Marcus.K.

Oh wow, I have to follow this build. The Heller kit of Glorieux found luckily ist way via a not very motivated bit in the big bay.. So I first planned to use it as a test and learn build until I noticed the Beauty of those 74s by a El Supremo years ago. So ist still waiting for the time of real start to build models.. not just visiting others reports.
 
Love your one !! Looking Forward to see more.

Hello all...
 
 
I have the basic painting and most of the details done on the spar deck - just a bit of touch ups and fine tuning remain.   Here are some sample views:       The spar deck was given a base coat of aged white (no tinting like the gun deck) and individual planks were picked out with Vallejo Wood mixed with Vallejo aged white, Vallejo Aged White mixed with Microlux Reefer White, and straight up Vallejo gray wash.  After 24 hours everything then got a quick smear with Vallejo Sepia wash that was immediately wiped down with a soft clean cloth leaving a nice wood tone and coloring the seams between the planks.   Nothing is glued down and the brass is yet to be blackened, but I can now move on to painting the half hulls.   Hope folks are still following along - I'm sure the World Cup is more interesting!   Evan

Cooooool .. thanks a lot Tim. Very interesting paper. It fits to my understanding - and I forgott completly about the Roux-paintings showing the ships during entering a port or being at sea without "action". .. and here half port lids visible .. while in action they seem to be dissapeared.
 
Meaning for this model: not showing them does not mean "there are no" .. but would still be a valid presentation!
 
I did never think of canvas for the captains ports .. I assumed this would be glass - but seeing some of the paintings / sketches it seems obvious that the author is right. Again something new for me!
 
Great - thanks a lot for this input!!!

All...
 
A bit of miscellaneous progress.
 
I've added the channels and I think I've got them on very firmly. I took the liberty of reinforcing them with a small strip of .040 x .040 Evergreen underneath to increase the surface area when glueing to the hull.

 
I've also reinforced the pin rails by drilling thru the bulwark and inserting small steel pins. They were snipped to size, covered with some blobs of filler, and sanded smooth.

 
I did some spot primer in key locations to help determine areas in need of improvement then gave the two half hulls a complete coat. Still a bit of touch ups and tuning needed, but I'm getting closer to the painting phase.
 

 
Additionally, I decided to change course on the berth deck ventilation scuttles and gun deck scuppers. Originally I did not like the large openings for the scuppers and elected to cover them up and treat them as the ventilation scuttles. It gnawed at me enough that it wasn't a correct representation that I finally went ahead and popped off the previous work to expose the scupper holes and built new ventilation doors lower down in a more proper location. I even depicted one of the doors swung open to add some dimension:
 

 

 
A note to add regarding the ship's boats... I got pinged on another forum by a terrific modeler who is also building the Revell Connie using some of the Bluejacket parts. He was wondering if I was using the BJ resin whaleboats. I did purchase a couple of the whaleboats along with the resin pinnace. I was a little disappointed that they came with pre-molded floor boards - I would've preferred to add my own interior details:
 

 
Mine came in good condition - I know sometimes resin parts can be full of air pockets and blemishes, but these can be easily improved. My original pinnace came very warped and I wasn't able to correct the shape under warm water. The folks at Bluejacket cheerfully sent me a replacement.
 
Unfortunately, it looks as though I can't use these on my build. Apparently the whaleboats did not appear on Constitution until AFTER the Guerriere fight. Receipts and invoices indicate that Commodore Bainbridge first purchased whaleboats from local New England sources to replace some of the boats lost or damaged in the Guerriere battle. They've been associated with the ship ever since. The USS Constitution museum Log Lines blog had a nice article about this: http://usscm.blogspot.com/2012/09/whaleboats-for-constitution.html
 
I think that catches me up on my current progress.
 
Thanks for looking in...
Evan

Dave and Markus - Thank you for your continued interest and the kind compliments.
 
Tim - your insight is invaluable and the article you've provided is incredibly illuminating. I wish Ms. Desy would post this along with the other public articles in the online Naval Heritage Command Constitution tour site. (It should be pointed out that Margherita Desy is the official historian of the USS Constitution attached to the Naval History &Heritage command.)
 
