HMS Enterprise 1:160 scale Boxwood - Unicorn Models

[AllanKP69]

Assuming she carried 9 pounders the below should be close. Sorry for the imperial numbers. The height of the gun port would be about 5mm to the center from the deck. IF the gun barrels that you have are correct the distance from the deck planking to the top of the carriage should be about 4.5mm I believe Enterprize had 7 foot barrels which were actually closer to 7' 11" long based on what I could find.

 

[dockattner]

I have little choice.
The supplied carriages are not to my liking.

I sincerely look forward to celebrating your success, Richard. If it helps...you might experiment with stabilizing the wood with CA. I can't do it because of an allergy - but you will be operating at/beyond the limits of the wood so the CA might give it a bit more integrity.

 

[RichardG]

I sincerely look forward to celebrating your success, Richard. If it helps...you might experiment with stabilizing the wood with CA. I can't do it because of an allergy - but you will be operating at/beyond the limits of the wood so the CA might give it a bit more integrity.

Thanks Paul,

Fingers crossed. I'm interested in the CA stabilising idea. How does it work?

Made the small cutter this a.m. The wood is extremely thin. Still some planking (0.3mm thick!!), and finishing to do.
My advise to anybody trying this cutter model is take extreme care aligning the template and tack it with CA. I didn't glue it initially which resulted in the jig coming apart mid construction. I had to then disassemble multiple frames to get it all back together again.

 

[RichardG]

Assuming she carried 9 pounders the below should be close. Sorry for the imperial numbers. The height of the gun port would be about 5mm to the center from the deck. IF the gun barrels that you have are correct the distance from the deck planking to the top of the carriage should be about 4.5mm I believe Enterprize had 7 foot barrels which were actually closer to 7' 11" long based on what I could find.
View attachment 551245

Unfortunately, the supplied cannons seem very oversized. I could be wrong, but I'll check them against details in your post.

 

[RichardG]

Without disparaging your skills in any way (see your 1:96 version for evidence of same) - if you can scratch 1:160 scale gun carriages out of wood that are better than what the kit has provided you will have my eternal respect. I truly hope you do it and shame me for having doubts!

I've never made them before but seen carriages made with a mill, so I might try that.

 

[RichardG]

Assuming she carried 9 pounders the below should be close. Sorry for the imperial numbers. The height of the gun port would be about 5mm to the center from the deck. IF the gun barrels that you have are correct the distance from the deck planking to the top of the carriage should be about 4.5mm I believe Enterprize had 7 foot barrels which were actually closer to 7' 11" long based on what I could find.
View attachment 551245

At 7'11', I make the 1:160 cannon length 15mm. The supplied cannons are 16mm.

 

[dockattner]

I'm interested in the CA stabilising idea. How does it work?

Just take thin (non-gap-filling) CA, soak it into the wood, and allow it to set (might have to mist it with water). This gives the wood a bit more internal integrity making it is less likely to flake or crumble - at least in theory. I have seen it used by those doing marquetry and wood turning (and model ship building).

 

[GIG1810]

Hallo Richard,

Ich habe mir auch das Heckteil bestellt, allerdings in der Farbe Birne. Ich freue mich sehr, dass es noch jemanden gibt, der den Bausatz von Unicorn Model baut. Die Qualität finde ich sehr schön und wirklich super. Leider habe ich wirklich übersehen, wie dünn die Spanten und die anderen Teile wirklich sind. Ich drücke dir die Daumen, dass du es hinbekommst. Wir würden uns gerne über einen Austausch freuen …

Beste grüße

Günter

 

[RichardG]

Just take thin (non-gap-filling) CA, soak it into the wood, and allow it to set (might have to mist it with water). This gives the wood a bit more internal integrity making it is less likely to flake or crumble - at least in theory. I have seen it used by those doing marquetry and wood turning (and model ship building).

Thanks, I'll try on some scrap and see what changes with the propertie.s

 

[RichardG]

Hallo Richard,

Ich habe mir auch das Heckteil bestellt, allerdings in der Farbe Birne. Ich freue mich sehr, dass es noch jemanden gibt, der den Bausatz von Unicorn Model baut. Die Qualität finde ich sehr schön und wirklich super. Leider habe ich wirklich übersehen, wie dünn die Spanten und die anderen Teile wirklich sind. Ich drücke dir die Daumen, dass du es hinbekommst. Wir würden uns gerne über einen Austausch freuen …

Beste grüße

Günter

Hi Gunter,
I do not have the stern, section but think the quality must be similar. It is a challenge in hard boxwood, I am not sure how fragile the pearwood version would be.
I broke a few frames making the main ship, but they are eaasy to repair.

Cheers

 

[Strand]

x

 

[AllanKP69]

At 7'11', I make the 1:160 cannon length 15mm. The supplied cannons are 16mm.

That would still make them 7.5 footers and I would go with them as that may be what was actually on board. I cannot find anything specific to HMS Enterprise regarding gun barrel length, only general numbers for 28 gun ships of that era which was slightly shorter.
Allan

 

[AllanKP69]

I've never made them before but seen carriages made with a mill, so I might try that.

Great idea. These are large scale, but give the general idea.






You can make a simple brass cutter to use to round the ends of the axles, although at your scale, it my be easier to just file the ends round.

 

[RichardG]

Great idea. These are large scale, but give the general idea.

View attachment 551466
View attachment 551468



You can make a simple brass cutter to use to round the ends of the axles, although at your scale, it my be easier to just file the ends round.
View attachment 551475

Thanks. It has to be worth a try. Milling is a new thing to me, but I get a sense that a 0.8 endmill at high speed is a good starting point. I figure it'll take some R&D and lots of failures.

I might try to make small dowels for the axles and insert them. At this scale it should look fine