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

[augie]

She looks good!  Don't sweat the photos ---- I KNOW she looks even better in person.  Hard to get these rigging shots.

 

Well done!

[AndyMech]

Thanks Russ and Augie.  I think she does look better in person, but I also remember looking for detailed photos of this model so I could decipher some instructions, so I try to include them.  Someone else building this hopefully will be able to interpret what I did in order to avoid a mistake or copy something I did right.

 

Andy

[popeye the sailor]

looking sweet! 

[lambsbk]

The work you are doing is inspiring Andy. Thanks for the excellent log.

[AndyMech]

I had a good 3-day weekend on the ship.  On Friday, I finished the lifts on all three masts and tied in the blocks to the crosstrees in preparation for doing the leech and bunt lines.

 

Saturday and Sunday, I completed the leech and bunt lines (step 5).  The upper ones tied off on the fight top railing, the lower ones through blocks and tied off at a railing.

 

I skipped step 4 for now so as not to work around those lines (sheets).  I'm going to look through the instructions and rig those lines that tie off near the mast base prior to doing some of the outside lines.  Next up will be rigging the bowsprit left and right, including the studding sail boom.

 

Andy

 

Foremast:

 

Mainmast:

 

Full ship as she stands:

[russ]

That looks good. Not much more to do, I think. Sheets and braces will just about do it.

 

Russ

[Adrieke]

yup almost there Andy looking really good

[texxn5]

Looks good Andy.  I'm working on rigging the Main Yard...I decided to do each yard all the way through before moving to the next...mostly trying to deal with the congestion that starts to accumulate....don't want to break something.  I'm done with the yards as far as footlines, and blocks, so just now attaching the Main Yard to the ship.  Foremast is completed already.  Please keep the pictures going...sure helps trying to figure all this out.

[popeye the sailor]

Yepper! almost finished!........looking really good!

[JPett]

Ahoy Andy 

 

Beautiful Build

 

I especially like the rigging

[AndyMech]

Thanks everyone for the nice thoughts. Still a lot of work to do, but it is moving along. Sheets and braces are indeed next, and I have a question about those. So far, I've been keeping all lines taut, but should that also be the case with sheets and/or braces?

 

Those lines are long enough that they might create a natural curve if some slack is left in them. Is there any consensus as to what lines (if any) are kept loose?

 

Andy

[russ]

You can leave some slack in the braces and sheets. However, I would not do it unless I knew for sure that the sag was going to be very natural looking. If it is going to look like the line is crumpled, then you are better off making them suitable taut. Getting that natural sag is not all that easy from what I have seen in other models.

 

Russ

[augie]

Thanks for the advice Russ.  Might help a few of us.

[AndyMech]

Yes, thanks.  So, achieving a nice graceful arc in lightweight thread (instead of heavy rope) is difficult.  Make sense.  I personally am not willing to attempt a fake curve on a long line, set with glue etc.  It was hard enough to do on the footropes.

 

Andy.

[JPett]

Ahoy Andy

 

What did you use for your rigging

[AndyMech]

Hi JPett, 

 

I am using the thread that came with the kit.  It is unlabeled (see page 2 of this log for a photo of it).  The running rigging has three sizes, just referenced as small, medium and large.  I think it's polyester, not cotton and comes on cylindrical spools.  It is generally fairly stiff and I run it through beeswax prior to using it.

 

I'll see how it hangs next build session (probably the weekend).  One thing I might try is melting the beeswax after applying.  I had to do that on black thread as the wax showed up a bit, which is not a problem on the tan thread.  But, melting the wax might allow for some nice hanging property.  I melt it by filling a drinking glass with near-boiling water and then running the thread along the now hot glass.  It works pretty well and if you use a large glass it retains the heat long enough for multiple meters of line. I think if I melt some wax on the line and then hang it up between two posts, I just might get a nice natural looking arc.  Can't hurt to try.  I'll post pics of the experiment if I find the time.

 

Andy.

[JPett]

Ahoy Andy

 

Thank you

 

I have heard from others about the thread included in the kit. None have been able to source it.

 

As for the melting of the wax, I wonder if hanging it as I have seen others do to "prestretch" the rope and using a heat gun or blow drier might also work.

Edited April 15, 2013 by JPett

[md1400cs]

Andy,

 

WOA beautiful job. I also really like how you captured the look of the deck, with what appears to be a subtle look of aging. Very nice details. Your rigging, of course, speaks for itself...Super work. It all looks so excellent. A project to be very proud of.....

 

Michael

[RadMan]

Andy... looks amazing.  Truly a first-class job!  Seems like your almost finished.  Maybe it's time for me to make a backup copy your blog again

[texxn5]

Hi Andy, yes, you are ahead of me at this time. I am hanging the masts as I go up, trying to finish the lower lines before moving up to the next yard hoping to create a little more room for clumsy fingers and wildly flying tweezers. With reference to the above post by RadMan, how do you backup your build logs? This looks good, and you will be finished way before me...lol..keep it up and post pictures...looks great!

John

[RadMan]

Texxn5.  The only way I know how to back it up is by printing the whole blog as a pdf file.

Edited April 19, 2013 by RadMan

[texxn5]

Thanks for the info, after losing my other files and photos of the build I intend to try to back up these logs on both a external hard drive as well as online.  I'll experiment and see what works.

[lambsbk]

Well, I attempted to back up the blog but I can't find a *.pdf option in my printers. I think I will have to do some program searching this weekend.

[lambsbk]

In reference to the above comment on rigging and beeswax: when I did my first never completed build of the Connie I used some beeswax that was in thin wax sheets that resembled a honeycomb pattern (from the 1970's). These could be folded and rolled for craft use but the wax was also softer and came in white AND black colors. I have not seen this in hobby stores so far but maybe some members have. The advantage is the blend on the rigging seemed easier to achieve.  Now I am using a solid block of beeswax which, at least on one occasion, actually broke through the rigging fiber while applying it...and I haven't even started to get to the heavy rigging job yet. Nonetheless, it was the only beeswax version I could find.

[texxn5]

I've been using some I got from Model Expo, and had good results.  It comes in a circular plastic container with opening for drawing the string through it.  It coats well and straightens the string well.  So far my favorite string line comes from ME also, and it's Amoli brand.  I think it is all cotton, which is easier to control than the polyester line.

[AndyMech]

I use the same beeswax applier from MS, and find it works pretty well.  It's getting a little beat up and flaky, but still works well.

 

 

I've heard that local fabric stores carry beeswax too for when this block gets used up.

 

Andy.

[AndyMech]

I was off work on Friday, so made some great progress on the rigging.

 

- I completed the upper masts fore and aft running rigging - these lines parallel the standing rigging forestays:

 

 

Next, I was able to finish the bowsprit rigging, including the studding sail boom near the bow (still working on the mid-ships studding sail boom)

 

 

The foremast pinrail is full up!  The CA I used to glue it down has held, which I was worrying about a little.

 

 

Andy.

[texxn5]

This looks great Andy. Your beeswax dispenser is the same as mine and has worked well for me too. I didn't work on mine yesterday...spent some time with the Admiral.. Then had a disaster strike, she ran into my bowspirit, broke the tip off, and knoked some rigging loose. All repairable, so that will be what I get to do today...oops...have a good one, and thanks for the pictures.

[augie]

Looks great Andy.......a LOT of progress.  Glad your pinrail held (I've got my fingers crossed on my own.

 

Don't forget a candle or craft store for beeswax.

[texxn5]

I agree with Augie on this one, glad the pinrail held....I worry also about mine as it is not CA'd yet.