This passage is very informative:
 
 
HALF-PORT..., shifting shutters fixed in the stops of those ports, which have no hanging lids. Those to the quarter-deck and forecastle ports are in general in one, and made of two thicknesses of slit deals, and to the ports for the long guns have holes in them for the gun to run out; and those to the upper deck, In two parts called buckler half-ports; for long guns, the lower part is to the center of the gun, when run out and levelled, as they have a hole in them that fits close round the guns ; and to carronades, to the under side of the gun, if not too low, that they may be fixed over them. The lower piece of these half-ports is of fir, and in one piece, to fill up the stops; with a rabbet taken out of its upper edge, to receive the upper part, and with two strengthening bolts driven up and down through it. This piece is in general hung with hinges at the lower part, and kept in its place by sliding bolts. The upper part is made commonly of whole and slit deal, the whole deal up and down, and the slit deal, to cross it, fore and aft.” 2
 
This indicates that the permanent full lids seen in so many contemporary models up forward and along the quarterdeck is likely accurate. The rest of the ports would have the half-lid "stoppers" - at least as commonly practiced by American captains. Ms. Desy seems to confirm that the ports as represented by the Hull model are accurate. There does not seem to be any indication of hinged lower half lids in place during the Guerriere fight. The receipts suggest that those were installed afterwards. It may well be, however, that Captain Hull followed what appears to be the common American practice of having removable half lid stoppers on board. They would've (obviously) been removed for the battle. The research around the canvas covers along the captain cabin ports is extremely interesting. I wonder if this is a uniquely Yankee innovation? Tim, you've indicated in your earlier post that the Royal navy may not have followed the practice of gun port lids - at least not thru the War of 1812? I see one or two models in the NMM collection that show hinged half lids on British frigates, but not until the post-war period.
 
I think we're all a bit smarter as we walk through these sources and I'm feeling very comfortable with following the Hull model in this area.
 
The Abell engraving shown in the essay has a full lid over the BRIDLE port - not a gun port. It may be that Ms. Desy would need to reconcile the fact that the Hull model does not have the extra bridle port in front as the modern ship does... Technically the front THREE ports on both sides (the Bridle port and two gun ports) would need lids on the restored ship if the Hull model example is strictly followed. I wonder if the Hull model builders put hinged lids on all the ports positioned along the forward curve of the bow in their representation. I think the gun ports extend a little too far forward on the Hull model - there wouldn't be room to add the Bridle port.
 
I may consider only including a hinged lid over the very foremost ports (not the TWO foremost) on each side of my model to allow for the fact that the Revell kit will only have one port positioned along the forward curve of the bow now that I've eliminated the Bridle port. The next port is under the fore channel and a full lid would be blocked from opening fully. I'll have to experiment to see what looks right...
 
Thanks again Tim for the historical consultation and please keep an eye on my build.
 
Off to the workshop to revisit the scuppers and berth deck ventilation scuttles... I think I'll redo these based on some other considerations.
 
Stay tuned
 
Evan

Cooooool .. thanks a lot Tim. Very interesting paper. It fits to my understanding - and I forgott completly about the Roux-paintings showing the ships during entering a port or being at sea without "action". .. and here half port lids visible .. while in action they seem to be dissapeared.
 
Meaning for this model: not showing them does not mean "there are no" .. but would still be a valid presentation!
 
I did never think of canvas for the captains ports .. I assumed this would be glass - but seeing some of the paintings / sketches it seems obvious that the author is right. Again something new for me!
 
Great - thanks a lot for this input!!!

What an interesting debate!!
 
Thanks gentlemen, for all this information, opinion and arguments. The latest with Gardners remarks is new to me and very interesting.
It seems to me that this question was another one each commander could decide to his own thinking, experience and fashion. Difficult to judge without any reliable source.
 
For my point of view: seeing so many paintings of so many painters of that times (and the Hull Model - which DOES show one port lid at the first gun port at the bow!!! So the man doing the model did obviously NOT forget them! ) .. with each of them showing NO lids I think it must be allowed to show the ship without them. At least if you show the ship at battle station - because each of those paintings do show this status - even the 1803 Corné Side view - in which the first gun is shot for a salute. (Or was shoting a salute done without beating the quarters?).
 
There is a well known interesting picture of USS President in heavy seas in Mediterian sea .. One day I will build a Revel Constituiton in exaclty this conficuration  - with heavy seas and the masts and spars secured like here .. Great action!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Usspresidentatanchor.jpg
I saw different versions. To me it seems that there are port lids with openings for the guns barrels. I think the painting shows the ship in about 1805?? But I am not sure about it.
For me it will seem as if in heavy weather port lids have been in use .. but the is just guesstimeation.
 
