USS Constitution by Texxn5 (John F) - FINISHED - Revell - PLASTIC - 1:96

[russ]

I like the pics of the ship looking at the starboard bow. That gives a great impression of your work.

 

Russ

[texxn5]

Well, after 44 years I guess I'm going to be like Andy.....She is finished with the exception of a few touch ups, and a couple of backstays that need tightening up, and building the wood base for her....

 

today I hung the boats and here we are. This has been quite an experience, and I appreciate all the help and encouragement from this Forum. Without it I probably would not have finished, at least not in a timely manner....this kept me going and here it is.

 

Thanks to everyone for all their input and encouragement. Here's some pictures, and I'll post a group in the Gallery in the next few days, as I finish the base. Thanks.......

[texxn5]

A couple of more....

[texxn5]

I'll take some better ones once displayed. If anyone needs photo's let me know and I'll try to post them for you. Now, soon I'll be into the CW Morgan......first time for wood, so it'll be slower....

John

[JPett]

Ahoy Tex

 

CONGRATZ
 

She looks proud

 

I especially like the third one down in post 123. With a different background you would think it was the real ship.

Edited May 6, 2013 by JPett

[themadchemist]

Congrats of the finish Tex, Job well done! ...so was it that wood smell urging you on to finish quicker?

Looking forward to the Morgan build.

[lambsbk]

Great job John. You and Andy were neck in neck on this one. I agree with the chemist: was the wood beckoning? Congratulations!

[russ]

Congratulations on a great looking model. You have done a fine job rigging her.

 

Russ

[Sjors]

Congrats John!

 

It's a beauty!!!!!!!

You can be proud of her.

 

[texxn5]

Thanks JPett, glad you like the pictures....

[texxn5]

Yes Keith, I can smell the wood, and that was a lot of the encouragement to get this done so I cdan move on...Thanks for your assistance through this...

[texxn5]

Thanks Lambsk, yeah, Andy was just far enough ahead of me to give me a lot of ideas on hop to proceed without pulling out what little hair I still have....Thank You Andy....

[texxn5]

Thanks Russ, glad you like the rigging, it sure makes a difference on how they start to shape up

[texxn5]

Thanks Sjors, and I'll be posting a couple of pictures shortly for your enjoyment.....

[texxn5]

For Sjors, and all of you who enjoy pictures...just a couple after completion...I'll post here again when I have the base done....I'm currently looking into a pretty piece of Mesquite to mount her on.....

[texxn5]

Thanks to all for all your help and support....I'm walking around today realizing, there's nothing else to do.....(well, still a few lines to tighten, and touch ups)...strange feeling...I've never seen this one finished in person before...

[RadMan]

Texxn5, I just found your build log!  I added you to my "follow" list so it will be easier to keep up with your great work.  Looks excellent!  I noticed you painted your gunport covers black (on top).  I did the same, though I notice a lot of folks paint them white.  I looked at some old photos of the Constitution and noticed they were painted with white interiors and black exteriors.

 

I also noticed on some of your other photos that you have some kind of swivel stand that you mount the ship on?? Is that what it is?  Looks like an excellent piece of hardware to have, can you give me some details about it?

[texxn5]

Hi Radman, thanks for the comments. I am moving on to my CW Morgan, which is a MS kit and is wood. Glad you found the site. The stand you mention, is available on MicroMark's website. It is made by Amati. It is pricey like $89.95, but I think they currently have it on sale online for $69.99. go to their website www.micromark.com. It's an online offer, so if you need the sale code, let me know. It is worth it's weight in gold in my opinion. It allows you to swivel the ship at any angle, 360 degrees up down or otherwise and holds the ship very securely without inflicting any damage. Well worth the investment in my opinion...good luck with your build....

[AndyMech]

Thanks Lambsk, yeah, Andy was just far enough ahead of me to give me a lot of ideas on hop to proceed without pulling out what little hair I still have....Thank You Andy....

 

You're welcome - I'm glad my efforts were able to help.  I was feeling pressure to finish, but not from "racing" anyone, just that I have guests coming over the next few weeks, so if I didn't finish last weekend, it would have been another month!  So close, had to get it done.

 

I think I see that you secured the boat braces to the eyebolts in the deck rather than the pin, correct?  I wonder if that was a mistake in the instructions, those eyebolts seem so obvious.

 

After I finished, I had the same feeling of, I don't know, "free time" last Sunday.  I tightened a few backstays, took photos and then ... nothing.  I put all my modeling tools away so the living room doesn't look like a workshop.

