USS Constitution by lambsbk – Revell – 1/96 - PLASTIC – With Fiber Optics

[lambsbk]

I have not posted progress in a while. I am working on the gun tackle (i.e. 2mm blocks, stropping blocks, and rigging those blocks after making the hooks). This is VERY slow and tedious work. But eventually (October?) I will get the finished pics up.

[popeye2sea]

Still working on my gun tackles also.  Currently working out methods for making beckets.  

[lambsbk]

Yes, me too. They are tricky little things. Henry, I made a small jig but have not been able to get the becket lashed as it should be..instead I have used a square knot between the becket and the block. It is not as ship shape as lashing the becket but I am trying (like Jasseji) to balance accuracy vs. sanity!

Edited September 19, 2013 by lambsbk

[popeye2sea]

I think I am going to go with a short piece of thread (not scale rope, too expensive to use for this purpose) with an overhand knot.  The knot to be hidden at the base of the block between it and the strop.  The tension of the strop against the block should hold the knot closed.  That will allow me to use a becket bend to properly fasten the standing part of the tackle to the block.

 

Perhaps with the larger blocks I'll try a proper grommet for the becket, but for the 2mm blocks it's just too much effort.

[KimatHm]

Quick Question for those that are following this thread, and perhaps the other 'Connie' build logs... I'm at the point in my builds (the two of them as a pair !!) whereas I'm trying to determine from photos of both models and the real ship, if the mast rings on all three masts were of a different color than the white...or if the mast rings were painted a light gray, or,  Hmmmm...I was originally planning on doing mine in a 'light gray', to match the bowsprit, or now, thinking I might just leave them Be...Hmmmm....Suggestions, anyone...???!!! Kim

[texxn5]

Kim, the current paint configuration for the mast rings is white, the same as the mast itself.  I did mine in black for contrast, and I had seen some models showing this.  I just did mine that way, with no historical decisions.  I have pictures if needed.

[lambsbk]

Henry: I have done a similar technique but started the bend around the wire which forms the becket, secured with a square knot to keep the lines parallel, then strop the block with a simple overhand knot on the bottom of the block. I have tried the Plastruct Cement recommended by Kim and this secures  the block pretty well. To ensure it does not unravel I put just a little CA on the overhand knot and it seems fairly stable. I am at work right now but will get some pics up later today.

 

Kim: I will look at the source materials I have at home tonight and let you know what some of the earliest art shows. I agree with John - right now the rings are painted white to match the mast. Oh, and thanks for the reference on the glue - the MEK from plastruct is just what I needed.

[KimatHm]

Great...!!!   I'm glad the glue product(s) worked out for you...!!!  It's funny how some of our best (??) tools & techniques are discovered by accident, as the Plastruct products were for me...!!!!   Thanks for the 'color guides' on the mast rings...I think I'm going to go with the 'gun metal gray' (which is almost a 'blue') on the 'with sails' version, if only for the contrast 'effect'... & any pics anyone has would be most appreciated...!!! Thanks Guys !!! Kim

[lambsbk]

I found a couple of early Baugean engravings. He was in the Mediterranean area for the Java and Guierere fights and he tends to emphasize the wooldings on the masts. I have included a sample below. 

 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2013 by lambsbk

[lambsbk]

Here are a few pics of my simple jig and the results. I was too tired tonight to show how I used them but I will post pics of the process tomorrow.

 

For single 2mm blocks...

 

 

For double 2mm blocks the pin is moved 90 degrees...

 

results...

Not my best hook but this shows a close view of a double block...

 

 

Edited September 21, 2013 by lambsbk

[Anja]

Hello Dave,

 

Happy birthday. Enjoy it and have a great day.

 

 

Anja

[texxn5]

Well, it looks like you have a birthday......Have a happy one! interesting jig. nice work as usual.

[popeye2sea]

Happy Birthday my friend.   Your blocks look great.

[lambsbk]

I put a better description of how I am making the blocks in a separate thread. See this link. Info is toward the bottom of the page. Thanks. http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3145-hooks-and-blocks/page-2

[lambsbk]

BTW. Thanks to Anja, John, and Henry for the birthday well wishes. 59 today! (but I don't feel a day over 58. )

[KimatHm]

A late Happy Birthday, Dave...!!! I don't feel a day over 58 either, come to think of it...!!!?? ( So, I guess it's Okay since I turned 61 last Feb...!!!) Hope all went well...!!! Blessings, Mate...!!!

[KimatHm]

BTW...I went ahead and did all my 'mast rings' in the 'gun metal gray'  ... I was only going to do one of the ships...(with sails) but it looked So Good, I couldn't resist doing the additional ship also...It just seems to add to the sake of the appearance of the rings being in such a 'protruded state' in leaving them white...giving way to a 'Plastic / Styrene material appearance, even after having been sprayed with the flat white, if you know what I mean...!!! Just a 'personal choice' I suppose...??!! Thanks again guys...!!!  Kim

Edited September 22, 2013 by KimatHm

[JerryTodd]

I wonder how many captains would invest the time to paint the mast bands a different color to serve no purpose other than it looks nice, especially in war time?  In peace time, I can easily see a captain keeping his crew from being idle with such chores.  In the 1860's Constellation's captain regularly had the copper scrubbed, paint above and below, and rigging rerove.  He even had the gun stripe painted out, and a month later repainted back on.

 

While that was wartime, Constellation was in the Mediterranean cruising between Italy and the Levant "showing the flag" and not much more - there was a LOT of idle time.

