Revell 1:96 Cutty Sark pin rail/deck question

I've always wondered about Revell's assembly sequence for both the Cutty Sark and the big Constitution that called for the assembly of the hull prior to installing the spar deck. Definitely makes it more challenging to paint and detail the bulwarks.

The last time I built the Constitution I glued the deck to the starboard hull half and temporarily clamped the port half in place to align the deck until it dried.  Takes about three hands to do it, but it let me go back and work on details on the gun deck, great cabin and bulwarks before I closed up the hull for good.

Mark

Shipwreck,

No you can't place the pinrails in before you place the hull halves together.  The deck sections acutally will slightly snap in place after you put the hull together. 

When you do put in the pin rails use A good liquid cement and then follow up with a few drops of the "Thick ACC" underneith each parts in several places so that it helps brace the parts.  You will put a bit of pressure on these with the rigging, and you DON'T want them to come lose - Trust me on this, BTDT

On several models I've removed the pins and then drilled holes for new brass pins.

Anything I say about this topic has to be based on highly unreliable memory; I don't want to think how many years have passed since I had that old kit in front of me.  But I did build it several times and I think I can remember it fairly clearly. 

The big problem with those pinrails is that they aren't to scale.  The pins are too long, and the sections of the pinrails abreast the masts (where the lower deadeyes are mounted) are too wide.  I don't remember how much too broad they are, but I strongly suspect the deck couldn't be dropped between them.

In reality, the pinrails do get a bit wider abreast the masts; they have to, in order to provide space for the deadeyes.  But, unless my memory's playing me false (certainly a distinct possibility), Revell exaggerated the distinction between the wide and narrow portions.

The bottom line is that if the pinrail projects further inboard than the waterway (which is molded integrally with the hull halves), the deck components will get hung up on the pinrails.  But the only way to find out for sure would be to dry-fit the pieces and give them a try.