, but there are no parts for it in the kit. 

Kit improvements:
the square sail on the mizzen mast, again left out by Ark Models. 

The sails were drawn on a piece of an old decommissioned shirt. 

 

A sewing machine did this. 

I tried to replicate as much as possible the rigging of the original ship, using only basic sewing thread. 

The finished ship, together with her friends from Airfix, Cutty Sark and Golden Hind. 

And now, the final photoshoot.