HMS Unicorn by ZyXuz - Corel - Scale 1:75

[ZyXuz]

Cap Square Making
 
Finally, I got sometime on my update after such a long while. This is done like 2 weeks ago, and now I'm slowly putting up my works here...

I started working on it once my copper sheet arrived, and also made a jig to help on. Here's it is.. a short one tho  
 

 
I cut a 2mm strip from it.
 

 
 And with the aid of my jig to create the curve on it.

 

 
To save time, I made them only for those exposing on the deck. Total of 20 guns, so 40 cap square.

 
I also added nail detail to it, and continued to blacken.
 

 

Thanks for viewing! 

 

[mtaylor]

It's great to see you've returned to the Unicorn, Zyxuz.   Hope all is going well in life and in the shipyard.

[Landlubber Mike]

Very nice work ZyXuz, glad to see you back

[Landlubber Mike]

Hi again ZyXuz, hope all is well.  My package from CMB arrived, so now I should have enough thread to finish my Badger.  I also got a few goodies for my upcoming Unicorn build, which I thought I would share with you (and Ian of course), if you don't mind.

 

For the coat of arms, I ordered A5349, which was listed as 17mm (I think you had ordered A5350, the 27mm one).  The 17mm is pretty close as you can see to the coat of arms on the original cast metal stern piece, but much sharper in definition.

 

 

 

 

For the stern galleries, there is crown that sits on top of the cast metal piece.  It all looks pretty mediocre, so I bought AMND166 (CD166), which is pretty close in size, but again, much better definition.

 

 

I also bought a few other items to play around with.  One was the stern decoration for another ship (A5338), which I could use the two ends for decoration around the coat of arms or along the sides of the stern.  I also bought one of Corel's edging strip (CD110, or AMND110), which I might use as accents along the stern.  

 

 

 

 

 

I probably have more posts on the Unicorn, a ship I haven't even started building, than I do my Badger that I've been building for over five years 

[ZyXuz]

Hey Mike,

Million thanks on your sharing that really helps me a lot! I'll go with the 17mm coat of arm then  the size looks perfect. I was planning to buy the crown too, but worried on the detail.. now you helped me solve my doubt. I'll place a new order at probably by tonight!

 

Thanks again!

[md1400cs]

ZyXuz,

 

Very nice update. Very creative idea. Looks brilliant.

 

Michael

[src]

Welcome back Z! Good to see your work again. I am curious why you bought a sheet instead of strips? Were strips not available in the correct thickness?

Sam

[ZyXuz]

Hi Sam,

I think there are some strips in correct thickness, but I need wider ones for other purposes. One of them is the belfry like how B.E. did..

 

 

I even planned to use it to make the stove, by making the basic shape out of wood first and then only wrap up using the sheet.. lol I tried, and gave up will just apply on the belfry i think

[ianmajor]

ZyXuz,

 

Good to hear from you again.

 

On your stove - if you want an iron stove but don't want to metal bash, have you considered using styrene sheet? It is easy to use, particularly if you use solvent glues. Producing rivet or bolt detail is simple. It produces a good representation of metal work. The down side is that you have to paint it.

 

Alternatively - the Unicorn may well have had one of the old brick hearths. Remco has made a fine one for his Kingfisher. If you haven't seen it have a look starting  here .  Miniature bricklaying at its best!  

[src]

ZyXuz,

That is some great detail, Very nice.

Sam

[Landlubber Mike]

Hi ZyXuz, thanks for looking in on my log.  I saw on your blog that you are now on the cannons.  Have you decided on the number of guns that you will add to the ship overall, and whether you are going to use smaller caliber guns for the quarterdeck?  I bought from CMB some smaller Caldercraft guns and carriages for the quarterdeck to see how they would look, but still thinking about what I want to do.

 

Also, how do you like the cannon carriages?  They actually don't seem all that bad, and it's nice that they are pre-constructed.  It was a bit of a pain to assemble the carriages on my Badger, and there were only 12 guns

[ZyXuz]

Thanks for all the kind words!

