Kit review USS BONHOMME RICHARD - Full rib Cross Section (Pear version) - Scale 1:48 - Unicorn models

[Uwek]

Based on the extreme good quality I could see in the building log of @OlegM with his USS Bonhomme Richard from the same manufacturer

USS Bonhomme Richard 1779 1:48 [COMPLETED BUILD]

Hi everyone, I thought maybe it's not bad idea to share my current build - I'm doing it since January 2018 and the hull is almost comletely finished, just some final touch-ups untill I move to masting... I will post photos from the beginning, maybe several times per week. I'm not very good in...

shipsofscale.com

I was convinced, that this section model will be also a very good smaler project in between, so I ordered from Max (ZHL) the kit.
The kit is available in different versions of wood and furniture / fittings. I ordered the best wood available in pear and also the add-ons, like the internal furniture plus barrels as well the handrail in boxwood.

Finally the finished built kit model can and should look like the model shown in advertisement photos - try so







These photos, together with the great model by Oleg influenced very much my decision for the order.

Top Level of the Uss Bonhomme Richard Full rib Cross Section Scale 1/48 wood model ship kit

www.zhlmodel.com

A video made by ZHL showing the parts and un-boxing you can find in the topic

Uss Bonhomme Richard cross section Zhl kit unboxing

 

[Uwek]

Now the un-boxing of the kit

well packed by Max - absolutely no damage of the parcel - delivery time from China to Vienna in 3 days - This is good service








also inside clear and safe packed


The base kit


and the add ons like barrels, inside furniture and handrail in boxwood


But first of all the paper documents, manuals and drawings, in the next post I will show the wooden parts and fittings

These are the small drawings for the add-ons


and the main drawing for the structure of the section


The manual in chinese language, but illustrated more or less every working step with clear photo. Shown there is a kit with lower quality timber
















And the parts list - usual way in the chinese kits - Will be the first thing to do - to compare the content of the kit with these sketches

 

[Uwek]

Now I will show the content of the kit

the temporary jig(s)


The frames / ribs




beams etc (on the right side the simple stand)




beams, knees carriages for guns, ladder etc.




here in detail the handrail in pear in laser cut (part of the base kit)


details of the carriage


Highest quality timber for the planking etc.




the fittings












The first set of the bigger size barrels (part of add on)




and the smaller size barrels


Inside structure (part of add on)






and the add on of the Handrail cnc-carved in boxwood - great !!!




First impressions of the parts is very good - best timber, high quality with only very small differences in color

In the next time I will describe maybe more some details - definitely I will start a building log and show during the construction more details

Up to now I am very happy with this kit

 

[Norway]

Congratulations on a new set, nice content in your package, good luck with the build.

 

[janos]

Uwe,
Remember, Chinese language has a steep learning curve...
Janos

 

[Charles QC]

Ho that is a nice project that I will follow with attention.
I saw that kit but got too many project to do so did not pass with the minister of finance.

 

[donfarr]

UWE, BEAUTIFUL KIT, ONE QUICK QUESTION HOW DO YOU NFINISH THE FRAMES IF YOU WERE TO USE OIL AND LEFT MORE OF THE PLANKING OFF, BEFORE OR AFTER INSTALLATION IF AFTER HOW DO YOU GET THE OIL BETWEEN THE FRAMES WITH SUCH SMALL SPACING. THANKS Don

 

[neptune]

They make a very nice kit Uwe, the only thing that puzzled me about the rail and belfry upgrade was that they are only carved on one side, are yours the same, I look forward to your build, I'm tempted to start one as well, will think about it,

best regards John,

 

[neptune]

I just been out in my hobby room going through all the styff in the kit, and one of the things I noticed that I had missed before was the piece of the craft knife blade that had three profiles filed into it, just goes to show their attention to details,

best regards john,


you can just make out the profiles on the bottom of the blade,

.

 

[Uwek]

I just been out in my hobby room going through all the styff in the kit, and one of the things I noticed that I had missed before was the piece of the craft knife blade that had three profiles filed into it, just goes to show their attention to details,

best regards john,

View attachment 111447
you can just make out the profiles on the bottom of the blade,

.