 

Don't worry, they're easily retrievable when the next model is on the horizon.  I'm not giving up the hobby, and I, too, feel that wood beckons.  I also need to fix my ship-in-a-bottle (CA does NOT adhere to glass!).  And, I need to figure out a display case solution, but no rush, the temporary one will keep the dust off.

 

Nice job, congrats on a job well done, and as usual, your photos are excellent.

 

Andy.

[texxn5]

Hi Andy, yes, I attached the boat braces as you did. It seemed obvious, and I was tired of fighting the lines in place, so I followed your idea. Worked great except I broke an eyebolt so the CA played a great role in the last line run.....good idea, I never looked back. I need to build the base and I have 2 backstays to firm up, that's about it. Thanks again for your posts they sure helped. I was rushed too, only becasue I was finally going to get to finish it, and I didn't want any interuptions either. We're done, I guess that is the ultimate goal, and we didi it. Strange we were both there at almost the same time frame....your build kept me going.....Good luck on your bottle...I know nothing on that, and truthfully don't want to at this time.....I'll link the Morgan to my profile in the next few days...Glad you liked the pictures.....I'll probably go ahead and hang the Comodore's Pendant and hang it below the Flag...

[lambsbk]

Oh how I hate those eye bolts. They do not hold up under pressure. I have only installed 20 so far and have broke one already. I have seriously considered using some brass ones.

[texxn5]

Lambsk, that is exactly what I would do if building this again, as well as taking the pinrails and drilling the pins out for brass ones. They are weak and cause problems when tieing off the rigging lines. Use CA and you won't have problems later.

[AndyMech]

I made my own eyebolts out of small-gauge wire, and it wasn't really very difficult.  The twisted ends grab CA well - they feel super sturdy.  Takes about 30 seconds to make one, faster if you do a bunch assembly-line manner.

 

Check out page 2 of my build log, at the very bottom (post #30).

 

Andy

[lambsbk]

Thanks guys..I'll check it out.

[DSiemens]

She is an incredible ship Texxn.  You really did an excellent job.  Every thing looks so neat and clean.  Great work.  

[texxn5]

Thanks Dan, as you know a lot of time, patience, and stamina goes into creating these things we create, and it's amazing how we can all detail them to be the same as the real thing only smaller and have it sitting in our living rooms.  I guess it's that quest for remembrance of how things were and how things will be that keeps us working for that minute detail that allows us to have a sense of perseverance where we feel we have made a difference in someone's life that will allow them to perhaps experience a life that has passed.....the ships and sails of old will not be forgotten and hopefully all the sailors of those times will not be forgotten by time and technology....sorry....just some reflections......Go Navy!   for now they are Iron men sailing ships of steel now days....

[texxn5]

having trouble locating my base for final mounting of the ship.  I want a nice piece of natural Mesquite, and have located it I think, but it is still in the kiln drying.  The guy that owns the lumber mill is not the brightest bulb in the lanterns, and it seems to take dynamite in the proper location to get him to move anywhere.  If he doesn't respond soon I think a 24 pounder in the nest might be appropriate.  Once I get this done, I'll post the final displays for the Gallery.  Hopefully pictures to follow soon.   Thanks guys for all your help and insights..........and I'm looking forward to starting the Charles W Morgan very soon.....follow the site, it's up and running.....

[KimatHm]

Hey Texan5...I finally found your gallery...Really Nice work !!! By the way...If you need a lead on building a case, I found an excellent source, and mentor for building the cases that I've displayed on my 'Cuttys' ( in my gallery ) You can easily save the $ 400.00+ quoted by some of our suppliers by building your own...I was really pretty impressed when I finished, as I'm NO carpenter by any means, and did them both, plus the table on the right, completely in the living room of my modest apartment , with a Home Depot Miter Box...!! (the only exception was having a 1/8" groove for the glass, cut by one of the techs with TONS of experience in carpentry, at his home, for No Charge...and even He was pretty impressed with the case design)...I'd be happy to send you a PDF file on the design method, which I paid appx.  $12.00 for via amazon...which I found by accident if you wish, and if it will help...!!!  Blessings...Kim

[texxn5]

Hi Kim, welcome aboard, I'm glad you located my build.  Yeah, cost was one of the factors in my not obtaining a case for the Conny.  If it's not too much trouble I would appreciate a plan, as that is an option.  I hate for it to get any dustier than it is.  I am currently building the C.W. Morgan, my first attempt at wood.  I haven't figured out how to post the direct link yet, mainly because I'd rather be building than typing.  My personal email is texxn5@aol.com.  Thanks for the offer.

John

[RadMan]

I think it's a great idea to mount your ship on some real wood.  I never liked the mounts included with the kit, they look cheap somehow.