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

[Adrieke]

looks so beautiful and intricate nice work Andy

[AndyMech]

Thanks everyone.  There are other pinrails still to worry about, have no fear.  But, they are getting filled up.

 

More progress this afternoon - I finished the mid-ships studding boom and started on the spanker boom.  

 

It's not glued so when I released it from the clamp I used to hold during rigging it swung to the side making the block rigging not at tight.  The instructions call only for rigging that on the port side - do you think that's an oversight or on purpose?

 

 

Port side rigging.

[texxn5]

Hi Andy, I referenced a couple of built models I've seen along the way, and each was only tied off on the port side. Don't know if that helps, looks like somewhat of a dillema, I can see how it could get slack..

[AndyMech]

Good to know.  I'm ok with keeping it slightly slack.  I kind of like the idea of doing it without glue as well.  If I applied a little CA, I'm sure I could keep it tight, but that can always be done later if I'm unhappy with it.

 

Andy.

[texxn5]

Hi Andy, things are looking good.  I have a question....would you happen to have a couple of good pictures of your Mizzen Mast and the yards.  The instructions leave me with some questions and I could reference your pictures to probably answer them.  The questions are concerning the rigging of the yards. If you could post a few it would be helpful.   Any help with these would be appreciated.   Thanks....John

[AndyMech]

Hey John,

 

You can see a photo of all my yards, including the mizzen mast yards at the bottom of page 3 of this log.  I have rigged the mizzen mast up through section 6 of the instructions, but have not yet completed the spanker gaff.  I'd be happy to take other photos - anything in particular you'd like to see?  I have my instructions handy, so let me know which step or line you have a question about.

 

Let me know your question as well and I can perhaps describe (as well as provide a photo).  

 

Of course, no guarantee I did mine "correct" !

 

Andy.

[texxn5]

Hi Andy, I checked page 3, and didn't find what I'm looking for. A picture of the front and back of the Mizzen Crossjack and Topsail yards would be nice.  I'm having difficulty in use of the block layouts and also is there only one Halyard for the Crossjack?  It appears to be only one tying off on the Stbd side.  Thanks for your help. 

John

[AndyMech]

The picture on page 3 was of my yards with the blocks and footropes prior to mounting is all.

 

Ok, bear with me - the mizzen crossjack is the largest and lowest of the mizzen yards, and the topsail is the one just above it.  For the mizzen crossjack, there were no jeers or halyards, just lifts, sheets and clews and then the leech and bunt lines.  Compared to the fore and main mast, it is lightly rigged, and I simply followed the instructions.

 

The mizzen topsail yard has just the one halyard - starboard side I believe, that goes through a two-block rigging just like the other masts, but only on the one side.

 

One thing about the lifts that I do recall - the lifts on the crossjack and the topsail both go to the same pin on the pinrail (24-26 port, 25-27 starboard).  I ran only the crossjack line through the block on the deck before the pin, and tied the topsail lift line directly to the pin, not going through the block.

 

I can try to get a photo or two tonight.  My camera skills are not as good as yours, but a skilled observed should be able make things out.

 

Andy.

Edited April 24, 2013 by AndyMech

[texxn5]

ok, I guess I read that part right.  Just confirming my understanding.  If you get a chance with pictures that would be great if not too much trouble.  That is close to my next steps on tonight's rigging chores....

Thanks

John

[AndyMech]

I took a few pictures.  Man, but it is hard to get the proper focus with my camera.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Andy.

 

 

[augie]

That's some really nice work there, Andy.

[texxn5]

Thanks Andy, those will be good enough, I know what you mean about camera focus.  Mine does good, if I can get the angle right, but if not then it picks up on something else and focuses on it, screwing up the depth of field.  I greatly appreciate this, thanks man,

John

[popeye the sailor]

looking sweet Andy

[texxn5]

Thanks Andy for your help, I just finished the Halyard on the topsail, so now moving on. Your photos really helped me. By the way did you have an eyelet on the starboard side to tie the BB block to, or did you improvise and tie off on the deadeye like I did....lol. There were no eyes on either side...curious...

[texxn5]

Andy, thank you for the pictures, you have no idea how much you helped me tonight.  I have to run sheet & clew lines on the Topgallant, then do the royal and I'll be finished with the Mizzen Mast......very laborious, but I like the results.  Moving on.....

