maturin52

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I posted anything in this log. I've had some health issues, and we had a minor flood in the basement that shut down my workshop for a while, but my USS Constitution project is still very much alive and progressing. I've finished the hull, and the spar deck is planked. I was very unhappy with my first attempt at the stern gallery windows, so I ripped them and redid them. I'm currently working on fife rails, pin rails, cannonades, and all the other deck furniture that needs to be done before the masts go in and rigging begins. I'll try and get a few photos over the  next day or so, and get them posted. I know a few folks were following my build, so, rest assured, it's not one of those abandoned builds. I'm still kicking!

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I posted anything in this log. I've had some health issues, and we had a minor flood in the basement that shut down my workshop for a while, but my USS Constitution project is still very much alive and progressing. I've finished the hull, and the spar deck is planked. I was very unhappy with my first attempt at the stern gallery windows, so I ripped them and redid them. I'm currently working on fife rails, pin rails, cannonades, and all the other deck furniture that needs to be done before the masts go in and rigging begins. I'll try and get a few photos over the  next day or so, and get them posted. I know a few folks were following my build, so, rest assured, it's not one of those abandoned builds. I'm still kicking!

I've been exteremely bad at posting build pictures. However, I have been better at working on the ship herself. It's FINISHED. I've taken a few pictures of the finshed project. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to post them, as the files are too large as they stand. I'll resize them and get them up here tomorrow, along with a few comments on the experience. My next project was delivered by UPS this afternoon, Artesania Latina's HMS Bounty - 1783. I'll take a few days to clean up mywork area, sort and store leftover bits and pieces, and start all over again. I can't wait.
 
OK, here are my remaining photos. I've stuck pretty closely to the build as in the instructions. The only real addition I made were a couple of coils of rope on the foredeck where the lines for the gangplank are. I'm pleased with the overall result, and I'm looking forward to returning to square rigs and to starting a new Build Log.
 
Mike
St. Louis, Missouri
 

As I mentioned, despite not posting on a timely basis, I have been continuing work in my model. I've found painting the hull (on coat #3 now) and coppering to be incredibly time consuming procedures, but progress is being made. Here are a couple of photo of her set up (temporarily) on her stand, as the Admiral was interested in my progress.

Congratulations, Tom. I have been impressed with your modelling skills throughout. Perhaps even more to the point, for me, is my appreciation for your excellent work in constructing and maintaining this Build Log. I am working away on my Connie, and this log is my go-to resource when I get lost or confused. My Constitution does not hold a candle to yours, but she is infinitely better than she would have otherwise been. I do hope the Administrators leave this log available as I anticipate another 2 years of work at least (I am currently planking the spar deck and building fife rails). Thank you so much, Tom, and Congrats again.
Maturin (Mike McMullon, St. Louis, MO - late of Halifax, NS)
 

Congratulations, Tom. I have been impressed with your modelling skills throughout. Perhaps even more to the point, for me, is my appreciation for your excellent work in constructing and maintaining this Build Log. I am working away on my Connie, and this log is my go-to resource when I get lost or confused. My Constitution does not hold a candle to yours, but she is infinitely better than she would have otherwise been. I do hope the Administrators leave this log available as I anticipate another 2 years of work at least (I am currently planking the spar deck and building fife rails). Thank you so much, Tom, and Congrats again.
Maturin (Mike McMullon, St. Louis, MO - late of Halifax, NS)
 

I did the same thing that Tom did, and could not find the cannons as a set. I called Model Expo in Florida, however, and they sold me the needed number of cannons at the old set price. Sadly, I don't remember what that price was. Yes, Tom, I'm still around and still working on my Connie, following very much in your footsteps. I've just finished building the various hatches and will soon begin planking the deck. I've had a couple of surgeries recently which have slowed me down, but I am still at it. I'll update my log soon. I'm glad your move when well and that you're back to work in your new workshop.

As I mentioned, despite not posting on a timely basis, I have been continuing work in my model. I've found painting the hull (on coat #3 now) and coppering to be incredibly time consuming procedures, but progress is being made. Here are a couple of photo of her set up (temporarily) on her stand, as the Admiral was interested in my progress.

