USS Constitution build II - 35 years later

Thanks, John & Jim.

Bob

Great work Bob! That ship is a masterpiece for sure.   

Stay safe.

Jim 

Great details!  Ship building has it's own language for sure.

Been busy building main yard.  Completed.

Also worked on the entry and hammock crane boards.  Tried carving.  Just too small for any really good detail (at least for me).  So I decided to go the decal route.  Found a nice line drawing in the "Anatomy of the Ship" book, but the drawing has issues.  First, the eagle looks like a pidgeon; second, it should have a rope not a chain; third, the shield is very weak.  So I used it for sizing, but drew my own.  Much better (IMHO).  Shrunk drawing to proper size and applied to boards.  Then added 2 coats of polyurethane.  Enjoy.

Bob

Mainyard turned, painted, and rigged.  Back to sewing bolt ropes and cringles.  Enjoy.

Bob

Tanker,

While the current camboose is NOT chained down, it is securely seated into the gundeck.

Early pictures of the original camboose clearly show it chained securely to the deck!

Thanks for asking.  surely they spilled a pot or two during rough seas.  I assume the camboose would have been secured before battle (stowing all loose items).

Bob

I Do have a question.

    It has come to my attention that some ships like that had the Stove chained down. I have never walked her decks, soo-is there evidences of chaining on the now existing stove? That would be very dangerous in a storm if Not  fixed in place!

Thanks Jim & Gary.

And the short answer to your question is "a little more than is on the floor."

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Agree with Jim.  Outstanding work!  Let us know how many feet of rigging you used. 

Gary

Just outstanding work! 

Stay safe.

Jim 

Thanks Joe.

Well, the jibs are done.  76 hanks and a bit of trepidation as I accidentally cut a line when trimming the block for the jib.  No real harm done, as it was just one of the bunt lines, which was easily replaced (full new rope).  Just getting the sheets done, and that will be it for the foremast and bowsprit area (except for the braces, which would just get in the way).  I will add all braces last.  On to the main mast yards, so I am back into hardware mode (as Iron Man would say).  Time to fire up the old lathe again and turn some wood.

Bob

Amazing work, just a mind a boggling amount of detail there. Long ago you reached the point where I would be wrecking more than I added with each attempt.

I was just kidding about being negatively inspired, I'll no doubt eventually throw mine together over a few months and think it my best work ever!

Keep up the great work and thanks for posting it.

Moving right along, I have completed the Topgallant and Royal sails, and moved on to the jib sails.  Enjoy.

Bob

Thanks, DM.

Masterclass skills here with determined dedication and knowledge on this subject.

You are a true credit to the modeling genre.

Thanks, Gary.  I've had a lot of help over the years from this forum, so I truly enjoy posting here.  And maybe a few of my posts or pictures can help someone else out down the road.

Take care,

Bob

Thanks, Joe for the warm words of encouragement.  Last year was a great annoyance to me, since I had little to no time to work on her.  So greatful to be back at it again.

JoeSMG

With this build you’ve inspired me. Inspired me to never, ever, start the one I have in my stash! Mine would be such a pale shadow, it’d be practically invisible!
So thanks for that!

Please keep up the amazing job and posts, I look forward to seeing her done!

An amazing piece of work and dedication.  I could not imagine working on a model, on and off, for 5 years.  Truly a labour of love.

Gary

I just stumbled on your thread, was about halfway through it when I realized you started this over 5 years ago! But with the level of detail you’ve poured into her, you’re actually making pretty good speed. I couldn’t accomplish half of this in 20 years.

This truly is a work of art worthy of a museum, and not just any museum!

With this build you’ve inspired me. Inspired me to never, ever, start the one I have in my stash! Mine would be such a pale shadow, it’d be practically invisible!
So thanks for that!

Please keep up the amazing job and posts, I look forward to seeing her done!

After several tough days of threading rigging blocks and such, the fore topsail is done.  A few sample pics below.

Now on to the Topgallant sail & yard!  Yard has had all blocks attached, stunsail irons, and footropes.  Sail was completed like all the previous ones (just a lot fewer reef lines!).

That's it for now.  Getting the hang of this again.  Plus fewer ropes the higher you go.

Bob

Thanks for the compliment, Jim.

I live in Chicago, and Nats are in Milwaukee next year.  2 hour drive.

Now HOW do I transport something of this size, weight and delicacy safely?  Haven't even taken it to a local meeting since the masts went up.  I cringe at the thought!

But I do want to take it there (assuming I ever finish it!)

Bob

If you take it to the Nationals, you can tell everyone else to go home.

Unbelievable work! 

Stay safe.

Jim 

Thanks, Tanker.  I told myself that this one would be special.  Frustration level is slightly higher with the increased number of running rigging I have to do, but getting there. 

Went back to finish off all the missing lines on the fore mainsail, including buntlines, clews, etc.  Almost done.

Bob

Hmmm:

     I love that you are going to such detail, good on you!

After a lengthy hiatus, which I did not enjoy (work related), I am back at it. Took a few hours to clean up the ship and assess where I left off, then decided to ease myself back into it by prepping the fore topsail. Sewed the brass wire into the bottom of the sail and the bolt rope over it. Not my favorite look, as it was close in color, but not close enough, so I gave it a bit of a paint job to better disguise it. Back to coving with string next time to better simulate rope.  Added all cringles, and started on the reef ropes. Using a scaled image from the US Archives to get accurate points for all cringles and reef points. Then back to finishing the rigging of the fore mainsail - still have a few lines left on the port side to finish.

Bob

I am realistically shooting for the Madison Nationals in 2024.  Good motivation.

I've also got a wooden Victory under construction, but that will have to wait a bit more.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I was a public school teacher for 30 years and know how little time there is for modeling.  A favorite you tube modeler was working on a 1/96 Constitution and sadly he passed away this past week.  His passing has motivated me to get both my 1/120 and 1/196 Constitutions done this year and then I'll move on to the 1/96 kit.  Are you planning on attending the Region 5 regionals in Eagle River in 2023?  I hope to see your model on the table in Madison in 2024.(I live only 80 minutes away)Take care

Been a tough year for getting much modeling done.  Lots of other commitments, mostly at work, but a few at home as well.  I also was appointed VP of the Midwest Model Shipwright's Club, which requires me to put together the online "Ships On Deck" portion of our virtual meetings every month.  Anyway . . . .

Starting laying on sails and hoisting yardarms, so the running rigging has commenced.  Headings on the images describe what I am doing, but I am trying to be as realistic as possible.  This meant using robands for the sails, as well as slings, jeers, trusses, lifts, sheet, clew, tack and bunt lines.  Lots of lines to figure out.  Tying to the sail & yard are the easy parts; finding the correct pinrail is another thing!

Enjoy:

Bob

Yes it does!  And two fingers of a 16 year old Balvenie doesn't hurt either. 

Bob