Revell Constitution-calling Big Jake

I lost the article when the last CPU died. I can help you with anything you need, just send me the wauetions at jbgroby@cox.net.

As to answer your 1st. one ;

I use the original decks but overlay a peice of 3/32nd. striped bass wood over the top deck carefully cutting out all of the deck openings. Then I use acc to glue it down. I stain it with teak and trim out the plastic hatches in dark brown.

Jake

Hi Bob:
Welcome to FSM. Glad to see you found Jake.
Bruce

Bruce-thanks for the direction to this forum and Big Jake.

Jake-thanks for the deck advice. Do you generally build Old Ironsides as 1812 or later period? I am working on 1812 and have found some references thta indicate gunport lids were present only on two nearest the bow. Do you concur?

What is your source for the striped basswood?

Thanks again,

Bob Fuhrman

As I understand the lid were pressent from day one. Are you sure you are not seeing the "hawser cable stoppers" ? Everything I've ever seen, read or researched showed them.

Jake

I've read that the Isaac Hull model (see link below) is supposedly the best guide to 1812 configuration. The linked photos show only the two foremost ports having lids (single piece).

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h54000/h54008.jpg

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h54000/h54010.jpg

I first ran into this gun port issue via a post to the ship model message board. I will have to hunt for it.

Bob

I cannot believe the gunports are not designed with her, all of th early paintings and drawings show the ports. Also do not forget that the GP on the Big C are dual type according to her original design. I would like to see her in a bit of a sea, the men and decks were going to be underwater just about all times.

Jake

Jake,

I was surprised to see this too and that's why I question it if only on the basis of what seems logical. I have now found some posts (http://www.seaways.com/subarc99/constitution.htm) that say that the ports were there but were not hinged (except for the two closest the bow):
"The gun deck gun port lids were NOT hinged until about the
American Civil War but, prior to that time, were completely removed and
sent below when exercising the gun deck guns -- no gun port lids were
provided in the spar deck, ever. The gun deck gun port lids were split
in half horizontally in 1804 but were still NOT hinged, with some minor
exceptions to this up forward."

This is from a Ray Morton who apparently did a practicum on building the Constitution. If I can find some confirmation of this I might just build with the lids off (save for the hinged two at the bow) as if she were going into action. I just wish that people would cite their sources for assertions like this. Maybe I should just relax and build the model...

Thanks for your input. Appreciated as always. Loved your account of shopping at Walmart.

Bob