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New from NY with a question on Gunze kits

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mnh1
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Mnh1

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Hello I am Michele from NY. I'm a crafter and new to this hobby. I just finished the Blue Shadow Memoli kit. I am looking at my new t build and want to get thoughts on a Gunze Wooden ship model. Is Gunze a good kit manufacturer? I realize they no longer make them but I am looking at one.
 
Hi and welcome to SoS Michele. Gunze is not a familiar name for me but hopefully others will have good feedback for you.
What ship is it that you are looking at?
Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
Hi and welcome to SoS Michele. Gunze is not a familiar name for me but hopefully others will have good feedback for you.
What ship is it that you are looking at?
Allan
Click to expand...
I am looking at HMS Endeavor.
 
Mnh1 said:
I am looking at HMS Endeavor.
Click to expand...
Interestingly there were eleven vessels named HMS Endeavour,

1652: 36-gun ship purchased in 1652, sold in 1656.
1694 (Bomb Vessel): 4-gun vessel purchased in 1694, sold in 1696.
1694 (Fire Ship): Purchased in 1694, sold in 1696.
1694 (Hoy): Storeship hoy purchased in 1694, sold in 1705.
1708: Storeship transport launched in 1708, sold in 1713.
1763 (Cutter): Purchased in 1763, sold in 1771.
1763 (Sloop): 14-gun sloop, purchased in 1763, foundered in 1780.
1768 (HM Bark): Converted coal carrier Earl of Pembroke.
1775: Schooner purchased in 1775, sold in 1782.
1781: 14-gun schooner purchased in 1782 for the American Revolutionary War.
Other regional vessels: Additional replacement brigs or schooners in the West Indies.

I am guessing you are referring to the 1768 conversion that Cook sailed. If that is the case, one thing that you may find helpful are the many contemporary drawings at the RMG Collections website. If you are building the 1763 version there are several drawings of her at the RMG site as well.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/search/Endeavour plans While these are all in low resolution several of these are also available in HIGH resolution on the Wiki Commons site.

Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
Interestingly there were eleven vessels named HMS Endeavour,

1652: 36-gun ship purchased in 1652, sold in 1656.
1694 (Bomb Vessel): 4-gun vessel purchased in 1694, sold in 1696.
1694 (Fire Ship): Purchased in 1694, sold in 1696.
1694 (Hoy): Storeship hoy purchased in 1694, sold in 1705.
1708: Storeship transport launched in 1708, sold in 1713.
1763 (Cutter): Purchased in 1763, sold in 1771.
1763 (Sloop): 14-gun sloop, purchased in 1763, foundered in 1780.
1768 (HM Bark): Converted coal carrier Earl of Pembroke.
1775: Schooner purchased in 1775, sold in 1782.
1781: 14-gun schooner purchased in 1782 for the American Revolutionary War.
Other regional vessels: Additional replacement brigs or schooners in the West Indies.

I am guessing you are referring to the 1768 conversion that Cook sailed. If that is the case, one thing that you may find helpful are the many contemporary drawings at the RMG Collections website. If you are building the 1763 version there are several drawings of her at the RMG site as well.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/search/Endeavour plans While these are all in low resolution several of these are also available in HIGH resolution on the Wiki Commons site.

Allan
Click to expand...
Allan, yes you are correct it's the 1768 version. Thank you for the website link. Is there a place that rates or compares kits? I was underwhelmed with Memoli's instructions.

Gunze was a Japanese manufacturer. From internet searches it says their kits were known for historic detail.
 
Can you post photos of the kit parts and such? It would be easier to see how it compares with other brands.
Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
Can you post photos of the kit parts and such? It would be easier to see how it compares with other brands.
Allan
Click to expand...
I just purchased this kit. I can post more pictures when I get it. I am looking forward to building this as my winter project.

s-l1600.webp

s-l960.webp
 
IF you are interested in details you may find this interesting. As she was never assigned to a squadron, she would have always flown a red ensign. Seeing the photo of the white ensign in the box could be concerning to some about other basic errors in the kit.
Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
IF you are interested in details you may find this interesting. As she was never assigned to a squadron, she would have always flown a red ensign. Seeing the photo of the white ensign in the box could be concerning to some about other basic errors in the kit.
Allan
Click to expand...
Yes. I am interested to see what we get. You got me going on more research. I found an interesting article from the Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/hms-endeavour-250.html. There apparently was a full complement of Royal Navy members aboard. After Cook's expedition, the Royal Navy used it as a troop transport ship in the Revolutionary War (it was apparently renamed) and it sink on the coast of Rhode Island. Also Australia built a full sized replica of the ship.
 
Mnh1 said:
Yes. I am interested to see what we get. You got me going on more research. I found an interesting article from the Natural History Museum. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/hms-endeavour-250.html. There apparently was a full complement of Royal Navy members aboard. After Cook's expedition, the Royal Navy used it as a troop transport ship in the Revolutionary War (it was apparently renamed) and it sink on the coast of Rhode Island. Also Australia built a full sized replica of the ship.
Click to expand...
Allan I been reading posts on the SOS site related to Endeavour builds. In one post you reference an AOS book. Is there a link for that or further information on it?
 
Welcome from Texas! That looks like a nice kit and considering its Japanese heritage, I hope high quality. Good luck with your research…you’ve received lots of good advice already.
 
Gunze Sangyo (now GSI Creos) - that's who made this kit. Most of their kits were plastic but, they apparently did make a few wooden kits back in the day.

GSI Creos is far better known today for it's "Mr. Hobby" and "Mr. Color" (etc.) hobby paints and supplies.
 
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