Der Alte Rentner

Excellent suggestion. I figured that out quickly today as I began working on the kit. I downloaded the instructions for Model Shipways kit to see how those differ from the instruction book that came with the Constructo kit. I also assembled a small library of material on planking. It's slowly sinking in. The Model Shipways instructions refer to their plans to find the location of the bearding and rabbet lines. I suppose I could purchase those. The scale is different, but I imagine I could deal with the scale conversion easily enough. It would probably be a good idea have those plans anyway as I've already found the Constructo plans deficient. Clearly, I have my work cut out for me. I can't remember where I read this in the last couple of days, but I'm going to follow the advice to treat each step as a project on its own. Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated. P.S. Scrolling through your photos I see you've done a nice job of fairing the frames, which will make planking much easier going forward. The Model Shipways instructions again refer their plans for bevel angles to transfer to the bulkheads. This is another deficit in the plans with my kit.

Greetings Mustafa! I too am beginning construction of the USS Constitution, though I'm starting with the Constructo kit. I've done little beyond opening the box and beginning the research. Someone else at this site completed the Constructo kit and I've read all 60 pages of his posts. The first question I had for him seems to have been answered by you. Do I add the keel, sternpost and stem at the beginning and plank afterwards? Or Plank and then somehow fit the keel, sternpost and stem? Before I even begin to glue the frames into the false keel, I want the make sure I have a rock-solid game plan for the planking. I will watch with interest as you progress with your build. Best of luck to you. Der Alte Rentner

Hello Rich, Your last post was almost three years ago, but it was your epic adventure with the Constructo version of the USS Constitution that drew me to the Model Ship World website. I purchased the kit about the time you were finishing up your new base, but it's been collecting dust at my (personal woodworking) shop until I cleared the decks to devote time, space and energy to the project. The time has come, and I am ready to eat start eating that elephant... Having built the Revel plastic kit oh so many moons ago, but having it go south at the very end - the tip of the bowsprit broke while I was doing the rigging, I've been wanting to give a wooden kit a try. Well, I opened the box this week, and started the planning process for the build. Having seen how skimpy the provided instructions were, and having done some preliminary research into planking, I immediately learned that I needed to know more about some of the obstacles you encountered in your build. I'm not clear on the rules at the site for discussion of models, so if a moderator throws a penalty flag on this first query, I would welcome learning how I would go about asking you questions as I embark on my own journey. Your pictures, and those in the kit's instructions, quite light in the details on how to attach the keel, sternpost and stern to your already planked hull. Seems to me that it makes more sense to attach the keel etc. before doing the planking. So, let me begin with a few questions relating specifically to planking: 1. If you had to do it over again, would you have substituted an easier wood to work with to do the first planking then covered that over with the finish veneer provided with the kit. (I'm not sure if yours came with this. There's a note included with my kit that says they included the veneer at the behest of builder's - presumably because of the difficulty working with the hardwood they provided for the primary planking.) 2. How did you carve out the planking at the bow to cleanly accommodate the Stem? 3. Again in retrospect, would you have affixed the stem, sternpost and keel at the beginning and carved out rabbets for bearding the planks flush with the keel etc. Here's hoping you're still perusing the site. and thanks in advance for any help or insight you can provide. Excellent finished project, by the way. Best Der Alte Rentner (the old retiree)