 

Ian,

I've just taken a look on the bricklaying of the kingfisher. It's just AWESOME. really making reconsidering on making it.. haha

 

Anyway, I'm just back from Chinese New Year mood and currently tidying up my photos and progress.. will update here real soon

[ZyXuz]

Cannon Rigging
 
Well, after a week of Chinese New Year celebration, and another week before it as preparation, I finally can sit down here and make some updates.

Corel doesn't provide a clear instruction on the cannon rigging, and even the rigging blocks are not coming in correct size. Purchasing them will be really out of my budget, while making 80 of them sounds bit crazy for me, so I decided to make a easier version.

I first made me a jig for the rigging before putting them to the deck. The horizontal line marks the level of the eye bolt on the bulwark.
 
I started the first one on top of the jig as here gives a larger space for me to work on.
 

 

 
After making the first knot, I applied glue to secure it before rigging it down.
 

 

After this, I transferred it down and did the same on the other one.
 

Done.

On the deck. From this picture, you can see that I've also added the the waterway and rail, I'll make the update as soon as possible.
 

Thanks for viewing.

[ZyXuz]

Hi ZyXuz, thanks for looking in on my log.  I saw on your blog that you are now on the cannons.  Have you decided on the number of guns that you will add to the ship overall, and whether you are going to use smaller caliber guns for the quarterdeck?  I bought from CMB some smaller Caldercraft guns and carriages for the quarterdeck to see how they would look, but still thinking about what I want to do.

 

Also, how do you like the cannon carriages?  They actually don't seem all that bad, and it's nice that they are pre-constructed.  It was a bit of a pain to assemble the carriages on my Badger, and there were only 12 guns

I did think of adding them, but still don't have a clear plan.. will make up my mind soon and place an order together with other materials if needed.  

 

Ya, the carriage itself is really well pre-built, saved a lot of my time comparing to other models' just that the blocks are just too bad in quality.. not only the blocks for the guns, but all the blocks..

[md1400cs]

ZyXuz,

 

Beautiful work. So nice to follow along (:-)

 

Michael

[Landlubber Mike]

I did think of adding them, but still don't have a clear plan.. will make up my mind soon and place an order together with other materials if needed.

 

Ya, the carriage itself is really well pre-built, saved a lot of my time comparing to other models' just that the blocks are just too bad in quality.. not only the blocks for the guns, but all the blocks..

The blocks seemed a bit oversized, at least relative to the blocks on my Badger kit.  I'll probably look into replacement blocks.

[ZyXuz]

I'm back!! Finally!! The reason for this long absence is that my dad was diagnosed with a cancer relapse and has been in hospital for nearly 1 month plus.. So, my life was like work and go hospital everyday. Anyway, he's turning a lot better now and I can have more spare time for myself already One funny thing was that, Ian did message me in person during the MH370 incident worrying that I might be on that mysterious flight and causing this long absence (Anyway, Ian.. Thanks for your concern )

 

Another news is that I've just resigned from my job, and that will make me have more time on my ship recently BUT I'll have no laptop 'cause I was using my company's laptop all the while for both my personal and office stuffs =.=" gonna buy a new one this weekend. I'll need to return it to the company tmr.. so, I'll post the current look of my ship first now and then the progress after I got my new lappy..

 

It's a bigger leap compared to the last update since there were some progress that I haven't updated here... However, the Unicorn now is just so my version.. 

 

I added doors under the forecastle to cover the ugly interior.. I'm not sure whether any ship is built with this design? That the stove is inside the 'cabin' or very close to the manger? If so, then I can decide the location of my vent better.. hope anyone can help here

 

Belfry is also added by referring to Pegasus.. but I think I still missed out 2 cleats on the sides of the bell

 

The bitt 

Also, I've changed the rail to straight down instead of using round ones as instructed in the booklet. This might match my color scheme better

 

The bow rails and cat heads, which I ald done before CNY but haven't updated here. The one at the starboard side snapped off from position when I show my ship to my little cousin during CNY @.@ Anyway, the rails part is not done yet. I'm hoping to add a thicker rail or a jawed one on top of the others..