[AndyMech]

Thanks Andy for your help, I just finished the Halyard on the topsail, so now moving on. Your photos really helped me. By the way did you have an eyelet on the starboard side to tie the BB block to, or did you improvise and tie off on the deadeye like I did....lol. There were no eyes on either side...curious...

 

I believe I used the same eye that the backstays were tied to, so I've got three backstays and one halyard tied to that single (plastic) eye.  I do remember looking around at that area to see if I did it right.  I also think there will be unused eyebolts in the hull, near the rear cannons that won't be used.  Perhaps they were put there for sails, but I can't see where I'll hook anything up to them.

 

I'm glad my photos helped - it's getting quite complicated back there.

 

Small update - I painted what I think will be the final 18 blocks - I counted the blocks for the braces and ships boats and prepared them all.  I can see the end coming!

 

Andy.

[texxn5]

I looked at doing that and decided to tie it to the front of that bank of deadeyes, following suit with the main and fore masts.  Your photos helped me in several areas. Thank you again.  wow.....18 blocks...congratulations, the end is definitely in sight.  Keep up the pictures coming....

[AndyMech]

Progress has been made over the last couple of evenings, and I had Friday off work and managed to get more done as well.

 

As I mentioned, I had painted the remaining blocks, so next I started tying them to the ratlines where the instructions indicated in preparation for the braces.

 

Yesterday, I added the spanker gaff and fully secured it with no glue - the lines are more than enough to hold it firmly in place.  I feel the tip of the gaff should be pointed higher, but fixing that would now require removing and replacing too many lines.  I also added the flag halyard, but I will not add the flag just yet.  I'm feeling that the flag should be the very last thing added to the model.

 

 

Moving on to the braces.  I've still skipped step 4 of the instructions (lower sheet and tack lines) and I've analyzed which pins on the pinrails I need to be using, so will add the braces working on the inside pins to the outside pins, followed by the final sheet and tack lines and then the ship's boats.  I won't finish this weekend, I'm sure, but it surely can't be long now.

 

Andy.

[russ]

Andy:

Looking very good. Great work. Not long now.

 

Russ

[AndyMech]

I got 8 pairs of braces completed (before my eyes hurt too much to continue).  All these terminate at the pinrails at the bast of the main mast -- that pinrail (or is a monkey rail?) is now full, just like the foremast.  The remaining braces all attach at pinrails along the bulkheads.

 

 

 

Andy.

[russ]

Andy:

The braces look good. Everything appears to be suitably taut without anything pulled out of line.

 

Russ

[augie]

Almost there!!!!!!!

[mtaylor]

Andy,

 

Looks great.  You're almost to the finish line.

[AndyMech]

Braces completed today, as well as going back and finishing the lower sheet and tack lines.  Major rigging is complete.

 

Everything went pretty smoothly - I only had minor issues access the rear pin rail.  Future builders might want to hold off on the spanker gaff and boom until after the braces just to be able to access those pins a little easier.  Tying the lower sheet and tack lines was quite easy; I'm glad I waited to do those as those lines would certainly interfere with accessing the internals of the ship.

 

Next step is to hang the lifeboats and I need to let the davits dry before doing that.

 

 

 

 

Andy.

[Adrieke]

almost there Andy. lookign really really good

[russ]

Very nice bit of rigging there. Good work.

[JPett]

Ahoy Andy

 

Beautiful work all around. congratz 

[texxn5]

Looks great Andy, that's exactly what I'm doing in my rigging, is trying to figure out how to go from inside to outside with the least interference from lines and pins.  It's tight enough without getting it congested prematurely....your pictures helped me make those decisions, you are just the right distance ahead of me....thanks.

[popeye the sailor]

Superb build Andy...the rigging looks great

[AndyMech]

Thanks everyone. This build, while not quite finished, has been a great experience. All the encouragement, advice and helpful information really motivate and help me along. While physically, I do the build by myself, the people on this forum provide a virtual audience that inspires.

 

I'm probably getting too maudlin, but when I tied off my last tack line today, it was a strange feeling of relief. I shouldn't talk this way, I suppose, until I hang the lifeboats and flags, but thanks to everyone's encouragement for getting this far.

 

Andy