Revell USS Constitution Kit no. 05600

The various Revell Constitutions have been the subject of several discussions around here.

In summary:

1/96 scale:  The "classic" Constitution kit; was patterned after the historic Hull model and represents the ship as it was configured in 1812.  Full gun deck and great cabin.

1/196 scale:  patterned after the restoration done in the 1930's with higher bulwarks, the Andrew Jackson figurehead, etc.   Partial gun deck. 

1/150 scale:  Released as the United States, but actually represents the Constitution.  Single piece hull, somewhat simplified version of the 1/196 kit.  As such it represents the 1930 version, not the 1812.  In actuality it is significantly smaller than the 1/196 kit, so is not really 1/150 scale.

1/111 scale:  Issued as quick-build "weekend" project.  Most recently issued by Revell Germany and much rarer than the previously listed kits.  I think this is the kit you have.  I believe the original kit number was H357.

I have the first three kits in my stash, but not the 1/111 kit.  If you can't find an original set of instructions for your kit, then I think it would be pretty easy to figure it out using the plans from the other kits as a guideline since it's a simplified version.

Hope this helps.

Good luck,

Mark 

I have this kit Dave.

I can scan it at work for you tomorrow and send it to you in a PDF file if you would like.

PM me your email address and I'll send it to you, or I can send you a hard copy if you prefer.

The kit is quite different from the 1/96 kit so I don't know how much it will help you. I have a couple of the 1/96 kits, a couple of the 5600/H-357 kits and a couple of the old Pyro kits. (I needs to get me a couple of the 1/196 kits too.)  

As Mark mentioned in his post, it is the same kit as the one listed as 1/111 scale but I think the scale is more closer to 1/150. The H-357 and 5600 kits are the same kits.  The H357 kit is the 1975 'Build a Legend in a Weekend' kit and 5600 is a 1980 boxing.  There are no scale listed on either kit but it lists a length of 22".

I really like this kit.  It's a great kit IMHO and other than the 1/96 Kit, I think it's one of the better ones out there. I'm not a big fan of the molded on gun carriages but the ships boats are miniature versions of the 1/96 kit and really nice.

Let me know and I get it to you tomorrow.

Adrian

Hi Mark and Adrian, thanks for the replies.

Adrian a PDF file would be great for me, whichever would be easiest for you. Many thanks for the help.

I would love to have the 1/96 kit in my collection but I don't have the room to display such a beast.

I'm impressed with the 1/111? kit, I think it's a good compromise between size and detail. The moulded on gun carriages are it's most obvious weakness, so I am in the process of removing them from the spar deck. The fixed gun deck hatches will also need some work too.

2012 is a very apt year to build a USS Constitution

Cheers

Dave.

FWIW, here's a side-by-side comparison of the 1/150 scale United States on the left, versus the 1/196 scale Constitution on the right. 

No way the United States is 1/150 scale. 

Both have the carronade carriages molded to the deck.  It took a lot of time and masking tape to get the deck of the Constitution painted.

Here's a more current picture with breech lines and training tackles pretty much done on the carronades.

The hull halves aren't glued together yet.  I cut open the main hatch and have to install a false gun deck piece that I scratch-built to fill the opening.  Hope to get that done and close up the hull for good this coming weekend.

Mark

Nice work on the deck Mark

I nearly picked up the United States kit last year, I'm glad that I changed my mind.  I like kits around the 1/150 scale but that looks way off.

Your instructions are on the way Dave.  Let me know if you have any problems with them.  It's a pretty big file so if you don't get it, let me know & I'll break it down for you.

Great job Mark, I love what you did with the tackle for the guns.

I want to say it's hard to believe that Revell has listed the smaller kit as a 1/150 scale but I really can't.  I'm not surprised at all.  Just a guess but what would you say the kit actually was - 1/250 or so? And, where did the smaller kit originally come from? Is it an original Revell offering or did Revell pick up the molds from Aurora or another manufacturer?

I dug out some pics of the two kits that we were discussing.  I know that Revell also boxed this kit in an additional boxing but I don't have it.

H-357 kit from 1975 -

5600 Kit from 1980 - 

I did a size comparison on the kits I had several years ago and Marks comments on the scale difference had me dig them up also. 

These four kits are, from the top - 1/196 Revell, 22" kit from the above two kits, 1/120 Monogram/Imai & 1/96 Revell - 

The 1/96 Revell is by far the best of the bunch.

I'm not a big fan of the 1/120 Monogram/Imai.  I find the detail is just a bit heavy for my tastes. I also dislike the enclosed waist and the gallery windows are solid.  On a model this big, the solid windows are really noticeable.

I really like this 22" kit  but unfortunately it shares the solid windows like the 1/120.

Adrian

Tnonk

The 1/96 Revell is by far the best of the bunch.

I'm not a big fan of the 1/120 Monogram/Imai.  I find the detail is just a bit heavy for my tastes. I also dislike the enclosed waist and the gallery windows are solid.  On a model this big, the solid windows are really noticeable.

I really like this 22" kit  but unfortunately it shares the solid windows like the 1/120.

Adrian

Thanks for the comparision of the four kits.

Ironically, I was pondering the painted windows on my 1/196 kit last weekend.  I haven't glued the hull together yet and I was working out a plan in my head to cut them out, replace them with clear windows and fabricating some type of blanking pieces.  Or maybe just scratch-building the entire great cabin using the 1/96 kit as a pattern.  Not too challenging from a scratch-building standpoint, but the main thing holding me back is that I'd like to finish the dang thing sometime this decade.  I'm already planning to individually rig the shrouds and ratlines and know that's definitely going to take some time...

Mark     

Hello Dave,

I have plenty of directions to the scaled down version of the Constitution.  I found out, if painted right, with flat LATEX 89 cent crafters paint from Walmart, or anywhere, they look amazing, and acurate.

I'll send you the directions if you have'nt found any yet.  (860)489-4922

Dave

I have plenty of directions to that model, I build them with latex crafters paint (89 cents a bottle) they come out flat and acurate, and look aged in half the time.

(860) 489-4922  I'll send them to you free.

Dave