USS Constitution by Modeler12 - FINISHED - Model Shipways

[Modeler12]

Rigging the fore mast topsail.

 

Pulling the lines from the sail up through the blocks and then down to the deck might seem relatively easy. 

The problem is that I loose track very quickly what line is where. I take them one at a time and when it reaches the deck I put a small piece of tape on it along with the cleat number per the rigging plan.

Notice in the picture below that most of the lines have to go aft of the jack. On the port side this gets to be a bit crowded. I cannot tighten the lines too much until the starboard side is done and the whole thing is raised to its final position. Then all lines will be belayed.

  

 

I have to refer to three large drawings (#6,7 and 8).
One lies on my desk; the other two are taped to my collection of 'junk' from around the world. One corner is taped to a didgeridoo (next to a bamboo harmonica from Thailand and a bagpipe from Scotland). I have about twelve flutes from Europe, Hawaii, South America, China, etc.

[Modeler12]

Here is an interesting one. It is the bow line (fore top sail again), the line that pulls the sail leech forward.

From the three sections at the sail it goes forward to a tiny block on the bowsprit. Then it goes to the left of the sign in the picture below, is threaded through the guide on top of the rail to the fife rail. The second picture shows the thin line after I looped it around a belaying pin. The clothespin is to hold the line taut until I am ready with the final setup. 

 

The little blocks (p/s) were installed more than a year ago and I finally got to use them. In the pictures below the port bowline is not yet threaded through.

 

  

[Modeler12]

In my opinion, it is a mistake to not include the lifts.  They are a major player in the control of the yard.  You would not want to have uncontrolled up and down movement of the yard arms putting strain on the sails and gear.

Henry, I had some more thoughts about what you said and decided that after I am done with the fore topsail I am going to try to add at least a few very visible lift lines.

You were so right and my plans so vague at the time I started this project. The drawings show a loose line hanging from the spars (as if they were an after-thought, perhaps). My mistake. But your explanation brought me back to what the whole sailing thing is all about. 

 

On my model the royal and topgallant spars are furled and lowered. This would be a good place to start adding lift lines. They would look appropriate. In fact, the lines can go to some some 'blocks' I already have up there (maybe as a premonition at the time I glued them in place). It would be difficult to properly install lift lines on the three topsails. They are busy enough. I will consider doing it with the lower jacks later.

 

I don't know if there are good explanations about rigging and what and what not to include. I am a bit of a maverick and don't follow instructions very well. Hence, I have not read up on this whole thing before I got started on the rigging, but I learned the hard way. Now I am smarter, but not yet smart enough. 

So, my friend, thanks for this honest and valuable remark.

[popeye2sea]

Your builds rigging is coming along nicely.  I'm glad I could help

[Modeler12]

Well, Henry, like I said, I will be adding those lift lines per your suggestion.
Here is a start

 

 

This looks much better than the royal on the fore mast below. That poor guy didn't get a lift yet.

 

 

I must admit that at this stage I am taking a few shortcuts (cheating actually) and hide the 'belaying points'.
As you can see the 'blocks' on top are actually bullseyes; they are really the same size (camera angle I guess).

 

But now I have to finish what I was doing before on the fore . . . . ????

[GLakie]

It's amazing how much a little detail like that adds to the over-all appearance. Nice job!

 

Cheers

[popeye2sea]

That is looking really fine.

[Modeler12]

Thank you guys. Indeed the lifts on top really stand out. I will do the same with most of the others, but the topsail would be difficult. Besides the sails would tend to hide the lift lines when viewed from the bow.

Now I will continue and stop when the rigging is almost done.

[Modeler12]

 Fore top sail in place and most of the lifts installed.

Lots of clean up and some repair is in order.

Then it is a matter of 'filling' and fine tuning the set of the sails.

 

BTW the picture doesn't show a lot of the lines (contrast?), but there are lift lines on top .

Edited January 27, 2015 by Modeler12

[Modeler12]

OK, this is what I have thus far: A bunch of wooden slats, some guns, some cloth and lots of memories of how I put them together.

 

But I am not yet done. I am sure Captain Steve is wondering about the whale boats. And others will say that there are those hammocks on the top rail.

I have patience (or is it patients?) and will continue installing a few more things.

 

[GLakie]

She's looking really good Jay! 

 

Cheers

[Modeler12]

In a plastic bag from long ago, I found the two whale boats and a bunch of other gear that include the davits and rigging for those boats. I had put this together more than a year ago and just wanted to refresh my memory what to do with them. 

 

Since this model will be against a wall, the port side is less important and will have a whale boat that is covered with tarp, as shown. It still will suspended from the davit system per the plan. The other boat will be on the starboard side. It is a bit more interesting with the seats and other details. The plans are good in locating and providing details about where and how to mount them.

  OOPS wrong picture 

 

I just want to make sure there are no other 'situations' (eg  the main braces).

 

BTW the black netting to the right in the top picture will be used for the hammock holders along with the brass parts in the kit. The two poles (shown vertical below) are studding booms that will be attached next to the hull. In this case they will be more of a decoration because I am not including the studding booms that go on top of the spars sticking outboard (or will I??).

 

Now it is a matter of doing all the repair and other things I have talked about.

[robnbill]

She is coming together. It is difficult to pace yourself when you can see the finish line!

[Modeler12]

Here is a more detailed lay out of all those pieces I had saved. Besides the two boats, of course, there was all the hardware to mount them to davits. I may have to change a couple blocks on the starboard side with the better ones from Warner Woods West, but all and all it was nice to have these pieces.

 

Some of these parts go to the outside of the rails and some mount to the channels (see drawing 5 center left).

I was surprised to find all the hardware (memory fades after 70).

 

 

[Modeler12]

She is coming together. It is difficult to pace yourself when you can see the finish line!

