JSGerson
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JSGerson got a reaction from mtbediz in USS Constitution by Der Alte Rentner - Model Shipways - 1/76
I just discovered your build log in the past couple of weeks due to your comments on UsedtoSail's log. As I started to read your log, it seems you found me first, crediting me with pointing you to Mr. Robert Hunt's practicum. You had listed a number of build logs that you were following, but I was surprised you did not list (or maybe you haven't discovered) Ken Forman's (xKen) build log. Ken is a professional model maker and kit designer. He designed the Model Shipway's USS Constitution Cross Section model. His is a worthy log to read.
I am curious though, are you posting on two build logs? I ask this because your posts on this site are pdf files from another document. You are the first one I've run into using pdf files. I mirror my ModelShipWorld posts on ModelShipBuilder.
Looking forward to your future posts.
Jonathan
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JSGerson got a reaction from CiscoH in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The ¼” rim circle was cut from 1/64” plywood while the 5/32” plug circle was cut from 1/32” plywood. The plug circle edges were filed to slope inward to form a short, truncated cone. The hinge was cut from 0.005” brass sheet into 1/16” wide strips. First, the rim and plugs components were wood glued together on center. Then the brass strip was CA glued to the backside almost across the full diameter of the rim piece to provide the maximum gluing surface. After the CA glue dried solid, the plugs were painted black. Slits were formed in the rail just above the hawsers with an X-acto knife for the flat brass hinge to slip into. To install the plugs, the brass strip was bent 90° so that the plug would be in the open position when inserted into the hull. The open position is needed to allow anchor ropes and chains to pass through the hawser later in the build.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by histprof1066 - FINISHED - Billing Boats - 1:100
I don't remember what I paid 5 or 6 years ago for the display case, but here is the Model Expo web page I used with the current prices:
https://modelexpo-online.com/Ship-Model-Displays
Then I paid about as much for the table to hold the display. I also had to buy the Plexi-glass and stain the case to match the table. So all told, ballpark about $500.
You can find other websites that also sell premade displays, and there are build logs which conclude their ship build with a description as to how they made their own displays. I don't have any woodworking skills or tools other than for model making so I had to buy my display.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by histprof1066 - FINISHED - Billing Boats - 1:100
I bought one of the cases offered by Model Expo for my 2-foot Rattlesnake. I bought the table it sits on separately from a furniture online site. I had to stain the case myself to match the table. Model Expo subcontracts out the cases to a workshop that makes the cases for them excluding the transparent material. I chose to use Plexi-glass in lieu of glass. And yes, they are not cheap. The case for my 4-foot long Constitution is going to be even more expensive.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by histprof1066 - FINISHED - Billing Boats - 1:100
You've got something to be very proud of. I'm a big believer in display cases to protect your hard work from possible damage and dust. Can't wait to see see its final display area.
Jon
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JSGerson got a reaction from Stevenleehills in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The ¼” rim circle was cut from 1/64” plywood while the 5/32” plug circle was cut from 1/32” plywood. The plug circle edges were filed to slope inward to form a short, truncated cone. The hinge was cut from 0.005” brass sheet into 1/16” wide strips. First, the rim and plugs components were wood glued together on center. Then the brass strip was CA glued to the backside almost across the full diameter of the rim piece to provide the maximum gluing surface. After the CA glue dried solid, the plugs were painted black. Slits were formed in the rail just above the hawsers with an X-acto knife for the flat brass hinge to slip into. To install the plugs, the brass strip was bent 90° so that the plug would be in the open position when inserted into the hull. The open position is needed to allow anchor ropes and chains to pass through the hawser later in the build.
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JSGerson got a reaction from CiscoH in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The gun port lids were assembled and installed with the dummy guns.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Again, the tampions were made from plywood, but this time, 1/32” thick. Looking at the photos, they look at least 2 inches thick beyond the face of the muzzle. That translates to 1/32” scale. Once again, I painted a dot in lieu of the star, this time black on red. I abandoned hanging a ring from an eye bolt in the center of the tampion as it was too small to make at scale.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Tampion fitted Guns
The kit’s cast metal guns are OK but not great. Looking directly at the muzzles you can tell they are not perfectly round, so some detailing was required. They were painted black,
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Bow Gun Port Lids
Like on the transom ports, 1/32” eyebolts and scratch made 1/32” rings were used. Shown below are the parts for the bow lids. The tampions were made from 1/64” thick plywood. I tried to make a decal for the tampion so that the black star could be seen, but the resolution for this small image was quite poor and had low contrast. Instead, a red dot was painted directly on the black painted surface of the tampion which looked just fine from a foot away.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The raw gun port lids are provided by the kit which consists of an upper and lower part. The upper has two window port openings and the top half muzzle opening for the gun. The bottom lid just has the bottom half muzzle opening. The kit also provides pseudo photo-etched hinges. Mr. Hunt’s practicum creates the pull mechanism out styrene which I didn’t like. As with the port lids on the transom, the upper lid opening mechanism consisted of an eyebolt and ring assembly on either side of the lid. All the ports except the bow port will have pull lines to open the top lid.
As simple as these port lids look, there are a lot of components for each one. Ten in total.
