1. Looks like a very well thought out project. Actually, one of the best that I have seen in the last 30 years. There are a few minor (and correctable) factual problems, such as, no ship had white (almost) decks with black (almost) fasteners 3 times oversize. At the scale of 1/96, you would never see the real fasteners in any photo. The fastener would have matched the planks in color, grain direction, scale and with attention to detail such that they were as invisible as possible. A somewhat picky detail, but perfectly achievable (and I understand that modeling custom is exactly the reverse).
2. If I had not put away enough lumber to build Nelson's fleet (and the workshop to process this wood) in the last 60 years, I would be sorely tempted to transition from scratch to modified kits.
3. I think the age of pure 100% scratch may be quickly waning. "The scratch is dead, long live the kit!"
4. Good work.