Kit review LE COUREUR - french lugger - POF-kit in scale 1:48 by CAF

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Kit Review: PART 1
LE COUREUR
french lugger
POF-kit
in scale 1:48 by CAF

since several months we were able to follow the development of this amazing kit in one of our topics


-> so we all want now to see the final content of the finished kit

The kit is offered directly via CAF-web-page for the price of 342,00 US$ excl. postage


Le Coureur (1776) (after capture by the british HMS Coureur (1778)) was a French lugger that Jacques and Daniel Denys built at Dunkirk and launched on 8 May 1776. Alert, under the command of Lieutenant William George Fairfax, engaged and captured her on 17 June 1778, in advance of the declaration of war. In the engagement Coureur, under the command of Enseigne de Rosily, had five men killed and seven wounded out of her crew of 50. Alert had four men wounded, two mortally. The British took Coureur into the Royal Navy under her existing name. She was under the command of Lieutenant Christopher Major on 21 June 1780 when two American privateers, the Fortune and the Griffin, captured her outside Bonavista Bay after an action that cost her three men killed and four wounded. The Americans put Major and 30 of his men aboard Griffin, which fell prey the next day to Fairy.

This is the complete view of the Le Coureur as shown in the ancre monograph drawn by Jean Boudriot

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The size of the CAF model in scale 1:48 when finished completely masted and rigged

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Package

The kit comes safe and careful packed in one covering box, wrapped completely with adhesive tape - so definitely no damage can happen and also no moisture can enter during the very short transport time (my box took only 4 days from China to Austria)
The two inner boxes plus the add-ons and kit-gifts are fitting very well, so no movement during transport can happen.
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Here the complete content of the kit
Main Box 1 and 2, one small kit of a cutter as a gift, one small box with barrels and figurines (als gift)
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Box1:
Content and closer look


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everything fits well inside the box - also here no movement of the parts during transport is possible - very well packed and prepared
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complete overview of the content of Box 1 with one pack of wooden sheets (sealed separate in a plastic covering to avoid moisture), one bag with drawings and brass etching sheet, two manuals and a roll with plans
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The parts of the temporary or construction jig / cradle

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Remark: the ruler sometimes shown in the photos for comparison has a length of 50cm (the same length like the hull of the finished model
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The sheets are from plywood, high quality without any warp - and the laser cut is also of highest quality
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take a closer look at the part C3 - seems, that size was changed after the production and modified elements were implemented - this is best service and is showing, that CAF is not stopping to develop the kit - and can see also the high quality laser cut - the revised elements are fitting very well into the opening
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I love these sheets showing the structure of the vessel inside the cradle
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The sheets with the complete frames, keel and stern construction elements. Chosen timber is cherry (without any knotholes, with similar color and fine grain)
The correct parts have to be identified by using the manual (parts list)
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some close up photos showing the high quality laser cut - very fine and crispy
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CAF used a very fine laser - amazing quality
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Take a look at this fine laser lines !!!!
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The laser cut is 99,99 % correct and goes through the sheets (I guess CAF has used a new laser generation - much much better than in my La Salamandre kit (which was already very good)
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and this is the worst area - extremely good result - it will be a pleasure to make these frames
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The final frames in a 3D-animation
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One of a special sheet is this one, with a combination of laser cut and in addition cnc for the rabbets and bevel -only some cleaning and cosmetics are necessary to prepare the part
-> Very good result and will make the life of the modeler much easier
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The kit contents also some stern parts which are fully cmc shaped. Only some cleaning is necessary to get the naturally very complex shapes
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to be continued ..... please take also a look in the following posts
 
Kit Review: PART 2
LE COUREUR
french lugger
POF-kit
in scale 1:48 by CAF

I checked the thickness of different sheets for the frames - very important especially when you build double frames, but also for this kind of frames a continuous thickness is helpful - CAF did also here a very good job
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These are the "extreme" sheets (maximum 0,05mm difference - the layer of wooden glue is thicker)
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The prepared frames
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The stern construction with the use of the cnc produced elements
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Box 2 - Content and closer look

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everything fits well inside the box - also here no movement of the parts during transport is possible - very well packed and prepared
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complete overview of the content of Box 2 with one pack of wooden sheets (sealed separate in a plastic covering to avoid moisture), one separate back of wooden rods, two small boxes with the fittings, sail cloth
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This box contents also three laser cut plywood sheets for the necessary adjustments of the jig, and also a model stand
I think also, that some parts are templates for later work of the interieur, but I am not sure - the time will show it to us
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included also are four laser cut sheets of maple for the deck planking - with a good nailing pattern and some mixing (left and right side) it will be a great result
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a closer look
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Now the hulls planking - first the inner planking which is often very problematic - CAF provides the modeler two sheets with the tapered planking
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a closer look
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and also the outside planking of the clinkered hull is already prepared. Every single plank is laser cut to the correct shape (if you built the frame-work correctly ;) )
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In the following you will see further laser cut sheets for the interieur, deck houses and other elements

