Chuck Seiler

Doris,
 
    I am glad you reconsidered building the CONSTITUTION as your first build.  Very often when people start out with something like that as their first build, it ends up being their last build.  It is quite a challenge.
 
    I agree with Gary in that models like SULTANA, NEWSBOY or BEN'j LATHAM make good starter models.  IF you have  experience, SYREN might be good, but it is still something more than a starter kit.
 
   I like SULTANA.  It is very basic and lets you work with all the skill sets you would need to do a CONSTITUTION, but in an easier format.
 

 

 
    SULTANA is a solid hull.  I found it difficult to work with, but it is easy to make a better hull by using the body/sheer plan that comes with the kit and making the hull using bread and butter method, or making your own bulkheads (or a combination as I did).  If you don't have the skills to do that, in my opinion you don't have the skill set to tackle the CONSTITUTION.  Just sayin'.
 
    I believe that if two people with the same skill level started building (1) SULTANA and (2) Model Expo CONSTITUTION, the SULTANA builder would be pretty much done by the time the CONSTITUTION was planked.  If they were beginner modelers, the SULTANA builder would be planning his/her next build while the CONSTITUTION builder would be thinking about getting into model railroading.
 
   Anywho, my 2 cents worth.....

We kind of did.  If you take a look at the cannon dimensions John sent, you the 4 pounder pencils out at 1.72" and the 18 pounder at 2.22".  The Lumberyard guns are 1.35" and 2.24".  Pretty close.  If you are looking for exact, forget about it unless you mill your own.

Doris,
 
    I am glad you reconsidered building the CONSTITUTION as your first build.  Very often when people start out with something like that as their first build, it ends up being their last build.  It is quite a challenge.
 
    I agree with Gary in that models like SULTANA, NEWSBOY or BEN'j LATHAM make good starter models.  IF you have  experience, SYREN might be good, but it is still something more than a starter kit.
 
   I like SULTANA.  It is very basic and lets you work with all the skill sets you would need to do a CONSTITUTION, but in an easier format.
 

 

 
    SULTANA is a solid hull.  I found it difficult to work with, but it is easy to make a better hull by using the body/sheer plan that comes with the kit and making the hull using bread and butter method, or making your own bulkheads (or a combination as I did).  If you don't have the skills to do that, in my opinion you don't have the skill set to tackle the CONSTITUTION.  Just sayin'.
 
    I believe that if two people with the same skill level started building (1) SULTANA and (2) Model Expo CONSTITUTION, the SULTANA builder would be pretty much done by the time the CONSTITUTION was planked.  If they were beginner modelers, the SULTANA builder would be planning his/her next build while the CONSTITUTION builder would be thinking about getting into model railroading.
 
   Anywho, my 2 cents worth.....

Doris,
 
    I am glad you reconsidered building the CONSTITUTION as your first build.  Very often when people start out with something like that as their first build, it ends up being their last build.  It is quite a challenge.
 
    I agree with Gary in that models like SULTANA, NEWSBOY or BEN'j LATHAM make good starter models.  IF you have  experience, SYREN might be good, but it is still something more than a starter kit.
 
   I like SULTANA.  It is very basic and lets you work with all the skill sets you would need to do a CONSTITUTION, but in an easier format.
 

 

 
    SULTANA is a solid hull.  I found it difficult to work with, but it is easy to make a better hull by using the body/sheer plan that comes with the kit and making the hull using bread and butter method, or making your own bulkheads (or a combination as I did).  If you don't have the skills to do that, in my opinion you don't have the skill set to tackle the CONSTITUTION.  Just sayin'.
 
    I believe that if two people with the same skill level started building (1) SULTANA and (2) Model Expo CONSTITUTION, the SULTANA builder would be pretty much done by the time the CONSTITUTION was planked.  If they were beginner modelers, the SULTANA builder would be planning his/her next build while the CONSTITUTION builder would be thinking about getting into model railroading.
 
   Anywho, my 2 cents worth.....

Doris,
 
    I am glad you reconsidered building the CONSTITUTION as your first build.  Very often when people start out with something like that as their first build, it ends up being their last build.  It is quite a challenge.
 
    I agree with Gary in that models like SULTANA, NEWSBOY or BEN'j LATHAM make good starter models.  IF you have  experience, SYREN might be good, but it is still something more than a starter kit.
 
   I like SULTANA.  It is very basic and lets you work with all the skill sets you would need to do a CONSTITUTION, but in an easier format.
 

 

 
    SULTANA is a solid hull.  I found it difficult to work with, but it is easy to make a better hull by using the body/sheer plan that comes with the kit and making the hull using bread and butter method, or making your own bulkheads (or a combination as I did).  If you don't have the skills to do that, in my opinion you don't have the skill set to tackle the CONSTITUTION.  Just sayin'.
 
    I believe that if two people with the same skill level started building (1) SULTANA and (2) Model Expo CONSTITUTION, the SULTANA builder would be pretty much done by the time the CONSTITUTION was planked.  If they were beginner modelers, the SULTANA builder would be planning his/her next build while the CONSTITUTION builder would be thinking about getting into model railroading.
 
   Anywho, my 2 cents worth.....

Doris,
 
    I am glad you reconsidered building the CONSTITUTION as your first build.  Very often when people start out with something like that as their first build, it ends up being their last build.  It is quite a challenge.
 
    I agree with Gary in that models like SULTANA, NEWSBOY or BEN'j LATHAM make good starter models.  IF you have  experience, SYREN might be good, but it is still something more than a starter kit.
 
   I like SULTANA.  It is very basic and lets you work with all the skill sets you would need to do a CONSTITUTION, but in an easier format.
 

