Old Ironsides - Revisiting the classic Revell 1/96 kit

Thanks Dan. The rope sizes I have from these two kits seem to be .008, for tying the blocks, and .018 and .025 for the running rigging, based on Syren's rope size scale sheet. They look to the eye to be the same size though.

I did this ship back in 1974 and it seems like the running rigging consisted of .025 and/or .035 back then.

I have ordered the plans from Blue Jacket, and will go by their specs.

The amount needed from Syren would be about $100.00 not counting the blocks. I may just use the kit blocks painted brown...yuck.

There seems to be an awful lot of controversy over what she looked like and when, so I have commisioned myself as Capt'n Rick and will do what the Captains did back then...make up my own regs, sticking as close to what she looked like as possible.

Ships are like women! Time for a Guiness!

[quote user="myhr99"]I looked at Jotika...all I saw were wooden belaying pins, no brass belaying pins. Jamie

Rick Sr

There seems to be an awful lot of controversy over what she looked like and when, so I have commisioned myself as Capt'n Rick and will do what the Captains did back then...make up my own regs, sticking as close to what she looked like as possible. 

I did many hours of research into both the Cutty Sark and Constitution. Everybody seems to have there own opinion. Considering that a ship would change about every time it made port, there is probably some truth to each opinion. I think that each opinion moves towards wrong as it becomes more dogmatic. I believe your approach "…make up my own regs, sticking as close to what she looked like as possible…", is the most accurate.

I did many hours of research into both the Cutty Sark and Constitution. Everybody seems to have there own opinion. Considering that a ship would change about every time it made port, there is probably some truth to each opinion. I think that each opinion moves towards wrong as it becomes more dogmatic. I believe your approach "…make up my own regs, sticking as close to what she looked like as possible…", is the most accurate.

I agree, as I have stated before, if everyone is going for the same exact representation, than everything looks the same, where is the uniqueness or originality in that? I feel adding your own interpretation or even desire to be a little different is more rewarding than trying to go for a perfect representation or worse yet, trying to emulate or copy the work of someone as talented as Evan, other than copying techniques that are clearly the way to accomplish a certain task.

Dan

There are some beautiful builds in this forum. And a lot of good tips and information too. Every time I go through the forum it changes some of my ideas as to how to build this Constitution.

In light of that, I thank all of you.

Got four sizes for rigging, .035 for lower main, .025 for top main and .018 for top gallant...have on hand .012 and .006, .006 for seizing and tying off. (These are the black lines)

Got .025 and .018 and .012 for tan, plus .006 for tying off.

I had some tan .008 laying around that I used for the ship's wheel.

I used enamels on the transom because against the black, flats did not show as well. The windows are red sashes with white trim. The green also shows better in enamel. I used Testors' window maker/glue to make the transom windows. It looks more like period glass than that plastic sheet. As the Captain of my ship I decided for the better showing gotten with enamel, over the more historically accurate flats...it looks better.

I found blocks, pins and rigging thread at my local hobby store. There the pins are wooden, not brass, they do have brass eyebolts. I am going to go oversize by one step on the brass eyebolts for rigging the gun deck cannons.

The pins are the same size as those on the Constitution.

To replace the pins, would you simply cut the plastic out and drill holes, or repalce the whole assembly with wood?

I will be tying the stays off at the pins with a lazy 8, then make coils later to drape over them. I think the look will be the same and that method would be a lot simpler...and that appeals to my lazy side. It will also be easier after downing a Guiness!

Since Issac Hull painted the gun stripe British yellow, I did the same. I have two hulls, one white and one yellow. I think the yellow looks better. I wonder if the "Subterfuge" worked for Captian Hull?

Recommend that you replace the entire pin rail. Also that will give you a chance to attach them to the bulwarks with pins.

Got some white metal pins @ 1/4 inch,will follow your suggestion on the pin rail.

I took up the gun deck, ready to lay down the Scale Deck on the plastic deck. I glued the three gun deck sections together, using evergreen I beams under to hold things together, against the instruction directions. Has any one laid down Scale Decks or HIS wood decks on this model? (I have the Scale Decks wood deck) It seems like those little hold down tabs on the edges for the gun deck could be problematic with the Scale Deck. The wood deck seems light, any suggestions on stain and sealing?

The outer hull is done, gun stripe is yellow, transom painted and ready to go. Embroidery is done in gold. I had the gun deck in, fooling around with it to see how the guns would go...they are all assembled, caissons a reddish/brown with wheel painted black.. I used the kit guns as they looked more correct than the brass. (It helps to clean the barrels with a pin drill on those)

I have the Syrene rigging on hand. That looks prewaxed!

The blocks I bought look like they may be too small for the size rigging to go through and it seems like there won't be enough room to enlarge the holes. (Bah, Humbug!)

seem like a dumb question. I bought a 4 1/2 inch wide by 36 long oak saddleboard to mount my Constitution on two brass pedestal stands. When mounting, do you center based on the hull or on the hull and bow sprit? Also the instructions do not give lengtht, how long is the constitution with bow sprit installed? (With the ship mounted it seems it would be easier to work on.)