At the end you could argue and say: this is the ships configuration following Corné´s painting xyz ... It WILL be a beautiy anyhow!
 
I am looking forward seeing progress on your beautiful build - and I am always curious with which sources you again add some interesting knowledge about the ships layout !
 
Thanks to all here!!

Well, for what it's worth you have convinced me...but mine are already on ship so they will remain, like my transom, unchanged. You have, Evan, without doubt made my attention to detail awareness more acute for the the remaining portion of my build and I will continue to watch yours with fascination and admiration.

Paul - I owe you a reply! Thanks much for your perspective - I appreciate your very nice compliments regarding my efforts. I also have a chunk of Old Ironsides purchased at the museum. I haven't yet decided how it can be incorporated - probably I'll make it into a small stand and display one of the ship's boats alongside the main model. I very much like the work of Tom Freeman - he's done some beautiful paintings of Constitution. And it should be noted that he does extensive research on his subjects and you can go count the number of gunport lids on his War of 1812 representations...

Tim - Thank you as well for your insight. I make no claims at being an historian, scholar, or researcher - so it is gratifying to have a professional chime in and echo some of my thoughts regarding the historical configuration of Constitution. I would also echo your underlying message - we don't know how the ship actually looked in her early wartime years. We can probably make a better guess at her 1815 appearance than her 1812 appearance... Many records were lost when Washington was burned and I think the records were better kept and organized later in the war. All we can do is suggest likely configurations based on snippets of fact and similarities to other resources. I would, however, hesitate to buy into the idea that these ships carried removable lids as standard practice. I'm not sure that I've seen many references to such outside of Preble having his carpenters make custom removable split lids. The arguments put forth for such an arrangement would apply equally, if not more, to the larger classes of ships that fight yardarm to yardarm in fleet actions, and we don't see that in play.

Jud - I think you've brought us full circle to where we started - one camp firmly in mind that it is insane to think of ships with no lids, and those of us who are crazy to think that the lids were not standard because so many contemporary sources show it to be the case.

Coincidentally enough I've just today received my copy of The Sailing Frigate - A history in ship models by Robert Gardiner. Page 59 includes a study of the beautiful and highly detailed model of the frigate Lowestoffe of 1760:



Gardiner notes: "With around 7ft of freeboard, gunport lids are unnecessary except where the ports open into cabins or other enclosed spaces..."

It seems to be the case that Frigates had generally higher freeboard than larger rates AND did not use the "gun deck" as living space. Frigates had the advantage of dedicated berth decks below for the crew. I put gun deck in quotes because until the early 19th century, the deck with armament was referred to as the "upper deck" in the Royal navy - which acknowledges the exposure to the elements - and the berth deck still retained the old "gun deck" label dating back to the days when these rates had lower deck gun ports. I personally believe that this goes to the heart of why the gun port lids were usually not there (with the understanding that there were some exceptions) - in the late 18th century and into the 19th the 5th and 6th rates generally had higher freeboard than other classes and had dry berth decks for the crew. The lids didn't commonly appear until the standard frigates evolved to the bigger spar decked type with enclosed gun decks sometime after the War of 1812 and into the early 1820s.

Regardless, I'm convinced that the lack of gun port lids posed no real danger to this class of ship - at least not enough danger to warrant their widespread use. The comfort of the crew was not significantly compromised since they lived on the deck below. I'm certain that I've convinced nobody to switch their views. Most modelers, I'm sure, will continue to include the lids so that their models don't seem naked... Kinda like that guy who shaves off his mustache and some people can't quite explain it, but something's not right.


I really do appreciate the feedback and I'm glad to spew forth my brain dumps to anyone who will burn through minutes of their lives reading this stuff.