You are tutin right, Bill. 

I have not seen what you are doing with your display-case lately, but I am sure it will be a beaut. 

 

That will be another project for me. But, just like you, I am somewhat familiar with putting pieces of wood together to make a display case. Glass . . . . ???? I will consider what you did, but in my case, I only have to be 'careful' on five sides . . .  the back is against the wall.

[robnbill]

Yes. That is why I went with ¼" tempered glass. It should be safe from alll sides. I hope! The biggest expense was getting the low iron glass. I am on hold till later this week when my hardwood provider gets in a new shipment. So i have to live gratuitously watching you!

[texxn5]

Hello Jay, good to see you back. Your model is looking fantastic....as if we would expect anything less from you. I have a question concerning serving. I'm sure that somewhere in your archive of information that you've covered this before, but I'm at a loss as to where it might be. Would you mind providing a link for this. I'm beginning to start the shrouds for my Morgan, and could always use instructions. I will be using Alexey Domanoff's serving machine. Thanks for all your posts and help that you educate us with, they are greatly appreciated.

John

[Modeler12]

Hello Jay, good to see you back. Your model is looking fantastic....as if we would expect anything less from you. I have a question concerning serving. I'm sure that somewhere in your archive of information that you've covered this before, but I'm at a loss as to where it might be. Would you mind providing a link for this. I'm beginning to start the shrouds for my Morgan, and could always use instructions. I will be using Alexey Domanoff's serving machine. Thanks for all your posts and help that you educate us with, they are greatly appreciated.

John

Comments like this will always get you a reply, John.

The only serving I have ever done was when playing tennis and being on a jury. I have not done any on my Connie.

However, like you said, there was a discussion about this here some where. Perhaps you could post this in the general discussion area or do a 'search'.

[texxn5]

Thanks Jay, for some reason I thought it might have been one of your videos. good comment on serving...lol. I'll see what I can find, I knew that if you had one it would conatain all the details and be very thorough - a one stop shop kind of thing. Thanks for the input once again,

John

[JSGerson]

 

 

Hello Jay, good to see you back. Your model is looking fantastic....as if we would expect anything less from you. I have a question concerning serving. I'm sure that somewhere in your archive of information that you've covered this before, but I'm at a loss as to where it might be. Would you mind providing a link for this. I'm beginning to start the shrouds for my Morgan, and could always use instructions. I will be using Alexey Domanoff's serving machine. Thanks for all your posts and help that you educate us with, they are greatly appreciated.

Is this what you are looking for?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alexey+Domanoff

[texxn5]

Hi Jay, thanks for finding that utube. I do have that one, but was looking for some more specific details on creating shroud loops and serving to deadeyes, such as how to judge the lengths and means of securing deadeyes properly and uniformly. I have served very little and I have not ever served shrouds.

[JSGerson]

Texxn5: Are these what you are looking for?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGu2cIu8lSE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb-FA3P6PBk  Part 1

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV4WA2vCqD8  Part 2

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7V_uJjoJEo  Part 3

Edited January 27, 2015 by JSGerson

[texxn5]

jsgerson, I'll check them out today. Thank you for providing these. Sorry Jay, didn't mean to hijack your log, but appreciate the info.

[popeye2sea]

Jay,

They are a day late and a dollar short, I know, but here are the pictures of the fore brace that I promised you.

 

 

[Modeler12]

Jay,

They are a day late and a dollar short, I know, but here are the pictures of the fore brace that I promised you.

 

Constitution Fore brace 1.jpg

 

Constitution Fore Brace 2.jpg

Perfect, Henry. That is just about where I put my eyebolt and block. Now the line clears the jack and sail (should it be raised). In the plan there would have been trouble. 

Meanwhile I am going to study those pictures some more to see what other goodies you might have revealed. For example, you show the spanker sail in the furled position. That is not for my Connie, but will come in handy for my next project  

 

With all the bad weather you guys are having, how did you get those nice shots?

Edited January 29, 2015 by Modeler12

[Modeler12]

Jay ... your mailbox appears to be full.

(This post will self-delete in 5 mins)

I was not aware of that. I have read all, I hope, so how do I empty this thing?

This post will not have any destruct information, I hope.

[CaptainSteve]

I think you have to go through and delete old conversations ...

[GLakie]

Jay:    Click on your messages tab, then find the "view all messages" button and click on it. To the right of that page is a bar that says "My Conversations" with a little box in it. Click on that little box and it will highlight all your conversations. Then just below that bar is a white bar that says delete with a button that says Go. Press the go button and another little window will pop up and ask for confirmation. Just confirm and you're done. All messages deleted.

 

Cheers

[Modeler12]

Henry (or others familiar with the ship) here is another question about the rigging of braces.

 

Pardon me Henry, I 'stole' part of your picture below, and I hope you don't mind. But towards the top you can see another brace. It is the fore topsail brace (two actually). But it is not quite clear where those lines go after they come back from the fore topsail yard. They will come down, I hope, (like Newton's apples), but how?

 

The plan shows arrows pointing down. Petersson's drawings are much more complicated. 

 

But how is it on the Connie today? Are there more fairleads or bullseyes involved? Otherwise, I would think we have the same problem as I mentioned above with the fore jack braces interfering with the sail below. ?????

 

 

[Modeler12]

Jay:    Click on your messages tab, then find the "view all messages" button and click on it. To the right of that page is a bar that says "My Conversations" with a little box in it. Click on that little box and it will highlight all your conversations. Then just below that bar is a white bar that says delete with a button that says Go. Press the go button and another little window will pop up and ask for confirmation. Just confirm and you're done. All messages deleted.

 

Cheers

Whow, George, Thanks. Something new to learn and do!!!!!!