AndyMech

So, next up, and still very much in progress is creating the masts.  I decided to start with the bowsprit, mainly because it looks interesting, and is of square stock, not round dowels.  All my round dowels that came with the kit are warped like crazy.  I emailed Model Shipways ages ago, asking for replacement parts and got no reply.  At all.  Huh.
 
Anyway, I'll eventually find round dowels locally, I'm sure.  Until then, here's the bowsprit as I've done so far:

This is all dry-fitted, I'm making the bees and the dolphin striker pieces at the moment.
 
Andy.

Well, this should be the final pictures of the build log.  I added the cross section to the same case as my previous Revell Constitution build:
 

 

 

 

 
Thanks to everyone who followed my build log and offered help, suggestions, "likes" and encouragement.
 
Once my Pride of Baltimore II kit arrives, I'll start a build log for that as well.
 
Andy.

Ok, step 8 of the running rigging instructions for the Revell 1:96 USS Constitution is to hang the lifeboats and the Captain's cutter.
 
Ages ago I assembled and painted these boats, with oars, and they've been sitting patiently on a shelf waiting to be added to the model.  One of the jollyboats I painted green, the other white.  This was based off photos of the current Constitution, but I will admit to having no idea if it's representative of how it was back in 1812 or so.  I like having the one boat green, so green it is.
 
Another small deviation was the tying off the lifeboat brace lines.  The instructions have them going to the pinrail around the mizzenmast, right next to the ship's wheel.  I did try for quite a while to get the lines in there, with absolutely no luck.  Then I noticed two eyebolts (one on each side) on the deck that just seemed made for securing these two lines.  I used them instead of the pins and I think it's makes sense (at least to me).
 
Finally, the flag was added.  I used the kit's paper flag - cut it out carefully and used my dilute PVA glue to secure it to the flay halyard.  The ship is complete!
 
Green jolly boat

 
White boat

 
Using deck eyebolts instead of pins.

 
Captain's boat

 
The final touch!

 
 
Thanks to everyone who followed this build on MSW 1.0 and now 2.0.  I purchased the kit on September 15, 2011 and started washing the plastic a couple of days later.  Ship complete on May 4, 2013.  1 Year, 8 months total time and I have no idea how many hours of actual construction time.
 
Next up for me will be long neglected home chores.  Next ship will be a wooden ship.  I've already purchased the Syren, but I will do a smaller wood ship or two to get familiar with the medium before going at the Syren.  Suggestions are welcome, I was thinking of a Midwest products ships - something quick, but allow me to learn planking.
 
Andy.

Hi,
 
A few posts back, Kim generously offered to build a display case for this ship, now completed.  I was really touched, but I had to turn him down as I had just started working with a friend of mine on building my own.  My friend has a nicely equipped woodshop in his basement and offered to help me out if I bought the materials.  I purchased an ebook with plans and started working on it about a month ago.  Out of respect for the eBook author, I'll not show full construction, but just a few shots of the work.
 
For a base, I used a half sheet of baltic birch plywood, 41" x 19":
 

 
I bought a nice piece of clear pine, and we ripped 3/4" square rods from it.  After they were done, we notched it 3/16" deep with a table saw.  These form the frame, the notches for the glass.  The supports are 30" high, which is maybe too tall, but better than too short!
 

 
The completed case awaiting stain.  I used General Finishes Prairie Wheat in gel form.  Wipe on, wipe off.
 

 
Stained:
 

 
After staining, I applied two coats of polyurethane.  Not the wipe on, but brushed and in semi-gloss.  
 
Just today, glass arrived, and here the glass is being installed.
 

 
I put in the ship, but it's not secured yet.  I'm going to wait until my cross section is done and I'll replace the canoe with the cross section - I hope it makes for a nice overall display.  Then, I'll mount the Connie on a base and screw that base to the display base.
 



 

Russ,
 
Thanks for for that advice.  I did something similar to the bowsprit, as it starts square, has an octagonal section, and finally rounds out near the tenon.  I found it wasn’t too hard to round it, and I’ve used a power drill as you described as well.
 
Andy

Is there an alternative to dowels?  I’m open to ideas. Square stock, perhaps?