2 raw lids (upper and lower) 2 eyebolts 2 rings 4 pseudo hinges 1 thread line between the two eyebolt ring assemblies (excluding bow lid) 1 draw line thread from center of assembly line through the port gutter to inside the hull (excluding bow lid) 2 pieces of mica for the two windows openings (backside of lid) White paint
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The next two guns positions moving aft on my model will also have their lids closed, but their gun muzzles will be exposed poking through the lid opening. Their tampions will be painted red with a black star. Additionally, the first two gun ports from the stern will also be presented in this manner as well. Finally, the remaining guns will be in their firing positions with their lids opened, tampions removed, extending out of the ports, and fully rigged. This will present the guns in two positions which will reduce the number of gun positions that will require full rigging. The eight guns with tampions will be dummy guns having no trucks or rigging in view. Only their tampion covered muzzles will be in view.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Guns with Tampions
Tampions are wooden muzzle stoppers. The first gun port starting at the bow does not have a gun as there is no room for one in the interior of the bow. As a result, the lids are usually kept closed and the muzzle opening is closed with a special tampion, which is a bit larger than the a muzzle tampion. This tampion is painted black with a red star in the center.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The staples were made from 0.032” music wire, close enough to the 1/32” (0.03125”) rod called out by the plans. Music wire was chosen because it won’t deform easily, and it’s dark in color. The wire was bent while in the grasp of a small vise and using a light hammer forming two 90° legs to the shape of a staple. The staples were glued into pre drilled holes in the hull.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Mooring Staples
Here is an item that is easy to overlook on the plans, the mooring staples. There are three of them at the waterline on each side of the hull, near the stern, amidships, and the bow. I could not find a direct image of these staples, but I was able to get glimpses of them in some photos. From what little the photos showed, there was very little detail to them other than what is shown on the MS plans.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Ryland Craze in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The gun port lids were assembled and installed with the dummy guns.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Bow Gun Port Lids
Like on the transom ports, 1/32” eyebolts and scratch made 1/32” rings were used. Shown below are the parts for the bow lids. The tampions were made from 1/64” thick plywood. I tried to make a decal for the tampion so that the black star could be seen, but the resolution for this small image was quite poor and had low contrast. Instead, a red dot was painted directly on the black painted surface of the tampion which looked just fine from a foot away.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The raw gun port lids are provided by the kit which consists of an upper and lower part. The upper has two window port openings and the top half muzzle opening for the gun. The bottom lid just has the bottom half muzzle opening. The kit also provides pseudo photo-etched hinges. Mr. Hunt’s practicum creates the pull mechanism out styrene which I didn’t like. As with the port lids on the transom, the upper lid opening mechanism consisted of an eyebolt and ring assembly on either side of the lid. All the ports except the bow port will have pull lines to open the top lid.
As simple as these port lids look, there are a lot of components for each one. Ten in total.
2 raw lids (upper and lower) 2 eyebolts 2 rings 4 pseudo hinges 1 thread line between the two eyebolt ring assemblies (excluding bow lid) 1 draw line thread from center of assembly line through the port gutter to inside the hull (excluding bow lid) 2 pieces of mica for the two windows openings (backside of lid) White paint
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The next two guns positions moving aft on my model will also have their lids closed, but their gun muzzles will be exposed poking through the lid opening. Their tampions will be painted red with a black star. Additionally, the first two gun ports from the stern will also be presented in this manner as well. Finally, the remaining guns will be in their firing positions with their lids opened, tampions removed, extending out of the ports, and fully rigged. This will present the guns in two positions which will reduce the number of gun positions that will require full rigging. The eight guns with tampions will be dummy guns having no trucks or rigging in view. Only their tampion covered muzzles will be in view.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Guns with Tampions
Tampions are wooden muzzle stoppers. The first gun port starting at the bow does not have a gun as there is no room for one in the interior of the bow. As a result, the lids are usually kept closed and the muzzle opening is closed with a special tampion, which is a bit larger than the a muzzle tampion. This tampion is painted black with a red star in the center.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Tampion fitted Guns
The kit’s cast metal guns are OK but not great. Looking directly at the muzzles you can tell they are not perfectly round, so some detailing was required. They were painted black,
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Again, the tampions were made from plywood, but this time, 1/32” thick. Looking at the photos, they look at least 2 inches thick beyond the face of the muzzle. That translates to 1/32” scale. Once again, I painted a dot in lieu of the star, this time black on red. I abandoned hanging a ring from an eye bolt in the center of the tampion as it was too small to make at scale.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Der Alte Rentner in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The gun port lids were assembled and installed with the dummy guns.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
The staples were made from 0.032” music wire, close enough to the 1/32” (0.03125”) rod called out by the plans. Music wire was chosen because it won’t deform easily, and it’s dark in color. The wire was bent while in the grasp of a small vise and using a light hammer forming two 90° legs to the shape of a staple. The staples were glued into pre drilled holes in the hull.
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JSGerson got a reaction from Marcus.K. in USS Constitution by JSGerson - Model Shipways Kit No. MS2040
Mooring Staples
Here is an item that is easy to overlook on the plans, the mooring staples. There are three of them at the waterline on each side of the hull, near the stern, amidships, and the bow. I could not find a direct image of these staples, but I was able to get glimpses of them in some photos. From what little the photos showed, there was very little detail to them other than what is shown on the MS plans.
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