GGibson

Bingo... After I finished my Santa Maria and before I start the Constitution, I gave my shipyard a deep clean... took everything off of shelves and tables and wiped everything down, vacuumed, dusted, etc. Can't tell you how many times I said to myself "So that's where that ended up...!" 🤷‍♂️😅 OK, Peter, on this issue I am going to side with Mustafa and Jon on the twist. I just received another addition to my Constitution library, Olaf A. Eriksen's "Constitution - All Sails Up and Flying", which appears to be an awesome study of how the Constitution was rigged in 1815. Here's a page from his "Strapping of Blocks" section. Sorry for the poor attempt at taking a picture. In these diagrams, the hook appears to be turned 90 degrees from the eyebolt.

Thanks, Jon! You have truly been one of my inspirations, watching your Constitution build and appreciating the research you have done and that you share with others. 👍

If you want a new page, I think all you need to do is ask one of the moderators... they are happy to send you one... 🤷‍♂️🤣🤣 Seriously, I have no clue, but as a non-IT/website guy, I'm guessing it has something to do with the "bytes per page" with a combination of text and pictures and the size of pictures that folks post. As far as most pages in a build log, you might think that the more difficult or challenging the ship, perhaps the more posts and ultimately more pages. But, if the Constitution falls under that category, some of the best completed build logs I have been researching are barely even 50 total pages. There is a USF Confederacy build log that hit 74 pages. When I was building my HM Schooner Ballahoo, there was another builder who seemed to post an update after every eyebolt and nail he attached, but in looking back at it now, his was only 35 pages, albeit a smaller ship and a much less complex build. If you hit 100 pages, Peter, we'll throw a party... probably just a "virtual" party, but a party, nonetheless... 👍🏆🥳🎉

What are you using to sand them down? A sandpaper block may have too much back & forth force that it is breaking the glue adhesion. Do you have a Dremel or similar tool that has the round sanding discs? That always worked well for me to knock down post heights. And, sand down to the top plank on the installed bulwarks.

Thank you, sir! From reviewing everyone else's build log, it's definitely going to be long. My current plan is for me to outlast the build! 🤷‍♂️😅

I do pretty much the same as what Mustafa does. Put just a dab of CA or nail polish on the rope in the channel on either side of the block. Give it a bit to set, then tie the knot on the back side. I will also use my "3rd hand" apparatus to hold the block and rope in its place while I secure.

Thank you, Mustafa! Your build has been a great inspiration for me. I appreciate your work and your advice. Thank you, Jim! Likewise looking forward to watching your build, as well, sir!

I, too, watched the Stanley Cup game last night... through both overtime periods... in my shipyard... but didn't get any busy work done... and today I am tired from lack of sleep. Go figure! 🤷‍♂️ Ingenious way to create those hooked blocks, Peter! What size/length are those hooks you created? Syren does sell some 3mm, 4mm & 5mm-sized hooks, as well. In my previous builds, I have frequently been a "if I can find it somewhere rather than create it, I'll buy it" kind of guy. I am sure I will have to change that attitude once I get deep into this Constitution. Good work, sir! Carry on!

Hey Jim... I just found your build recently, as well. I will just be beginning my Constitution build in the coming weeks but have been following Jon and some other awesome Model Shipways and scratch-build 1:76-ish build logs for quite some time in order to get educated. And, you are correct, at some point in our collective builds, no matter the company source or scale, a lot of similarities in "hoops to jump thru" become apparent. Although I am also building the Model Shipways 1:76 version, I have the BlueJacket Bicentennial Edition instruction manual as a resource. Looking forward to watching your progress, sir. Looking great so far! Carry on! 👍

