Best Kit?

First of all, welcome, and congratulations because that is a really poor kit.

You are correct that there's a good reason to start with something at a smaller scale. Since you would like a war ship; I'd suggest a couple.

There's a new Airfix Wasa, plus their Victory. Revell Don Fernando, little Constitution and Victory.

Heller's fine. My only quibble is that often their masts and spars are too flexible.

Their Real galley is stunning.

Revell makes/ made a nice batch of other sailing ships: Bounty, Morgan, Golden Hind, Viking ship, Mayflower and Cutty Sark.

If you ever see the big Constitution at a price you like though, buy it. It's very user friendly and builds up into a superb, BIG model.

Welcome!  I second the kits listed above, but do not hesitate with Heller's Le Superbe . . . It is a nice kit (albeit with the flaw that hull planking is missing, giving the impression of having been carved from a tree trunk!). The 1/96 USS Constitution is a great kit but it, too, has flaws.  I would start with HMAV Bounty. It is a nice kit, is reasonably priced, and is relatively simple.

Revell is coming out this year with an entirely new Wasa. The Airfix kit is a nice kit but does not include a gundeck; the gundeck cannons are simply dummy barrels.

Again, welcome to sailing ship modeling!

Bill Morrison

Thanks very much for the advice

Heller's Le Superbe is an excellent kit.  So is the Revell Constitution.  Either kit builds into a great  model.

All of the aforementioned kits are great. I'd like to also weigh in with a nice model, the Academy 1/160 Cutty Sark. Some of it is simplified, but it builds up nicely and is a nice compromise in detail and size. 

The molded sails of any kit can be remedied by using cloth sail material from some of the online folk such as modelexpo.

I think the Le Superb has a complex rigging diagram and the smaller size 1/150 than 1/96 may actually make rigging more difficult.

Upgraded 1/96 rigging blocks are also available via the aftermarket.

You may wish to replace masts and yards/spars with wood to hold heavier weight if you are going to use cloth sails.

I think Constitution would be easier to build. More room for fingers and exact scale plansets are available.