USS Constitution by kmart - Model Shipways - scale 1/76

[JSGerson]

The photo of the anchor was taken May 5,1931 by Leslie Jones. I have six more similar images taken at the same time should you want them.

 

Jon

[GGibson]

55 minutes ago, JSGerson said:

The photo of the anchor was taken May 5,1931 by Leslie Jones. I have six more similar images taken at the same time should you want them.

 

Of course, Jon does.... 🤷‍♂️🤣🏆  Cool picture, though!  Thanks for sharing, K!

[kmart]

On 12/9/2024 at 3:10 PM, JSGerson said:

The photo of the anchor was taken May 5,1931 by Leslie Jones. I have six more similar images taken at the same time should you want them.

 

Jon

Jon,   you think Id say no to good ref pics;   Would be great if you shared.  Just post on my log so everyone interested to get as well.

Thanks Much!

 

[kmart]

Spar Deck planking is finished

Needs some cleaned up a bit then will be  ready for some stain.

Will use golden oak , same as on gun deck

[kmart]

Found these by HISModels. 

Set of the flags and streamers for Connie  circa 1812  and the right scale.   

Made specifically for the Model Shipways kit.  He also has versions to scaled to  the Revell 1/96.

 

 

[GGibson]

1 hour ago, kmart said:

Spar Deck planking is finished

Needs some cleaned up a bit then will be  ready for some stain.

Will use golden oak , same as on gun deck

 

Spar deck planking looks really sharp, kmart! Great work!  Speaking of deck planking, though, back a few weeks ago, you prepped for your spar deck planking...

 

On 11/25/2024 at 10:01 PM, kmart said:

Time for next update.

Not tons to show.    Based on last Discussion

•  I did buy the blueprints from Bluejacket.  I already had the bluejacket Manual/booklet
• I'll base most on my mast and rigging from Bluejacket.  So  yes sky poles!  but that's a ways off yet.
• Summary from last post
  • I did finish the lower deck.  All cannons with minimal rigging
  • Replaced the Anchor rode with a more properly scaled line
  • Yes, wrapped it around the ridding bits.   not knotted.  (Thanks Jon)
  • All the deck supports were cleaned up and glued in.   (same as last picture above
• Started planking the spar deck
  • first  ran a strip of wood, bow to stern right on centerline.   Nailed it down
  • This will be  a guide to start the first few runs of the planking...

• I will use a 4 shift pattern
  • Each plank is 120mm long
  • Shifts at 30, 60, 90 120mm
  • Because I work in IT and over think everything...  Used Microsoft Visio to lay out all the planks on the computer first...
    
    By my math,   need  6x 120mm planks per run.
    • roughly 56 planks wide.
    • So 336  planks need.
    • Based on that I  sawed up all the planks on mini table saw
    • 1/16"  x 3/32"
    • That took awile

Roughly about 1/3 of the planks I milled

 

 

I apologize if I missed this point previously but, as others have also recently commented in their Constitution build logs, since you added the gun deck as well as this spar deck, you obviously ran out of wood strips for your spar deck and milled the necessary planks as shown in your recent 11/25/24 update.  A question I have been wanting to ask all of your current Constitution builders is... what type of wood did you use for the spar deck?  Was it the boxwood or is it something else that might accent the deck's golden oak stain differently?

 

And, as I've said with others, appreciate your detailed info in your build log.  Definitely taking notes, sir!  Thanks...

[Der Alte Rentner]

As you may know from following my build log, gregg, I used boxwood. I wish I'd bought it when I started building Connie and use it for everything, but better late than never.

[JSGerson]

Per your request, here are the additional images I have for the anchors:

BTW, great planking!

 

Jon

[hor

[GGibson]

Thanks for sharing those pics, Jon!  Lots of great detail in them.  

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 11/27/2022 at 12:07 PM, k-mart said:

Making steady progress.

not sure of their proper name but been working on the head boards.... that fits between the 4th rail and top rail.

Decided to make them off ship and then place them in postion after there all made and painted.

 

• First.. used a contour guide and traced the shape of the area for the headboards on some heave computer paper.
• Edge glued enough planks together proper size of template.
• Template was close enough to use for both port and starboard.
• Just cut pieces a bit larger and trimmed to proper side size.

 

 

Added stiffeners.    Not the top and bottom edges of stiffeners need to be cut at angle in order to sit flush against the rails.   This piece is angled outboard on the top edge.

 

Added the top rail next.

This needed to be steamed and bent in a jig.   (Just slighly)     in order to fit flat against the bow bulwarks and then curve up to the stem.

While the curve isn't that much... there is not a lot of surface area to glue against.      easier to steam the wood and not have to force it, soo as  to not  have stress on the glue joint. 

 

 

Cleanedd up head boards and test fit.

Painted  and glued it.

 

I have also been working on the head gratings in parallels.    They were fitted (but not glued) before putting the side boards in.   just easier than trying in that tight area afterwards. Still need to stain to the right color and work on the head seats.

 

I'll post pictures of those next time.

 

I'm just about ready to declare the bow done (for now) 

Next up.... start the hull coppering.

 

 

 

.  

 

I'm finishing up the main rail and starting to think about the top rail, but dreading tackling the trail and head rail construction.

 

I'm studying your bill very carefully and thank you for providing such detailed photographs. The hardest problem I've had is visualizing what these would be like. Your pictures have really helped.

[kmart]

On 12/14/2024 at 11:47 PM, GGibson said:

 

 

I apologize if I missed this point previously but, as others have also recently commented in their Constitution build logs, since you added the gun deck as well as this spar deck, you obviously ran out of wood strips for your spar deck and milled the necessary planks as shown in your recent 11/25/24 update.  A question I have been wanting to ask all of your current Constitution builders is... what type of wood did you use for the spar deck?  Was it the boxwood or is it something else that might accent the deck's golden oak stain differently?