So, next up, and still very much in progress is creating the masts.  I decided to start with the bowsprit, mainly because it looks interesting, and is of square stock, not round dowels.  All my round dowels that came with the kit are warped like crazy.  I emailed Model Shipways ages ago, asking for replacement parts and got no reply.  At all.  Huh.
 
Anyway, I'll eventually find round dowels locally, I'm sure.  Until then, here's the bowsprit as I've done so far:

This is all dry-fitted, I'm making the bees and the dolphin striker pieces at the moment.
 
Andy.

Finally, I made and glued in the channels - 2 per side with the holes for the eventual rigging in place.  For added strength, I added a metal rod to each channel, drilled  hole in the hull where they mount.  I also sanded off all the paint to ensure a good, strong bond.  


Work does continue, as I believe the main deck elements are done.  I know, it may not look like it, as pretty much all the stuff is not yet glued or placed on deck, but it's off on a shelf in my room so I don't damage it with further work.  The deck has all the holes and cutouts, etc, needed to securely mount them all when needed.
 
Andy.
 

I also assembled the cannon carriages.  The cannons themselves are painted black, the carriages are from laser cut wood, painted red (of course).
 
Now, most ship builders, myself included, usually mount the cannons in a ready-to-fire mode, pointing out the ports, elaborate rigging, etc.  However, I saw some photos of the modern Pride, at sea, and the cannons were stowed sideways, and lashed to the bulkhead/railing.  So, in the interest of doing something different, I decided to mount them that way on my model.


I also then made and glued the cannon port doors, in the closed position:

September of last year.  Wow.  I've not given up, despite the long delay.
 
So, first thing done is the ship's boat.  This is a bread-and-butter construction, sanded down and stained and painted.

The oars where shaped from single pieces of wood strips, sanded and stained again.  Pretty fun to make, now that I think about it.
 
Andy.

Russ,
 
Thanks for for that advice.  I did something similar to the bowsprit, as it starts square, has an octagonal section, and finally rounds out near the tenon.  I found it wasn’t too hard to round it, and I’ve used a power drill as you described as well.
 
Andy

Finally, I made and glued in the channels - 2 per side with the holes for the eventual rigging in place.  For added strength, I added a metal rod to each channel, drilled  hole in the hull where they mount.  I also sanded off all the paint to ensure a good, strong bond.  


Work does continue, as I believe the main deck elements are done.  I know, it may not look like it, as pretty much all the stuff is not yet glued or placed on deck, but it's off on a shelf in my room so I don't damage it with further work.  The deck has all the holes and cutouts, etc, needed to securely mount them all when needed.
 
Andy.
 

Is there an alternative to dowels?  I’m open to ideas. Square stock, perhaps?

Finally, I made and glued in the channels - 2 per side with the holes for the eventual rigging in place.  For added strength, I added a metal rod to each channel, drilled  hole in the hull where they mount.  I also sanded off all the paint to ensure a good, strong bond.  


Work does continue, as I believe the main deck elements are done.  I know, it may not look like it, as pretty much all the stuff is not yet glued or placed on deck, but it's off on a shelf in my room so I don't damage it with further work.  The deck has all the holes and cutouts, etc, needed to securely mount them all when needed.
 
Andy.
 

So, next up, and still very much in progress is creating the masts.  I decided to start with the bowsprit, mainly because it looks interesting, and is of square stock, not round dowels.  All my round dowels that came with the kit are warped like crazy.  I emailed Model Shipways ages ago, asking for replacement parts and got no reply.  At all.  Huh.
 
Anyway, I'll eventually find round dowels locally, I'm sure.  Until then, here's the bowsprit as I've done so far:

This is all dry-fitted, I'm making the bees and the dolphin striker pieces at the moment.
 
Andy.

So, next up, and still very much in progress is creating the masts.  I decided to start with the bowsprit, mainly because it looks interesting, and is of square stock, not round dowels.  All my round dowels that came with the kit are warped like crazy.  I emailed Model Shipways ages ago, asking for replacement parts and got no reply.  At all.  Huh.
 
Anyway, I'll eventually find round dowels locally, I'm sure.  Until then, here's the bowsprit as I've done so far:

This is all dry-fitted, I'm making the bees and the dolphin striker pieces at the moment.
 
