Halcon Build Log - Setting up & Planking

Setting up 

This is always the most exciting part of ship modeling! ^^ Total of 12 bulkheads, and 2 more pieces which will help to make sure the bulkhead is real perpendicular to the keel. This is how it looks like:

The pieces are 4mm in width; but the width of stem to stern is 5mm which save my time on beveling the edge. There's also laser mark on the bulkheads to guide modelers to know how much to bevel off. 

Looks easy, Aye? :D 

Since Baltimore clipper has a V-shape bow, so adding fillers at the bow is really not needed. It was really a relaxing pre-planking work. :)

This is how she looks like after assembling. Similar to some other kits, the slot of the bulkheads are not perfectly match to the slot of the keel. I spent some time filing on the keel to make them fit on it, same goes to the false deck. So far so good, no big challenge. ;)

Planking

The first plank!! Align to the deck!! :D

I can still remember the face my friend gave me when he caught me purchase these 2 dozens of hair clips from ebay... strange look, and walked away.. :D

The big block piece that stacked up at the bow part is a temporary piece to help the plank to land as bulwarks. Since it needs to be removed later, it's advised to add a tape on it and leave only few points intact with planks to remove it easier. I learned it a hard way.. :p

Garboard plank installed.

Check symmetric.

This part is always awkward.. 

Few days later...

Closing up...

Done! :)

Next will be filling, sanding and cutting gun port. ;)

Halcon Build Log - Kit Review

Kit Review

Good day everyone! I've actually done this kit and only now decided to write a review and build log about it. Hope you guys like it.

Manufacturer: Unicorn Model (China)

Kit Name: Halcon Baltimore Clipper

Scale: 1:48

Length: 760mm

Heigth: 550mm

Width: 250mm

Level: Begineer

This kit is actually a pirated version of Mantua 'Albatross' Baltimore clipper, except the Chinese manufacturer makes it bigger, and the studding yards are removed too. Surprisingly the kit isn't that bad.. actually it can be considered good comparing to the price.. Just ￥760 from TaoBao!

Let's go through the pictures:

Unboxing... everything looks good besides the instruction booklet is in Mandarin. :p 

The plywood parts including false keel, bulkheads, and.... Fake Planked Deck!! zzz... Seriously it looks ugly, and I didn't use it. I planked by deck the 'traditional' way. Anyway, the plywood quality is fine. 

As shown are the laser-cut parts for the launch boat, cannon carriages, cross trees, etc. What surprised me here is the piece on the top right corner. It's actually American walnut and the manufacturer uses it for stem, stern post, keel, and rudder pieces. Others pieces are Red Cherry wood referring to the kit's booklet.

The wood strips don't look bad too (sorry for the bad image quality). Lime strips for 1st layer hull planking; Sapele for the 2nd layer (which I changed to Walnut strips later); and beech wood for other parts like wales and waterway. 

Sorry to say that I did not take photos on the rest of the parts, so I'll just comment here. The kit also comes with photo-etching parts for rudder hinges, deck pump arm, and anchor brackets (cast metal for anchors). For brass parts, it comes with 6 broad side cannons and one in the middle of the deck, together with axles for different sizes. Threads quality is mehh... Black threads are fine, but the color for running rig is too orange-ish.. and, oh ya.. the kit also come with sails.

The reason this kit is rated as Beginner level is that most of the parts are pre-cut. For example, the fake plank deck as I mentioned just now, and even the slots of pin rails, fife rails, rudder are also pre-cut! I believe that the manufacturer is trying to make this kit 'assemble and rig and done'. lol

Anyway, I'd say it still worth the price. I upgraded a lot on this kit, e.g. changed the hull planks to Walnut, purchased various sizes of blocks, added helm, etc. I really enjoyed the whole process. :) 

You can drop me a comment if you have any question. :)