ccoyle

I got the missing gear bay pieces in. It was exactly as much fun as I thought it would be, i.e., none. 😑
 
I also got the wing skins cut out, edge colored, and shaped. Here they are for a preliminary fit.
 

 
They will need landing lights installed before being glued on. Strangely, the diagrams also show inner sheaths labeled as part S -- the main spar is even recessed to accommodate the extra layer of paper. But there are no parts S in either the kit or mentioned in the instructions. I will probably go ahead and add something like them anyway to increase the gluing area.

Very nice, Craig!

😡

On a roll now with natural metal finish. Will build the 1:48 scale Trumpeter F-100C Super Sabre.
i have no plans for aftermarket pieces at this time but I may reevaluate and adjust along the build process.
 
 

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

Very nice, Craig!

I have almost finished the second boat, the longboat. Now building the yawl

Main mast, Main boom & Main gaff yard
 
Building the main mast is very similar to the fore mast. There are the main and main top mast, the main gaff yard and the main boom. Few images and two 1/1 scale plans give you all the informations you need to build the parts:
 
  
 
All dowels have been cut to size and tapered. This time I have used the power drill.
 
 
 
Then all parts needed got prepared for the assembly. These are the cross- and trestle trees, the mast cap, the cheeks, 7 eyebolts, 7 single and 6 double blocks, main boom jaws and gaff yard jaws. I don't know the english term for the little collar and its supports (part numbers 131 and 132 on the plan above) :
 
  
 
After painting or blackening all parts got assembled.
 
The crosstrees and doubling section:
 

 
The "collar & supports":
 
  
 
Next step ... adding all the metal parts ... eyebolts and jaws:
 
   
 
Then again ... the fun part having blocks and clamps or frogs and lobsters:
 

 
For the two blocks at the tip of the gaff yard I have used the clamps to assist me by measuring the correct length of the ropes so that both are identical. I then tied them together to make it easier fix them onto the right position.
 
 
 
Finally all frogs got some hair:
 

 
Then all blocks got tied to their positions:
 
Gaff yard:
 
   
 
Main boom:
 
 
 
Main mast:
 
 
 
Dry fitting the main mast ... great
 

 
And now both masts together ... I love it:
 

 
I'm still not sure when to mount the yards on the mast ... before or after glueing them to the ship?
 
But now I have to do some minor work first to add the cleats for the gun tackle ends and I will remake the door and ladder out of wood to get rid of the metal parts. After that, I have to assemble my serving machine to make the seizings for the shrouds.
 
I wish you a happy easter weekend ...
 
Kai
 

Spring '24 issue.

Look what just arrived in my mailbox.
 

 
I enjoyed your interview -- maybe someday in this life I'll get a chance to tour your new facilities before getting James to take me to a proper fish and chips establishment.

More progress.

Waterway & Planksheer
 
The waterway is made up of numerous unique angles and shaping. It’s a difficult timber to get right. If you’re using hand tools - it may be a true test of your patience, perhaps more than skill. I won’t get into the detail, because I simply followed Hunt’s cook book. For plank bending - I cranked up my on demand water heater by 50 degrees and used the hot tap water to bend the planks (gently!) by hand*. It took a few attempts to heat - then clamp - but each time resulted in a better fit. I primed and painted the waterways using the Model-Expo USS Constitution paint kit - Bulwarks Green. I chose to fit, then glue the transom waterway first. Additional waterways and planksheer remain.
 
I included a picture of many of the tools necessary. I missed a few - including the painting.
 
*Every modeler will find their “special” talent. Mine is bending wood by hand. I utilize a modified soldering gun for extreme curves (typically bow and stern). For everything else - I simply use hot or very hot water (depending on the wood) and bend the wood with my fingers. Knock on wood - I’ve yet to snap one. Gotta say the waterways sure had my concentration.
 

Finished making up all the deck beams and now I am beginning to work on making the officers quarters, 

I started a "build log" just for this Naval Gun project, here as well as on my website, mainly to not clutter Constellation's log with all this non-pertinent gun stuff.
But one gun I'm working on brings me back here, as it may mean a change to the Constellation model.
 
I'm modeling a 10 inch Dahlgren on a pivot carriage and it got me thinking about Constellation's "10 inch guns on pivot carriages."
The Mississippi plan, dated June 23 1855 shows a 10" gun of 86cwt (8600 pounds).  The ship's restoration folks presume that Constellation got the same thing because they looked for a 10" pivot gun at the Archives, and that's the plan they found.

Constellation was launched on August 26 1854, and commissioned on July 28 1855.
Dahlgren's drawing, on-the-other-hand, is from July 31 1850, 5 years prior, and refers to the pivot gun simply as a "10 inch gun on pivot carriage."

Without any documentation stating exactly which 10 inch pivot gun the ship was issued, how do I know?
Furthermore, a 10 inch Dahlgren tube weighed 12,000 pounds, 3,400 pounds more than the Mississippi gun.  When the ship was leaving for the African Station on July 15 1859, her captain felt the pivot guns were too heavy, too high, and made the ship "crank," so had them taken off.  I can't help but think that would be a concern regarding a pair of 12,000 pound guns compared to a pair of 8,600 pound guns.

I'm trying to find out where any records regarding what guns were issued to what ships would be, and if I can access them, but at the moment, I'm personally leaning toward replacing Constellation's pivot guns with 10 inch Dahlgren pivots.
Here's the 3D models of the 10 inch Dahlgren (still a WIP), the Mississippi gun, and both together.
 

Hello, pictures March 2013:
 
 

This is what I am going for in the end.
 
 

Thank you very much friends, I am trying my best..😁
 
Finally the main lower parts of the masts..🔥
 


Temporary direction signs created for exact machining directions..
 

The tops are machined and holes drilled for the location of the lower tie-down points..
 


Finished lower parts of the masts..
 


(Manual dividing device)

Done..💥


Now tops and topmasts..🔥

First planking in progress. This process definitely employs my woodworking skills!  Especially shaping around the stern. Have yet to decide if I am going to sink the nail heads or pull them out with needle nose pliers.