Yes, i realized this small Tool in the bag. They did not forget the Detail.

 

[Uwek]

UWE, BEAUTIFUL KIT, ONE QUICK QUESTION HOW DO YOU NFINISH THE FRAMES IF YOU WERE TO USE OIL AND LEFT MORE OF THE PLANKING OFF, BEFORE OR AFTER INSTALLATION IF AFTER HOW DO YOU GET THE OIL BETWEEN THE FRAMES WITH SUCH SMALL SPACING. THANKS Don

Good question, but too early to answer now in detail. Will clarify this during the work on the section

 

[Uwek]

They make a very nice kit Uwe, the only thing that puzzled me about the rail and belfry upgrade was that they are only carved on one side, are yours the same, I look forward to your build, I'm tempted to start one as well, will think about it,

best regards John,

Have to Check it out......good Point. Maybe we Need two and reduce the thickness, but i have to Check also the drawings and the planset of boudriot.

 

[donfarr]

THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN BUGGING ME FOR A LONG TIME, have messed up some good POF BUILDS AND STARTING SOME MORE, OILING IT BEFORE IS NO GOOD BECAUSE YOU NEED MORE SANDING, CAN NOT GET A RAG IN TO RUB DOWN THE OIL, A DILEMA. Don

 

[NMBROOK]

Great review Uwe and a great kit
Would the reverse of the rail not be plain anyway because the far side has the pillars on it?

Kind Regards

Nigel

 

[Jimsky]

Thank you for the great\detailed review of this kit, Uwe. it does look like a very well designed and build kit. I am looking forward to your build log!

 

[neptune]

Great review Uwe and a great kit
Would the reverse of the rail not be plain anyway because the far side has the pillars on it?

Kind Regards

Nigel

Thats a good point Nigel, the rails may well hide the other side, but I imagine you could still see the other side of the belfry, anyway these are little things that can be overcome with a little ingenuity, ,

best regards John,

 

[Jimsky]

I forgot to ask about the instruction manual, is there any English translations or just pictures with Chinese annotations? I am wondering if there are little 'gotchas' you may need to know besides the photos. Since you are already building CAF models how you can compare both manuals?

 

[Uwek]

I forgot to ask about the instruction manual, is there any English translations or just pictures with Chinese annotations? I am wondering if there are little 'gotchas' you may need to know besides the photos. Since you are already building CAF models how you can compare both manuals?

Hallo Jim,
there is no english translation included, but I think it is not necessary, because also very limited chinese text printed. They work more with relatively good photos of the different working steps, which are saying often more words than too much text.
And I think, that the planset of Boudriot will also help a lot

Planset review - Bonhomme Richard 1779" - 26 plates in scale 1:48 - by Jean Boudriot translated by David H. Roberts

Review: Planset: "Bonhomme Richard 1779" - scale 1:48 by Jean Boudriot translated by David H. Roberts Hardcover: 90 pages Publisher: Boudriot (Jean), France (January 1988) Language: English, French or Italian Package Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.8 x 1.6 inches Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds...

shipsofscale.com

Compared to the manual of the Salamandre from CAF, this one is better, due to the fact that the small sketches from CAF are not every time helping a lot, they show too less information. But you should take into account, that the Salamandre is already an older POF kit, and the chinese are learning very fast to make these drawings and manuals kit by kit better and better - a good example is here the manual from Trident, which is already much better......

 

[Jimsky]

Thank you very much! Your opinion is very-well valid and count.

 

[neptune]

Seeing as Uwe has done a review on the Pear kit I thought you might like to see the Cherry version, I bought the Cherry version as it was a lot cheaper than the Pear version, all the fittings and upgrades are the same as in Uwe's kit so I am just showing the cherry wood sheets and the upgrade Pear rail and Belfry,






The pear upgrade rail laying over the cherry sheet, I will have to darken it a little to blend in, it will be the same
with the pear wood belfry,



Prar wood belfry,













all the wood is looking great and free from blemishes,