 

Thanks for viewing

 

[src]

Z,

Sorry to hear about your father, he is doing better now, thats great news.

Your build is coming along nicely, nothing like some build time to let go of troubles and worry for a while.

Sam

[mtaylor]

ZyXuz,

 

It's good to see you back and with good news about your father.  I like the doors under the forecastle, though I'm pretty sure, there never were any.   On the other hand, it dresses up the forecastle nicely.

[olliechristo]

Welcome back, I missed your posts, good to hear good news.. Look forward to seeing your new progress

[ianmajor]

Wow ZyXuz,

 

That is some great work. It is hard to believe that it is from the Corel kit!  

 

Good to hear that your father is better (and that you are still alive and kicking! )

[petervisser]

Hey ZyXuz,

 

Welcome back and sorry to hear about your father's health. Glad he is on the mend.

 

As for your model, it's looking splendid. I really like the detail you have added and your interpretation of the kit. As a model boat builder, I believe we are our own bosun/shipwright and captain. Our models are unique to ourselves and we can have our own interpretation as to how they are built and how they look. You are doing a fine job in making yours unique.

 

Keep up the great work.

 

Peter

[ZyXuz]

Thanks all for your kind words..

Just received another good news that my dad can finally discharge from hospital tmr now I will need to clean my house especially my room b4 he sees it LOL

[Landlubber Mike]

Hi ZyXuz,

 

Nice progress photos on your Unicorn.  Even more importantly, I'm very happy to hear the good news about your father.  Good luck to him!

[Hyposphagma]

Selamat pagi to you dear Zyxuz. I just followed up with your wonderful built and same time i  got sad to read about your dad and happy that he is better and could leave hospital. And very good you a re not a frequent traveller to Beijing. What a tragedy. My thoughts are with your family and with the families of MH 370 as well. All the best for you. Hope you will get time and free mind to go on with your unicorn. regards Harry

[md1400cs]

Zy,

 

Welcome back. Good news about your dad, thanks for sharing. Even better about you not disappearing (:-) Ship looking very good indeed.

 

Michael

[ZyXuz]

Belfry Making
 
I've lost track of my updates since some photos of mine are missing... =.= So, I'll just upload part by part. Up till now, I've basically done the forecastle fittings including the catheads.  

Anyway, this is how I make my belfry. I used the beech woods for the bits that came with the kit and 2mm x 5mm walnut strip for the rail. To produce the bits, I mill them with a reverse milling bit to create the head, and then cut them into half.

 

 
I really don't like the color of the beech wood, but since I'm gonna paint them any wood will do.
 

 

 
For the crown on the belfry, I cut the original one into 5mm width.
 

 
The rail..

 
 
For the headstock, I used the 6mm x 5mm walnut strip which is the same as the cat head, and sand it manually to the shape.

 

 

 

 

Well.. it was taller, because I forgot to add the width of the rail in.. So, I trimmed them down another 4mm.

And I added a copper piece on the head stock.
 

 
Install the bell and Done.

This is an older photo actually.. compared to my previous post, you can actually see I had added a one more strip at the concave area. 

 

 

Thanks for viewing

[ianmajor]

ZyXuz,

 

Very nice work. The forecastle area is looking superb. 

 

I will be doing my belfry soon so this is very useful. I always felt the Corel belfry was on the large side.

[Landlubber Mike]

Nice work ZyXuz, you're moving right along on the build.  You'll be done by the end of the year at this rate

[pomy]

Hi Zyxuz,

                 I am a retired engineer { fitter/turner} and have just started making model ships. I have just finished making BLUENOSE 2 by Artesania Latina, this is my first model!  The plans are very good, many coloured photos easy to follow. I am now building HMS UNICORN by COREL, I am having the same problems as you, slots in the keel and frames not wide enough, these were milled out to size as I have a small engineers lathe with milling attachment. When the frames are fitted on the keel every one of them sit proud of the top edge of the keel by as much as 5mm down to 2mm, should they not be flush with the top of the keel? also the plain frames # 5 7 9 11 are all too wide!  Could you please advise me.

 

Regards,

pomy.