MY 1/96 CONSTITUTION PICTURES THUS FAR!

It's looking great. nice lighting

Woot ! Nice one. Looks really good so far. Please keep the photos coming during the build.

Julian

Nice work on the deckwork rigging.

Scott

Very nice job so far.  I agree keep the pictures coming.  Are you planning on showing sails up or as if docked?  Is this the Revell 1/96 or some other manufacturer?  What paints are you using?  I started the Revell 1/96 USS United States and I used Testors enamel white paint for the sides (forgot the technical name for the walls, Gunwhales maybe?? pretty sad for being a Navy man and not remembering the sides on the upper deck are called) and it does not cover well.  I brushed mine and it always brushes watery for some reason.  You whites look very solid and that impresses me.  Keep up the hard work.  One last question, our you planning on keeping the bottom hull copper or are you going to try making it patina, the weathering of copper hulls?  I hope my United States comes out likes yours, again very nice job!!!

The photo's have me wondering if I want to weather the copper plating or leave it in mint finish.This does look rather stunning. I also like the hammock netting. What did you use for this ? Fine mosquito netting ?

Julian

Nice work. That is a lot of work just to that point I'm sure. I like the timber like stand/pedestal.
Does that come with all Revell Constitution's?


I'm actually starting the Alabama next week sometime.

Good luck with the rigging. Look forward to seeing more.

I know das boot!  I know that boat VERY well...  And it's looking quite nice.  The lighting is pretty cool. 

I never liked the look of the sails, and really wanted to have them out and in the wind, so to speak.  One thing I would seriously consider if I were to do the kit again would be to make the sails in the same way as our "Black Pearl" modeller is doing... http://finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/659328/ShowPost.aspx

I found a great source of mini-lighbulbs at a Michael's Village Crafts by looking in the Christmas lighting stuff, and plan to use them for model lights.  The little bulbs would do well for cabin with a ship like this, and burn well with AA batteries.  My plans with them include lighting in the 1/1000 Polar Lights Star Trek TOS models - lighting the naselles of the Enterprise, etc.

I  got just a bit further than this with my Revell Constitution, having the masts erected and contemplating the rigging.  It was sitting on a high shelf to avoid toddler activity, and the family cat "Malcom" took a flying leap, sending the entire ship flying to crash into bits... that was in 1992.  I enjoyed all the painting, the tying down of the cannons, etc... and it put me into a funk about model building for soooo long, I am only this last some months getting my head back into the hobby in a roundabout way. 

Anyway, digressions aside... Great looking boat!

 

Andrew,

Good job so far.

One point though, the lines that passsed between the deadeyes for the shrouds would have been tarred once the rigging was set-up. It looks like you spent some time painting the tan ropes separate from the black deadeyes, but those lines need to be toned down. You don't have to paint them black, but a good brownish black wash would help.

Enjoy the rigging.

Mike

Thanks everybody.  In terms of paint, this entire model is quite honestly the bastard ship!  There is oil, acrylic, temper, good ol' testors in there somewhere, spraypaint, it goes on and on and the funny thing? I cant tell you where I aplied them! The white stripe though was actually just a first attempt with good old acrylic, it turned out a little too sloppy after the tape job, so I went over the lines with a nice glossy testors paint pen.  Other then that, the hull might have some temper with the spraypaint I think? Maybe some oil also..I like the effect though...This is definatly one of those "THATS IT! Into the closet with you until I get my sanity back!"  And this model has given me that ability now I learned to just STOP when I'm not 100% hyped into the building/painting process...So everything you see was probably done while watching Master and Commander or the old school Hornblower with Gregory Peck while doing it (I highly reccomended it gets you quite into it ;-).  As for the stand It's actually for the Heller Soliel Royale...Yeah my brother had a fluke with her so he gave me the stand.  The in-the-box constitution stand started to scare the crap out of me once this project got rolling it's so puny.  The hammock rails are just screen door mesh from Home Depot for about 6$ it was well worth it.  And as for the deadeyes for the ratlines I definatly plan on toning them down thanks for that...With a second look after reading the comment it still looks like plastic because of the enamel not rope at all.  Also I finally went back to the Constitution in Boston for the first time in 10 years...Being 19 now with my own debit card haha I found it ideal to buy a commemorative copper coin struck from the Constitutions plating after her referbishing in the 70's, and plan on putting it in the display case when she is finished.  Sure the plates are only from a 10 year span or so but none the less any other Constitution builder would probably find it a 20$ well spent.  Thanks again guys....And when I get back home from school....TO THE MASTS! I have no idea wether to string sails or not, maybe just furl them at the booms? So expect my cries for tips and tricks about every five minutes :-P 

                                -Andrew

Looks real sharp Andrew, i like the use of the screen mesh on the stanchions,and rails...makes me wish i had done mine in similar fashion. I'm curious on the red stripe at the waterline though?..never noticed it in the photos i've seen, but then again you've seen her in person. Keep up the good work, and looking forward for more pics.

 

Michael.

Yeah I never knew about it either until I finally went there I looked over the guard rail and instead of seing a bottomless row of worn green copper there was a red stripe! It worked out really well actually because I wasnt too pleased with the neatness of the copper waterline meeting with the black so I ened up putting the stripe on it really cleaned up the overall shape and crispness.  Try looking up some picks of her in drydock...I'm going to put a few pictures of my trip up soon.

Hello all,

The red that is currently lining the Constitution's waterline is actually red anti-fouling paint. The topic was discussed in the following thread from a couple of years ago, with the specifics covered by a sailor who recently served on her:

 http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/322217/ShowPost.aspx

The red paint is a recent addition - she probably did not have it during her active years. However, I have a feeling that the copper at or above her waterling may have had a different appearance than the copper below it.

Jose Gonzales

jgonzales wrote:

The red paint is a recent addition - she probably did not have it during her active years.

I understand that the Active Years you refer to is back in the early 1800's.  Your reference means she is no longer active, in fact, she is an active duty US Navy ship.  The sailors you she on her are active duty sailors.  You have to be a very good sailor to get a tour of duty on her.  I tried to get on her but I was told that since I was a Seabee there would be nothing for me to do so I stopped trying.  Oh, well.  Just wanted to point out that "Old Ironsides" is still an active ship in our navy and an icon.

-Scott

I stand duly corrected:)

Jose Gonzales