USS Constitution by AndyMech - FINISHED - Revell - 1:96 - PLASTIC

[augie]

Don't go getting all mushy on us.  If it's the rigging you're going to miss, head South 20 miles and I'll let you finish mine.  I've got lines coming out of my ears

If it's the eminant completion of the Connie, well, she'll stand by you years to come.......and help you navigate your future.

[lambsbk]

It's a work of art Andy and you've raised the bar. I am certain you have inspired me to do detail work which I would have neglected and will also incorporate in the future as my build moves along. Thank you.

[lambsbk]

Andy, how did you strop those blocks? I'ld love to try that.

[AndyMech]

Thanks lambsbk, I appreciate the thought. It's my feeling that if you take care of the details, the big picture will take care of itself. Heck,so much so that sometimes I don't even step back and see the whole thing. All I see at night is the many, many little blocks that needed painting!

 

And Augie, my moment of weakness has passed. There's still work to do - lifeboats, the sailors, the permanent case. Maybe even rope coils, but lets not go crazy. Good luck with your own rigging torture.

 

Andy

[Force9]

Andy -

 

Your build is terrific and will inspire many who follow.  I would agree that the gaff seems a bit low - for what it is worth the general rule is to have the gaff at the same angle as the mizzen topmast stay.

 

I'll say it again - many start this kit, few finish...  Bravo!

 

A great build and a great log!

 

EG

Edited April 30, 2013 by Force9

[AndyMech]

Andy, how did you strop those blocks? I'ld love to try that.

 

Sorry, just saw this question.  I didn't strop the block, as the plastic is molded to simulate it anyway.  I simply painted each block a "wood" color, then went back with a fine brush and put some black paint on the eye and a thin line around the block for the stropping.  

 

When I did the first one, way back when, I just wanted to see what the effect was.  The problem was, I liked it and therefore committed to painting all seventy-thousand (or so) of the little guys in same manner.  I still like the look, and it was a good break from rigging.  Before each rigging step, I would count the blocks needed and paint those rather than try to paint them all in one session. That would have driven my eyes batty.

 

Andy.

Edited May 4, 2013 by AndyMech

[AndyMech]

As I mentioned earlier, I was unhappy with the height of the spanker gaff from my original effort.  A couple of days ago, in the evening, I went back to fix it.  Since I've been using dilute white glue to secure the lines, it was pretty easy to remove the tied lines from their pins.  Just a touch of water to soften the glue and they come right off.

 

It took a few hours to remove the lines, and re-string, but I'm much happier with the look.

 

 

Andy.

[AndyMech]

Ok, step 8 of the running rigging instructions for the Revell 1:96 USS Constitution is to hang the lifeboats and the Captain's cutter.

 

Ages ago I assembled and painted these boats, with oars, and they've been sitting patiently on a shelf waiting to be added to the model.  One of the jollyboats I painted green, the other white.  This was based off photos of the current Constitution, but I will admit to having no idea if it's representative of how it was back in 1812 or so.  I like having the one boat green, so green it is.

 

Another small deviation was the tying off the lifeboat brace lines.  The instructions have them going to the pinrail around the mizzenmast, right next to the ship's wheel.  I did try for quite a while to get the lines in there, with absolutely no luck.  Then I noticed two eyebolts (one on each side) on the deck that just seemed made for securing these two lines.  I used them instead of the pins and I think it's makes sense (at least to me).

 

Finally, the flag was added.  I used the kit's paper flag - cut it out carefully and used my dilute PVA glue to secure it to the flay halyard.  The ship is complete!

 

Green jolly boat

 

White boat

 

Using deck eyebolts instead of pins.

 

Captain's boat

 

The final touch!

 

 

Thanks to everyone who followed this build on MSW 1.0 and now 2.0.  I purchased the kit on September 15, 2011 and started washing the plastic a couple of days later.  Ship complete on May 4, 2013.  1 Year, 8 months total time and I have no idea how many hours of actual construction time.

 

Next up for me will be long neglected home chores.  Next ship will be a wooden ship.  I've already purchased the Syren, but I will do a smaller wood ship or two to get familiar with the medium before going at the Syren.  Suggestions are welcome, I was thinking of a Midwest products ships - something quick, but allow me to learn planking.

 

Andy.

[JPett]

Ahoy Andy

 

Congratz :)

 

I hope you will be posting more pics, either here or in the completed projects forum

 

Following your build has been fun, thank you for taking the time to share your project

 

Your Connie looks great

[texxn5]

Outstanding Andy.....Big Salute!!!  Congratulations on a job well done.  Keep up the finishing pictures....  I am finished with the Braces today.  I am moving on to the Spanker Gaff and Boom, then the boats.  I'm almost there too.  Very well done Dude!

John

[russ]

Andy:

Congratulations on a fine effort. This is a beautiful model with some great details. Thanks for sharing it.

