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USS Constitution reference book

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  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Netherlands
USS Constitution reference book
Posted by Grem56 on Saturday, September 23, 2006 3:43 AM

This book has most probably been mentioned before here but for anyone building or planning to build (that's me Smile [:)]) the 1/96 USS Constitution this would seem to be a budget reference book:

Anatomy of the ship: The 44 gun frigate USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" , written by Karl Heinz Marquardt, ISBN: 1 - 84486 010 8.

Large fold-out plan, lots of information on the rigging and history of the ship. A little frugal with the photo's but what is included is relevant (would have been better if in colour).

JTilley will probably be able to point out some bloopers but for me it's a nice source of information Mischief [:-,].

cheers,

Julian

 

 

illegal immigrants have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.....................

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 23, 2006 7:56 AM
Thanks for this infomation, Julian.  I have this kit on the workbench, and - as I don't like the way Revell insist on moulded shrouds and ratlines as well as mouldings for some of the rigging - I will be scratchbuilding from the spar deck up so this book will prove a godsend. This is after all a warship scale kit so above decks does need to show some detail.

Phil S

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Saturday, September 23, 2006 10:33 AM

We had a lengthy - and at times rather emotional - discussion of this book here in the Forum a while back.  Here's the link:  http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/634200/ShowPost.aspx

I'll stick with the opinion I voiced on that occasion:  it's a basically good book, marred by the fact that the author failed to consult a couple of major sources that he really shouldn't have missed.  I hope Conway will issue a revised edition.

As a guide to working on, and improving, the Revell kit, the book should be a big help.  If I were using it for that purpose I think I'd probably make only one significant change:  I'd omit the gunport lids.  (The Revell kit has one-piece ones hinged at the top; Mr. Marquardt shows two-piece ones split top and bottom, with semi-circular cutouts for the gun barrels.  The evidence suggests fairly convincingly that during the War of 1812 she didn't have hinged gunport lids at all.)  The Revell kit is based on the plans prepared for the Smithsonian by George Campbell, who knew what he was doing - and did consult the "Isaac Hull model," which Mr. Marquardt missed.  The kit certainly has its flaws, but it's a fine basis for a serious scale model.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: portland oregon area
Posted by starduster on Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:27 AM
   Hi all, I alos have the 1/96 Constitution model, and was wondering if Dick Wood has started his Constitution model as I'd like to see his using bass wood for decking and informing us of any problems he's encountered with this method...and of course photos would be great, this has been a great source of informantionon this ship thanks.   Karl
photograph what intrests you today.....because tomorrow it may not exist.
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Netherlands
Posted by Grem56 on Saturday, September 23, 2006 11:52 AM

Thanks for the link jtilley, I was rather hoping you would be able to add your input on this book. Living in Holland a visit to see the USS Constitution is a major undertaking so this book seemed like a good alternative for my build. Could you add the titles of any other good reference books for use with a Constitution build? I also have the anatomy of the ship HMS Victory on back order. How does that book rate in your opinion ?

Julian

 

illegal immigrants have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.....................

Italeri S-100: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/112607.aspx?PageIndex=1

Isu-152: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/116521.aspx?PageIndex=1

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Saturday, September 23, 2006 3:12 PM

Lots of books about the Constitution have been published over the years, of course, but there are two I would recommend above the rest:

Tyrone G. Martin, A Most Fortunate Ship:  A Narrative History of Old Ironsides (get the revised edition, published by the Naval Institute Press in 1997, if possible).

Thomas C. Gillmer, Old Ironsides:  The Rise, Decline, and Resurrection of the U.S.S. Constitution (International Marine Publishers, 1993).

Captain Martin was the ship's commanding officer for a number of years, and was responsible for much of the restoration she underwent at the time of the U.S. bicentennial in the 1970s.  Mr. Gillmer, a former professor of naval architecture at the U.S. Naval Academy, was in charge of a major structural study of the ship in the late eighties and early nineties.

The Anatomy of the Ship volume on the Victory was written and illustrated by John McKay, whose drawings I revere above almost anybody else's.  Mr. McKay is an master of the dying art of draftsmanship.  The book has appeared in two editions.  As I mentioned in the thread I referenced in my last post, the first edition contained some unfortunate errors.  It's a tribute to the integrity of both the author/artist and the publisher that the Conway Maritime Press later issued a revised edition, with the errors corrected. 

For the purposes of model building, either edition probably would work fine - but if you can find the second edition, so much the better.

Mr. McKay also illustrated another book, H.M.S. Victory:  Construction, Career, and Restoration, by Alan McGowen.  The drawings in that book are, in some respects, even more detailed than those in the Anatomy one.  (The McGowen book has more drawings of the spars and rigging.) 

Hope that helps a little.  Good luck.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Netherlands
Posted by Grem56 on Sunday, September 24, 2006 12:31 AM

Thanks you once again John,

regards,

Julian

 

illegal immigrants have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.....................

Italeri S-100: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/112607.aspx?PageIndex=1

Isu-152: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/forums/t/116521.aspx?PageIndex=1

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 24, 2006 8:50 AM

Good morning one and all:

 

My work is not progressing too fast as I have other projects my wife wants me to finish first!! I will post some pictures lalter today. I just have the lower deck installed and painted, I will not be planking the lower deck, but wull do the upper one. My next task will be to pre-rig all the guns before I install them. I will be adding all the rigging to these guns, not just running a thread like the instructions direct you to do.

Prof. Tilly, the club says high and they will welcome you with open arms if you decide to come back for a visit. Oh Our contest in Feb. is fairly large as we have over 450 entrys and about 50 vendor tables. As you have a open invite to judge ships, as we always short knowledge judges in that catagory.

 

Dick Wood

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Sunday, September 24, 2006 12:01 PM

Mr. Wood, your invitation is deeply appreciated.  I haven't been back to Columbus since 2000, when my mother died and my brother and I sold the old family house.  I have no idea when I may get into that neck of the woods again - though I sure want to see the new addition to the AF Museum in Dayton when it's finished.  If I do wind up in Columubus I'll certainly look up your club - though I think I'll decline your invitation to judge your competition.  As I've ranted before in this Forum several times, I'm not a fan of model contests, and don't judge them any more.

Regarding the rigging of the guns on your Constitution - give careful thought to how many of them will actually be visible on the finished model.  You'll find that only those in the waist can be seen through the big hatch in the spar deck - and you'll have to crane your neck and cock your head to see even them.  To put train tackles on the ones that will only be visible through the gunports would take a lot of work, for minimum reward. 

One other thought - make sure the guns on the gundeck are securely fastened down.  When you get to the rigging you'll discover that rigging lines have an almost supernatural ability to get snagged around protruding gun barrels and dismount them - and getting a dismounted gun back into position after the spar deck is in place is a real test of patience.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

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