REVIEW TIME: EDITED (01-01-2022)
WARNING: Please note that the stairs that lead to the forecastle deck --- the cannons were in the way for my build. Therefore, I had to extend the forecastle deck on each side - which obviously goes against the plans.
Please check your plans as you build as there are some semi-major discrepancies in plans and pictorial manual.
REVIEW TIME: EDITED
Now that I am 6 months into this build, I want to give a short review. Even though this kit is a Plank on Frame (POF) or Plank on Ribs. Even though yes there are RIBS and BEAMS, the kit is sort of a mixture of basic kit and admiralty style - I will say that this kit is a good kit if you wish to get started making an admiralty style. It gives you the real to life example of how the Frames were constructed on a real ship.
You MUST be careful as some of the parts are stamped incorrectly. But, even with that, common sense will prevail and is NOT that big of a problem
The plans are only basic and just give you an idea of how things might go together. Next, the pictorial instructions booklet does show a step by step progression . The steps might not be in a logical sequence that you might be used to. However, again, basic common sense will prevail if you have past experience with advanced models.
I will continue to build the kit and as they say," it will make a model" - mine not be as good as others, but we will see.
This is the beginning of my Build Log of the UNICORN Models HMS Druid P.O.F. Kit. The images are from the first box opening and laying out as many parts as I could. I did not layout every single bundled piece, but if anyone has any questions, they are welcome to ask.
ZHL now sells this Druid kit with the upper deck framing added as a bonus now. The instructions for the bonus package are all in Chinese, but not a problem as I downloaded an APP on my iPhone (thanks to Zoltan) as it is an Optical Character Recognition program. You can operate the APP two ways. You can SCAN the document and it will translate for you, OR, what is really nice about the APP, is that you can also view the document's translation in real-time (as you hold your phone over the document, it will translate as you are looking at the phone. This is pretty cool. However, Chinese to English translation can still be somewhat awkward as it seems that there are only a handful of Chinese characters that can correctly translate to English as the English language is complicated with one word having multiple meanings.
Ok, so the MAIN instructions are in English with pictures. I have not taken the time to review the manual completely. As I start this build, then all those details will come out. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy watching if you so feel inclined to do so.
The box contents are bubble wrapped and then the entire contents of that are also in a clear plastic shrink wrap. I think this kit would survive the harsher environments. I have never seen a kit that the entire inside was completely shrunk wrapped sealed up.
Donald
WARNING: Please note that the stairs that lead to the forecastle deck --- the cannons were in the way for my build. Therefore, I had to extend the forecastle deck on each side - which obviously goes against the plans.
Please check your plans as you build as there are some semi-major discrepancies in plans and pictorial manual.
REVIEW TIME: EDITED
Now that I am 6 months into this build, I want to give a short review. Even though this kit is a Plank on Frame (POF) or Plank on Ribs. Even though yes there are RIBS and BEAMS, the kit is sort of a mixture of basic kit and admiralty style - I will say that this kit is a good kit if you wish to get started making an admiralty style. It gives you the real to life example of how the Frames were constructed on a real ship.
You MUST be careful as some of the parts are stamped incorrectly. But, even with that, common sense will prevail and is NOT that big of a problem
The plans are only basic and just give you an idea of how things might go together. Next, the pictorial instructions booklet does show a step by step progression . The steps might not be in a logical sequence that you might be used to. However, again, basic common sense will prevail if you have past experience with advanced models.
I will continue to build the kit and as they say," it will make a model" - mine not be as good as others, but we will see.
This is the beginning of my Build Log of the UNICORN Models HMS Druid P.O.F. Kit. The images are from the first box opening and laying out as many parts as I could. I did not layout every single bundled piece, but if anyone has any questions, they are welcome to ask.
ZHL now sells this Druid kit with the upper deck framing added as a bonus now. The instructions for the bonus package are all in Chinese, but not a problem as I downloaded an APP on my iPhone (thanks to Zoltan) as it is an Optical Character Recognition program. You can operate the APP two ways. You can SCAN the document and it will translate for you, OR, what is really nice about the APP, is that you can also view the document's translation in real-time (as you hold your phone over the document, it will translate as you are looking at the phone. This is pretty cool. However, Chinese to English translation can still be somewhat awkward as it seems that there are only a handful of Chinese characters that can correctly translate to English as the English language is complicated with one word having multiple meanings.
Ok, so the MAIN instructions are in English with pictures. I have not taken the time to review the manual completely. As I start this build, then all those details will come out. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy watching if you so feel inclined to do so.
The box contents are bubble wrapped and then the entire contents of that are also in a clear plastic shrink wrap. I think this kit would survive the harsher environments. I have never seen a kit that the entire inside was completely shrunk wrapped sealed up.
Donald
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