Andy.

Finally, I made and glued in the channels - 2 per side with the holes for the eventual rigging in place.  For added strength, I added a metal rod to each channel, drilled  hole in the hull where they mount.  I also sanded off all the paint to ensure a good, strong bond.  


Work does continue, as I believe the main deck elements are done.  I know, it may not look like it, as pretty much all the stuff is not yet glued or placed on deck, but it's off on a shelf in my room so I don't damage it with further work.  The deck has all the holes and cutouts, etc, needed to securely mount them all when needed.
 
Andy.
 

I also assembled the cannon carriages.  The cannons themselves are painted black, the carriages are from laser cut wood, painted red (of course).
 
Now, most ship builders, myself included, usually mount the cannons in a ready-to-fire mode, pointing out the ports, elaborate rigging, etc.  However, I saw some photos of the modern Pride, at sea, and the cannons were stowed sideways, and lashed to the bulkhead/railing.  So, in the interest of doing something different, I decided to mount them that way on my model.


I also then made and glued the cannon port doors, in the closed position:

September of last year.  Wow.  I've not given up, despite the long delay.
 
So, first thing done is the ship's boat.  This is a bread-and-butter construction, sanded down and stained and painted.

The oars where shaped from single pieces of wood strips, sanded and stained again.  Pretty fun to make, now that I think about it.
 
Andy.

So, next up, and still very much in progress is creating the masts.  I decided to start with the bowsprit, mainly because it looks interesting, and is of square stock, not round dowels.  All my round dowels that came with the kit are warped like crazy.  I emailed Model Shipways ages ago, asking for replacement parts and got no reply.  At all.  Huh.
 
Anyway, I'll eventually find round dowels locally, I'm sure.  Until then, here's the bowsprit as I've done so far:

This is all dry-fitted, I'm making the bees and the dolphin striker pieces at the moment.
 
Andy.

The reason for the rope and chain is simple - that's the specification in the plans, and in photos of the ship.  I'd post it here, but am unclear on copyright for it.  And, no, I found no eyelet for the hawse holes, and it's too late now to add them, as the rope/chain is already threaded through.
 
Thanks for the thoughts, but I'm not too keen on re-work for them - it was hard enough getting them to their current state.
 
Currently working on the cannons.  I was thinking of putting them in a "stowed" manner instead of pointing through the gunports, just for something different.  I found a nice photo of that a while ago, but can't find it again, so we'll see.  I'll get pictures up when it's done.
 
Andy.

I finished up the windlass and anchors.  To do them, I had first drill the hawse holes on port and starboard, which was a little tricky, but managed.  I put the windlass itself on two supporting planks, which is a simplification of the instructions, but looks ok in my opinion.
The anchors wouldn't blacken, so I had to paint them.  Mounting the tying in the anchors was pretty easy, then run the chain and rope to the windlass, and finally glued the chain/rope to the chain pipes.
 

 
Finally, I used thread instead of wire for the windlass connector, as working with fine wire seemed pretty impossible.

I finished up the windlass and anchors.  To do them, I had first drill the hawse holes on port and starboard, which was a little tricky, but managed.  I put the windlass itself on two supporting planks, which is a simplification of the instructions, but looks ok in my opinion.
The anchors wouldn't blacken, so I had to paint them.  Mounting the tying in the anchors was pretty easy, then run the chain and rope to the windlass, and finally glued the chain/rope to the chain pipes.
 

 
Finally, I used thread instead of wire for the windlass connector, as working with fine wire seemed pretty impossible.

I finished up the windlass and anchors.  To do them, I had first drill the hawse holes on port and starboard, which was a little tricky, but managed.  I put the windlass itself on two supporting planks, which is a simplification of the instructions, but looks ok in my opinion.
The anchors wouldn't blacken, so I had to paint them.  Mounting the tying in the anchors was pretty easy, then run the chain and rope to the windlass, and finally glued the chain/rope to the chain pipes.
 

 
Finally, I used thread instead of wire for the windlass connector, as working with fine wire seemed pretty impossible.

Oh, I reference your build and photos all the time.  They’re a great help!
 
Andy.