Thanks again to all who follow along

Evan

there are many ships that we know little or nothing about.  the challenges that a modeler faces,  in trying to uncover fact and history,  is a huge task.  this is the major form of enjoyment in this medium we play in.   our admirals think we're nuts........{but that's another story}
 
the models we see,  are the flesh made of many volumes,  written from the past.   time moves on.........the past getting cloudier and the pages yellow,  but is still there to glean and ponder.   the model is old........but is looked on by many new minds...and new questions are asked......more than the model can supply.  even the books, suspended by time,  can only answer so many,  before it becomes common knowledge and hearsay.   the model is but a window of the volume and mind.......made flesh for the ocular view...........like the volume,  it suggest ideas and thoughts of what could have been,  what might have been,  and what was.   as for the model of today,  we see it as a work of beauty,  craft,  and vision.  it suggests the what is......and most importantly,  what if.   no to worry dear friends.......the model of today will soon become the model past.........and it will be looked at by many more new minds.  as time is the thief......the old model is now gone,  and all that remains,  are snapshots in a drawer or album.   keep on thinking free  

Popeye,
 
impressive! Great looking decks. Congratulations for that. Since I personally very much "fear" to try to create a wooden appearance on a plastic part with paints this "hybrid-technology" wood/plastic may be a way out for me. Although its a lot of work the result seen here an in other builds seems to justify .. no, DO justify the additional efforts.
 
Phantastic work. I am looking forward to see you next steps.

Hello Popeye -  
 
Regarding the modern ship... I generally shy away from using her as a reference for my 1812 build.  If you talk with the folks at the USS Constitution museum, they'll tell you that the restored ship was based on plans dating into the 1840s.  Apparently this was the most complete set that Lt. Lord was able to get his hands on when restoring the ship in the 1920s.  I would certainly agree that gun port lids would be standard in that period. Fortunately, the current plans are to migrate the ship towards the War of 1812 configuration as opportunities arise during scheduled refits.  The open waist has already been restored and the bow and stern will be reconfigured across the next couple of refits.  I think Henry has indicated that the stern is next up.  I do expect, however, that gun port lids will always be in place - it is a practical need to help preserve the interior comfort for a public "museum" ship.
 
BTW - your wooden decks are looking great!  I'm very impressed that you accounted for the underlying beam structure and aligned your plank ends with the edges of the hatches.  Well done.
 
Evan

thanks for the good word Evan....I have the decks sealed and in place.   I'm pleased with the way they look.
 
 
that's what I'm saying.......I find it hard to doubt what your saying.   are there any plans for her in existence from that time period?  I've been looking around since this came up........I promise you.......if I find anything, I'll let you know     the United States and the Connie were similar in many ways.......I would suspect that the President was as well,  even though she was a tad smaller in girth.  as I said......build her,  my friend..........I think she's gonna look every bit as sweet     have fun with your build,  and I'm gonna keep watching. 

.........meanwhile,  back at the table......
 
with the decks back in the house.........it's time to see what I have been wanting to see.   I installed the gun deck back into the hull..
 

 

 

 
then the spar deck was set in place...
 

 

 

 
I wanted to get a shot of the inside.......trying to find the right angle.......this was the best I was going to see.
 

 
I really like the way this turned out........the spar deck still has some slight traces of the white......but I think this is the best I'm going to get it,  without redoing it.  I think once fittings and structures are set in place,  it will look fine.
 

 

 

I was just about ready.........got pulled away a couple of times......but I manged to git 'er done!
 
the splints along the edges of the deck were removed,  so it could get a good sanding.   the ripples are almost non-existent!
 

 
then,  the gun deck got sanded.
 

 
I still need to use a sanding stick in between the holds.   during the process......I started to think about the galley floor.  it's pretty flimsy and thought about stiffening it up.  I cut some diagonal pieces and glued them under neath.......ain't too flimsy now!
 

 
while this was drying.......I sanded the spar deck again and touched up the holds and got rid of that white stuff.    I forgot to mention......the archive pen died!  guess this task was just too much for her     I tried to keep her alive,  with a few India Ink transfusions......but to no avail.  I had to do the last couple of planks with a magic marker........it worked.......I just had to move real quick with it
 
.....and then,  it was out to the garage.........
 
it started with the spar deck........getting a coat of lacquer
 

 

 

 
....and then,  it was the gun deck's turn.......
 