 

Gregg,  I used bass wood that came in the kit.  but then milled more, (as there wasn't nearly enough.   Stuck with more basswood.

 

 

 

[kmart]

My plan for the spar deck was to use minmax golden oak stain.  (oil based.)

I made multiple test pieces.   Basically glued leftover strips into small section... including butt ends  and edge to edge.

Scraped and then sanded them down with 220 grit.    Basically the same as the planking on the model. 

Watched many utube videos by minwax on the propre application and techniques

Treated with MinWax Pre stain wood conditioner and then stained.

Did bout 5 separate attempts.

Never got it to look even close to  acceptable.   Always splotchy.  not a  uniform color.

Not sure if it was due to residual glue on the wood.    (I did scrap and sand to bare wood)

played with time of pre stain and stain on wood before wiping it off.

All No joy.

 

 Still deciding how I want to move forward on the deck.     Wont do anything until i test it successfully off the model

Don't want to screw up the decks at this point.

 

I'm considering leaving it bare   or just matte clear coat polyurethane.

Google did indicate  some references that at some  point early in her life...the deck was light color.   ( It is  "White oak" after all)

 

 

 

 

   

[kmart]

This was from google

And this is "White oak planking"   If you were to put hardwood floor in your house today

 

So leaving mine bare,  just matte clear coat seems to be the safest option at the moment

Open to suggestions. 

 

 

 

[Der Alte Rentner]

15 hours ago, kmart said:

So leaving mine bare,  just matte clear coat seems to be the safest option at the moment

IMHO, an excellent choice..

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 10/1/2022 at 4:14 PM, k-mart said:

Next  making supports for the third and fourth rails as well as the rails themselves 

This took me many attempts to get all these pieces right.   

 

I don't know if you're still using the MSW site, but if so, can you let me know if you shaped the supports per the plan, and made the rails to fit? or if you made the rails first and shaped the supports to fit them? 

 

Thanks

Der Alte Rentner?

[ERS Rich]

My preference is rails, then supports

[ERS Rich]

Your rails have a great shape.

[Der Alte Rentner]

Those aren't my rails. I left the question at Kmart's build log hoping to get some details on his build. I have not yet constructed my rails. If you'd like to see what I'm doing, check my build log.

[kmart]

On 5/3/2025 at 9:59 AM, Der Alte Rentner said:

I don't know if you're still using the MSW site, but if so, can you let me know if you shaped the supports per the plan, and made the rails to fit? or if you made the rails first and shaped the supports to fit them? 

 

Thanks

Der Alte Rentner?

  Der Alte Rentner          Sorry.  delayed response.  Just seeing this now.  Its been quite awhile since I did the headrails.  I created the headrails first.    I got the rails as close to mirror/ symmetrical as i could when dry fitted to hull.   For the supports, I did start with the shape as per  the plans.  When they didn't really fit well..  I kept enlarging and adjusting to fit the rails.     I the the pic you posted on the top supports, you can see the outline of the plan supports on my version.    To get it to work, my supports are both a bit taller than the plan and wider wider.  That helps  get more surface area touching to the bow stem.   making it slightly wider also helped from it breaking at the top where it really thin.      

[kmart]

Well,   cant believe its been 6 months since i posted.   Have been in the shop working.. just neglect on posting.

Unfortunately haven't taken as many in progress pics as i should have.    But i'll bring you up to where I'm at.

Posting the pics i do have.   Sorry they are not great or as informative as my past posts.

 

 

Since my last post.  been working on spar deck.

Added the bulwarks.  and the green.

Bolts were simulated with by applying a tiny drop of glue  and eyedropper. 

I did this off the ship on the plank as i was preparing it.

kept a very simple pattern   evenly spaced drops alternating 1 high and next low edge of the plank.  Did this for full length of plank

Then when added to the ship, i made sure to stagger the high and low glue dots.

Effect came out subtle.   and there is a notable bolt pattern if you look. 

 

Also added in the sheeves on the side of the hull.

Again made them off ship.  Then cut rectangle in bulk work and slid it it.   You can see it upper left of above pic.

 

Also added all the cleats and pinrails

 

Finished the Catheads

 

[kmart]

Cannondale....  I did want to go with the 1812 version.    I looked at lots of other peoples logs,  and lots of google to try i find something I like.

I decided to use the barrels that came with the kit.  modify them  and build my own carriages.

 

I cut of the piddles off the barrels.  

Cut very small wood blocks

drilled a whole and put on copper rode.

Then glued the barrel to the wood block.

 

It gets it close to the 1812 barrel with the pindles under the barrel,  not on the side

 

 

Took multiple tries.   I've been working on the cannons for 2+ months.... ugg.

Just cleaning up the kit castings took forever

 

 

Several attempts to make the custom carriages

I did use the carriage wheels that came with the kit for the rear trucks

 

For the front, i made with some brace to rest on the sill of the gunport

 

 

 

I also drilled a small whole in the end of the barrel for the simulated screw.

 

I ordered the properly scaled and blackened eyebolts from HIS Models.

Installing the corresponding eyebolts on the bulk works was also a bear

 

 

In the end,  i think they came out ok.

 

Right know only have the breach lines in.

Will eventually get to the full rigging

 

 

Connie has here Teeth

 

 

Oh yeah.  Also put the cap rail on as you can see above

Also the bow and stern bumkins are installed.   At least until i accidentally hit them and break em off

 

From the stern.   Love this view

 

 

And a side beauty shot

 

 

Bow Bumkins

[kmart]

I'll try to be good and post more in something less than 6 months.