jud

Would not be using the Main Battery and the Secondary Battery guns mounted on the turrets at the same time. Guns were not mounted for long on top of turrets until the need for more AA guns in WW 2 came along, Then the US Navy installed quad 40's on top of turrets 2 and 3, manned only during AA action, other countries did the same. The Dreadnought was the first of a type that rapidly was overshadowed and improved upon as more of the Steel Navy evolved, think that Germany had a larger and better armed vessel on the ways before the Dreadnought had her first sea trials, beginning the Battleship race.
jud

Probably, from plans or record measurement of the masts and yards on the Cutty Sark, I would determine the actual size of all. Once I had that I would pick one scale and build all to it, using the actual dimensions for the base. Mast spacing, proportion it, as long as your installed rigging points will work. Doesn't really matter what I might do, you have proven yourself skilled at resolving such problems. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your solution.
jud

Would not be using the Main Battery and the Secondary Battery guns mounted on the turrets at the same time. Guns were not mounted for long on top of turrets until the need for more AA guns in WW 2 came along, Then the US Navy installed quad 40's on top of turrets 2 and 3, manned only during AA action, other countries did the same. The Dreadnought was the first of a type that rapidly was overshadowed and improved upon as more of the Steel Navy evolved, think that Germany had a larger and better armed vessel on the ways before the Dreadnought had her first sea trials, beginning the Battleship race.
jud

Would not be using the Main Battery and the Secondary Battery guns mounted on the turrets at the same time. Guns were not mounted for long on top of turrets until the need for more AA guns in WW 2 came along, Then the US Navy installed quad 40's on top of turrets 2 and 3, manned only during AA action, other countries did the same. The Dreadnought was the first of a type that rapidly was overshadowed and improved upon as more of the Steel Navy evolved, think that Germany had a larger and better armed vessel on the ways before the Dreadnought had her first sea trials, beginning the Battleship race.
jud

Probably, from plans or record measurement of the masts and yards on the Cutty Sark, I would determine the actual size of all. Once I had that I would pick one scale and build all to it, using the actual dimensions for the base. Mast spacing, proportion it, as long as your installed rigging points will work. Doesn't really matter what I might do, you have proven yourself skilled at resolving such problems. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your solution.
jud

Probably, from plans or record measurement of the masts and yards on the Cutty Sark, I would determine the actual size of all. Once I had that I would pick one scale and build all to it, using the actual dimensions for the base. Mast spacing, proportion it, as long as your installed rigging points will work. Doesn't really matter what I might do, you have proven yourself skilled at resolving such problems. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your solution.
jud

Probably, from plans or record measurement of the masts and yards on the Cutty Sark, I would determine the actual size of all. Once I had that I would pick one scale and build all to it, using the actual dimensions for the base. Mast spacing, proportion it, as long as your installed rigging points will work. Doesn't really matter what I might do, you have proven yourself skilled at resolving such problems. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your solution.
jud

Chuck,
I had this same issue when I laid out my gun ports. I used a combination of a beam compass, center finding square, straight edges and lots of patience and remeasuring.
First I laid a line through the center of my barrels on the plans - hard to see in the picture but if you look closely they are there.
 

 
Then I found a point on the plans that I could measure from, in this case I used the center of my cap rail where the port and starboard rails intersected. I opened my beam compass up to a point where it intersected my cannon center line on the cap rail making sure I was measuring to the center of the rail. I am using a regular compas in the picture as my beam compas is at work, or the cat has walked off with it...

 
I dont have pictures of the next steps so I will try to explain. I am too far along on my build to try to show you the rest with pictures.
 
With out changing the setting on my compass I found the same point on the model and transferred a mark to the center of my hull wall. (I know there is a name for that portion of the ship but it is eluding me)  I did that for all the center lines then using a center finding square I marked a line across the wall perpendicular to the curve of the hull. I again used a center finding square to transfer that line down both inboard and out board. I now had a lines that were as close as I could get to being perfectly aligned. After that it was a simple matter to carefully measure out the same distance from my center line to set the width of my port cutouts. The height was set with a small combination square and a micrometer to strike a horizontal center line. Again carefully making sure I was measuring down the same amount on the inboard and outboard sides.
 
After that it was a simple matter of going to my religious house of choice, doing some heavy praying and cutting out my ports. The more experienced may have a more accurate/efficient way of doing it, but that is what worked for me.
 
I hope I explained it properly and that it helps.
edit -  Going off the center line like I did let me measure port and starboard with one measurement, ensuring my ports were lined up correctly
Sam

Probably, from plans or record measurement of the masts and yards on the Cutty Sark, I would determine the actual size of all. Once I had that I would pick one scale and build all to it, using the actual dimensions for the base. Mast spacing, proportion it, as long as your installed rigging points will work. Doesn't really matter what I might do, you have proven yourself skilled at resolving such problems. Good luck, looking forward to seeing your solution.
jud

Very nice work.

Chrome works on my ancient Windows XP .
 
  Danny

Don't believe that whatever is used for a surface plate needs to be level, just a uniform flatness, you are measuring from a reference plane and as long as your model stays put, it makes no difference how plumb it is. Glad to see that you made your own, sorry to hear that you found it needed improvement. Obtaining the Surface Gage you used was a good follow up. From what I can see, it looks like you are doing well with your model.
jud.

