USS CONSTITUTION by Brian Falke - BlueJacket Shipcrafters - Scale 1:96

[Scallywag]

I just saw these on Ages of Sail:

https://www.agesofsail.com/shop/artesania-latina-kits-tools/age-of-sail-metal-figurine-set-artesania-latina-184/

 

Edited September 5 by Scallywag

[Brian Falke]

Thank you all for the recommendations and links.  I did review them and analyzed the effort it would take to "adjust" the figurine to fit and have action, and it is too much.  I would be working on the model until the end of time if I were to do what I feel is appropriate with regards to adding figurines.  I am going to keep adding other items.  Like in the cockpit, the surgeons table is setup with two casks for...well, limbs, etc.  In the forward section of the Orlop, I intend to set up what it would be like for the carpenter.  Also, there are a couple of casks by the main hatch ready to be hoisted up to the galley on the gundeck.  Thanks again.

[Brian Falke]

I feel the Orlop Deck is complete.  Here are the views from overhead, looking forward and aft.  The last pieces to put in were the up and down comers for the bilge pumps.  That took a little research as the current CONSTITUTION has pipes.  I found that they are square made from wood.  This is so after battle, they could be easily repaired and put into use.

Next step is to step the Main Mast, but first it would not be appropriate to step the mast without placing the good luck coin at the base.  Since a normal coin would not fit, using a leather hole punch, I cut a piece of copper as substitute.

 

Cheers, Brian

 

After stepping the mast, it will be laying the decking for the Berthing Deck.

 

[Brian Falke]

And the Main Lower Mast is stepped.  Time to start on decking the Berthing Deck.

[Brian Falke]

Started the decking.  Using wood glue instead of superglue.  Found that since superglue cured so fast, I could not get the plank tightly against the others thus leaving gaps between them.  And, I admit, I am not the neatest when it comes to superglue.  I have to sand my finger tips at the end of the day to get the glue off.  With the wood glue, soap and water takes care of it.

If you look closely, on the port side I made marks where I intend to stop the decking so the Orlop deck can be better seen from the side.

[Brian Falke]

The Berth Deck decking is installed (still need to stain and varnish).  For the port side opening, once I planked to just beyond the cable tier stanchions. Once the glue dried, I cut away the remaining beams and stringer.  This opened up the viewing of the Orlop Deck.

 

Next steps are to stain and varnish the deck.  After that, move onto the hatch coamings and gratings, then install the ladders to the Orlop deck.

[JSGerson]

It's looking grand!!!

 

Jon

[Brian Falke]

Berth Deck decking stained and varnished.  Started on the hatch coamings.  Unlike the hatch coamings on the Orlop deck, I decided to form them inside the opening.  It is going well, but in retrospect, I probably should have stained them prior to installation.  LIve and learn....

 

 

Cheers, Brian

[Brian Falke]

Forward Hatch on the Berth Deck complete.

 

[Brian Falke]

The Main Hatch is complete. On to the after hatches and then the gunwales.  Once those are complete, will commence with the deck beams for the Gun Deck.

[Brian Falke]

Correcting myself.  Not gunwale, but the waterway are (for the most part) in.

[Brian Falke]

The decking is complete for the Berth Deck.  I have started on the Gun Deck.  My intention is to start installing the Gun Deck beams from Aft to Forward.  Once I get to the green false bulkhead base, I will then have to install the knees with each beam.  This is a lot more complex than the knees for the berth deck beams.  Also, with the deck beams being about 6' apart, it would be near impossible to install the knees and if it was, they would not come out to my expectations.

[schooner]

This is an amazing build Brian.

[Brian Falke]

The Gun Deck beams aft of the bulkhead on the Berth Deck are installed.  At this point, before installing any more beams, I have to lathe about 53 stanchions.  I did look to purchase them, but could not find any (honestly, really did not look too hard). This justified the purchase of a lathe 🙂 

 

[Brian Falke]

Have a question for the group.  Are there railings at the top of the hatches in 1812?  In the kit there is a drawing of two railing types.  Looking at the pictures, I cannot find one which has railings at the hatch openings.  In Marquardt's book, I could not find railings either.

[JSGerson]

I think I read somewhere (and I could be wrong) that the brass railings were installed when the ship was converted into a Receiving Ship/Barracks in the late 1800s. I believe the hand ropes for the ladders were always there.

 

Jon

[Brian Falke]

So, I asked Google AI and it came back with a no.  The hatch railings, or safety railings, were not installed on the ship in 1812.  When the ladder was not in use, the grating was put in place to prevent accidents.