USS Constitution by SgtSki in MI - Revell - 1:96 - PLASTIC

[SgtSki in MI]

OK here we go...
3 January, 2015. Thus begins my build log of Revell's 1:96 scale USS Constitution. I selected an older kit release because a lot of things I've read indicate that they have much higher molding quality over the newer kits. Mine has a box date of 1974 and it has a US Bicentennial logo, so I believe that it was produced between 1974 and 1976. I plan on "kinda" building her as she appeared under Isaac Hull's command. I say "kinda" because I'm not going into every particle of minutiae involved with how she really was configured. I'm just taking care of the obvious such as eliminating the forward gunport (bridle port) and the skylight above the Captain's cabin. Other than that this will pretty much be an out-of-box build. Feel free to follow along!

[SgtSki in MI]

3 January, 2015: And we're off! The first step is getting rid of those pesky bridle ports that weren't there under Hull's command. I cut some scrap styrene to block of the ports from the inside and will fill them with putty tomorrow. Once it done and smooth I'll scribe in the woodgrain and planking divisions. The big challenge is going to be smoothing out the fill area without ruining the woodgrain detail surrounding it, because the detail is molded raised instead of recessed. Meanwhile, I'll clean up the mold flashing on the hull halves, of which there is very little.

Edited January 3, 2015 by SgtSki in MI

[kruginmi]

Good to get going Tom!

 

Note:  I have 2.5 kits of the same Constitution that have been given to me.  If you need any extra parts come on over to Grand Rapids and I can get you supplied.

 

Mark

[SgtSki in MI]

Good to get going Tom!

 

Note:  I have 2.5 kits of the same Constitution that have been given to me.  If you need any extra parts come on over to Grand Rapids and I can get you supplied.

 

Mark

Thanks Mark, I'll keep you in mind if I run into any trouble! My daughter lives in NW GR.

[kruginmi]

I live by the Airport.  Looking forward to seeing this come to life!

[Force9]

Good start Sarge!

 

You might try first filling in the port with some styrene before covering it with putty - sometimes the putty will flex/shrink over time if that is the only filler.

 

Looking forward to following your Connie!

 

Evan

[popeye the sailor]

you could also cement in the lid and putty around it......then do the scribing.  I don't believe they were on the United States either.....this would be my plan of attack.      look forward in seeing more 

[SgtSki in MI]

Good start Sarge!

 

You might try first filling in the port with some styrene before covering it with putty - sometimes the putty will flex/shrink over time if that is the only filler.

 

Looking forward to following your Connie!

 

Evan

Hi Evan,

That IS styrene you see in the gunports. I put it on the inside. Tomorrow I'll putty them in.

[GLakie]

Hi Tom. Glad to see you up and running. Mind if I pull up a barrel and follow along? Built that very same model twice myself--- about 35 years ago. 

I'm sure yours will turn out way better though since you have all the guys here to draw knowledge and learn from. Here's a link I found over in Fletch's build log, posted by JSGerson, of some really great pics of a scratch-built Connie depicting her in the 1812 era. In fact that model was used for the base in the designing of this Revell model.

 http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/sail/constitution-48-sm/con-index.html

 

Cheers 

[Force9]

Actually, even with the styrene backing, I was thinking you might want to fill what remains with some additional styrene and putty.

 

EG

[Canute]

Ski, put some masking tape around those ports to protect the details. The old kits, with raised details, are a pita to work with, but I saved some plastic car kit details with this little trick. And you might try some Bondo glazing and spot putty. Got a 4.5 oz tube for $5-6. Sands OK, doesn't crack. Has some odor, so be careful.

[philipjames]

Hi Tom

My Christmas Present to myself was the same H-386 version of the USS Constitution, same front box art anyway though mine has a copyright date of 1969 printed on the box side.
I bought it for the same reason as you, older production run has supposedly crisper moulding. It will be my first ship build.

