Well, I started to build this very same model (and I mean very same one):
the Orca. (As a little personal anecdote: I first read the book at the age of 8ish, which a young teacher of mine lent me on a week-long day camp at school… A cool teacher he was I guess. I really liked the interplay between the characters even back then, although I could not understand why Brody’s wife is cheating on him with Hooper and why he is not throwing him to the shark. I will have to read the book again with an adult eye…)
The resin is very nicely detailed, and frankly they are the easiest to build; the first one-one and a half hour was spent with putting together the “bottom” part of the ship: the cabin, the deck- the first three steps on the instructions. It went really quickly, and posed no issues whatsoever. (Just remember: resin dust is toxic, so handle resin with care.)
The next two hours were spent with the railing protecting the nose. And I am still not happy with the results. So expect difficulties there.
Some observations: the model is great, but there is a tiny issue. (Really tiny, not impacting the quality of the model.) The PE parts are not numbered on the fret, AND they are placed in a way that if you cut some off, you will remove others as well - so I guess it’s stay organized or else. And this means, of course, that you will have to keep referring to the manual’s first page to find the part you need. (Long, long time ago MiniArt did this with their plastic kits; fortunately the Orca has relatively few parts to make it an issue.)
Attaching the cleats and rings are done by drilling small holes for them as they will have to be used with the threads of the rigging, so the attachment needs to be as sturdy as possible.
The transparent film for the windscreens was measured, but I will only glue the parts in once I am done with the painting -except for the tiny round window next to the door which I will promptly ignore, probably as I have no idea how to cut perfectly circular parts that small. It is not easy to determine the correct sequence of painting and building- I think I will assemble the boat, the top bridge (or whatever it is; apologies I am not certain of the naval terms) separately, and the mast. Only after painting and weathering will I assemble the whole, and even then it will be a bit finicky, as, for example, the bridge forms the ceiling of the cabin, so there will be delicate parts attached to it on both sides. And once that is done, will come the rigging…
Based on the instructions the difficult parts will be the PE of the mast and the rigging; they will make or break the model. Either it will look really impressive, or, if not done well, quite goofy. Time will tell.
All in all, it is quite an exciting build of a really cool little boat. (Will have to watch Jaws again. For reference, of course.) Honestly, if I was a bored millionaire, I would just have a replica of this boat made.
I will have to re-read it sometime. (Will check in google books tonight in fact.)