Edited September 22, 2013 by JerryTodd

[Force9]

The color of the mast hoops is interesting - there is much debate on what is appropriate.  I think it was most common across the world's navies to paint them black to contrast with the mast color up until the battle of Trafalgar.  We know that going into that battle, Admiral Nelson had his fleet painted a uniform pattern as an IFF measure... Having been in so many fleet engagements, nobody understood the fog of war better than Nelson.  And he knew that his upcoming tactics would entail an incredible intermingling of the combatants with banks of gunpowder smoke obscuring everything.  Oftentimes it would only be masts looming above the smoke or a bowsprit emerging from a gray haze that would indicate a nearby ship.  With this in mind, he ordered that all of his ships paint over their iron hoops to match the mast color as a way of making the British ships distinct.  (The combined French/Spanish fleet was still utilizing rope wouldings instead of iron hoops) It is interesting to note that the HMS Victory was restored in the 20th century to the most accurate historic Admiralty records available - which clearly indicated the black iron bands on the masts.  This is surely how she emerged from her Great Repair shortly before Trafalgar and that is how she appeared up into the 1970's.  But research revealed the Victory's signal log with an entry showing Nelson yelling at a couple of his ships to paint out their @#!*&^ mast bands to match the rest of the fleet as they formed up for the great battle.  Apparently these were outlying units that hadn't gotten the word to paint them out to match the masts, which suggests that Nelson had ordered this change very shortly before Trafalgar.  It should be pointed out that the Turner painting and the Clarkson Stanfield work both sat showing the painted out mast hoops for over 150 years.  These paintings were heavily influenced by veterans of the battle.

 

Gradually the British navy adopted the Trafalgar painting practices and the American navy generally followed suit.  The Hull model shows the mast hoops on Constitution painted out and the credible contemporary paintings do as well.  But all of this, of course, can/should be superseded by artistic license - it is your model.

 

Happy modeling!

EG

Edited September 22, 2013 by Force9

[JerryTodd]

Black iron bands may not refer to color, but to the use of black iron.

 

Wouldings would need to be tarred

[KimatHm]

Thanks Jerry & E.G....  ( and sorry for overstepping / Hijacking your build log again...!!!)  A great bit of history being forwarded here, guys...!!! I wasn't able to dig anything close to that up, in my searches in just 'images' , so for that, I that you so much ...!!!   Blessings, All...Kim

[lambsbk]

It has been a learning curve but the first cannons are complete. Now that I have a method the rest should fall in line in due order.

 

The first prototypes...not as tidy as I would like.

 

The canons to their right are a little better...

 

 

And from the top...

 

Edited September 25, 2013 by lambsbk

[DCooper]

Your cannon look great and show a lot of effort and love spent on them.  The gun deck is coming along fantastically.  I very much like the overhead picture as is shows you deck to full advantage.  A joy to follow along with your build.  Thanks for sharing.

 

Dan

[KimatHm]

Hi Dave...You're setting yourself, ( and for many others to follow !! ) a new Gold Standard for the efforts available and by all means possible for the modifications that can be applied to a 'stock' or standard 'Plastic' kit...!!! These kind of modifications, or 'Add-Ins' as they're sometimes called, are what we usually see in a more 'Advanced level' wood 'Plank on Frame' kit...Very Nice work...!!!  Your assembly at this point could actually be considered for ( and I'm considering for myself !!) a 'Cut-Away' version, that would enable either a rear or portside view of the inside of a the ship itself....This, of course exposes the details involved of the 'inner workings' of a ship to the novice, or average untrained viewing public or audience...( Usually seen in some museum dioramas ) I say this only because of the amount of work you've invested in the gun deck, which will be 'covered, and 'out of view' once the upper deck is installed....Your thoughts...???!!  ( By the Way...the last time I had done work of this nature was about 15 years ago with on of the 'Cuttys' I completed for an individual for display at a community college...and it was very rewarding, to say the least...!!!) As I said...I may go ahead and do this myself...Again...Nice to be able to talk to you live, and really nice work...My Friend ..!!  Kim

Edited September 25, 2013 by KimatHm

[lambsbk]

Yes. A lot of love and determination has been put into these little cannons. I know it won't be seen much...but the lanterns will help that some. I will probably remove the aft cabin doors and reposition them to the full open position since there is a clear view through the captain's cabin to the gun deck from the stern. If nothing else I am learning how to make hooks, coils, rig tackle, and, in general, handle small rigging projects before getting to the spar deck. And I am having fun with the details. If the fun factor leaves then I will move on.

 

This type of modeling is fairly new to me and the skills I am learning here on MSW have raised my ability beyond what I thought I could do. But I know there is a long way to go to be completed on this build.

 

Kim: interesting you mentioned the cross section. When the build is finally complete I thought about doing a small one from the spare hull and decks from the experimental model (the second kit). That is still a very distant thought however.

Edited September 25, 2013 by lambsbk

[popeye2sea]

Your cannons look superb.  I know what you mean about a lot of love and determination.  I figure it's all part of the learning curve.  If I can make 2mm blocks and rigging look good It will be easy for the larger sized rigging.  My cannons should be completed in a few days.  Then I can close up the decks and move on to the stern galleries and transom.

[texxn5]

Wow Dave, I never cease to be amazed at your work.  Exceptional.

[texxn5]

Hi Dave, I just want to express our sincere thanks for lunch today and meeting you and your admiral Fran. We are glad to have made new friends. Take care.

John & Diane

[lambsbk]

John:

 

We had a very pleasant visit with you and Diane. Thank you. I hope the rest of your travel vacation is as planned with no tropical rain outs. Be safe my friend.

 

Dave

[KimatHm]

Hi There, John & Dave...Kim Here...!!!   Great to be able to see a picture of all of you together...looks like you all had a wonderful time meeting and being able to share model ship stories ...???!! Hope all is well, and I'll be sendind along a few pics of my two ships, very shortly, to show my progress, and where it stands now...Blessings to All...!!!   Kim