USS Constitution by CaptainSteve - Model Shipways - 1:76.8 scale

[CaptainSteve]

This be jus’ a brief update fer now as Our Hero be a-realizing that mayhaps he cannae be making his way through an entire section o’ a build like this each an’ every week …

CaptainSteve doth be explainin’, “For now, I be a-testin’ the concept of coppering the horseshoes.”

 

First up, Our Hero didst choose-eth to try simple kitchen aluminium foil on one o’ the earlier ring-pulls/horseshoes.

“Me ring-pull were to be a-breakin’,” CaptainSteve was heard to whine, “at the bottom whence I were to be tryin’ to forge a more horseshoe-shaped horseshoe.”

 

Nonetheless, he were to plough-eth forth and try the same test using the kit-supplied adhesive-backed copper foil.
“Verily, methinks this didst work-eth much better,” Our Hero were to proclaim-eth.

 

“I mus’,” CaptainSteve were to conclude-eth, “be bluntin’ me toothpick more a-fore shapin’ the nail marks … but, erstwhile, methinks proof o’ concept hath, most verily, been established !!”
Our Hero has much work ahead-eth o’ hisself.

Edited April 25, 2015 by CaptainSteve

[GLakie]

Something I've had spinning around my head lately is using the contemporary look with her, and fore-going the copper all together. Boxwood lower planking, stained a reddish orange, Ebony, or painted black, whales, and Holly the rest of the way up, painting black above the gun-stripe. I don't know, just a thought. I really like this configuration though. As she supposedly looked when launched.

  Cheers

[CaptainSteve]

Nice pic, George.

 

As my earliest recollections of the USS Constitution are of the Revell plastic kit, then I will most likely be stickin' with the black and white colourations.

 

However, as I have most conveniently decided to go with an "1812 era" appearance, and since the evidence to disprove one look o'er another has long since been lost to the ravages o' time, then the final look o' me stern galleries (as just one example) still be not set in concrete.

 

I DO like the look o' them taff-rail (?) decorations, tho' !! 

[mattsayers148]

Love the copper! And great idea using the can tab!

[capnharv2]

My compliments sir! A fine job on the horseshoe!

 

Regarding finish, another option would be to stain the planking black. Or use ebony (a real challenge).

 

Harvey

[CaptainSteve]

I have actually been thinking along those lines meself, Harv'. I have a bottle of Black Japan wood stain which has only been used for some tints and dry-brush highlighting on the Bounty Launch build. So, the bottle has been hardly touched. Reckon I'll find a use for it once I'm a lot further on in this build.

 

Back to the horseshoes, and a midnight conference with the Squirrel Whisperer and his squirrels has brought to light an unforeseen problem. This being that the ring-pull horseshoes (15mm) are just waaay too big for scale. Assuming a standard, large horseshoe size of 8", a 'shoe to scale would barely be 3mm in height !!

 

However, Harrison Nutz did point out that a shoe for a Clydesdale could be up to 22" in height, giving a scale size of about 9mm. This fits better with the scale of the pic from AOTS.

 

This is do-able ... but NOT using the ring-pulls, as these are just too big.

 

But, fear not !! Our Hero has found a possible solution ...

Edited May 22, 2015 by CaptainSteve

[GLakie]

Hi there Captain! I'm probably wrong about this, but I don't think the "horseshoe keys" were actual horseshoes for horses, but were custom- made for structural re-enforcement at those joints. I'm just guessing and looking at them from an engineering standpoint. Don't really know for sure, but before giving up the beer-top idea, maybe a PM to Chuck or any one of the scratch-builders could educate all of us.

 

Cheers

[mtaylor]

Steve, when in doubt... cheat.    Get some copper wire, anneal it.   Bend to shapen and then flatten with a hammer. File, etc. to clean up.  A darn sight easier than cutting from plate.

[CaptainSteve]

Whence last we left Our Hero, he were contemplating the matter o’ massively o’ersized drink-can ring-pull hull-horseshoes.

“The problem were to be resolved,” CaptainSteve didst interdict, “by using not the ring-pulls, but, instead-eth, by a-clipping out the folded-over lip from ‘round the top of the drink-can.”

 

The problem there be that this piece didst require-eth to be edge-bent to make the horseshoe shape … and, verily, we all know-eth how much fun THAT can be-eth.

"Now", Our Hero were to begin-eth, "annealing be a process whereby one doest heat-eth metal, and then doth beat-eth the bejeezus out of it."