I used #8 x 2" bolts, nuts washers and on top lock washers. I drilled through the fore and aft blocks on the keel provided on the hull for this type of mount. (hate that mounting disaster the kit comes with. (

Rick Sr

seem like a dumb question. I bought a 4 1/2 inch wide by 36 long oak saddleboard to mount my Constitution on two brass pedestal stands. When mounting, do you center based on the hull or on the hull and bow sprit? Also the instructions do not give lengtht, how long is the constitution with bow sprit installed? (With the ship mounted it seems it would be easier to work on.)

I used #8 x 2" bolts, nuts washers and on top lock washers. I drilled through the fore and aft blocks on the keel provided on the hull for this type of mount. (hate that mounting disaster the kit comes with. (

 

I have several pix on my Samsung and my question is how do you post them in the fodums? Can't find any how to's in the fodums.

Upload them (no pdf) to a photo sharing site. I use Fotki. There you will find further instructions, but the basics are you copy the URL of the image and post it here by inserting it into the field for image links. That's opened by clicking the button above that appears as a mountain.

Thanks. Computer bumbler here. 

Pin rails are wood, but they do not glue well to the plastic bulwarks. Any suggestions for a glue that effectively joins wood to plastic?

Using Gorilla glue for the Scale Models wood deck.

Got led lighting from Evans at Model Trains Software.com. The leds for my n scale passenger cars did not work as well as I liked. As soon as the wiring is set in the hull, the gun deck goes in with the Scale Deck on it.

I've always pinned them to the bulwarks. When they pop off it's kind of a nightmare.

I'll try that, an ounce of prevention sure beats a nightmare of that proportion.

I use postimage.org and it was suggested right here on finescale.com forum.  When you click on share choose the direct link URL.  I also use 600 X 400 when you click on the image button on the 'post body' portion of this screen.

When I go fishing I use a cinch knot with 8 wraps for hooks and lures.. For rigging would that be okay in your opinion with just two wraps? It's a good reliable knot. Would it look out of place on the blocks?

[quote user="Rick Sr"]

When I go fishing I use a cinch knot with 8 wraps for hooks and lures.. For rigging would that be okay in your opinion with just two wraps? It's a good reliable knot. Would it look out of place on the blocks?

Not being computer literate, I checked out Fotki. There are a list of columns with amounts of data available at the tip of each column.

For the purpose of posting Constitution pix, what would you recommend using as far as the amount of data goes?

The costs are quite reasonable...I think.

Rick Sr

Not being computer literate, I checked out Fotki. There are a list of columns with amounts of data available at the tip of each column.

For the purpose of posting Constitution pix, what would you recommend using as far as the amount of data goes?

The costs are quite reasonable...I think.

 

 

Rick Sr

Not being computer literate, I checked out Fotki. There are a list of columns with amounts of data available at the tip of each column.

For the purpose of posting Constitution pix, what would you recommend using as far as the amount of data goes?

The costs are quite reasonable...I think.

 

 

Rick Sr

Not being computer literate, I checked out Fotki. There are a list of columns with amounts of data available at the tip of each column.

For the purpose of posting Constitution pix, what would you recommend using as far as the amount of data goes?

The costs are quite reasonable...I think.

ADendum...for Christmas, I got another Constitution kit. This was made in Germany but seems to be identical. Now I have three kits, two started, one with a yellow gun stripe and one with a white stripe. My sister is a ship freak and wants one for her mantle when ever (?) it gets done!

I am working the yellow striper first. Got led lighting from Evans Design, and have the hull wired through the brass mounts into the hull and up the bow in the center crease.

Using chip leds, a string of 26 that will be glued to the bottom of the spar deck and powered by tao AA batteries.

So now to permanently installing and rigging the guns on the gun deck.

 

 

Evan,

It's been a long while. Is everything okay?  Have you made any progress?

Bill

This positioning of pumps so bisarre?  This was the crew's head.  Early 19th century idea of inport or calm weather sanatation.

Evan,

I built a hobby room to my house as a "shipyard" in which I could set up my ships without their being disturbed. However, my autistic grandson has commandeered the room.

Bill

I've alway enjoyed this posting, I am always watching for updates on 'connie' builds and recently found one at Model Ship World. USS Constitution by dafi is the title, dafi has done other builds, but I was excited that he is doing the Revell 1/96 USS Constitution. I hope he will get all the way to the rigging.

Ahoy Ziggy!

Thanks for revisiting my build log... I'll start up again on this project once I've honored my commitment to complete the Trumpeter 1/200 Titanic for my daughter.

It is always my advice to follow ANY build log that Dafi puts together... He now has the added dimension of printing his own resin parts so there is no limit to where he can go!  It is good to see him expand from his HMS Victory project into one for the Constitution.  I'll be eager to incorporate his insight once I get back on track with mine...

Cheers

Evan

Force9

Ahoy Ziggy! Thanks for revisiting my build log.

I am glad to see that you will continue your 'connie' build, I have tried your approach on my la Flore build, however, I have too many irons in the fire and modeling is out of the fire for now