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all sheets are prepared in a very good way - clean crispy laser lines - First class quality
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some closer looks
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here the laser cut is appr. only 0,2 to 0,3mm thick
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In addition we can find 3 sheets with the cnc machine prepared deck beams - here the notches for the carlings are already prepared

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closer look
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Kit Review: PART 3
LE COUREUR
french lugger
POF-kit
in scale 1:48 by CAF

Strip wood and dowels
for the masts and yards

strips are mainly from Cherry, but also Boxwood and Maple
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very good quality
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And here the round material - 7 different sizes of best quality
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also included are some brass wire
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The kit contents also canvas material for making the sails - in my opinion such a lugger ship should have the sails installed - this type of ships were very fast sailor
I tried to catch the quality of the canvas in the photo - a very fine material and I think a good basis
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Kit Review: PART 4
LE COUREUR
french lugger
POF-kit
in scale 1:48 by CAF

The fittings


The fittings and other small parts are the content of two additional smaller boxes - the detailed content of each box is marked on the outside

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each box is filled with very nice prepared parts
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In the following I will show the complete content following the numbering by CAF

The overview of Box 1
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In the following close up photos of the individual plastic bags
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The overview of the second box
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some closer looks
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The Photo-Etched brass sheets

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and the smallest parts for the guns....... puh
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Also included was a beautiful nameplate,
cnc carved in boxwood, which is part of CAFs initial free gift promotion - only some small cleaning necessary
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Kit Review: PART 5
LE COUREUR
french lugger
POF-kit
in scale 1:48 by CAF

The Manuals and drawings


Included are two colored manuals in english language, in combination with the illustrations explaining the different working steps

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Manual 1 with 15 pages manual is showing the construction of the building jig, preparation and assembly of frames and the basic construction of the hull structure. At the end you will find clear understandable parts list
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Manual 2 has 50 pages showing the external and internal planking of the hull, the interior structures and elements like compartments, cabinets, pumps, stove etc. This manual is showing also in detail the masts, yards and rigging in a very good and detailed way. At the end of the manual as usual the several pages showing the parts identification
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The Drawings

This time you will find several separated sheets and not like in the past (f.e. La Salamandre) all details on one oversized wallpaper -> a very good step
The drawings are either rolled or folded, and in full size in scale of 1:48

Folded drawings
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The biggest plan in DIN A 0
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The set of rolled drawings
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My final comment and opinion
about this kit: (and I want to state that I made some direct experience already with chinese kits over the last years)

No long words

The timber material, fittings, used design and production techniques, laser cutting, manuals and drawings ....... very good quality
CAF is showing with every new release, that it they are able to produce once more a better kit.
Although such a small clinker ship especially as a POF has its challenges, CAF tried to help the modeler to make such a model possible.
And it looks like CAF solved a lot of these challenges for us.

This kit is highly recommended, especially for this very reasonable price

Many Thanks to TOM from CAF -> You did a very good job - a very good one !!!!

 
Due to the high interest in this kit, we prepared also a special area in our forum for everybody building this amazing model.
Take a look at the group build area for the Le Coureur kit from CAF


It will be very helpful for all modelers to share the experience building the same kit.

also very helpful is the fact, that the manufacturer CAF, alias @CAFmodel is also a very active member in our forum,
so he will be able to help and assist during the construction.
 
Thank you for a top shelf review- I couldn't ask for a better demonstration of a kit if I tried.
Everything looks like the best quality- special mention goes to the Capstan and other CNC'd details, nails with nice heads and the clear, coloured and easy to follow instructions.
 
So one concern... the company has a "qq.com" email address which bounces and their messaging system appears to be going unanswered. Should I should be worried after dropping nearly $500 on this model?
 
So one concern... the company has a "qq.com" email address which bounces and their messaging system appears to be going unanswered. Should I should be worried after dropping nearly $500 on this model?
No ,you should not,hundreds of people bought from Caf,also at least 20 members ordered the kit on Sos,Caf had very good customer service.
 
So one concern... the company has a "qq.com" email address which bounces and their messaging system appears to be going unanswered. Should I should be worried after dropping nearly $500 on this model?
I agree with others. CAF has indeed a very good customer service. Hakuna matata! Why does the mail address bounce? I think it is not an e-mail address but a phone number for QQ instant messaging (kinda like whatsapp)
 
Hold me back!! I'm so tempted even though I'm committed for at least then next 3 years
 
I agree with others. CAF has indeed a very good customer service. Hakuna matata! Why does the mail address bounce? I think it is not an e-mail address but a phone number for QQ instant messaging (kinda like whatsapp)

I've read that email is supposed to work with it but it never has in the past for me. I will not be installing any Chinese apps on my phone either.
 
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