I know this is important;
When a modeler of Vac-U-Form kits gets their model, the chance of mistakes is very real. That's the reason for patterns. They help you accurize the model, rather than leaving it to chance. Now that said, I wonder;
This BEARCO model I am working on for my client leaves me baffled by the methods they chose to use. For one thing the patterns supplied, don't even begin to fit the various places they are supposed to be used in.
I am having to lay out the areas with a pencil on the bulkheads and decks by hand because either the patterns are by heighth too short by over half an inch or they are short on the linear plane by way more. I always thought that the patterns supplied would be correct or they WOULD TELL YOU, in the instructions to enlarge them because they are NOT to scale.
On many Vac kits I have buillt over the years, this notation has always been present. I wonder if this is part of the reason they did not stand the test of time? The idea of a specific ship type manufacturer, in whatever medium is unique in it's own way. In Plastic even more so. In this scale especially more so. This is a very narrow niche.
I do believe at H.O. scale or 1/87 if you will, the importance of correct patterns is important for sure. I have built the older style passenger cars that were Vac-U-Formed and ALL patterns were to size or it was Noted, Very Clearly that you had to enlarge them to size. Not so this kit.
This leads me to believe this is the reason the original owner of this kit gave up on it! For me, Now, I am able to work around it, Only, Because of my education on the Engineering and Design of Ships. The Novice would be lost. Bad enough it has confused me!