The Royal Caroline / ZHL

[bandido]

Received my new build from ZHL last week! The Royal Caroline. 1750's Royal pleasure Yacht in 1/50 scale POB, the cost was in the intermediate area mid $250's, my bank account needs a break the Druid being in the $900's, Le Soleil in the $600's. But after receiving and going through the kit, as always you get what you pay for!!! less money less kit! I also purchased the upgrade sculpture pieces from resin to wood due to all the fancy detail sculpture on the ship. that was $200, so looking at $450! couple other areas that I will upgrade is deadeyes kit only has one size will order 1 size smaller for the upper Shrouds. the blocks were unacceptable, never seen these before have a picture of them?? so I ordered singles, doubles and a couple triples, The rigging line I also replaced with Dard brown Standing and tan running lines in three sizes, This I did on my Le Soleil kit! The other area I am looking at is the finish planking provided it is only .02 thick same as on the Le soleil!! I like to use .5mm in Cherry for that purpose. I am getting a quote from a company in New jersey who makes planking I am waiting for a cost! Probably when all the smoke clears will be into the project for under $700. All of this extra expense is due to my preference. The kit comes with an English Manuel on a cd Rom, all sheet plans look good easy to understand, the masts and yards are already sculptured to size, which will save time, not one of my favorite things to do! The shroud deadeye mounting hardware is complete

 

[maltbyguy]

So if you get what you pay for is this kit good value for money... after you have replaced the carvings -ropes-blocks ?

 

[shipahoy]

I ordered this kit about 5 years ago from ZHL, but in the smaller scale 1/64 I think. The whole kit was a mish mash of poorly laser cut parts, rigging line that was nothing but string and yes the one size blocks of the type you would see on a factory made ship from the phillipines. The worst for me was even though the scale was 1/64 the resin parts in the kit were for the 1/48 version. The figure head was a melted blob of resin with no head. It was like some thing you would order from WISH of ALIEXPRESS only you paid double. I wish you luck with your build but it looks like you have already doubled your cost before you have even started. I salvaged the few useful parts and tossed the rest.

 

[bandido]

So if you get what you pay for is this kit good value for money... after you have replaced the carvings -ropes-block

I ordered this kit about 5 years ago from ZHL, but in the smaller scale 1/64 I think. The whole kit was a mish mash of poorly laser cut parts, rigging line that was nothing but string and yes the one size blocks of the type you would see on a factory made ship from the phillipines. The worst for me was even though the scale was 1/64 the resin parts in the kit were for the 1/48 version. The figure head was a melted blob of resin with no head. It was like some thing you would order from WISH of ALIEXPRESS only you paid double. I wish you luck with your build but it looks like you have already doubled your cost before you have even started. I salvaged the few useful parts and tossed the rest.

The kit is fairly simple in construction! actually the resin carvings are not bad, I just wanted to use real wood carvings on this kit. looking at the parts and what I have assembled already things fit good, and the parts look good? I do believe the kit is well worth the money, just the blocks and the rigging line I feel needs replacing.

 

[maltbyguy]

To be honest blocks and ropes always let a kit down

 

[bandido]

So if you get what you pay for is this kit good value for money... after you have replaced the carvings -ropes-blocks ?

the kit I believe is well worth the money, actually the resin carvings are not bad! I just preferred wood on this kit? the blocks and ropes do need to be replaced in my opinion and the finish planking is probably fine again I like .5 planking it is more forgiving and more sand able the rest of the kit is good the cd rom English instructions are good, and the plans sheets lay out the steps pretty good. No need to have to take Chinese language lessions to understand the steps

 

[bandido]

To be honest blocks and ropes always let a kit down

that is true as the Druid I just finished a $800 + kits really needed the blocks and ropes replaced I used what was supplied but the ropes were not good!!

 

[bandido]

I ordered this kit about 5 years ago from ZHL, but in the smaller scale 1/64 I think. The whole kit was a mish mash of poorly laser cut parts, rigging line that was nothing but string and yes the one size blocks of the type you would see on a factory made ship from the phillipines. The worst for me was even though the scale was 1/64 the resin parts in the kit were for the 1/48 version. The figure head was a melted blob of resin with no head. It was like some thing you would order from WISH of ALIEXPRESS only you paid double. I wish you luck with your build but it looks like you have already doubled your cost before you have even started. I salvaged the few useful parts and tossed the rest.

Actually, the resin parts / carvings do not look bad! I just preferred the wood this time as the base price on the kit was reasonable! you are right about the blocks and ropes? The wood carvings and the finish planking changes I made are what increased the cost but that was my choice.