 

 

 
now we wait.........and see what happens  

I have a few links bookmarked for the Connie.......one is the official site.  while it is not shown as hard proof {actual pictures of the ship in that era},  today's Connie does support the fact that she does have gun port lids.  this does not conclusively prove that she sported them back then.   please consider that you both may be right.   I'm afraid to say though that I don't give much credence to sketch drawings or portraits........they contain too much artistic licence.   the model's box art should support  this as well.........it's a painting too,  isn't it?
 

 
tied to a cleat on the ceiling,  is the rope for the top section of the gun port lid.   since I could not find any diagrams or pictures of the lids........I looked at pictures that might show them.  here is a picture showing the chain plates and dead eye lanyards
 

 
now,  I'm not saying that neither one of you are wrong.........and I'm sure that tucked away in some obscure book,  a single paragraph revels whether or not she sported them.......or whether they were split or full size.   I amassed a bunch of info in my research into the United States.......even exposed some guy,  touting he was taking collections to see her rebuilt.  can't say what I called him,  but I sent him packing     I bookmarked info on the Connie as well.......she'll make a great window into some of the United State's fittings.
 
build her as you see fit...........your well on your way in building a superb looking ship!

Evan ,
 
It's your model, and based on my own research, I agree with you on the gunport lids. There will always be people who disagree with just about anything. so don't worry about it too much. You're doing a spectacular job on the ship and I think you're going to end up with a museum quality model at the end of the build that will be the envy of all who see her. My version will have the yellow stripe from the top of the gunport lids down to the main wales based on the Thomas Freeman painting, "A payment in Iron". I have some wood taken from the ship I bought at the museum in Boston. It's available on the website, I'm still mulling over what to make as a small piece of actual ships wood to place on my model. Good Luck with yours.
 
Paul

Folks -
 
I'll make one last pitch for the absence of the gun lids... 
 
Here are some credible sources all piled up:
 
Michel Felice Corné 1803 - commissioned by Commodore Preble:
 

 
Thomas Birch 1813 Constitution vs Guerriere - Based on interviews with participants:
 

 
"Hull" model 1812 - built by the crew and presented to Isaac Hull:
 

 
 
Michel Felice Corné 1812 Constitution vs Guerriere - commissioned by captain Hull and supervised by his purser Thomas Chew:

 
Nicholas Pocock Constitution vs Java - based on sketches by Lt Buchanan of HMS Java
 

 
Thomas Birch United States vs Macedonian - based on interviews with participants:
 

 
Now we can probably dig through each of these representations and find various flaws and discrepancies, but we can't dispute that ALL of these have something in common - no gun port lids.  Constitution, United States, Guerriere, Java, Macedonian... All shown without lids by different artists after consultation with crew and battle veterans.  We have log entries and journal accounts of water pouring in through the gun ports in heavy weather... But how can we modern folk reconcile the idea that these ships would sail without gun port lids and be so endangered on a voyage?
 
I think the absence of gun port lids is a vestige of the era when this class of ship had open gun decks - at least very open space along the waist - which were generally treated as "weather" decks.  It was common to not have lids on ports along the open waist and many of these ships would only have them  mounted on the most forward ports to minimize wetness from a plunging bow.  Sometimes the sternmost would also have protection against following seas, but all others would be without lids.  It was no big deal for the water to slosh in one side, across the deck, and out the other side and/or out the scuppers.  There are certainly examples of frigates being fitted with lids, but likely at the discretion of the captain.  We know from log entries that Preble had carpenters add lids during his tenure (which implies, of course, that none were there before).  The American spar deck frigates represented a transition away from the open waist and the utilization of the top deck for more guns and ship handling space.  The great success they had in the War of 1812 spurred the other naval powers to evolve their frigates away from the smaller open waisted types and into the big frigate era.  As the gun decks became more commonly enclosed, the gun port lids became more standard.
 
I certainly understand that most of my fellow modelers will not follow me down this path, but I would think that most would at least appreciate my reasoning and respect the fact that I'm basing my own representation on credible contemporary sources - specifically the Michel Felice Corné paintings and the Hull model - however illogical that may seem!
 
I'm glad that my build has inspired some deeper explorations of some elements of the great ship that defy conventional thinking... Stay tuned for the yellow stripe!
 
Thanks to all for the engaging discussion.
 
Evan

this morning,  I took care of those three rows that needed to be on the port side.   I completed one of them,  the other two are about half way there.
 

 
now......after 31 rows {counting the king plank}.........here is how much of this deck,  25 1/2 strips will cover!
 

 
I started this with six packs of wood strips  {60 strips}.   I did the poop deck,  the spar deck,  and what you see here of the gun deck.   this is all I have left.........
 

 
it's amazing how far they went

today.........more running around........but I got quite a bit done as well on the deck.  I had a bit more than 25 of the 3 mm strips left.......I have to divide them evenly between the two sides,  and then I'll use the strips I cut to finish them off.  I'm doing this in case they turn out to be less than 3 mm......they won't too noticeable along the edges.  judging where I was at..........I did about 12 rows on the port side
 

 

 

 
looking at what I had left.......I had better move on to the starboard side.
 