 

 
    SULTANA is a solid hull.  I found it difficult to work with, but it is easy to make a better hull by using the body/sheer plan that comes with the kit and making the hull using bread and butter method, or making your own bulkheads (or a combination as I did).  If you don't have the skills to do that, in my opinion you don't have the skill set to tackle the CONSTITUTION.  Just sayin'.
 
    I believe that if two people with the same skill level started building (1) SULTANA and (2) Model Expo CONSTITUTION, the SULTANA builder would be pretty much done by the time the CONSTITUTION was planked.  If they were beginner modelers, the SULTANA builder would be planning his/her next build while the CONSTITUTION builder would be thinking about getting into model railroading.
 
   Anywho, my 2 cents worth.....

Doris,
    Which "Constellation" are you looking at?

The Constellation isn't small by any means Doris and it is a 3-mast vessel.  That is if we're speaking of the same Constellation....  I've got a build log on the AL frigate kit that I bashed into the sloop of war. The AL kit represents the bastardized version that sat in Baltimore before it's restoration to the sloop of war that it actually is/was.
 
I have link to my build down in my signature.

Mike,
 
    I recommend using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) for the un-gluing process.  It works as good as water (maybe better) but does not seem to affect the wood.  Use in a well ventilated area.

Mike,
 
    I recommend using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) for the un-gluing process.  It works as good as water (maybe better) but does not seem to affect the wood.  Use in a well ventilated area.

Doris,
    Which "Constellation" are you looking at?

This the Revell PT-109 that I painted as PT-117.

Doris,
    Which "Constellation" are you looking at?

Mike,
 
    I recommend using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) for the un-gluing process.  It works as good as water (maybe better) but does not seem to affect the wood.  Use in a well ventilated area.

Proof that a person can't have too many clamps. Nice work.

Hello Pat. Thanks for the message.
 
Yes, the Dremel Router is very handy, although I should get larger heads for it. Dremel also makes a scroll-saw and a mini-circular saw, I only have the scroll-saw.  The Router table and the motor kit weren't that expensive, less than $100 at Home Depot. I honestly have no idea if they have stores up in Canada or if would be extra to ship there. Good luck to you with your model building.
 
Brian

Since you have the plans, start off by determining your scale.  Once you have done that you can determine the frame thickness from the plans.  Do the plans have the frames drawn out?  If so, make copies in the correct scale and draw in your floor and futtock lines.  Now draw out the individual parts, cut them out and lay them out on a 2" or 3" wide board.  You will have to do this eventually anyhow.  You can now determine how much framing wood is necessary.  Do the same thing for the deck beams.  There will be enough scrap to cover carlings and ledges.  How much planking are you going to put on?  As a rough gauge, I would buy 3 times the surface area you are covering.  This will allow for splining rather than edge bending.  Thickness is also determined from the plans.
 
As for color, it comes down to aesthetics.  Do you prefer blonde, pale yellow, light brown, darker brown or pink?  That translates into costello, pau marfin, pear, apple or swiss pear.  Holly can be any color from dishwater blonde to stark white.  Any wood will darken when a finish is applied, so take that into consideration.  And different finishes will affect the wood differently.  For example, look at the decking on my Atalanta and compare it with the hull planking.  Both of these woods are holly but they came from different suppliers and had a different finish applied.
 
Do yourself a favor and avoid ebony.  It's just not worth it for the hassle.  There are so many ways of getting black wales that are consistent in color. Check the various scratch logs for suggestions.  You could also brouse the various scratch logs for color combinations you like and send a PM to the builder asking what they used.

I've trudged through some progress this week, whittling away at the repetitive bits.  I'm doubling up on photos from a previous post here (sorry) but I'd worked on prepping all the deadeyes and strops while working on the gunport lids.  
 

 
This ended up being pretty valuable time use, so when it came time to mount the channel plates and subsequently the deadeyes, it was a nice little assembly line.
 
   I prepped my eyebolts and nails with 50/50 black-it and water mix.  I always have a bit of trouble with eyebolts as the metal is difficult to prep, and the blackening doesn't end up super consistent.  Most of the time it ends up requiring some touch up.  My plan is to go through and touch up the shiny bits after all the deadeyes are fully mounted.
 

 
   I also realize I didn't quite get the angles correct on the strops when they're mounted to the hull. I had some difficulty with the different lengths of strop parts and getting them arranged properly.  The difference in sizes was SO minute that I just couldn't figure out the different lengths to create a proper parallel line on the hull withe the different angles.  Ugh.
 

 
   At any rate - the good news here (I guess) is that this won't be particularly noticeable to the average eye since there aren't any ratlines or shrouds actually attached to the deadeyes, so the lines from the masts and crosstrees to the hull won't be inconsistent... cuz there won't be any...
 
yes... I'm rationalizing.    
 

I am curious as to why they didn't have lids on the gunports in the waist.  I understand that area is open to the weather, but it still provides some protection against the seas slopping in.

I'm staying with quinacridone red (see post 18)

I'm staying with quinacridone red (see post 18)

Don't worry Carl - it happens to all of us as we get older !!!!
 
Really nice to have you along Eric, I will have to make it good if I am to meet your levels.
 
Anyway, the keel. That's better now isn't it !!
 
 

DOH!!!

Lumber Yard has swivels, 6lb, 9lb, 12lb and 18lb in 1/4 scale (1:48)  6lb in 3/16 scale MAY be close to the right size.
 
Oh, wait, they do have 4# in that scale.
 
 
 
 

J11,
 
    Take a look at the Lumber Yard.  They have a larger variety of guns than Chuck (Syren).  The downside is that Dave (co-owner) is out of circulation for awhile and getting the guns quickly may be an issue if they are not already made.  I need to check my plans to refresh what scale and which size guns.  As I recall, there was a mishmash.