USS Constitution Plans

Here's the link you need:  http://americanhistory.si.edu/csr/shipplan.htm .

Unfortunately the process of ordering Smithsonian plans is a little complicated.  The first step is to order one of the catalogs described on that website.  (You want the collection of warship plans.)  The catalog contains the necessary information to order the actual drawings.

The good news:  the Smithsonian has a pretty good reputation for service of such requests.  (Caveat:  I haven't ordered any plans from this source for quite a few years.  But I have the impression that most modelers have gotten good service from the Smithsonian.)  Other good news:  those catalogs are fascinating things in themselves - great wishbooks, as well as sources of information.

Hope that helps a little.  Good luck

Thanks JT,

   Have checked it out and ordered the catalogue.

Bill

OK, next question:

the Smithsonian has indicated in email that the plans they have for the Constitution are done by H.P. Hoffman not George Campbell.  While I'm waiting for the catalogue to arrive has anyone used these plans or know how good they are?

thanks,

Bill

Heretical though it may seem to suggest such a thing, I think the person responsible for that e-mail from the Smithsonian may have made a mistake.

Howard Hoffman is (or used to be; I have no idea whether he's still around) a curatorial technician in the Smithsonian's Division of Naval History.  I met him a couple of times, quite a few years ago (at least 25 years, that is).  He got his start as an airplane modeler, and got into ships as a result of working at the Smithsonian.  His biggest project, so far as I know, was the beautiful, large-scale model of the gunboat Philadelphia that used to be exhibited there.  (I don't know whether it still is or not; I hope so.)  The remains of the real Philadelphia are in the Smithsonian; Howard made an extraordinarily detailed set of drawings of every part of her, then built the model as a means of showing the public what she looked like when she was in service.

My guess is that Howard may have made some additional annotations or amendments to the Constitution drawings, but I frankly find it hard to believe that he prepared a completely new set of plans for her.  (I guess it's possible, but why would the Smithsonian have called on him to do such a thing?  Since the death of Howard I. Chapelle the place has gotten progressively less interested in ship models; I don't think it's commissioned a new one in at least thirty years.)  At any rate, Howard is/was a first-rate researcher and a fine draftsman; if he did make a contribution to the Constitution plans I'm sure it's a good one.

My suggestion:  wait till the catalog comes.  Unless it's been heavily revised since the last edition I saw, the Campbell plans are in it.

I had thought it odd that no mention was made that the plans drawn by Campbell had been updated / redone but who am I to suggest otherwise.

Thanks again JT for being the font of all information.  We shall see what the catalogue reveals in a couple of weeks when it finally arrives downunder.

Bill