Will be interested in hearing your opinion. 👍

Yep, sorry, gang… Another Constitution build log… Those that have read any of my posts on my recently-completed Santa Maria build log or seen comments that I have made on some other’s current Constitution build logs are probably aware that the Model Shipways’ USS Constitution was next on my shipyard list. I am excited to get this one started! I purchased this Model Shipways kit back in March 2024 when Model Expo had a huge discount sale so, along with a store credit I had with Model Expo, I was able to buy the kit for cheap cheap and could not resist adding this historic ship to my shipyard. So, since that March date, I have been trying to do as much research as possible, jumping in, taking notes and asking questions on several of the current Constitution build logs. In that research, I have acquired numerous books and documents that everyone is familiar with and that I am sure I will continue to use as resources during this build: Anatomy of the Ship: The 44-Gun Frigate USS Constitution – Karl Heinz Marquardt USS Constitution 1812-1815 (Blue Jacket) – Laurence Arnot Ship Model Making, Volume III, U.S. Frigate Constitution – Captain E. Armitage McCann Constitution Close Up: Minutiae for the Modeler and Artist – Cmdr. Tyrone G. Martin As I was preparing for this build after I bought the Model Shipways kit, I also purchased Bob Hunt's complete Constitution practicum and, as others have done, will use it as an additional resource during the build process. I was fortunate when I began this model shipbuilding hobby a few years back to find this Model Ship World website, where we can share ideas, ask and answer questions, receive praise in our triumphs and receive comfort in our tribulations. Active Constitution builders that I have been following and that have been invaluable in my preparation include @JSGerson, @mtbediz, @Der Alte Rentner, @Unegawahya, @kmart and @Geoff Matson. I have also reviewed some amazing completed build logs by @xken, @usedtosail, @Modeler12 and others. Thank you to all! You are all to be commended for your model shipbuilding skills and your ability to find solutions in difficult situations. Even though I am sure to stumble often, your collective display of perseverance will hopefully carry me through to a magnificent completion… however long it takes! 😅 With all that said, the $64,000 question is… what version of this iconic Constitution will I be building? Well, you could probably conclude from my reading list above that I have really wanted to concentrate on the 1812 version. But there have been countless times where I have changed my mind to its present-day version. I never really considered the original 1797 ship version, or the 1927 and 2015 major revisions. I’ll do my best to stay as close as I can to that 1812 Captain Issac Hull model. If I can steal the term that Tom ( @usedtosail ) used several times in his awesome build log, my Constitution will strive to be “1812-ish”. And, as several others have done, I will do some kit bashing, and I will have a detailed gun deck and some form of exposed spar deck. I’m even taking a trip to Boston this fall and, of course, both a Fenway Park ballgame and a Constitution tour are on the itinerary. Let’s just say right now, though, this will not be a historically accurate museum piece, but rather I will enjoy building it as mine. I am guaranteed to get frustrated multiple times in the build process, but I will definitely have fun. And that’s what it’s all about… So… the month of June is going to be a busy “family time” month with grandkids visiting, so I probably won’t get much done in the coming weeks, but I’m looking forward to this journey. I will encourage and I appreciate all the comments, advice and criticism fellow builders have to offer. Y’all are awesome. Carry on. Thanks…

I have always had great success with Ropes of Scale with my rope purchases and, like I mentioned with the blocks and using Syren exclusively, I haven't used kit-supplied rope in several of my past ship builds. Although I hear great reports about Chuck's rope at Syren, I have stuck with Ben at Ropes of Scale. Chuck will always get my rigging blocks and deadeyes business, though. With that said, do take into consideration that Ropes of Scale is a Canadian-based company, so not sure how the current tariff situation might affect pricing and shipping. If that might become an issue, I wouldn't hesitate to go with Syren.

Will be interesting to hear others more knowledgeable than me chime in on actual rope sizes being used on the Constitution's carronades, but... Ropes of Scale, which is my favorite model rope vendor, has their smallest ropes at 0.25mm (0.009") and 0.35mm (0.013"), which are generally the sizes I use for rigging... The 0.35mm for the running rigging and the smaller 0.25mm to tie or strop the ropes at the blocks. So, If I'm doing my scale conversions correctly, 0.013" x 76.8 scale = 0.9984", or just short of a 1" diameter rope. That seems about the right scale, doesn't it?

I need to find some slightly "weaker" hemostats, as many of the smaller blocks on my Santa Maria rigging were getting crushed by the hemostat I have, so I was just using the clips on my helping hand to hold the blocks while stropping.

I haven't used Model Shipways' kit-supplied blocks since... my first Norwegian Sailing Pram and then I learned better. I love Syren for their blocks, and have already forewarned Chuck that, whenever I get to my Constitution carronades and rigging (haha, seriously?!?), I'll be placing an order. Attaching hooks to the blocks should be an easy task, Peter. And there are plenty of posts here on MSW regarding stropping techniques.