USS Costellation WIP

Great job so far, I'm looking forward to seeing you finish this one up.

After getting my Constellation in the other day, it gives new meaning to the detail work you've done on her.  I'll be starting on mine after I wrap up my Bounty build.

Adrian

It's looking really good, can't wait to see it done and I definately need to start going to flea markets.

ok had to break up this update so I don't overload the post.

sails painted white over black basecoat

mainmast sail installed

rigging started

I need to finish up the foremast sail before I install it and do the rigging.

Ok sorry for the delay got quite a bit done

here are the sails

Painted black for a base coat

Foremast and mainmasts with ratlines

I believe the model is close to 1/350 scale give or take a scale or two. As for the ratlines I don't have the skill or eyesight to be able to hand make them due to their small size if I do this again though I may try picking up some 1/350 scale ratlines Alliance Model Works just put out earlier this month. But for the 1/192 and 1/180 scale ships I might try to make them as the Airfix HMS Victory kit I picked up a couple weeks ago has a Ratline loom so I figure that loom may also work with making ratlines for the Revell 1/192 scale Constitution.

Thanks for the info, I've got insignia Yellow already. 

I'm running into a bit of trouble on my Bounty build with the ratlines now.  I started out kitbashing deadeyes from my Jolly Roger kit (which surprisingly is a close match in size to the horrible kit supplied ones molded with the oversized ratlines.) and used a larger diameter black line.  Had to pull it, didn't look or fit right.  I think I've found the right combo now.

I'm new to rigging also and it takes patience to a whole new level.

BTW, what is the hull length of her?  8" I believe?

Good luck with wrapping her up soon.

Adrian

Here is where I am picturewise at the moment

experimenting a bit with Macro as well as deck shots

and here is the masts with the topmost ratlines installed

I'll get pics of the work I have done so far before I start getting onto the sails.

The ships bell was done with Model Master brass metalizer paint.

I used Insignia yellow for the stripe at least 3 coats to get it to the way it looks. As for working on it I am at the stage I have the ratlines on the foremast and the main mast. I don't have the main ratlines on the Mizzen mast (I think that is what it is)  yet as I have to drill a locating hole for the yard that sits behind it. For rear yard I am planning on drilling holes for thread to replace the molded on tiedowns and the other sails will be getting holes for tiedowns as well as there were none on there and those are supposed to be very visible.

Any updates on this mikeym_us?

I've got a Pyro Constellation on the way & I'd love to see if you've finished her yet.

She's looking pretty good.  Which yellow did you use for the gunport stripe?  I've looked for a yellow ochre but have been unable to find it yet.

Adrian

I got some pics of the Constellation in natural sunlight. The cannons are installed and the masts are inplace on their own not glued in.

Two of the crows nests on the two aftmost masts are held in place by friction for now I'll probably glue them in tonight along with the Foremast crows nest as that one didn't want to stay on at all. I do need to pick up a spool of tan thread as the kit supplied thread looks like it is scaled too large for this kit. The stuff looks like it could be used for tow cable on a 1/35 scale tank.

Looking good!

1) If you ever want to build Constellation to her original fit (1854) I am fairly sure that Chapelle's fantastic 'American Sailing Navy' has scale drawings in it? (My copy is buried somewhere so I can't check.)

2) Riggin small scale models can be a bit tricky. One thing I would certainly recommend is trying to replace plastic shrouds with thread, as this makes a huge difference. If you want to do very fine lines, or things like ratlines, I tend to use thin metal wire (you can get blackened wire from jewellry/craft stores). This holds any 'sag' you put in to it, and can be tied off very easily. Very find this sort of fine wire makes good ratlines and footropes for example. Finally, I would recommend following the mantra 'less is more'- there's no point adding a line of you can only do it overscale- leaving it off altogether sometimes looks better!

enjoy- it can be darned fiddly rigging small ship models, but it is quite a creative challenge.

Will

Well here is where I am at to date Deck and fittings minus the ships wheel and the Davitts for the ships boats are painted.

Also the last bit of rigging is installed on the Spar just waiting till I get the masts done before I do the other rigging.

Still have to work on painting the aft windows and either painting the stars name and eagle or drybrushing them so that they would at least be visible at the scale the ship is in.

Though I am leaning towards dry brushing.

Here are shots of the port and starboard sides also showing off the rigging and paintwork.

Let me know what else needs to be done as this is actually my first "Tall Ship" that I am building and actually my first time rigging.

Well as I said early 1800's. And I would still need the blueprints to rebuild her as she was then. I'd have a better chance at making a Frigate Constellation out of the Revell Constitution. But the Constitutions rigging plan is proving to be quite helpful especially if I decide if I want the yards tacked to port Amidships or starboard. Though I am wondering if there is a source for American flags decal or paper to use with the Constellation? 

warshipguy

Mike,

The Lindberg kit is not the Frigate of 1797; it is the Sloop-of-War U.S.S. Constellation, built in the 1850's that was "altered" in the 1950's to convince the public that she was the original Frigate.  The ship has since been restored to her correct form, to represent the Sloop.  The Sloop-of-War U.S.S. Constellation was the last sailing ship built for the U.S. Navy, whereas the original Frigate U.S.S. Constellation was the first ship built for the U.S. Navy.  They are, in fact, two very different ships.  The model depicts her in the "altered" state depicting her as the Frigate.

Bill Morrison

Mike,

The Lindberg kit is not the Frigate of 1797; it is the Sloop-of-War U.S.S. Constellation, built in the 1850's that was "altered" in the 1950's to convince the public that she was the original Frigate.  The ship has since been restored to her correct form, to represent the Sloop.  The Sloop-of-War U.S.S. Constellation was the last sailing ship built for the U.S. Navy, whereas the original Frigate U.S.S. Constellation was the first ship built for the U.S. Navy.  They are, in fact, two very different ships.  The model depicts her in the "altered" state depicting her as the Frigate.

Bill Morrison

Billyboy

Great. I have been wanting to see the Lindberg kit out of its box for a long time now. It looks ok actually. Any chance of clearer photos?

Are you making any modifications to depict her original fit, or are you going with the 'quasi-frigate' look (the real ship displayed in the mid-20th century) and which was copied by the kit manufacturers?

Will

I'm going for what is in the kit right now. I just don't have the skills to build her the way she was which would require the original blueprints to see what went where and what it looked like when she was built in the early 1800's.

Great. I have been wanting to see the Lindberg kit out of its box for a long time now. It looks ok actually. Any chance of clearer photos?

Are you making any modifications to depict her original fit, or are you going with the 'quasi-frigate' look (the real ship displayed in the mid-20th century) and which was copied by the kit manufacturers?

Will

well got more work done yeterday and today.

As you can see I installed the spar and rigged it

Well the rigging wasn't on the rigging plan in the instructions so I went with the box art on this one as the rigging plan is pretty bare bones so I am going to be using the Constitution rigging plan to rig the masts.

here is the deck getting painted.

let me know if this is good enough as I need to get the ropes on deck painted before I install the deck.

well here is more.

I painted the hull black and used a copper Leafing pen to make the hull copper sheathed.