Well, once again, I have been very bad at posting pictures to this site. Fortunately, my ship-modelling has been a little more disciplined. I've finished the gun deck, and roughed in the transom. I've been working (for months it seems) on planking the hull. The end is sight, of the basic planking, at least. Much detail work remains to be done, and I've been dreading trying to figure out how to construct the quarter-galleys. I've got some ideas, and have actually begun to rough out some structure with balsa wood that I can shape as needed, glue in place, then plank.

Well, once again, I have been very bad at posting pictures to this site. Fortunately, my ship-modelling has been a little more disciplined. I've finished the gun deck, and roughed in the transom. I've been working (for months it seems) on planking the hull. The end is sight, of the basic planking, at least. Much detail work remains to be done, and I've been dreading trying to figure out how to construct the quarter-galleys. I've got some ideas, and have actually begun to rough out some structure with balsa wood that I can shape as needed, glue in place, then plank.

Well, I've been very slack in posting to this log. I have, however been reasonably diligent in working on my Connie. In the 2 months since I've posted here, I've managed to log an hour of shipyard time most days, except for a 3 week period when I was away in Nova Scotia, visiting family and breathing salt air. Having lived much of my life near the ocean, I miss it constantly.
In any case, the gun deck section is finished and I've been working at installing the bulkhead above the waterways, the t'gallant rail, and beginning to set up for the main rail. Planking the hull is rapidly approaching, and I am looking forward to it! Here are a few shots of where my model currently stands:

The gun deck is in, and the gun deck cannon ports are framed. I've planked and painted the bulkheads and the first coat of varnish is on the deck itself. I've received the cannons I ordered and will be installing them over the next few days. Here's a couple of shots of the current state of affairs.

Well, here goes. This will be my 3rd build log on this site, the previous ones being the King of the Mississippi and the Bounty. Both of those projects were Atesania Latina kits. While I enjoyed building them, I did feel that the instructions left much to be desired. I was only able to complete the Bounty thanks to the full-scale plans and to the excellent advice, support, and direction found on this site. Anyway.... the USS Constitution!
The Admiral gave me the Anatomy of the Ship book last Christmas, as I have been planning this as my next project for some time. The box arrived a week ago and I've commandeered my pool table as a good spot to spread everything out and check for damaged, missing, or warped parts. As far as I can tell, everything is in the box that is supposed to be there, though there does appear to be some discrepancy between exactly which sheets contain exactly which parts. This will the subject of some investigation over the next day or so, but I suspect it is only the result of some changes and additions to the supplied parts since the contents list was written nearly 20 years ago. I've already decided on one likely deviation from the supplied instructions, based on what I've seen in Captain Al's 'Mayflower' work. The Constitution kit does provide a fair amount of balsa filler blocks, but I am going to augment what was provided with enough filler blocks to give complete gluing surfaces to both the bow and stern curves. At least, that's my current plan. Here a few shots of the sorted contents of the kit...

Well, I've been very slack in posting to this log. I have, however been reasonably diligent in working on my Connie. In the 2 months since I've posted here, I've managed to log an hour of shipyard time most days, except for a 3 week period when I was away in Nova Scotia, visiting family and breathing salt air. Having lived much of my life near the ocean, I miss it constantly.
In any case, the gun deck section is finished and I've been working at installing the bulkhead above the waterways, the t'gallant rail, and beginning to set up for the main rail. Planking the hull is rapidly approaching, and I am looking forward to it! Here are a few shots of where my model currently stands:

Note that the filler that I put in to frame the spar deck gunports and to support the rail are just backing. There will be a layer of finish planking both inboard and outboard. I decided to fill the inner section completely to provide a consistant gluing surface and to prevent any gaps or hollows on the outer layer of plancks. I've been using 1/8" pieces of softwood that I purchased at a local hobby shop. I have been following the instructions and plans as closely as I can, with a lot of guidance from this site when the provided materials aren't clear.

