S.Coleman

I have never done this (a build log) before, but from what I've seen, one of the best ways to get advice is to have a build log as a forum for discussion! I have in the past built model cars, but I recently, after a good 20 of years of nothing, decided to get back into it, and then I decided to try my hand at a ship! I built the 1/150 scale Revell USS United States. And I absolutely loved it! I have now decided (perhaps foolishly) to tackle the 1/96 USS Constitution by Revell. 

So I dove in earlier this week from the beginning, painting the hull. I have that mostly complete, still needing to paint the interior, and I've hit the detail areas on the bow and stern as well as on the cabin. Here are my pictures so far. I used a paint pen from Hobby Lobby for the gold and some of the white for the small detail, but a small brush and a toothpick for the other small parts.
 
What I struggled with was the bulwarks color. I have decided to go with a darkish green, similar to what is on the current real life ship. I don't know why Revell wants it white, but I'm rebelling! I have been unable to mix a satisfactory green, so I'm buying some paint today. 

I am very nervous about this ship build because it's a hefty task for someone like me with very little to no experience. Also super excited. Hopefully the community here will be as awesome as it appears to be! 
 
My next task once the hull is complete is going to be an attempt at creating a weathered wood look on the deck. I have seen some vague references to doing this, but I am going with trial and error. If anybody has any input, please let me know! What I've done is grabbed varying colors of brown from light to dark, and I'm going to try to layer them.
 
To be continued!

These elevation marks were made and used only on land-based ordnance. Obviously they would be useless at sea!

That certainly is a rather nice looking rudder you have built up. Good work.

Hey all. While on a Vist to the replica HMS Amity in Albany, Southwest Australia I found a gun on display next to the ship.
As normal I pawed my way all over it and found some measure markings on the rear of the gun.
These were indented on the side. 
Is this for elevation adjustments or are these for some other purpose.
I have not seen these markings before

Hey all. While on a Vist to the replica HMS Amity in Albany, Southwest Australia I found a gun on display next to the ship.
As normal I pawed my way all over it and found some measure markings on the rear of the gun.
These were indented on the side. 
Is this for elevation adjustments or are these for some other purpose.
I have not seen these markings before

Hey all. While on a Vist to the replica HMS Amity in Albany, Southwest Australia I found a gun on display next to the ship.
As normal I pawed my way all over it and found some measure markings on the rear of the gun.
These were indented on the side. 
Is this for elevation adjustments or are these for some other purpose.
I have not seen these markings before

That certainly is a rather nice looking rudder you have built up. Good work.

That certainly is a rather nice looking rudder you have built up. Good work.

Yay that post worked! Perhaps I had too many words in the original... it was long. I'll add the pics to go along with that.

Better than I expected anyways

Thank you Sjors. Itso coming along great.

You are on the right track Scott.
Looks just great!
 
Sjors

Main mast lower and mid yards cut, Tapered and carved.
The lower main yard starts off as 6mm and is Tapered down to 3.5mm
the mid yard starts of as 4mm and is tapered down to 3mm with 2mms carved out at the ends. The main lower yard has to yet have its ends turned down.

Annnd done. 
Have got the drawings out for fabrication of the yards. Just looking and studying them at the moment.
 

Finally. All of the shrouds and ratlines on all 3 masts are complete. Finished off the top fore mast shrouds and ratlines.  
Now the last little bit left on the bowsprit  mast and a couple more lone lines and all standing rigging complete. Another milestone is not far off.

Main mast lower and mid yards cut, Tapered and carved.
The lower main yard starts off as 6mm and is Tapered down to 3.5mm
the mid yard starts of as 4mm and is tapered down to 3mm with 2mms carved out at the ends. The main lower yard has to yet have its ends turned down.

Annnd done. 
Have got the drawings out for fabrication of the yards. Just looking and studying them at the moment.
 

Looking very good. You used exactly the same way that I use to plank my gun ports lids. Best way by far. 
The weathering looks amazing. Is this done by a weathering kit?

Looking very good. You used exactly the same way that I use to plank my gun ports lids. Best way by far. 
The weathering looks amazing. Is this done by a weathering kit?

Main mast lower and mid yards cut, Tapered and carved.
The lower main yard starts off as 6mm and is Tapered down to 3.5mm
the mid yard starts of as 4mm and is tapered down to 3mm with 2mms carved out at the ends. The main lower yard has to yet have its ends turned down.

Annnd done. 
Have got the drawings out for fabrication of the yards. Just looking and studying them at the moment.
 

Looking very good. You used exactly the same way that I use to plank my gun ports lids. Best way by far. 
The weathering looks amazing. Is this done by a weathering kit?

Annnd done. 
Have got the drawings out for fabrication of the yards. Just looking and studying them at the moment.
 

Finally. All of the shrouds and ratlines on all 3 masts are complete. Finished off the top fore mast shrouds and ratlines.  
Now the last little bit left on the bowsprit  mast and a couple more lone lines and all standing rigging complete. Another milestone is not far off.

Thank you very much EJ  it does help having the free time to build.
 
Played with some of the gun ports on the port side. I'll be building her with closed starboard ports and open port side. On one of the original engravings presented to King Charles which the ports are closed, there are lion heads on the outsides of the port lids which would be an interesting look. On various prints of the ship the middle and upper gun port lids have on them painted the St George Cross - white background and Red Cross. There isn't anything shown on the lower gun deck lids which could have had lions heads like the Vasa and what is shown on some engravings, however on the Van der Velde sketch of which I've referred too for most of my build, only the two upper rows with the St George cross are shown and nothing on the lower lids. 
 
Ive attached pics of how I go about the lids,  using ply for the insert piece which is added to strips of planks matching that out the outer hull. Hinges added (I've used the kit ones provided) and attached to the hull. The tops of the brass hinge are over engineered to fit over brass rod to fit over. As these are over scale, on the closed ports these will be trimmed down and I'll make my own hinges on the hull. For the open ports these I find are perfect to fit into the hull side itself. I incise a bit of plank and this brass tab is slid in place and glued. Brass rod is added above to represent the hinge itself. I don't have these working so it looks right even though it doesn't move anything. Single eyelets will be added to the center of the lids with brass eyes for which the inside line will be added. These I've yet to attach.