Yes, the size of the guns is part of it, but also somehown they've made that third rate look more like a first rate in your picture from above. Yes it's missing a deck to really look like a first rate. It might be that it's too wide for it's lenght or something.

Yes, it might be older Langtons. I've seen it in a few out of a big range, so it's not a big deal.

Ares ships still have some problems apart from the masts, like the stern gallery on some ships look pretty bad. Still I contribute this to production rather than design. It's also been improved on later ships. (Where they've failed on other accounts.)

The ratlines aren't Ares, but from Keith here on the Anchorage. They were only made for the ships in the starter sadly. Yes, they are made from brass and very thin. They are indeed fiddly to work with and require a ot of patience.