1/96 Revell USS Constitution Build Blog

Thank you for your help

Added two new photos to my album. I recommend cutting out the blank spaces on the head timbers like mine. It will make ur life easier when rigging. Plus, these would normally have been filled with netting not plywood. That's why the heads sucked so much, no protection from the elements when relieving ur self. It also looks way better. 

woodwrkr

good morning. yes both AA and CC must be duplicated. these will be guide blocks for rigging later on. i believe for running rigging of the foremasts yards. i am currently rigging the bowsprit right now. i found that .020 styrene rod is perfect for rigging parts 222 and 221 to the eyebolts on the brow of the ship. i was having way to much difficulty with line, all the workings in that area were in the way, so i just used styrene instead and painted it black after. works like a charm. ill post more pics tonight.

Thank you.  I am aware that it is to be duplicated on other side, however I am not sure on the lower yards about the center.  I am still on the foremast for I didnt want to do anything until I got some info.  The directions point to the center of the lowest and it calls for blocks CC and AA, do those get duplicated as well or are there only one each in the center?  Again thank you for your help.

Woodwrkr,

i also had a little difficulty at first however, after much research and looking at photos of other models, it appears that in general, the blocks for the yards were all attached directly to the the yard themselves with thier own line/rope. i have chosen to rig my blocks directly to the yards using a loop lashing method. i will post photos as soon as i get home tonight.

i opted for no loose line between the block and the yard as this will allow me to rig the lines through them snugly vice having to be okay with them being loose in order to prevent the mast from bending. placing them closer to the yard will decrease horizontal pressure on the masts. the blocks are able to shift upwards and downwards because i made sure not to get any cement on the line that raps around the eyebolt securing the block to the yard. each block is rigged individually separate from the other blocks.

also, i have been learning some more about rigging from all my research. it turns out that as long as the rigging setup meets the required function that the crew needed it to do, there is no exact way of doing this. some captains liked the finer details of the rigging a certain way, other captains left it up to the crew and their preferences. obviously the standing rigging had a standard setup accross all ships. running rigging and additional sails, minus the main square sails and lateen and rigging, were added, taken away, and modified as they needed to. this also means that this plan provided by revell can be modified as well. "its more like a set of guidlines", to quote POC. great movies btw.

Remember that revell only shows half of the rigging plan for each yard and mast. they are assssuming that you will duplicate your efforts for the other side of each yard and mast. please let me know if my answer helped you.

Also, as a note to anybody else who has been following my blog, i have been informed by a member of the Modelers quild that is based out of the USS Constitution museum that the rigging on my jollyboats is wrong. i will post photos of the corrected rigging as well. i will also be rerigging the anchors. i will be adding a block and will have the line secured towards the rear of the cathead closer to the deck.

if anybody finds something i have done incorrectly please let me know. i would hate to give somebody incorrect advice.

  I recently started this ship.  I am having some difficulty in trying to figure out how the rigging blocks are attached to the yards.  I am going to be putting full sails on.  The directions arent real clear as to where they go.  It shows that on the foremast lower yard that the center gets AA and CC blocks, are they supposed to tied together?  Also where the stirrups are placed do the blocks get attached to them as well.  Thank you.

 I just started putting the masts together and am having a difficult time trying to figure out how the rigging blocks are suppose to go on the sail yards.  The directions are a little vague as to where they go.  Could you please help?  Thank you.

Added another photo to my album. This one is of ratlines I'm scratch building. I use a technique I call layering. To create scale ropes you will have to use a combination of regular upholstery thread paint and cement. First rig ur main vertical lines for the ratlines. Then put a coat of whatever color  (flat) on each line. Each coat you apply will increase the scale slightly. It makes a huge difference when you run the foot ropes next. Don't worry. Flat paint will soak in and dry nicely and maintain the texture ofor the original line. Next unravel a normal piece of thread, same one u used for the main lines until u have a single strand of the original thread. Most upholstery threads is made up of three strands. Then on you two most outer main lines on either side of the ratlines, place a small bead of cement. Take a strand and cement it in place across the main lines. After it dries, apply a bead to each of the other main lines on top of the each place the mainline and smaller strand intersect. Once these dry, apply another coat of paint on each area that has a bead of cement. Presto. You have ratlines that look authentic without the tedious hassle of knotting each one. Check out the pic if you don't believe me. The link is in my previous post above this one.

Updated Album. I have  been trying to figure out how to post them directly to this forum but have given up. its way to time consuming. as always if the link doent work for you let me know.

http://s346.photobucket.com/user/mma200600/library/

Quick note. Revell sent me another boomkin and some Messerschmitt Bf 109 decals by accident. If anybody wants them let me know.

OH MY ***!!!!!! I'm beginning the rigging. I'M GUNNA PULL OUT MY HAIR!! AND I HAVE A HIGH AND TIGHT!!!!!!WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! The hours....... Oh well. Totally worth it. Updating my photo bucket with a few new pics. Don't forget to let me know if any of the links don't work anymore or u can't view my descriptions of each photo. This link is posted in two of my earlier posts.

Hello everyone, 

Random topic.  Music recommendations while modeling. 

Sound track from "Master and Commander"

Anything from the 80's YouTube has a good playlist. Type in Corey Hart Sunglasses at night.  Click the video. Scroll down until u see the 50 video playlist. Click it and enjoy. They even have a few twisted sister in that playlist lol. 

Movie to have playing while modeling. 

Master and commander

Horatio hornblower

Black sheep for the aircraft junkies

Tora tora tora

Pirates of the carribean 

Anything john wayne

Tombstone

Anything scifi. 

Updated my photo bucket with a pic of the stern facing. 

The link is in last few postings. 

Looks good

Updated photo album.  If it doesn't work please let me know. I will also be making a lessons learned video series soon as well on YouTube. 

http://s346.photobucket.com/user/mma200600/library/Mobile%20Uploads

Hey, that's great!  I'm going to shoot some more photos soon and will post the updated album shortly. Let me know if the last link didn't work.

Good luck on ur build. One suggestion,  citadel paints are perfect for the Hull. I used the color Dwarf Bronze for my hull. I do not plan on aging it but I do no citadel paints has great tones as well. Plus, one small jar covered my whole hull. Any games workshop will, have them. Most hobby stores and any hobby town store will have, them as well. 

Looking forward to watching your build. I have also recently started the same model. It was a gift almost 20 years ago and finally decided to jump in. 

Sorry, it took so long. Below is the link to photos of the build so far.  Let me know if it doesn't work. 

http://s346.photobucket.com/user/mma200600/library/Mobile%20Uploads