petervisser

A busy week in the workshop. I have prepped, painted and installed all of the deck fittings. Not that there were that many...

This is proving to be a fun build and relatively quick. A nice change from a square rigger, that's for sure.

Here are some photos of the progress...

Cheers,

Peter

After many months of idle tools and a neglected model, it's time again to get back to "work".

I have begun by prepping a number of itens that make up the deck fittings. For the most part an easy task because all the items are laser cut and simply need to be popped out of the sheet and sanded. I had to modify a couple of parts as they did not fit as advertised. A little scratch building was therefore required to keep me honest.

Here are the results so far. Tomorrow a few more parts to prep and then I can start painting!

I have dry fitted the sliding hatch and skylight.

A closeup of the sliding hatch and skylight.

And here a shot of all the parts so far ready for a few coats of paint.

Stay tuned...

Peter

Hi Kip,

First of all - Happy New Year!

I was very glad to hear that you have found relief from your tremor and can get back to a hobby you get so much enjoyment from. All the best with the rest of your build!

Peter

Very nice work ZyXuz! I remember doing my own cannon during my build of the Unicorn. I rigged the guns fully in the waist and quarter deck where they were visible, but simply afixed the breeching tackle to the guns that were under the deck. It saved a bit of time and effort.

Keep up the excellent work!

Peter

Hi Freddy,

I have enjoyed your build log very much and hope to learn alot from it. I have a newer version of this kit which is waitting patiently for some attention.

I will follow along as you have lots of great info and pictures which I really appreciate.

Cheers,

Peter

Wow Ian,

Incredible work so far. In the end I am sure you will be happy with the results. A satisfying experience to make the model the best it can be.

I will continue to follow along as I enjoy seeing this kit built in so many ways.

Peter

Hi Don,

Great loking model so far. Bluenose is a classic looking vessel with beautiful lines. A real racer!

Just a little tip, the main mast, the taller of the two is stepped aft. It would be tragic to have it all rigged up in the wrong place. ;-)

Peter

Hello ZyXuz,

I really like your paint scheme. It's nice to see someone do it a little differenty. Variety is the spice of life after all...

You have completed one of the most difficult tasks in building a model ship, the hull. Good luck with the rest of the build!

Peter

Thanks for all the detailed posts and pictures Gil. Plenty of great tips and tricks for all of us!

Peter

That is a superb Bounty you have on the go Danny. Wow, she is turning out very nice.

All the best with the rigging project to come!

Peter

Looking good Don!!

Hey, if you need drawings of the running rigging, I have John McKay's large scale Bounty drawings I can lend you. I'm only home for another week so just let me know.

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Hamilton,

If that is the North Star of Herschel Island I just want to point out that the rig is a dummy rig. Those sails are never set and the vessel motors everywhere.  

The "ship" used to live in Victoria for a number of years and I had seen it many times. It's really a huge stretch give it credit for the rig it displays.

Sorry to be such a downer but really, it's just a boat with lots of sticks.

Peter

Hi ZyXuz,

The start of your build log sure takes me back to the days when I was building this model. On the whole I was satisfied with the materials, but I did end up buying a number of extra bits and pieces to make a better model.

As for the white metal parts, they do bend. Just do it carefully around a curved object of the correct diameter.

All the best with your build, and I will follow along.

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Don,

I have some large scale rigging drawings of the Bounty I could lend you. They are John MacKay's which he sold to me some years ago. Otherwise, Petersson's rigging book would be a very good guide.

I've been away on holiday this summer so I have taken a break from model building and MSW. We can hook up when I get back from my next trip in early October. A get together is long overdue!

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Ian,

I was just catching up with your build log after a long summer hiatus. Stunning work on your Brodie stove! If the rest of your model receives the same amount of attention, you will end up with a truly amazing model. All the best with the rest of your build!

Peter

She looks great Dan and a bit of sanding should give the wood a nice finish. Looking forward to the hull treatment already!

Cheers,

Peter

Hi Dan,

A very nice start on your Bounty. All the best with your build and I will follow with interest.

Cheers,

Peter

Hiya Mike,

Yes, the lack of boats for the kit are a bit out of the norm and I considered adding some to my own model. I reconsidered because of the fact that they would hide the details of the gun deck. I spent a goodly amount of time rigging those guns down there and it would have been tragic to then cover them up with boats on the booms!

As for the "documentation" that accompanies the kit regarding the build dates and designer, it is best to ignore it. Corel did not have access to the interwebby when they first produced the kit and put something together on the fly by the looks of it.

As for my own build, I used John McKay's and Ron Coleman's Anatomy of the Ship Book "Pandora" to help me with the layout and design features concerning the deck fittings. Like you I was less interested in a totally accurate build of the Unicorn and more interested in creating a reasonably accurate frigate of the time. Pandora was similar in size and age.

Hope this is a help.

Peter

Hi Mike,

I have built the Unicorn and finished it only last year. As for the guns, Corel have not really provided the hardare to make an accurate model. As far as I know those frigates were designed to carry 24 x 9 pdr. guns, but then added 4 x 3 pdr. guns to the quarter deck. This is how I built it. I bought some after market guns which were smaller than the guns provided to indicate the smaller calibre. I just eye-balled it and did not do any real calculations.

As for the rest of the model, I improvised here and there to make the model appear more accurate to a frigate of the time. As posted earlier, Corel have cut some corners and taken some liberty in designing a kit that is less than authentic. However, the basic materials are of a good standard as you have discovered with your new kit. Now its up to each individual model builder to put the bits together to his or her personal satisfaction. I myself bought some better blocks here an there, used different rigging thread, changed out the ship's wheel and altered the deck layout a bit. All in all a very satisfying project and one I am proud to display.

Good luck with your own Unicorn, and I will look for your build log when you get around to her. If I can help in any way, just let me know.

Peter

p.s. Thanks Ian for all your kind words.

Superb looking model thus far Chris. And yes your ship's boat turned out very well too!

All the best with the rest of your build.

Peter

Hi Channel,

I just caught up on your build log. Wow, your attention to detail is really showing. Very interesting project, to be sure. It will be very cool to see Bismark and Arizona side by each and compare their different designs

Keep up the excellent work!

Peter

Hi Phil,

Glad to see you are still hard at it with your Bounty. Very nice work indeed. I especially like your re-working of the figurehead. She has way more character, and pops out now. In more ways than one...

Peter

Hi Ian,

I struggled with the decoration around the quarter galleries as well. I could not figure out how to attach the lower mouldings to the model. I had them all painted and when it came time to attach them, I was left scratching my head.

I took the easy way out and simply left them off the model. Not too creative, I must admit, but effective! It didn't seem to detract from the model overall.

I'll be interested to see what your solution ends up being. Good luck!

Peter

Hi Gil,

Yes, I plan to be here next year. Hope to see you then.

Have a wonderful cruise along the "Best Coast".

Peter

Hi Michael,

It was a real pleasure to look in on your build log and view the pics you have just posted. They look amazing. I can start to imagine the finished product, and you will have built something special when you have it completed.

Keep up the exceptional work!

Peter