 

 

But, after much hammering and annealing and wailing and knashing o’ teeth, CaptainSteve didst forge ahead (pun intended), producing these …

“By the way !!”, Our Hero were to explain. “I be a-seein’ on me plans the plottin’ o’ a set o’ keel-clamps, and didst figure to be a-making those at the same time.”

 

Firstly, ‘twas necessary to gouge-eth out a seat for the newly-forged iron-workin’s.

 

Finally, here they be after the two-part epoxy didst dry-eth and the clamps were to be removed.

“I shall be a-needin’,” CaptainSteve added, “to buff that clamp mark out, methinks !!”

 

“As ye would know-eth by now, I be a-plannin’ to over-copper these pieces later on.”

 

Now, those wi’ a keen eye wouldst, verily, be a-noticing bulkheads in the last few pictures, e’en though Our Hero has made naught mention o’ them thus far.

 

“Oh, them !!”, he were to stammer. “I be a-puttin’ those in o’er the course of the past seven-day.”
This was a relatively painless step seein’ as they had already been marked-up with reference lines, and the fairing had been done previously …

Exciting times lay ahead now for Our Hero. What with bulkhead spacers and framing and filler blocks to be done (not to mention more thought to be given to matters o’ Electrification) then, most verily, it couldst be some time a-fore the next instalment of the Adventures of CaptainSteve.

 

“By the way, a teaser,” Our Hero were to add-eth, in closing. “I be expectin’ a couple more additions to me toy-box o’er the coming week and a bit.”

Edited May 16, 2015 by CaptainSteve

[GLakie]

That iron-work looks good there Captain, and I see you've sneaked those bulkheads in when we weren't looking.  Bet I can guess what you have coming too. 

 

Cheers 

[mattsayers148]

Excellent job CaptainSteve! Now we're gonna have to start a list of how many things you can make from a spent can.

[GLakie]

I agree Matt!  But if we all put our heads together, this could involve many spent cans! 

[mattsayers148]

As long as we don't crush a few hundred into one block and call it an anchor

[HIPEXEC]

Pretty clever! Nice work.

[Canute]

Cap'n, excellent work on the "iron works" and your hull framing. I'm waiting with semi-bated breath to hear of your "toy-box" additions.

[gjdale]

Nice work Steve. I think I'm almost as excited as you are about your pending toy delivery!

[CaptainSteve]

Nice work Steve. I think I'm almost as excited as you are about your pending toy delivery!

 

Just one minor point I need to correct you on there, Grant ... it's TOYS, not TOY.

[gjdale]

I know Steve, and I know what's in the deliveries too............. ;) :)

[GLakie]

I'll have to correct my previous statement by saying I think I know what one of them might be. 

[thomaslambo]

CaptainSteve,

 

Nice forge job and install...and I really like the wood planking look on the pictures George posted  

 

Boyd  

[usedtosail]

Great restart captain. I know what you mean about what will be seen on the gun deck, which is why I only did a partial deck instead of the whole thing. Those keel details you made look great.

[CaptainSteve]

Thanks everyone for the on-going comments and support. Believe me, I need all the help I can get.

 

Tom, please don't misunderstand my comments. Your gun-deck is looking superb. And I understand why you are putting in all the additional work on it.

 

But, especially as this model is planned for a home that contains zero Naval Historians whatsoever (or MSW members), then I'm planning on spending more work on the external details.

By the way, I spent an hour or so reading thru your log yesterday and how you made the filler and counter blocks. Most helpful for what looks to be a very tricky stage !!

[usedtosail]

Not a problem, Steve. We all have our different reasons for what we do. I am really looking forward to your version of this great ship.

[src]

Ahoy captain!

Captain Decator has asked me to leave my post on the Enterprise and drop in for a spell and report back on your fine progress on his future command; permission to come aboard sir?

 

Sam

[CaptainSteve]

Welcome aboard, Sam !!

(Nose hair, huh ?? Who would've thought ??)

  

[src]

Lol! You're the first to notice/comment. Based on your self portrait, advice to heed?

Sam

[CaptainSteve]

Our Hero hath spent the past few weeks deep in contemplation, but thought it be high-time he didst update this Redux. Verily, CaptainSteve has been able to take many hours in his ship-yard. But he hath also spent a goodly amount of time in naval navel-gazing.