 
I hope I have enough to equal the port side
 

 

 

 
when I was done.......there was a little over three strips left........I had done 15 rows on the port side.  
     the clothes pins you see,  are at work....helping me to eliminate a couple of serious ripples.  I'm hoping that by laying the planks,  the wet glue will seep into the wood and cure the problem.  if you look close,  there are a couple on the port side,  at about the same places.......I'll be doing them as well.  I clamped the deck to the table as well,  to keep it from curling {even with the added supports,  it was still doing this}.
 

 
these are probably the largest decks I have ever done.........and I'm using planking strips,  that in my opinion,  are more 'in scale'  than the deck strips you get in most kits.
 

 

 
at the bow,  I used some of the thinner pieces of the strips that I cut.........the center plank stayed the same as the rest of the deck.  I trimmed them soon after they were dry,  so they wouldn't get broken off prematurely.  looking toward the stern end,  you'll see another plank line that is rather thin.   I had to shim the entire length back.......it originated at one of the holds.  it was done just to keep the line straight.  it's good that most of it won't be seen,  being that far past the large central hold.  I will see what I can get done tomorrow.......I had high hopes to get this all done today.  I hope that tomorrow is a good day.......it was cloudy most of today....slightly humid.  I'm dying to see how this will look!
 
I almost forgot.......I have a plan for the galley floor platform at the stern......I don't want to say much,  for fear that I can't pull it off.    But,  if I can.......

saw this little tidbit browsing on line today.......it made me smile  
 
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101676661
 
there.......that seems to look better.......did it off the front page,  and the thread string looked kinda long.
 
 
 
anyway..........what have I been up to?   well.........making myself bug eyed planking the gun deck!  I actually began this Monday evening,  when I decided what I was going to do,  which was make the jig and cut that extra thin stock down.  I did the king plank and marked off all.......yes all...of the butt joint lines.
 

 

 
then......on Tuesday,  I was in and out trying to remedy Kevin's car woes.  I helped him pick out a car {about a week ago now}.   he had it inspected and it was told to him that he had bought a junk car!  it had some of the usual problems...wipers and tires.  the big problems were frame rot and undercarriage rot,  that I wouldn't have seen,  unless I had it on a lift!  I checked it out.....I admit it.......it looked good to me from what I could see.  I cannot believe that our state laws are written the way they are.......they say that it is OK for anyone to sell an unfit car in New Hampshire.  I e-mailed the NHADA {New Hampshire automobile dealer association}  with my complaint and views of this practice.  I got a reply,  giving me the link where I can lodge a formal complaint,  providing the dealer is a member of the NHADA.  we also contacted the Attorney General......we got the same spiel.   I'm not done yet......this is so wrong on every spectrum.    well........anyway.......
 
the rest of my time was spent on defining the center line of the deck,  boxing in all of the holds.   this took me right into the evening..........oh,  and I did mow the back yard lawn  
 

 

 

 
 

thanks Mobbsie.....the gun deck is planked.........finally!   at the moment  I have the side edges clamped with flat stock in the meantime,  to straighten the ripples that developed.   tomorrow is my last work day..........I can then get the edges trimmed and sand the decks.   thanks for looking in and the good word..........update soon!  

Hy Patrick,
 
I know it is mentioned in Tyrone Martin´s book "a most fortunate ship" - and it may be written in other sources.
He probalby has his assumptions from log books and midshipmen-logs .. :
 
The ship had in his earlier days lids which were completly removeable. Not hinged.
 
I think the Hull Model does show only the first gun port with hingted lid (reasonalble to be quicker in opening and closing during maneures in a battle - to avoid taking over water from the bow´s waves. But as the Corné Paintings (and others) the model does not show lids.  
Careful - we do not talk about the lid for the bridle ports !!! - which are not yet represented in the hull model since this model is assumened to represent the early 1812 configuration in which the ship seems to have had no bridle ports (nor their lids ;-) )..
 
So in those days the lids were removed and stored below the deck during battle and during crusing in nice wether - and they were installed and locked from inside (if I remember well) while sailing in heavy seas.
 
