Category Archives: Jay McKeown

HMS Unicorn

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Jay McKeown’s Unicorn from October 2023 Exhibit

Exhibit: October 2023
Name of Model: HMS Unicorn
Modeler’s Name: Jay McKeown
Period Ship Sailed: 1750’s
Type of Model: Wooden plank on bulkhead
Build Time: 2 years
Scale: 1/75

Ship’s History: HMS Unicorn is a surviving sailing frigate of the successful Leda class, although the original design had been modified by the time that the Unicorn was built, to incorporate a circular stern and “small-timber” system of construction. Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Unicorn is now a museum ship in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. She is the oldest ship in Scotland, one of the oldest ships in the world, and one of the last intact warships from the age of sail. HMS Unicorn was built in peacetime at Chatham Dockyard, Kent and launched in 1824. This was a transitional period for shipbuilding, as suitable timber was becoming more difficult to obtain, and iron was increasingly available. Under the direction of Sir Robert Seppings, then Surveyor of the Royal Navy, Unicorn was built with diagonal riders made with iron straps and iron “knees” that strengthened the hull.

IJN Misaka

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Jay McKeown’s IJN Misaka from October 2023 Exhibit

Exhibit: October 2023
Name of Model: IJN Mikasa 1904
Modeler’s Name: Jay McKeown
Period Ship Sailed: 1890 – 1905
Type of Model: 1/350 Hasegawa kit
Build Time: 5 months
Scale: 1:350

Description of build: Lionroar upgrade kit

Ship’s History: She was laid down by Vickers at the Barrow in Furness shipyard on January 24th, 1899 and completed in March 1, 1902. She was transferred to the Japanese fleet on the 13th of March. She was 432 feet long and displaced 15,000 tons, and could reach speeds of 18 knots. She was protected by four 12” main guns in two turrets and fourteen 6” secondary armament. She was the flagship of the Japanese Navy during the Battle of Tsushima (Incheon Bay). Her claim to fame is that on the night of the ensuing battle against the Imperial Russian Navy, she gave the order to attack over a wireless radio network – the first military orders sent over the airwaves in military history.

IRN Varyag

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Jay McKeown’s IRN Varyag from October 2023 Exhibit

Exhibit: October 2023
Name of Model: IRN Varyag
Modeler’s Name: Jay McKeown
Period Ship Sailed: 1898 to 1901
Type of Model: Zvesda kit
Build Time: 3 months
Scale: 1:350

Description of build: White Ensign Photo Etch, Model Master Barrels, Tamiya paint. Details enhanced with a set of 1/200 plans.

Ship’s History: Varyag’s keel was laid down at the William Cramp Shipyards in Philadelphia, PA in October 1898 and launched on April 11, 1899. She was fitted out and commissioned into the Imperial Russian Navy on January 2, 1901, as part of the Far East Fleet. She was 425 feet long with a displacement of 7,000 tons and was considered a “Protected Cruiser”. Main armament was twelve 6” guns, and twelve 3” quick-fire Cannet guns. She was involved in the Battle of Incheon. Her crew acquitted themselves well by attempting to fight its way out of Incheon Bay but was scuttled after sustaining too much damage. She was part of the surrender that brought about the end of the Russo-Japanese War in February 1905.

Modeler’s Biography: Building quality ships since 2008.

SMS Kurfurst

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Jay McKeown’s SMS Kurfurst from October 2023 Exhibit

Exhibit: October 2023
Name of Model: SMS GroBer Kurfurst 1916
Modeler’s Name: Jay McKeown
Period Ship Sailed: 1916
Type of Model:
Build Time: 4 months
Scale:

Description of build: ICM base kit with Eduard Photo Etch, Model Master barrels, Humbrol paints

Ship’s History: SMS GroBer Kurfurst was the second ship of the Konig class of battleships. Its keel was laid down in October 1911 in Stettin and launched on May 5, 1913. Shwas armed with ten 12” guns in five turrets. She displaced almost 26,000 tons and could steam at 21 knots. She participated in most of the High Seas Fleet actions during World War I, including Jutland. She was part of the surrender in November 1918 and infamously scuttled on June 21, 1919 with the rest of the fleet interned at Scapa Flow, Scotland.
Modeler’s Biography: Building quality ships since 2008.