Being British I have no patriotic connection with the 1812 Constitution so I am going to leave in the bridle ports !
The main alterations I am thinking of doing so far is just to thicken up the gun ports and bulwarks

 

I will likely be starting a build log myself in a day or two - as soon as the Evergreen strips arrive for the thickening work

 

 

Philip

 

[SgtSki in MI]

4 January, 2015: Finished filling in the bridle ports. The first pic is before sanding with masking tape around the ports to save the surrounding detail in the plastic. Second pic is after finishing sanding and scribing in the plank lines and grain. Not perfect but I think it'll work. I didn't want to get overzealous and wreck existing details. Tomorrow I plan on cementing the hull halves together with masking and painting throughout the week.

[JesseLee]

This was my first ship build when I was a teenager after years of building model cars. I'm pulling up a chair for this one. It brings back old memories to see it again!

[SgtSki in MI]

9 January 2015: The hull halves have been cemented together. I had to fight a little warpage but not bad for a 40 - year-old kit. After it sets up for 24 hours I'll have some filling to do along the keel, then it's on to exterior paint and interior "whitewashing" of the gun deck bulkheads. The main deck bulwarks will be green and the trimwork will be as per instructions.

[GLakie]

It's a pleasure to see this old kit going together once again Tom. It's been just about 40 years since I've built this one myself. The one main problem I found with that kit was 1st, the sloppy, wobbly, plastic sails, and 2nd, those pesky, very fragile, preformed plastic belaying pins. They will tend to break on you. But I know you've come up with a contingency plan for this so carry on. 

 

Cheers 

[SgtSki in MI]

Thanks, George. This release didn't have the sails, and I'm doing her with standing rigging anyway.

[GLakie]

That's a little odd since it was '75 or so when I did it, and it had all the sails including the stunsl's. Might have been an older version though. Didn't pay any attention to the year the kit was made. I found a pic of what the box mine came in looked like.

 

Cheers 

Edited January 10, 2015 by GLakie

[medic]

Like your start

Cheers

Medic

[foxy]

Yep me to, will be watching this build.

 

Great start.

 

Frank

[philipjames]

Been looking into the history of this kit, the original 1965 release was Catalogue number H-386 and came without sails. In 1968 Revell added Cat No. H-398 which is the version with sails. Up until 1972 both versions were in the Revell Catalogue (the version with sails was more expensive).

The box art was changed to the one GLakie shows in his post in 1976

 

There was a third version produced - the 'Museum Classic' version from 1979 which had a prepainted copper hull, a wooden base with a brass plated nameplate and brass plated pedestals for the ship to stand on together with flock coated vac formed sails which were advertised as 'Realistic Cloth Like Sails"

[SgtSki in MI]

That explains a lot. Mine is H-386 with a 1974 copyright on the box.

[GLakie]

Yes it does because it must have been right after the H-398 came out when I picked mine up. I knew it was '75 or there-abouts. 

[philipjames]

The information I have is based on the UK Revell catalogues, and the dates may not exactly match the availability in the US - the early 70's catalogue have all the big ship kits down as 'imports' in the UK, presumably from the US. (Revell UK did have a production facility in the UK until about 1980)

Incidentally the 1965 UK catalogue has the 1/96 Cutty Sark available with or without sails, so why the Constitution wasn't originally available with sails who knows ?
 

[Blackjack77]

I just got a 1976 issued kit of the Revell 1:96 Connie off of Ebay. Looking forward to following your build log once I get around to actually building her.

[foxy]

Me toBlackjack77, got this kit also, been following Force9's build, so another is all the better.

 

 

Frank

[Usgecko]

Good to see another Connie under way!

[Marcus.K.]

Permission granted to come aboard, Sir?

 

Looking forward to see more ...

Edited January 20, 2015 by Marcus.K.

[ScottRC]

I'll be following along with your build as well.  Since I am in the process of building my second Revell kit.  One kit was like yours, the 1976 version without sails and now a 1980 release with sails.    The only problem  with this kits is dealing with the deck seams.

[SgtSki in MI]

7 February, 2015: Work on the Connie has been at a bit of a standstill due to other priorities. I just made a paint run to the not-so-local hobby shop. Soon I plan on painting the main deck and gun deck bulwarks and getting the hull exterior painted. What's a good mix ratio for red ochre paint? (for when I begin on the gun carriages)