AnobiumPunctatum

“Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!”
(Unknown sailor, USS Constitution, 19 August 1812, battle with HMS Guerriere)
 
"Building a new Navy for the 'new' United States"
                                                                     The American Revolution ended in 1783, and the new United States sent its merchant fleet afar to trade in spices, fish,
                                                                   leather, etc. to rebuild its economy. However. The last Continental Navy warship was effectively sold in 1785, and US
                                                                   merchant vessels thereafter sailed unprotected. This lack of protection soon became a problem, especially when sailing
                                                                   off of North Africa in the 1790's, and finally Congress authorized a new navy, in 1794, to protect the fleet. Between 1797
                                                                   and 1800, 6 frigates were launched: United States, Constellation, Constitution, Chesapeake, Congress, and President.
                                                                   USS Constitution, launched 21 October 1797, is the sole survivor (USS Constellation, in Baltimore Harbor, is the 1854 warship
                                                                   of the same name). Joshua Humphreys designed theses frigates to be the strongest, fastest, and most heavily armed warships
                                                                   of the era. Constitution’s hull is 3-layers of wood: exterior & interior oak planking and dense live oak framing (ribs) spaced 'close
                                                                   together' as the middle layer. At the waterline, the ship is over 22” thick... and this thick, strong and dense hull makes up her
                                                                  “iron” sides. When hit with enemy fire, Constitution’s hull either repelled the cannon shot's, and/or effectively absorbed them, due
                                                                   to her massive hull, thus helping to prevent serious damage to the ship while also minimizing casualties to her crew. Between
                                                                  1798 and 1854, Constitution was victorious in 33 engagements and a great deal of her fame rests in her 3 stunning victories over
                                                                  Royal Navy vessels in the War of 1812. The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship on the U.S. Navy roster. Still seaworthy
                                                                  and served by Navel officers and crew to this very day! 
 
                                                                                                                            _______________________________________________________
 
... and so the build begins!
 
  I've acquired a copy of Joshua Humphreys original hull design from 1794, courtesy of the 'Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment, Boston'. This will make for a proper start to this historic project. 
My goal is to reconstruct an accurate depiction, in scale, of the USS Constitution as she was originally designed, by Joshua Humphreys in 1794. This build will begin with my restoration and clarification of the original hull drawing, via Autocad, as there are portions of this original drawing that have obviously lost a bit of needful detail via the ages. Mid-ship frame details, via the body plan, will likely be difficult to accurately recreate, therefore, I'll likely make those frames a bit proud both internally 'and' externally, for safety... and simply fair them down to their proper forms once it's time to fair the hull's frames to shape.
 I've not yet decided as to the true scale that I'll actually be building her to, however. I'm currently 'thinking' somewhere around 1/75'ish. Larger, maybe, but definitely no smaller than 1/75. I'll also likely build a rather lengthy mid-section 'prototype' prior to going for the full length build. I can see a lot of potential 'difficulties' to be encountered in such a complex build. A prototype, whether I finish it, or not, should prove to be a good 'test-bed' from which I can figure out just how in the h*ll I'm going to pull this off to personally 'acceptable' standards. It's going to be very interesting and time consuming, for sure! 
 
This is what I'm starting with. It's Humphreys original draft of the constitution's original hull as designed in 1794. Sorry for all of the edits to this post. I was trying to post the hull drawing that I received, in .pdf format, from the Naval History & Heritage Command, but no joy. You'll have to settle for this much smaller 'jpeg', instead of the actual 5' foot long drawing... 
  
 
 
 

Hi Ed,
 
what a really beautiful model. Congratulation for finishing her.

Good morning.

The bow section is a separate piece and until now dry fit.
Cheers

Thanks everyone for the "Likes".  I finally finished installing the simulated nails using 10LB black monofilament line.  I cut a short length of the line, dipped the end in some titebond glue and then inserted the glued end in the holes that I had previously drilled in the planks using a #77 bit.  Once finished and the glue dried, I trimmed the monofilament line close to the plank using a sharp blade.  I then gave the hull a light sanding and applied a light coat of Wipe On Poly.  Here is a picture of the line before I trimmed it.