 

[AllanKP69]

Congrats on going the extra mile on upgrading some parts. One of the nice things about this vessel is that there are a number of detailed contemporary drawings on the RMG Collections website that you can use as a reference to compare with the kit. Looking forward to your build.

 

[NOVICHOK]

Hi. I will be happy to look at your construction of the ship. I also have such a reserve myself.

 

[bandido]

Congrats on going the extra mile on upgrading some parts. One of the nice things about this vessel is that there are a number of detailed contemporary drawings on the RMG Collections website that you can use as a reference to compare with the kit. Looking forward to your build.

Yes, it looks like the plans are good throughout the build!

 

[bandido]

I started the construction, bulkheads fit good used my squares to ensure everything was plumb! The lower support deck and main decks fit well, used small screws to maintain the curvature of the decks for the waterways! so far the kit is fairly straightforward, simple, and uncomplicated.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Looks like a good start, keep us posted on what you have done.

 

[Jimsky]

you are off to a good start, Bandido!

 

[bandido]

finished up most of the base hull and painted it black in preparation for the deck and building planking! I Have decided to plank the decks with the 7 x .5 cherry strips I ordered for the finish hull planking and will plank the interior and exterior building walls and floors in Teak provided with the kit. Since I will be using .5 planking for the hull planking rather than the .2 planks provided I will need to adjust for the increase in thickness this will create!

 

[AllanKP69]

Below is the John Clevely painting of Royal Caroline that he did in 1750 and there is no black other than the wales. Is there a reason you painted everything black? The reason I ask is a concern that there will be a problem with gluing parts to paint instead of wood? If the paint is not removed, the adhesive is essentially adhering to the paint layer and not the wood thereby leading to an inferior bond. Just curious
Allan

 

[bandido]

I painted the frame areas black you will not see this when the ship is planked and finished. black works well as a base color for planking decks exterior walls and hull planking.I remember picking up this trick on this site! Wood glue adheres fine to a light coat painted surface, I have never had an issue before! as with my Le Soleil Royal as I did the same. now if I was using CA glue that is a different story!

 

[bandido]

I painted the frame areas black you will not see this when the ship is planked and finished. black works well as a base color for planking decks exterior walls and hull planking.I remember picking up this trick on this site! Wood glue adheres fine to a light coat painted surface, I have never had an issue before! as with my Le Soleil Royal as I did the same. now if I was using CA glue that is a different story!

Also, all the bulkhead points will be sanded as always before the planking is installed. deck surfaces are lightly sanded anyway before planking whether painted or not, titebond works great! black works well to hide all areas seen but not covered if you know what I mean I will not be painting the first layer or structural planking. so finish planking will be adhered to the wood surface directly. I hope that helps why I do what I do!

 

[AllanKP69]

Thank you very much bandido. Understood, but I was thinking also of the knee of the head being black. Then again, if you taper the knee of the head as was done on the ship most of the paint will be removed anyway. For this size ship and era, the knee of the head at the seat of the figure head would likely be down to about 5 inches (0.1" at 1:50). maybe less, so it looks like you have plenty of material to work with and the paint would be sanded off in the process of the tapering. For the future, you may find it easier to taper the head before assembling the bulkheads. Thanks again for the explanation on the glue, much appreciated.
Allan

 

[Bob sav]

Received my new build from ZHL last week! The Royal Caroline. 1750's Royal pleasure Yacht in 1/50 scale POB, the cost was in the intermediate area mid $250's, my bank account needs a break the Druid being in the $900's, Le Soleil in the $600's. But after receiving and going through the kit, as always you get what you pay for!!! less money less kit! I also purchased the upgrade sculpture pieces from resin to wood due to all the fancy detail sculpture on the ship. that was $200, so looking at $450! couple other areas that I will upgrade is deadeyes kit only has one size will order 1 size smaller for the upper Shrouds. the blocks were unacceptable, never seen these before have a picture of them?? so I ordered singles, doubles and a couple triples, The rigging line I also replaced with Dard brown Standing and tan running lines in three sizes, This I did on my Le Soleil kit! The other area I am looking at is the finish planking provided it is only .02 thick same as on the Le soleil!! I like to use .5mm in Cherry for that purpose. I am getting a quote from a company in New jersey who makes planking I am waiting for a cost! Probably when all the smoke clears will be into the project for under $700. All of this extra expense is due to my preference. The kit comes with an English Manuel on a cd Rom, all sheet plans look good easy to understand, the masts and yards are already sculptured to size, which will save time, not one of my favorite things to do! The shroud deadeye mounting hardware is complete

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You said " I also purchased the upgrade sculpture pieces from resin to wood ". Can you tell me where you purchased these " bits" from. Thanks