So not showing them is an option which is realistic - as of course any representation which is similar to the Corné-paintings has a certain "reliability".
 
I too very much like Evan´s approach. Will become a very fine Constitution.

thank you Adam and Marcus...you two are like.......way too kind    you and others have done well,  in making it sound like a positive,  and I thank you all for doing so.   even if I end up doing the decks over again,  I will know that I'm on the right track.  I am very pleased how the spar and pop decks came out.   I came home today and gave it another coat,  after sanding it again.   this is the only window I'd have for the next few days....it's supposed to rain.   I'm beginning to think that it's the paint.........I'm glad I didn't do anything to the Half Moon.
 
I know I have quite a few builds in the cue....I was hoping that I could lay some ground work for this build, and get it to the point where I could bounce to it a lot more frequently than I have been.  but I feel that I have to wait once again.  I did manage to take some pictures of the deck  this time,  while it was still wet.
 
it will give you a god idea of what it should look like,  if I didn't encounter all these problems.
 

 

 

 
I let it dry for a bit,  then I brought it back indoors.  I even gave the poop deck another coat......it didn't turn white.   I'm feeling that I must be using the wrong lacquer.......the other lacquer I use,  I spray with my airbrush.   perhaps I should decant it and thin it down.......I will see if I can get a retarder for it,  but I will also try and see what the effects are with a reducer.  there's no reason why I can't experiment a little.  
 

 

 

 
I got my other light working again,  since I'm going to try and work on both tables again.  for those who wonder what my set up looks like........here it is
 

 
you'll notice the boot boxes under the tables........they are the part boxes for the Trawler,  the Half Moon,  the United States,  and the holiday harbor boats.   the rest of the parts for the Gothenborg are on the table.   there's an odd box off to the side.......that's for the Boulogne.
 
Marcus.......that is a very scary tale.......I'm glad that it had a happy ending  {weird}.  but yes,  that's a example of how fire needs to have a maintained flash point to survive......either that,  it ran out of fuel.
    I am humbled that you like my work......I thank you very much.  once this build can really take off,  I think it will be more enjoyable for both of us    hopefully another update will come soon!  

thanks for  the kind words gentlemen.......I solved the mystery!  I should have thought of this before!
 

 
today I decanted the rest of the first can,  and half of the second can.   all I had to do,  was pick up the decanting bottle.......it was very cold to the touch.  the propellant in the mix is the culprit.  with airbrush and rattle can,  the paint is sprayed through a tiny orifice.  airbrushes work with 15 - to 25 PSI......rattle can,  in my guestimate,  sprays at a much higher pressure.  the higher pressure going through the orifice,  drops the temperature,  and causes moisture {condensation} to develop.  it didn't occur with the poop deck simply because there wasn't much deck surface...short blasts.   I will let these three bottles breathe a bit before I seal them up,  to let the rest of the propellant leach out.
 
thanks Dave, Augie and Mark........there will be no more problems now.   the spar deck has four coats,  and the poop deck has three.   with the fourth coat,  there is still a bit of white still present....I may just leave it,  and touch up the brown paint work.   although.....I have thought about laying down a coat of semi gloss,  to give the decks a little shine.........this flat lacquer has absolutely no shine at all......it's pretty dead.  thanks for the good word  
 
thanks Mobbsie.........you have lost track    I have eight in the cue.......the Boulogne is among them.
     now that the warmer weather is here,  I can do some sanding in the garage.......the Boulogne Etaples and two of the Holiday Harbor boats need to have the hulls done.   once I set up a jig to hold them,  I can begin.   I'm making another jig at the moment........I'll let you know how it goes.  I have a build log for each one......the Boulogne is probably buried again.........perhaps a bit later      thanks for the good word!  actually,  I still just poking around with this build.......I see so many that are doing the Connie..........I can't wait to try out some of the many cool ideas that are going on.
 
thanks Patrick.....I'm a lot happier,  now that I know what the problem is......I never had this problem with air brushing.   it's another reason why I hate rattle cans.  thanks for the good word!
 
gee.......thanks Frank!  for that......maybe I can quit my day job  all I'd really need to do is work up some deck templates.   the plus side is that I'd be doing something I love to do    I could go even further.......how about a TV show  "Pimp my Deck"      I'm just kidding.......that's a really cool thought.....I really appreciate it  thank you Frank  
 
not to worry Dave.........I can't leave my day job just yet.......I need what bennies I get