Here is the hull with the monofilament line trimmed and a light coat of Wipe On Poly applied:

I then sanded the inside of the hull and applied Wipe On Poly.

Next up is to paint the cap rail and then install the friezes and the molding.  That will complete Chapter 3 of the instructions.

I think, this one is better. 
 

Your work is seriously lacking...in resolution. Seriously Mark, work of this quality demands higher resolution photographs so we can better appreciate those minute details.
 
Your planking runs are lovely!

Small progress, finishing the first strake of 4" planking above the black strake.  The aft-most last planks here were surprisingly challenging to shape. The uppermost curve did not fit any of my sanding templates, appearing to be more of a part of an ellipse than a circle. Although it is an arc of a circle when drawn straight on in the sheer elevation, because of the tumble-home in, and raking back, the actual curve is something more complex. Now I understand this, the next planks in this area should go more smoothly--or so I naively think before I actually try-- 🙂
 
I decided to trim the upper edges of the planking at the gun ports by turning the hull upside down and using a sanding stick through the opposite ports, as I learned from the Fully Framed Model books, and as I did when I first cut the ports in the hull. It is otherwise too hard to see the edge of the port framing to which the planking needs to align. The aft-most port has not yet been trimmed at the top in this photo.
 
Mark

Our fully rigged Swan class  3D model is almost complete. How cool would it have been to have this photo when building your fully framed model? The CD should be ready later this year. Kudos to Denis!
 

Thanks for all the likes and comments.
 
I decided to start work on the exterior planking above the wales, the wales themselves were masked off as you can see to try and protect them somewhat.
Im going to try and follow my planking plan as close as the hull allows.
First 3 strakes completed and beginning on the fourth, and it’s quite close to plan so far.
 
ben

Work on Pegasus has begun again, the first 4 strakes  above the wales have been installed and now I’m treenailing while I can see the framing positions.
I’m using boxwood for treenail material drawn down to #18 hole on Byrnes plate, and I’m glad that it’s pretty subtle so far.
 
ben

And with that the last of the woodwork on the boat itself is finished!
 

IHi all, thanks LS, 
Not a lot been done on Triton since last time, I've planked up to the sheer rail but till I get some more wood to do the main wale I'm not going any further. 
Till next time, 
Cheers 

Hi.
Finally decide update my topic with couple picture. 
I have not done much.
But that's better than nothing:)
 

It has been six months since this log was last updated. It seems that the usual culprits of work, life and other projects and priorities have conspired against making progress. I did at last return to the build last weekend, although did not update progress as there was nothing really to show. The frames have been permanently attached to the keel, and then faired ready for planking. I then lined off the hull following Chuck's excellent instructions.
 

 
Planking commenced with the Garboard strake, per the instructions. A small travel iron was used to provide the twist and bend required for these strakes. I cut one of the aft sections too short and so had to cut a new plank – no problem thanks to the extra material provided and the laser cut outline providing the template for the new plank. Then, when attempting to place the second (forward) plank, I discovered I’d made the new aft one too narrow. Fortunately, I'd used PVA rather than CA (which I have an allergic reaction to), so out with the isopropyl alcohol and off it came. Third time is the charm as they say, and so it was. Both Garboard planks on both sides now fitted.
 


 
Hopefully it won't be another six months before the next update!
 
 

Beam 6 installed

Hi all Ship mates.
 
Small update of my work progress.



And couple more bits & pieces
 


 

One possibilty is a stretching of the paper if you glue it on the timber.
In my opinion it's not a problem to send over the line. Let enough wood at the side of the frame that you can check the shape later.
 

Welcome in the Triton shipyards and a lot of fun with your build

One possibilty is a stretching of the paper if you glue it on the timber.
In my opinion it's not a problem to send over the line. Let enough wood at the side of the frame that you can check the shape later.
 

Welcome in the Triton shipyards and a lot of fun with your build

Welcome in the Triton shipyards and a lot of fun with your build

Hi...