patrickmil

I saw this article in the general discussion on another modeling forum for plastic aircraft and thought it was very relevant here. https://www.ussindianapolis.com/news

Very nice Sjors!

Great looking deck Sal! The planking is very clean.

The stern decor looks great so far Tom.

Bob, your standing rigging is outstanding! Fantastic work.

Thanks for the likes and comments to all. CaptainSteve, I will scan those in and send them to you. If you guessed eight windows then you were absolutely correct. I'm going with the configuration that Cmdr Martin describes in A Most Fortunate Ship. There is a good picture of the stern in Anatomy of the Ship and I have a drawing of the stern that was made by William Bass. Bass's drawings don't match up exactly with what is in AOTS and are supposed to be a more authentic representation of what she would have looked like, but the drawing doesn't apply easily to the the back of Connie either. I will making more of a hybrid of the AOTS and Bass's drawing.

Evan, I'm left with thoughts that can't be put into words. Your paint job is incredible! Such clean lines on a raised detail plastic model were always rumored to be a thing of myth. I'm glad you went with a yellow stripe. I wish when they refit Connie, they would bring her back to her very first years (the 1812 period is okay too I guess ). It's so hard to get an idea of what she really looked like from old paintings and speculation, but I think you hit the nail on the head.

Frank, you have never told us that you sold your soul to the devil. Achieving realistic weathering results like you've done is incredibly hard. I'm speechless. The hull and deck are completely amazing to the point that she looks like she was just pulled from duty and put in dry dock for refit!

Augie, your Confederacy is amazing. I have to agree with others; I think you should be scratch building with your quality of work. WOW!

Tom, the windows look great. The floppy disk idea is awesome. I've seen people use it before in model airplane applications for radar 'disco balls'. I'm following very closely on what you're accomplishing.

Incredible progress on your ship since I last commented on it. I have been watching and your work is astounding. I appreciate that you decided to put sails on your Connie. Great work Rich!

Everything still looks great! I have been watching, just not commenting lately. I'm anxious to see your rigging on your fine model.

Great work John. I've been keeping up with your build, I just have been quiet lately. I'm anxious to see your upper rigging and masts.

It's been a while for a post. I had to go back to page 12 to find my log. Work is new and I'm getting adjusted to it. Also, most of the progress isn't Earth shattering. It's mostly just framing gun ports and some planking. The gun ports were all framed in a 15 mm x 13 mm size. It's uniform and easy to follow. It might now be what Model Shipways had on their plans but hey, this model is dating back to 1803 at the latest so who's to say that the size of these openings hadn't changed a little bit. They are all framed up on the starboard side. The port side is next. I also couldn't resist the planking above the wales. I just had to do it. I'm not following any particular planking scheme either. I feel that the scale won't lend itself to showing individual planks and the hull will be painted over anyway. Like my Niagara, I want a perfectly smooth hull, hence the reason why I'm not sweating the planking too much. I also got the transom filled in. The port side gallery is starting to take shape as well, and the waterways are complete for the gun deck. I will finish framing up the port side gun ports and plank that area. Once that's done I will start work on the deck. I am going to go with maple planking and have just purchased a 13" bench planer that ought to help get some planking billets into the proper thickness. I hope you enjoy the pictures. As always, feel free to point and yell about any critical areas that could use more attention.

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! I have the next week off before I start my new position. I should have a couple of updates by then.