A surface plate and one of those devices does a good job for this kind of marking. You can make your own, as many here have done, the home grown models can be simple or complex, both working well for the intended use. A block with a hole bored with it's C/L at the desired height with a pencil poked through the hole, a table or even a clear spot on the floor, will do the job. Good that these types of aids are brought up in posts periodically, new builders may not have seen the things that others have found useful in the past.
jud

Those were the days of, 'more blood, the greater the glory', he showed much better judgment than that. He used enough judgement to win without heavy loss to men and great damage to his command. That matters little to those who were not there,  just like it is today with the arm chair warriors requiring the need for a reason for not wanting a bloody close engagement. Regardless of motive, he displayed the characteristics of a commander I would sail with. Willing to go into harms way, but do it wisely. Having enjoyed some exciting times aboard ships might cloud my view.
jud

Sounds like the Constitution was wisely managed during the whole engagement.
jud

I agree with Allen. If you have the cash visit a shop that makes jewelry and purchase the smallest diameter of soft silver solder they sell. A jig is definitely the way to go to keep alignment. I also use a special liquid acid flux. The flux causes fumes so wear an N-95 mask. The low melting point silver solder will give high tensile strength and you can solder stainless steel, copper, brass, nickel alloys, nickel, chrome plated metal and iron.
 
The stuff is awesome!
 
Jeff

Most will say Silver Solder which is good and you will need a torch to do it. You can obtain solder with different melting points that would allow you to do the work in steps. I would probably braze the flanges on one at a time, You can fabricate a heat sink to protect earlier work while working your way around. You also can obtain a putty like, "Heat Stop" from Brownells. Heat Stop would work with Silver Soldering also.
jud

JanetB
          
                                            I guess i must plead guilty of not completing my build log of AMATIS Red Dragon,but after i had been prescibed a medication which put me in
                                            a wheelchair and also has taken nearly all my strength away i feel ready to build again,no the fire inside of me never went out as i whatched
                                            and followed MSW from my .So it will not be RED DRAGON but HMS SNAKE by Caldercraft as i feel i need a fresh start i will try to do a build
                                            log.
 
                                                                 Regards to all at MSW.

Those were the days of, 'more blood, the greater the glory', he showed much better judgment than that. He used enough judgement to win without heavy loss to men and great damage to his command. That matters little to those who were not there,  just like it is today with the arm chair warriors requiring the need for a reason for not wanting a bloody close engagement. Regardless of motive, he displayed the characteristics of a commander I would sail with. Willing to go into harms way, but do it wisely. Having enjoyed some exciting times aboard ships might cloud my view.
jud

Sounds like the Constitution was wisely managed during the whole engagement.
jud

Jud
 
Careful about signing on to sail into battle with Commodore Bainbridge... Put delicately, hè was not Well liked by his crew. In fact, there was à naar mutiny when Isaac Hull resigned And Bainbridge assumed command of Constitution. Bainbridge didnt hide his disdain of common sailors And treated them with almost no respect. Hè cut à deal with THE crew - if they would give HIM à chance, hè would ease Up on harsh discipline. it worked out in THE end!

I think to that part of the reason that the testimonies given sound so up beat is partly due to the honor of the sailors to tell a truthful account and also of the respect for good seamanship. They felt confident that early on they had if not a clear advantage then at least an equal opportunity to prevail in this fight. Disabling the Constitutions navigation was a confidence builder for them and they had that momentum to carry them forward and ready to board till they became out maneuvered and then lost their forward rigging. The tide had turned and they lost. I think that although they were surely unhappy about their loss, they still respected the enemy enough to give them the respect of an accurate report. Also, what advantage would there be to lying if they ever wanted to improve? The downfall of any military is to ignore the truth behind a loss or the abilities of a superior enemy. If self image become more important than the truth then the war has already been lost. During that time the British Navy was no fool. They would not have wanted a false report to make them look good and ignore the facts. 
 
That being said, they were not just going to tuck tail and be shamed. They fought with honor and bravery and they were going to show and tell that to the superior officers questioning them. A defeat was bad but an honorable defeat could be stomached and paid. To admit cowardice would be the end of the officers on that ship and likely any pay the sailors had coming to them. Regardless of the rules of combat, respect for an enemy and personal honor that the officers were required to live by no sailor in his right mind would say anything but how great their crew was and how they did everything exactly as it should have been. They wanted their money and a place on another ship.    

Obtain some material and learn how to use those items before using them on your model. One of the first things I learned from my first pocket knife was learn to think ahead about the order of doing things, rather than how to use the knife, that came later. Dad had shot a skunk and told me I could have that knife I was wanting, if I buried that skunk,  went right after it, and retrieved the skunk, then dug the hole, 'lesson', dig the hole first before retrieval. You are going to learn many things from those tools you cannot foresee, so be ready. Add sharpening stones to your list and learn how to use them, a skill you will need when working with cutting tools. Enjoy
jud

Those were the days of, 'more blood, the greater the glory', he showed much better judgment than that. He used enough judgement to win without heavy loss to men and great damage to his command. That matters little to those who were not there,  just like it is today with the arm chair warriors requiring the need for a reason for not wanting a bloody close engagement. Regardless of motive, he displayed the characteristics of a commander I would sail with. Willing to go into harms way, but do it wisely. Having enjoyed some exciting times aboard ships might cloud my view.
jud

Those were the days of, 'more blood, the greater the glory', he showed much better judgment than that. He used enough judgement to win without heavy loss to men and great damage to his command. That matters little to those who were not there,  just like it is today with the arm chair warriors requiring the need for a reason for not wanting a bloody close engagement. Regardless of motive, he displayed the characteristics of a commander I would sail with. Willing to go into harms way, but do it wisely. Having enjoyed some exciting times aboard ships might cloud my view.
jud