USS Constitution by SawdustDave - FINISHED - 1:60th Scale

[SawdustDave]

Thanks for the visit Ken.  Clearly, my attempt to do justice to this great war ship is made possible through the incredible build log provided by you and other MSW friends.

I would be completely lost without your expert guidance.

I thank you sir.

 

Dave

Edited April 22, 2018 by SawdustDave

[Landlubber Mike]

Dave, it's been a while since I last visited your log but wow, wonderful work!  Very cool to see you involving your grandkids like that too

[SawdustDave]

Thank you Mike.

Happy to hear from you again.

The visit by our sweet grand daughters was really special since we only see them once a year.  And the really neat thing about them "helping" is the fact that they will, one day, long after I’m gone, be able to show their children how they actually glued the main fife rail onto the deck .... and point to it on this ship they will inherit from their their Papa.

Now, I ask....How COOL is that?

 

Cheers

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2018 by SawdustDave

[JesseLee]

I've got to learn how to fabricate anchors like you do Dave, they look great!

 

Jesse

[SawdustDave]

57 minutes ago, JesseLee said:

I've got to learn how to fabricate anchors like you do Dave, they look great!

 

Jesse

I do admit I enjoy creating anchors Jesse.  Guess I've made at least 50 of various sizes over the years, if I count the ones I trashed.
Always great to hear from you.
Question..... are you considering attending the Beaufort show coming up on May 5th?
Dave

[JesseLee]

23 hours ago, SawdustDave said:

I do admit I enjoy creating anchors Jesse.  Guess I've made at least 50 of various sizes over the years, if I count the ones I trashed.
Always great to hear from you.
Question..... are you considering attending the Beaufort show coming up on May 5th?
Dave

I wasn't aware of it. My problem is I can't drive anymore and my wife works. Difficult to get rides and I can never predict how I will be feeling ahead of time.

[SawdustDave]

I understand.

It would be a grueling all day thing.

I will take photo’s and share with you.

Dave

[SawdustDave]

Mounting the launches....

I should explain, I realize I will have to remove the launches from the davits in order to proceed with rigging the shrouds.  The reason for mounting them at this point is because I will be taking this model along with two or three others to my favorite annual model show at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, N.C. next Saturday.
 

Note:  I took a couple of shots of the technique I developed for those little lifeline (man-rope) bags.
To achieve the look of a fabric bag, I used a white plastic table cloth from the supply of red/white/blue covers we decorated our patio tables with last 4th of July....purchased from WalMart.

The little balsa tear drop forms are wrapped with the "X" shapes with a tight twist at the top and tied off with white thread..... then trimmed at the top.

The finished bags were spaced evenly along the rope BEFORE attaching to the davit.... brass rings on each end.

It's a little tedious, but well worth the effort.

Now if someone would explain the reason for these bags.  I have my own wild guess, but have never run across this on other ships, and I'm curious to know the background from someone more familiar.  

 

Edited April 29, 2018 by SawdustDave

[BANYAN]

Those man-rope bags look very effective; nice work

 

cheers

 

Pat

[JSGerson]

Jim Lad posted April 8, 2013 on Modeller12's Constitution build log, the following:

Quote

The lifelines that you refer to are used to gain access to the boat when it's in the water or, for the fit and agile, to re-gain the deck from the launched boat.

 

It used to be common to launch boats with only their crew on board; the remainder of passengers boirding when the boat was in the water.  In an emergency situatiion the boat was launched and the survivors boarded by grabbing a lifeline and scrambling down to the boat.

BANYAN added in the same post:

Quote

... in the navy (well Aussie Navy at least) they were also referred to as 'manropes' and had the additional purpose of being a 'safety' rope for any crew that were in the boat when it was lowered to allow it to be 'released' from the falls when it met the water.  If something went wrong and the boats/falls broke/gave way (yes I have seen it happen), these rope which were attached independently (much liker a safety harness these days) were used for the crew to grab onto and stop their fall (they were held loosely by the crew as the boat descended).  The ropes usually had knots (overhand) in them at regular intervals to provide a purchase when being used for climbing...

 

I hope this helps

 

Jon

Edited April 29, 2018 by JSGerson

[SawdustDave]

Thanks Jon and Pat.

Great information.  Makes perfect sense now.

Figured we could count on you Mate.

Cheers

Edited April 29, 2018 by SawdustDave

[Piet]

Lovely work as usual Dave. Enjoy the model show and share a few pics.

 

Cheers,

[SawdustDave]

Captains Gig mounted....

This morning I completed the temporary mounting of all three davit launches.  She's pretty much ready for the road trip.

Note:  I spent most of the day yesterday building a weatherproof cargo box for the back of my pickumup truck.  After the near disaster I had a couple of years ago, I assure you this box will not blow out the back on the highway..... no matter how fast I drive.  I did a road test this morning up to 90 mph.  Solid as a rock.