 

Russ

[lambsbk]

Absolutely beautiful build. Congratulations Andy.

[augie]

Andy - what a happy day!  She is a true beauty and you deserve to just stand back for a bit and smile.  Thanks for sharing her with us.

 

I'll look forward to you next log and, of course, for your Syren when you're ready.  I think you'll enjoy working with wood!

[st george]

Congratulations Andy. What a great build and log for us all to see and admire. Good luck with your next build.

 

David

[Adrieke]

congratulations Andy she looks beautiful

[AndyMech]

Thanks everyone. I do plan on taking a series of photos for the gallery, just waiting for good light.

 

I appreciate the comments and hope to start a new log when I decide on the next project.

 

Thanks again,

 

Andy

[bhermann]

Looking good Andy. I have been following along since MSW1 days. You should be proud of what you have done with her!

 

Bob

[AndyMech]

My (most likely) last post to this build log, unless there are specific questions.  Just to let folks know, I've created a gallery album in the "kit gallery" of finished builds.  I had to fix a couple of drooping forestays, which I only discovered while taking the pictures.  Some photos will show it fixed, others not.  Just imagine them all straight, and that's how it looks now.

 

Thanks again everyone.

 

Andy.

[popeye the sailor]

thank you Andy............great build......very nice indeed!

[RadMan]

Andy, I can't tell you how much you build log means to me and others here on MSW.  I have been watching your build for months and can only hope mine turns out half as well.  1 year 8 months sounds about right...you can't rush artistic perfection.  BRAVO!    It really was an amazing job Andy, and something that will last decades.  A real treasure.

Edited May 7, 2013 by RadMan

[Lord Robster]

Very nice.  What a great job.

[texxn5]

Andy, did you mount the Comodore's Pendant on the ship?  We got r' done Dude.....How cool....

[AndyMech]

Andy, did you mount the Comodore's Pendant on the ship?  We got r' done Dude.....How cool....

 

No, I cut the pendant out, but did not choose to mount it.  To be honest, I'm not super happy with the US flag at the rear either - the paper seems a bit too shiny and "fake" looking.  I just used dilute white glue to put it on there, so it would be easily removed if anyone has an easy, better solution.

 

Andy.

[lambsbk]

Andy: I think I saw a flag making forum here at MSW. I kind of made a mental note about it and I don't know if it was in MSW 1.0 or 2.0. I read through it and it was interesting but the flag mounting seemed, for me, eons away and I don't recall the particulars. If I find it again I'll pass on the link.

[augie]

This may be the link ----- from Modeler 12

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/89-making-cloth-flags/?hl=flag

[lambsbk]

Thanks Augie. That is indeed the info I viewed earlier. I will save the link as well.

[vacotton]

Incredible work on finishing the deck.  Very nice color and scribing.  Looks very realistic.

Regards,

vacotton 

[youngtiger1]

Yet found this today while searching the website. Andy, you have done awesome job with you build-log step-by-step. I am going to save it all for future reference. You have already heard it enough but thank you again for your hard works step-by-step documentation.

 

Mike

[AndyMech]

Mike, 

 

Thanks so much for reading.  One of my goals for this log to a complete box to rigging documentation.  I found so many partial logs when I started that would begin late in the process or never finish at all.  I'm glad you found it useful and good luck with your own build.

 

Andy.

[KimatHm]

Hello Again, Andy...!!!    Kim Here...!!!   Once Again, I would like to thank You for all of the time you spent on the photography and detailed explanations of how you approached , contemplated, modified as needed, and completed each step of the build...!!!  After some 50+ years of modeling both the Plastics and Wooden Scale Ships from all of the notable manufacturers, and delving into countless hours of research in order to deal with accuracies, etc.,...I STILL find myself ( even at this late modeling hour !!) Referring to the methods that you have chosen as a formidable BASELINE for the work I'm doing on my Constitutions (always one with, and one without sails, simultaneously ...a DOUBLE pain in the back sometimes !! )  As a personal REWARD for your efforts and dedication to the MSW and Shipwrights everywhere, and with you're being so close, compared to our other followers, just North of me in Ft. Collins,  I would like to help you with your efforts, if still incomplete (???), in providing you with a Custom Built Display Case, at NO CHARGE whatsoever to you...!!! As I have recently become rather good at building my own Cases in this last year.....Seriously...I feel that you deserve it, and at the same time, you'll discover how relatively simple, and inexpensive it is to complete a lifetime of protection for your Ship.inet..!!! Let me know, via this topic thread, or by Private Message if you wish, and I'll proceed to start Cutting the lumber for your Cabinet / Case...Okay...???!!!!   ( You can view my cases at the 'Display Case' Topic here at MSW )  Looking forward to hearing back from You, and Thanks, and Blessings once again for Posting such a Great Build Log for all of us...!!! ....   Kim

Edited August 25, 2013 by KimatHm