Well, I've been very slack in posting to this log. I have, however been reasonably diligent in working on my Connie. In the 2 months since I've posted here, I've managed to log an hour of shipyard time most days, except for a 3 week period when I was away in Nova Scotia, visiting family and breathing salt air. Having lived much of my life near the ocean, I miss it constantly.
In any case, the gun deck section is finished and I've been working at installing the bulkhead above the waterways, the t'gallant rail, and beginning to set up for the main rail. Planking the hull is rapidly approaching, and I am looking forward to it! Here are a few shots of where my model currently stands:

The repurposed main cabin and wardroom showing some of the stowed breadfruit. (Obviously after departing Tahiti and before the infamous Mutiny.)

Adding the partial gun deck has turned out to be a lot more work than what I anticipated going in, but I'm glad I've done the extra work. It's been an excellent chance to practice some techniques that will be valuable later. When the time comes to work on the spar deck, I'm going to have to make a few modifications to allow at least some visibility down to the lower deck.

The gun deck is in, and the gun deck cannon ports are framed. I've planked and painted the bulkheads and the first coat of varnish is on the deck itself. I've received the cannons I ordered and will be installing them over the next few days. Here's a couple of shots of the current state of affairs.

Adding the partial gun deck has turned out to be a lot more work than what I anticipated going in, but I'm glad I've done the extra work. It's been an excellent chance to practice some techniques that will be valuable later. When the time comes to work on the spar deck, I'm going to have to make a few modifications to allow at least some visibility down to the lower deck.

The gun deck is in, and the gun deck cannon ports are framed. I've planked and painted the bulkheads and the first coat of varnish is on the deck itself. I've received the cannons I ordered and will be installing them over the next few days. Here's a couple of shots of the current state of affairs.

I finished rigging the jibboom, which included rigging the spritsail yard. It has 8 bullseyes on it to direct lines from the bowsprit to the bow pin rail and cathead. Here is a shot while I was installing them.To get them to be parallel with the yard, I first ran a line around the bulleye and seized it, then while the glue on the seizing was drying I twisted a 90 bend at the seizing. After the glue dried the excess lines now ran at 90 degrees to the bullseye, so I just tied them to the yard with an overhand knot and fix it to the yard. I stropped other blocks with loops that fit over the yard arms for the lifts and braces.

I added the footropes and one side of the parrel line to hold the yard to the bowsprit, then carefully slid the yard between the second and third bobstays to get it into position. I thought I was going to have to undo the lashing on the third bobstay, but I am glad I waited to try this first. I then tied the other end of the yard parrel. At this point I was able to add the lines from the jibboom that go to the blocks and bullseyes on the cathead, and the martingale stays which are seized to the dolphin striker. I still have a few loose ends to cut and the jibboom footropes to add in this picture, which I have done since I took it. I also tightened the lashing on the starboard fixed guy, which is the line that has that funny bend at the tip of the jibboom.

I am finding these electronic test clips invaluable for rigging. Here I am using them to mark the location of the next knot to tie in the jibboom footrope, as well as providing a handle on the other end of the line. They are perfect for holding two lines together while seizing them, and for forming small loops around, as I am doing for the futtock shrouds.

And that is what is coming. I have all of the fore futtock shrouds made and the 2 Bentinck shrouds. Now I need to make the extensions that fit in the loop of the Bentinck shrouds.

The stern framing is roughed in, but not sanded or faired yet. I've been side tracked by work on the gun deck. As can be seen, planking of the deck itself is well underway. I'm using some 1/16" planks leftover from the Bounty, blackening the edges with a soft pencil, and staggering the joints in a 3 board pattern. The cannon shown in the picture is one I've put together simply to check the port height when I get to that point. Once the planking is done, I'll sand it smooth, stain and varnish it, then add hatches sitting on top. The rough position of the hatches is penciled in on the existing planking. I'm glad I read usedtosail's build log, I think the addition of this partial gun deck is going to be a real enhancement to the finished model.

Here are couple of shots of my recent progress.....

The stern section has been even more of a challenge, since the filler blocks are much smaller, more delicate, and more dramatically curved. I approached this challenge by roughing them out in balsa wood, gluing them in, and I'm now in the process of shaping them in place. The block above (whose name escapes me at the moment) is made of kit-supplied wood and is neither finalized nor glued in as yet. Perhaps another few days of fine sanding will see this small part of the larger project behind me.