   

[BANYAN]

Coming along very nicely Dave.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[mtaylor]

In the bed of a pickup truck?   You're a braver man than I sir and for that I salute you. 

 

Those are some seriously nice looking ship's boats.

[SawdustDave]

On 5/3/2018 at 12:53 AM, mtaylor said:

In the bed of a pickup truck?   You're a braver man than I sir and for that I salute you. 

Those are some seriously nice looking ship's boats.

Thanks for the visit Mark.
I'll have to take a photo of the way I secure the ships for a road trip.
Provided I am able to stay out of the ditches, and avoid tangling with any of the crazy drivers, I should make it back home with all cargo in good shape.

 

Cheers Mate

Edited May 11, 2018 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Loaded up and ready for the 3.5 hour road trip early tomorrow morning.

The weather proof cargo box I built for the back of my truck is made of the type of hardboard used for bathroom shower walls.  Glued together and screwed together then all outside joints sealed with white Gorilla Tape (double layered).
The tail gate closes flush against the rear cargo box panel.

The three ships are carefully cradled on top of pillows and the sides are stuffed with towels and 40 pair of old tube socks...... zero lateral movement.

The three cardboard boxes are taped together to prevent them from shifting laterally.

Now, all's I got to do is keep her between the white lines and avoid road morons.

Wish me luck.

Dave

Edited May 4, 2018 by SawdustDave

[yancovitch]

couldn't be better!...........

[mtaylor]

Nice setup for moving the ships.  Have fun Dave.  

[SawdustDave]

Home again, home again..... at last, old man Dave is home again.

Cargo box functioned flawlessly.... the show was very great.... perfect weather.... got to visit all of my old modeling friends.

Took some photos and will try to post a few tomorrow.

Glad to be back safely.

Cheers all 

[SawdustDave]

Beaufort, NC annual Wooden Boat Show event....

One old friend I was glad to spend some time with.  Blackbeard looks like a really bad character, but I can tell you, he's actually a very nice guy.

 

 

Here are just a few of the models displayed for the public.

My personal favorite is this WWII Sub built by Jim Tuttle.... over two years to scratch build this 8 foot long masterpiece.

[JesseLee]

Wish I could have been there!

[SawdustDave]

 

27 minutes ago, JesseLee said:

Wish I could have been there!

The staff at NC Maritime Museum are a class act Jesse Lee.... They do a wonderful job putting on this event every year.  It just continues to get bigger and better every year.

The modelers inside show is but a small part of the event which also features dozens of full size boat builders set up outside.

Edited May 6, 2018 by SawdustDave

[JesseLee]

Believe it or not, I've never had the opportunity to visit any of our Maritime Museums in NC (or anywhere else for that matter). I've always wanted to go. I guess i'm going to have to hire someone who is willing to drive a sick guy to a Museum sometime! I bet it was awesome! 

 

Jesse

[SawdustDave]

Jesse, I honestly considered offering to work out a way for you to attend this event with me, but realized the all-day ordeal would likely be a serious overload for you.

Personally, the annual Beaufort trip is more about visiting that very old historic harbor town.  Reminds me very much of Charlestown Mass. on a much smaller scale.

Take care my friend.

 

Edited May 7, 2018 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Back to work....

Fifty of these two piece hammock crane stanchions were formed from steel wire.  Each being silver soldered at the joint, and snipped to size.  The post was filed to a point, and each stanchion tip was flattened and notched for the rope to be attached, as seen in the second shot.
Upper and lower ropes attached nice and tight....and, finally, the slow process of tacking the netting to the ropes.

[usedtosail]

Those hammock stanchions and nets look great. Tedious, yes, but they add so much.

[JesseLee]

Dave, what kind of soldering iron and solder do you use? I have had very poor results trying to solder. I'm thinking I don't have the right kind. 

 

Jesse

[SawdustDave]

28 minutes ago, JesseLee said:

Dave, what kind of soldering iron and solder do you use? I have had very poor results trying to solder. I'm thinking I don't have the right kind. 

 

Jesse

Thanks Tom.  I agree....Well worth the effort.

Jesse - I know exactly what you're going through.  I really struggled with the soldering technique as well.  Gave up on using the electric iron and went to using open flame from the little BERNZOMATIC butane system.  Creating a jig to hold the parts together was easy.  Sanding the surface of each part and getting the area covered with the right amount of flux is the secret.  Also.... applying the flame AWAY from the joint, allowing the wire to heat up and suck the solder into the joint is key.
You'll be amazed at how quickly you will pick up the technique with a little patience and practice.
BTW.... Club meeting in Fayetteville tonight.  Hope you can make it. 

Edited May 11, 2018 by SawdustDave

[yancovitch]

although too late for me now....that's really good to know.......