 

“Arrr … “, he were heard to be a-grizzlin’ and a-moanin’.
“Workin’ under this ‘ere Cap’n Hull fellow doth mean-eth that I shall be needin’ to lift me game !!”, CaptainSteve didst grumble.
“With THIS guy, it’s practice, practice, practice. Drill, drill, drill. Day in, day out !!”, he were to be a-mumblin’.

 

“Seriously !! Whate’er happened to the days o’ ‘Measure Once, Cut-eth Thrice, Profane Profusely, Start-eth Over Anew ??’”

 

“Tragically,” Our Hero didst confess, “me first attempts be somewhat less than successful.”

 

Apparently, there be somewhat of a learning curve for CaptainSteve to overcome in terms o’ his carpentry skills. And so, most verily, he didst venture to the wood store, where-upon he were to purchase balsa blocks a-plenty. Our Hero were to be a-figurin’ that, as the fillers shall be over-planked later, it be a-matterin’ not what wood wouldst be use-ethed for them.
“Besides, this stuff be a heck o’ a lot easier to carve-eth into shape !!”

 

Thusly, he were to take-eth up his wood-axe and his tree-saw, and didst commence, yet again, to hack-eth out the various filler blocks.

 

Firstly, CaptainSteve were to turn-eth his attentions astern. As Our Hero didst declare-eth from the outset, he doth be plan-ething upon an 1812-ish appearance wi’ this build …

 

“For starters,” he were to explain-eth, gesticulating wildly whilst pointing at his MS plans, “this be a-meanin’ that me transom counter doth be require-ething curvature.”

 

The Counter didst prove-eth to be not so difficult, once Our Hero didst finally grasp-eth the concept o’ making templates …

 

The hole fer the rudder post doth remain-eth un-excavated, and o’course, CaptainSteve will be a-needin’ to curve the tops of the filler blocks to accommodate the curvature o’ his Counter.

 

“But,” he were to declare-eth, “I be-eth relatively happy wi’ this piece fer now …”

 

 

Moving onto the Stern Filler blocks, and this be where CaptainSteve didst make-eth many, many a trip to his Muse …
That ‘twould be, Our Hero were to acknowledge, the Man from Massachusetts.
“Verily, Tom,” he didst state-eth, “your pics be of untold value whilst I work-eth through me framing stages.”

 

 

Much cutting and trimming and sanding didst occur-eth, but upon checking with his template pieces one final time, CaptainSteve doest now be seriously contemplating a re-do o’ these two pieces …

 

“I be most sure,” he were to bemoan, “that I hath taken off too much wood again !!”

 

Next time couldst prove-eth most advantageous were Our Hero to actually employ-eth the templates he didst cut-teth.

 

Arrrrggg-geth !!!!

Continuing on, and Our Hero didst cast his gaze a-forward.

 

 

“Indeed-eth,” he were to declare, “I be most in favour of the whole rabbet concept and also o’ these ‘ere filler blocks.”
For, despite-eth this bein’ not his first build, he hath ne’er encountered this type o’ constructiveness in kits a-fore.

 

But still, further troubles didst lay ahead to thwart CaptainSteve’s galloping progress.

 

“I be a-readin’,” Our Hero were to mention, by way of explanation, “that ‘twouldst be easier to cut-eth the grooves for the bow framing into a veneer piece aforehand.“

 

Really, CaptainSteve … ??

So it had absolutely nothing whatsoe’er to do with you having sanded too much material from the top, thus making yet another re-do nigh-on inevitable ??

 

“Ahem … “, he didst splutter. “Well, that is, mayhaps I be planning on using some sawdust and PVA to fill the gaps just a tad.”

 

"And, this be where things stand as of the present."

 

Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, a mysterious cloth bandage has been photographed in the vicinity o' CaptainSteve's stern area …

Edited May 19, 2015 by CaptainSteve

[GLakie]

You're doing an awesome job tackling those filler-block head on there Captain. I can see myself making a trip up to the yumber-lard to grab me up some extra balsa blocks, just to allow for the inevitable goofs. Can't wait to start mine, but still too much to do. I'll be doing some posting in about a month though to show what I'm building. 

 

Cheers

[mattsayers148]

Very nice, very nice indeed CaptainSteve! I cannot even imagine partaking in such a grand build as yours at my stage in the game! And just remember, a sharp blade hurts less than a dull one when cutting across ones finger.

[mtaylor]

The bandage...???? Oh .. the ship's stern not CaptainSteve's stern.  Whew!!!!    :D  

 

Nice but obviously frustrating.  But also as you get them right, the satisfaction will be there.  We're holding fast with you, lad!!!!