Glen McGuire

PFC Pile and cousin Goober are a talented pair. Not many seamen could take the ship out for a spin when there are no sails yet!

That shed looks great, Keith! Well done so far.

A couple of months ago, @Keith Black sent me this MSW post from a gentleman in Austin, Texas who was looking for help completing a model. https://modelshipworld.com/topic/36787-looking-for-assistance-completing-model/ Since I also live in Austin, Keith thought this might be of some interest to me. He was right. The gentleman, Carson, was looking for someone to complete a model his father had been working on before unexpectedly passing away late last year. He and his family were hoping to have the model completed as a way to honor and remember their father. I contacted Carson, found out more about the model, and agreed to finish it up for them. I picked up the model earlier this week and have just started to examine it and the kit's documentation. I will also be studying some of the Constitution build logs out here on MSW. Once I get my arms around the whole thing, I’ll put together a plan for how to attack this project. The model is the Blue Jacket Bicentennial Edition of the U.S.S. Constitution. Carson’s father had done a significant amount of very nice work on the model - completing the hull, outfitting both the gun and spar decks, stepping the masts, and completing the complex bowsprit rigging. It appears he was on the verge of diving into the real fun that goes with all the standing and running rigging. Somewhere along the way, the model took some hits and suffered a bit of damage. But just like the real Old Ironsides, the model survived with the hull intact and just a few repairs needed. So this project will be a repair job at first followed by completion of the construction. For repairs, here’s what I’m seeing on initial review: 1. The most significant damage is to the bowsprit which is broken in a couple of places. 2. The sky sail pole on the main mast was broken at some point but has been repaired to a degree. 3. The davits for ship’s boats on both sides are broken off. 4. The masts have been stepped, but the glue bond on the fore and main has come undone, so they will need to be re-stepped at the proper rake. 5. The netting for the hammock storage has some minor dings. Other than that, I believe, the model is in good shape and I hope to complete the model in a way that properly honors Carson's father. I know there are many folks here on MSW that have extensive experience with the Constitution and perhaps the Blue Jacket kit itself. So please do not hesitate to offer comments, critiques, and suggestions. I welcome it all. Following are pictures that show the current state of the model. I’ll start with my favorite which shows all the damage to the bowsprit assembly. Yet Old Glory survives and still waves proudly above it all!

Fantastic job on that net! Very well done and your choice of material was spot on.

"DonKeith Oaty". I'm dying!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Yes, Keith! Definitely a better shade of boxcar red. At least for my eye.

That's what we do!

I think the burnt sienna is too brown if you are trying for boxcar red. I envision it more red than brown like the pics below. I would do a base of a reddish-brown (a bit more more red than brown) and add some weathering techniques.

Epic save, Steven! Looks great.

The tarmac and the figure really make a nice presentation. Wonderful job, Mike!

Hey Bob. You've overcome things that are a whole lot tougher than a piece of upside down photo-etch! I doubt anyone would have noticed had you not pointed it out.

I just discovered this build log and got caught up on it. You really are a master with paint. I have learned so much from you. Also, the landing gear build was superlative. Well, done, Mike!

Beautiful work, Peter! Very impressive!!

She is looking grand, Bob. Full speed ahead! BTW, does PFC Pile have his cousin Goober hiding in the shop somewhere?

That bare hull is a work of art!

Nope. You got me on that one, Keith.

That's a nice job carving out that transom design, Chris!

Same here! I think a bottle project would be a great way to keep the momentum going!

I remember a comment from someone when I first joined this forum regarding screwups. I don't remember the exact words nor who it was that made the comment, but the gist of it was, "Don't spend too much time worrying about your mistakes. It's wood. It can be fixed." And yours is just the latest example. Keep your head up and keep moving forward, Bob!

Wonderful work on that keel bow curve! Looks superb.

Just like your Tennessee - very clean and crisp build. Looks great, Keith!

That is awesome!

Your cat needs to get busy and clear the workshop of all those Canadian rats!

The picture in the previous post definitely look like a bracket of some type. And the pole in the above looks like its attached at the same point. But I don't know what the usage would be.

Looks like there is paint rubbed off of it. Maybe a rubbing knob in addition to the rubbing strip that rest just beneath??