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The bowsprit looks good, Yves. Looking forward to when I can get the new shipyard set up!

While there are no rigging plans, Howard Chapelle does have a set of plans ifor the Ohio as-built in his History of the American Sailing Navy (ISBN 1-56852-222-3, following page 313). An old (not great) photograph can be found at http://www.oldnavalhospital.org/fpt_uss_ohio.html and http://www.navyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NH-92940-right.jpg From the US Navy Dictionary of American Fighting Ships (http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o2/ohio-ii.htm ) Designed by Henry Eckford, Ohio was laid down at New York Navy Yard in 1817 and launched 30 May 1820. She went into ordinary and in the insuing years decayed badly. Refitted for service in 1838, Ohio sailed 16 October 1838 to join the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Issac Hull. Acting as flagship for 2 years, she protected commerce and suppressed the slave trade off the African coast. Ohio proved to be an excellent sailer repeatedly making more than 12 knots. One of her officers stated, “I never supposed such a ship could be built-a ship possessing in so great a degree all the qualifications of a perfect vessel.” In 1840 Ohio returned to Boston where she again went into ordinary. From 1841 to 1846 Ohio served as receiving ship. To meet the needs of the Mexican War, Ohio recommissioned 7 December 1846 and sailed 4 January 1847 for the Gulf of Mexico, arriving off Vera Cruz 22 March. Ohio landed 10 guns on 27 March to help in the siege of Vera Cruz; but the city soon surrendered. Ohio drew too much water for coastal operations in the gulf. However, 336 of her crew participated in the Tuxpan River Expedition. In 1847 the entire distance from the mouth of the river to the town was covered with thick jungle growth. The enemy had constructed 3 well-positioned forts on bluffs overlooking bends in the river. On 18 April Commodore Perry arrived off the mouth of the river with 15 vessels. At 10 p.m. light-draft steamers Scourge, Spitfire, and Vixen, each towing a schooner, moved up stream. Bombships, Etna, Hecla, and Vesuvius followed closely while 30 surf boats containing 1,500 men brought up the rear. Approaching the town, the squadron came under hot fire from Fort LaPena. Commodore Matthew C. Perry ordered Commander Franklin Buchanan to disembark the surf boats and storm the fort. As the landing party swept ashore, the Mexicans abandoned their position. The other 2 forts fell in a like manner, with only light casualties substained by the squadron. Men from Ohio retrieved the guns of brig Truxtun which had foundered in a storm near Tuxpan 16 September 1846. The town was occupied and all military stores destroyed. Following Tuxpan, Ohio sailed from Vera Cruz and arrived in New York 9 May 1847. On 26 June she sailed to bolster the Pacific Squadron, first carrying the U.S. minister to Brazil and operating off the east coast of South America until November. Ohio spent the next two years in the Pacific protecting commerce and policing the newly acquired California Territory during the chaotic early months of the gold rush. In 1850 she returned to Boston where she again went into ordinary. In 1851, Ohio became receiving ship and continued this duty until again placed in ordinary in 1875. Ohio was sold at Boston to J. L. Snow of Rockland, Maine 27 September 1883. You may also want to take a look at http://www.navyhistory.org/2011/10/uss-ohio-model-at-brooklyn-navy-yard-center-at-building-92/ for some interesting information concerning a model on display at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the research the builder (former Air Force officer Steven Myatt) did in developing the model. Additional info on the build is at http://www.ussohio.org/Museumphotos/index.html I have not searched the National Archives website yet but there may be some additional information there although Mr. Myatt indicates he was unable to locate any information on the spars and rigging so he based his model on the Delaware). Hope this helps!

Thanks, Adam - have had the ECB sitting on the workstation the past month waiting to get frame 8 finished, but between work travels and the move I finally packed all the tools today and secured the ECB for the journey. Bubble wrap and florist foam are amazing tools!

Thanks, Augie - gonna be tough with the Lobster pound right at the bottom of the hill....about 100 yards give or take from the front porch.

Just thought I'd post a brief non-update... have packed the shipyard completely for the move. Stopped at 7 frames raised (all forward frames) and the port side of frame 8 beveled. Too busy packing and working to do anything until we get settled in the new digs - hope to be building again by mid-August.

remember - you know who will want pictures! Hope you are enjoying the time away!

Ditto all above! Can you come rig my Essex when the time comes?

AWESOME!!!! Looks really good. Great job, Adrian - now for the working paddle wheel.... :D

Dang - sounds like you and Mobbsie are in England, Arkansas instead of England, U.K. 98 degrees here yesterday...sucks the energy right out of you!

Nice job, Bob. Is the Admiral angling for a 1:1 after you get the builders model done????

Coming along nicely, John. Take your time on the planking - straight lines - and you'll be in a better position later when you start to install the fiddly deck pieces. How do you like this kit so far? I have 5 others either in process or on the shelf, but have been contemplating the Morgan (or the Connie cross section) after the Essex.

Very nice work on this, Grant. As Sjors said - WOW!!!

Gosh, Sjors - all these pictures are gonna really spoil us! Fortunately, they are pictures of a nice looking model ship (no moose, spiders, gnomes or ground hogs) - armed with more teeth all the time it appears! The cannon look good - well done!

Looking good, Augie - looking really good!

Looking good so far! I think a 4 butt shift would work fine for your planking.

Congratulations, Buck - I can most assuredly empathize with the pressing demands of a move! Good luck with the change - and don't worry, we'll be here!

The most important person you can satisfy is you - if it works for you, it works for me! Personally, I think it looks awesome!

I think the colors and treatment came out fantastic - a very nice look! Well Done, Simon!

Looking at that top, I guess the biggest question is what connects to the various and sundried eye-bolts on the mast cap and ring. If they lead aft, you are fine. If the connections are to the foremast, though, you could run into problems running those lines. is it possible to loosen the glue just for those two bits or are they through bolted (pinned)?

Nice looking capstan, Larry. I like the color contrasts.

Beautiful work on this - look forward to the next stage!

The turnbuckle you made looks very nice! No one will likely notice the flag staff if you don't point it out.

Bob - Hope your recovery continues to go well - and best wishes for this and many more birthdays to come!

Ken - A fine looking build you have going here. Hope you had a fantastic birthday!

Great idea on a way to clean the parts, Jerry - will need to give that a try! For the next 19 days 6 hours and 34 minutes, I live in Little Rock. Following about 5 days of driving, the whole clan will be taking up residence in Eastport, Maine. Going back home after 15 years away, including about 3 in Broward County before moving to Arkansas.